“Your wife?” Niall’s tone rose in surprise.
“Yes. My wife.”
“But you’re not—”
“We are newlyweds,” Graeme bit out slowly. “The point is, that explosion you set off trapped her in a secluded area of the cave, and the results could well have been disastrous had I not been able to circle around and get to her through another tunnel.”
Niall slowly lowered himself to his chair. It was then that Graeme noticed Niall’s appearance. Normally he was the picture of an English gentleman: hair sculpted into the perfect style, clean and starched clothes with a crisp white cravat, bright, alert eyes. But the man standing before him had limp hair that hung around his face, and his clothes seemed as if they’d been picked up from the floor, wrinkled and stained.
But it was his face that showed the most difference. Dark circles lay heavy beneath eyes that now appeared hollow and gaunt. His shoulders slumped forward. He wiped at his mouth, then looked at Graeme. “That was you?”
“Yes, that was me. And Vanessa. She could have fallen, Niall. Been killed.” Graeme leaned back and eyed his cousin. They had never been close, but he was family. For that reason alone, Graeme would give him the opportunity to explain himself, give some damned excuse as to why he was acting reckless and crazy.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t meant to be a trap.” He tried to laugh, to appear light, but Graeme knew better. Niall’s face, his entire body, jittered with a sense of anxiety. The man sat in his chair as if any moment he would spring to his feet. His eyes darted around the room, searching, but his gaze never settled on anything for any length of time. His skin tone was now almost gray in color, and he looked as if he hadn’t eaten or slept in days.
“What is going on, Niall?” Graeme asked. “You look like hell, man.”
Niall released another weak laugh. “I’m merely trying to find that treasure. Getting impatient, I suppose.” He wiped his hand down his face, and for a moment his façade cracked, and Graeme saw panic lurking in his eyes. Niall was terrified.
Graeme put his elbows on the desk and met his cousin’s gaze. “No, there’s more. What kind of trouble are you in? Do you owe someone money?”
As far as Graeme knew, Niall had always had plenty of money, but wiser men had lost fortunes at the gaming tables or in risky investments. Graeme could think of no other explanation for Niall’s odd behavior.
“I’m not in any sort of trouble.” Niall shook his head fervently and again attempted a light-hearted chuckle. “I’m merely searching for that treasure. It’s elusive, and I suppose it’s been driving me a bit mad as of late.” He scraped his fingers through his blond hair, then set his jaw. “You have no reason to be concerned,” he said, his casual tone forced.
Graeme could see the lines of resolve in Niall’s face. It was an expression Graeme was familiar with because it was one he himself wore all too often. He had not thought his English cousin had such spine in him, but obviously Graeme had been wrong. Niall would tell him nothing more.
“I see,” Graeme told him. But Niall was hiding something. Graeme could tell. It was in Niall’s voice, his movements, the shifty twitch in his gaze. Something had him scared as hell. Even if he would not ask for the help he so obviously needed, Graeme could not allow him to continue.
“If you keep using that dynamite, you’ll end up destroying those caves and making them all but impassable. If you think finding your damned treasure is hard now, try doing so when you can’t even pass through the caverns.”
Niall was quiet for several moments. “I have to do what I have to do.” His jaw set as he raised his gaze to meet Graeme’s.
Graeme looked around the room, seeing no one else, but he would have sworn that Niall was looking at someone behind him.
“You’re going to get yourself killed or end up killing someone else,” Graeme said.
“I am careful,” Niall said. “The dynamite is merely an easier mode to break into some of the tunnels that have long since closed up with fallen rock.”
“And you’re certain you’ll find that treasure in those caves?” Graeme asked.
Niall nodded. “Positive. There is no other place it could be.”
“Unless someone else already found it,” Graeme said.
Niall’s eyes widened, and fear shone brightly in their brown depths. “Has someone found it?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” Graeme thought of mentioning the presence of Braden and his men, but thought better of it. If Niall was working with them, he didn’t want his cousin to know that he’d discovered his alliances. “And I suspect had it been found, Solomon’s would have heard tale of it.”
Niall seemed to relax a measure. “True.” He paused for a moment, then stood. “You mentioned a wife. I wasn’t aware you had married.”
“Vanessa; you’ve met.” Graeme came to his feet. “It’s a recent union.” He paused before adding, “Mother is having a party to celebrate. You could come.”
Niall nodded. “Congratulations.”
Graeme put one hand on the desk. “If you need assistance with anything, you need only ask.”
Niall again looked behind Graeme, then back into Graeme’s face. He gave him a brittle smile. “I appreciate that. But I’m perfectly capable of handling matters myself.”
