CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
“Damn, I hope the old bastard hasnae gone tae bed yet,” Bryce muttered under his breath as they left their horses with the guards and entered the keep through the gates. The guards were loath to let them in, but they could see the fire in Bryce’s eyes as he told them it was urgent and of the utmost importance.
“The man could be your father-in-law someday soon.”
“Aye, but he will have tae answer for his son first. I just hope they are sitting together in the study, and then we can deal with them both. If Fergus had anything tae do with all this along with Athol, I will kill them both,” he threatened.
Tobias raced alongside him through the castle toward the study door, and he touched Bryce’s arm when he caught up. “Do not think of that just now. There has been enough death. The law will handle them. I will deal with them,” he added sternly.
Bryce wasn’t convinced that he wouldn’t kill them with his bare hands, but he knew that Tobias wouldn’t rest until they’d seen justice. At the study door, he didn’t knock or wait, but he simply pushed in, hoping that one or both of them was still awake at the late hour.
“What in God’s name?” Fergus said, jumping to his feet. His whiskey glass was nearly unseated, and the liquid spun inside the glass, which sat on Fergus’s study table.
Bryce scowled and looked around the room. “So ye are alone. Where is yer son?”
“Nae here. I donnae think. I heard that he left. Probably tae visit the village and continue with his bloody useless ways.” Fergus scowled and sat down in his chair again. “Now why are ye rushing in here with that Englishman of yers and looking like ye wish tae kill me?”
Bryce stepped forward, fists and jaw clenched. “Because I do. Depending on whether or nae ye are fully guilty.”
At the word, Fergus’s expression changed a little. “Now what am I tae be guilty for?” he asked, taking a long sip from his whisky glass. Tobias and Bryce sat down across from him.
“Ye kept the truth of Lorna’s parentage from her.”
“Och, so ye are the one who told her, is it?” Fergus smirked a little, looking satisfied.
Bryce was fuming. “But it was more than that. The whole truth was still nae given tae her nor tae me.” He paused, leaning over the desk to look deeply into Fergus’s frightened eyes. “Has Athol ever fathered a child?”
Fergus swallowed. “What I ken about Athol is that he always liked women. It has turned him intae a foolish man and got him caught in one foolish thing after another. He took a lot of them tae bed when he was a younger man, and I daresay nae all of them went willingly.” Bryce bristled at that, thinking about Kyla.
“But I would never keep with me son having bastards all over the place. He is a fool at times, but he isnae completely stupid. I could never let him tarnish the reputation of the McAdams.” Fergus finished the rest of his whisky.
Bryce replied, “I think,” he nodded to Tobias, “we think,that it is actually Athol who is Lorna’s father, nae some married man from the village who had relations with yer daughter Siusan.” Bryce poked a finger into the desk. “He is the one who kept the baby secret, using the midwife tae help. It is in her journals. We have the evidence we need. We need tae just find the bastard and figure out what connection he has with the recent murders. It seems he meant tae keep his secret, even from ye and Lady Arrin.”
Bryce pulled back at the pale look of shock on Fergus’s face. Finally, the man had been subdued. “Nae, it cannae be true. Me own son.” His voice was hoarse.
“Aye, it is true. But we donnae have all the information just yet. That is why I need tae find him. And Lorna. Tae make sure that she is safe.”
“But why should he hurt her if he is her own father?” Fergus asked, standing up.
“Why should he think to hurt anyone? If he is capable of that, then he is capable of anything,” Tobias added.
“Aye, I suppose so. Go on then tae Lorna’s chamber,” Fergus pointed to the door, and Bryce noticed that his hand was trembling. At least he could feel comfort in that it seemed Fergus had nothing to do with this particular deception.
Bryce and Tobias left the study and rushed up to the room. Bryce had a thousand things going on in his mind, and while he hoped that Athol wasn’t so cruel, he also wasn’t sure. If he was the one who had killed the two healers, then he could do anything. Even hurt his own child.
Finally, they reached the door to Lorna’s chamber, and with a breath, Bryce knocked. There was no answer. He knocked again, but he couldn’t take it any longer. He hurriedly opened the door and pushed inside the dimly lit room and looked around.
“She is nae here,” he said, feeling sick.
“Aye, and her clothing is here on the floor, in a heap. She must be out wearing basically nothing,” Tobias added softly.
Bryce felt a little dizzy, and Tobias put a hand on his shoulder. “Do not worry, lad. We will find her. I will not stop until we find something.”
Silently, Bryce turned to leave. Without Lorna, he was nothing. Life was nothing, and it would all be meaningless. If Athol had hurt her, then Bryce would most certainly kill the man, even if it led to his own death. Lorna was everything to him. He would die for her.
Fergus met them at the door, and he looked even paler and smelled even more of whisky. “She is nae here?” he asked.
“Nae,” Bryce said and pushed past him. “We will need tae go and look for her.”
