Curious, she hurried toward the room. Malcolm and five of his servants clustered inside his study. The door stood ajar, so she peeked inside. All the men held the same worried expressions of drawn brows and sorrowful eyes. Malcolm’s hands were balled at his sides.
He stalked to the liquor tray and poured a glass of bourbon—something he rarely did. He tipped it to his lips and gulped as if it was water. She had never seen him drink like that before.
Raking his fingers through his hair, he spun toward the group of men. “I don’t care about the soldiers,” he shouted. “Broderick has been arrested, and it shouldn’t have happened. I will doanythingto get him out. We just need a plan, and quickly.”
Camilla gasped. Broderick in jail?No.Her heart sank. Malcolm would certainly get himself arrested if he tried to break out Broderick. Chills of fear ran down her spine. She couldn’t let Malcolm give his life for his friend.
“What if we hired an attorney?” one of the servants asked.
Malcolm growled and slammed his fist into the wall. “No. That will take too long, and knowing Wilkes, he will only prolong the procedure.”
“What about a distraction?” another man asked. “We can draw the soldiers away from the cell while somebody sneaks in and sets him free.”
Malcolm inhaled, and his nostrils flared with anger. “What kind of distraction?”
The man’s worried expression relaxed, and he smiled. “Oh, I know a few harlots who wouldn’t mind helping out.”
“I can see the possibility in that, but how do we break Broderick out?” Malcolm asked. “Someone needs to be inside the jail, and Captain Wilkes isn’t allowing Broderick to have any visitors.” He grumbled loudly. “I had a feeling the letter from that woman was a trap. Why didn’t I go with him?”
“Master,” Timothy said in a comforting voice. “Ye cannot blame yourself. It was Broderick’s decision.”
“Aye, but I should have done something.” Malcolm filled his glass with bourbon again and drank it down.
All heads lowered while silence filled the air.
Suddenly, an idea sprang to Camilla’s mind. She could help. But fear of the unknown washed through her. Malcolm might not agree, but she would convince him that this was the only way.
With a shaky hand, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. Malcolm’s gaze snapped toward her.
“Malcolm, might I have a word in private with you?” His brows drew together, and she feared he would turn her down. “Please, it’s important.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and nodded. “Excuse me. I will not be but a moment.”
She grasped his hand and pulled him into the parlor, closing the doors behind her. She met his gaze and cupped his face. His eyes didn’t hold the familiar sparkle, and her heart wrenched. “Malcolm, I overheard your plans to break Broderick out of jail, and I have an idea.”
He smiled, but not fully as he wrapped his arms around her. “My love, I appreciate your willingness to help, but I’ll not allow you to be put in danger. I love you too much.”
“Then do you know someone else who has been intimate with Captain Wilkes lately? Because I don’t think he will trust anybody but Kat.”
“Whatever is in that pretty little head of yours, the answer is no.”
“Will you just listen before you give an answer?”
A nerve in his cheek jumped, but he nodded.
“Kat could make that man behave in ways he would not normally do. She had some kind of hold over him, and I think if I play my sister, I might be able to help break Broderick out of jail.”
“What is your plan?”
She exhaled slowly. “I’m thinking about getting him drunk.”
His eyes widened. “And how will you manage that?”
“I can arrange to meet with him at the jail—alone—then get him intoxicated. Because of the man he is, I don’t believe he will turn down a secret rendezvous.”
“You are correct. Go on.”
“After he passes out, I can help you and the others inside. I will get the keys from Captain Wilkes, and we can sneak Broderick out.”
