Locking stares wi’ Drew, Reginald could see the anger, confusion, and disbelief in his eyes. But was there a hint of something else? “Ye’re too smart and too honest, Drew, no’ to wonder where yer family obtained all that wealth. And why yer da willnae speak of it. Mayhap he doesnae ken any of it.But ye do!”
“What Iken, is that you’re trying to take advantage of these sweet women who—”
“In what way?” Reginald challenged.
“I don’t know!” Drew raged, pacing. “I don’t know why you’re doing this. But I’ll be damned if I can figure out why—if you were going to pull something over on them—you couldn’t come up with a more plausible story than that whopper you just told. It’s beyond ludicrous. It’s…heaven help me for saying it, but it’s almost too bizarre not to be true.”
He looked at Phoebe, Julia and Lauren and held up his hands. “I’m not saying I believe him.I don’t.But a tale like that takes a special kind of crazy to tell.” He narrowed his eyes at Reginald. “And I never once saw deceit in him. Before tonight.”
Drew shook his head and paced again. “I don’t even know what I’m saying, anymore.” Mid-step, he stopped, and turned. “Wait. It’s not Lauren, or Phoebe, you’re trying to con, is it? It’s me.My family. Surely you can’t really think you can blackmail my family with a centuries-old tale of missing money and alleged murder?”
Reginald sighed. “I dinnae want yer money. Or yer family’s money. Or Phoebe’s. Or Lauren’s father’s.”
“Then what do you want?” Lauren asked.
“The truth tae be told, and the shame removed from the McColl name.”
“By shifting it to the Morhill, name? That’s a cowardly act,” Drew snapped.
Drew’s words hit Reginald with a blow far more painful than either of the wounds he’d received at Culloden. ’Twas never his intention to ruin Drew’s family name, only clear his own. But hearing Drew state the outcome of Reginald’s actions, had the impact of a musket ball.
He sucked in a breath and held it, as the consequences of his quest reverberated within him. Nae. He dinnae wish tae destroy anyone. Especially no’ Drew. Or, those he loved.
“Nae, Drew. I dinnae wish tae hurt ye, or yer family.” He glanced at Lauren. “I dinnae wish tae hurt anyone. I guess I was so intent on fulfilling my vow of setting tae right, a wrong that happened centuries ago, I dinnae fully ken the repercussions it could have on the descendants who’d have tae live wi’ the shame I’ve lived with all this time. Ye’ve my word of honor, Drew, naught will be revealed tae yer family, or anyone else, unless ye do it, yerself.”
But Reginald needed there to be nothing hidden after tonight. No’ here, in this room, among these people. He’d give them the truth, and then he’d leave. The house. The Glen.
Lauren.
He looked around at all the people he’d come to care so deeply for. “There havnae been any lies between us. No’ on my part. Secrets, mayhap,but no’ lies. When I go, I want ye tae understand everything, and ken the whole truth.”
On a sigh full of resignation, he looked at Drew. “If ye’ll look inside the ring, ye’ll find a weeRscratched near the top.” He smiled sadly. “At the time, I dinnae ken ’twas so wrong tae do, since ’twas to pass to me, eventually, anyway.”
With shaking hands, Drew followed Reginald’s instructions. The answer was clear to everyone when Drew’s legs began to buckle and he staggered to the nearest chair. Immediately, Lauren was on her feet, snatching the ring to look for herself. A look of shock crossed her face, then she passed it to Phoebe.
“And if ye’ll pull that dagger from yer belt, ye’ll find another weeRhidden beneath the hilt. I kenned ’twas something familiar about it, when I saw it earlier, but I dinnae truly make the connection until I saw the ring.” Reginald grunted. “My grandsire would have skinned me if he’d seen what I’d done. Like my da, he had little of earthly value. So, the dagger washiscontribution tae the Jacobite treasure.”
The mix of shock and grief on Drew’s face was heartbreaking as he slowly pulled the dagger from his belt. Drawing a determined breath, he turned it over and examined the underside of the hilt. Anguish pinched deep lines around his eyes and mouth as he handed it to Lauren.
Reginald shifted, his shoulders were lighter from releasing the burden of his secrets, but his heart felt much heavier from everything,everyone, he’d likely lost, in the process.
No’ yet ready to face the loathing he expected to find on Lauren’s face, Reginald addressed Phoebe, instead. “Idoapologize taeye, Phoebe. No’ for the truth I spoke tonight, but for any hurt I brought ye. I’ve come tae care for ye, ye see, as if yer were my own mither. So, bringing hurt or harm tae ye weighs heavy on me. I’m sorry this happened on the day of yer party. Ye, and the others should go now. I’ll leave Crayton’s things on the bed, before I go. Thank ye, for the loan o’ ‘em. It meant a lot. Thank ye, for…everything.”
“Drew,” he called, still looking at Phoebe. “Phoebe needs tae make an appearance at her party and ’tis already late. Please. Will ye go now, and take these ladies?”
Finally, with what courage he had left, Reginald turned to Lauren. “I dinnae lie when I said I loved ye. And all I ever hoped for, was to haveyourlove, in return. I dinnae plan this. Seeing my da’s ring on Drew’s finger was as much a shock tae me, as my past must be, tae ye.” He started to reach out to her, then dropped his hand. ’Twas too late. He’d already severed any hope. Best leave it at that. “I wish ye well, Lauren. I wish yehappy. ’Tis all that matters tae me.”
Taking a final glance at all of them, he turned to Drew. “I’d ken it a favor if ye’d see them tae the party, now.”
What were they waiting for? Could they no’ go, before he broke down and made a complete fool of himself? Or, were they waiting for something else? His heart sank even further when he realized what it must be.
“If yer’re worried I might steal something while yer’re gone, ye can set yer minds at ease. ’Twill only take me a moment tae change intae my own things and ye can escort me off the property, yourselves.”
Phoebe swiped a tear from her face. She looked as heartbroken as Reginald felt. But Lauren just stared at him, unmoving. He thought he’d learned tae read her beautiful, expressive face, and ken what was in her heart, but he was mistaken. Her face was as blank as his future, but her eyes revealed a skirmish going on inside her. Likely considering all the different ways she detested him.
Julia’s lovely face revealed her heartbreak. Some for all of them, he kenned.
’Twas naught else to say or do. The damage was done and couldnae be mended. He turned toward his room. Nae, no’ his. Phoebe’s guest room. But he wasnae that anymore, either. The sooner he could get out of these clothes, into his own, and leave, the better.
