Catherine nodded and stepped out of his way.
Chapter Thirty-two
Drumloch Manor
Nine hours later
Lachlan heard the shot before the coach made it halfway up the drive.
“What the devil?” He saw a flash of movement up at the house and spotted John Montgomery, Catherine’s devoted cousin, clambering down the front steps, pointing his pistol at the sky.
Another shot rang out, and Goliath whinnied and reared up, clawing his hooves at the air. Lachlan fought hard to stay in the saddle.
“Whoa!”
The coach pulled abruptly to a halt. The door swung open and Catherine leaped out onto the lane, waving her arms and shouting,“It’s me, John! It’s Catherine! Do not shoot!”
Lachlan regained control of his mount and trotted closer to her. “Are you mad, lassie? Get back inside!”
“No! I will not let him shoot you again!”
She picked up her skirts and started marching up the hill, on a wild mission to put her cousin in his proper place. She was like a pistol ball herself, Lachlan thought, and he quite loved that about her. God help him, he loved everything about her, and it was killing him.
“I have come home, John!” she shouted. “The Highlander has brought me back, and if you shoot him again I will knock your bloody head off!”
The earl lowered his gun and bellowed into the house to inform the servants of Catherine’s return, then came running the rest of the way down the steps.
Catherine, too, began to run while Lachlan slowed his horse to a walk, convinced now that she was safe.
He watched her throw herself into her cousin’s arms. The earl picked her up and swung her around.
Lachlan instructed the driver of the coach to wait there on the lane, then cantered forward to face the earl’s impending displeasure.
Drumloch turned to face him. The earl’s cheeks flushed instantly with antagonism. “I received Lady Catherine’s letter three days ago. She insisted that you did not abduct her—that she went willingly—but after what you tried to do to her, I am hesitant to believe it. I still have half a mind to string you up by the heels!”
“I spoke the truth,” Catherine insisted. “You must listen to me, John. This man has helped me solve many mysteries about my past, and he deserves our thanks. Allow me to properly introduce him to you. This is Lachlan MacDonald, Laird of War of Kinloch Castle.” She gestured back to her cousin. “The Earl of Drumloch.”
Lachlan nodded. “My lord.”
John scowled up at him. “And what mysteries did you help solve, sir, which required you to steal my cousin away in the dead of night, without permission from her family?”
“You ought to speak to Lady Catherine about that,” he replied, “for it is a family matter, and not my place to say. I’m sure she will tell you all you need to know.” Goliath grew restless and took a few steps backwards.
Catherine strode closer. “Wait,” she said. “You’re not leaving, are you? No, you cannot. You must stay until all this is settled—or at least long enough to replenish your supplies before you return to Kinloch.”
And there it was.The assumption, spoken aloud, that he would not be a part of her life now that she was home again. But why should he be? He had fulfilled his duty by delivering her to Kinloch, where she was able to discover the truth about her identity—that she was indeed Lady Catherine Montgomery. He had also reunited her with her sister. It was time now to return to his home in the Highlands. To the life he knew before the curse. It was time to put all this behind him.
Perhaps one day he would be thankful that she had refused his offer of marriage, which had been proposed under extraordinary circumstances.It’s bound to make things seem more intense than they really are.…
With a sudden knot of grief pulsing in his gut, Lachlan turned in the saddle to look back at the coach, which was still waiting halfway up the drive. He was surprised that Raonaid had not thrown a tantrum by now. He had never known her to be patient or docile.
Catherine turned to her cousin. “I have brought someone I wish you to meet.”
The earl nodded, then waved a hand at the driver, signaling for him to approach. “Is this the person you mentioned in your letter?” he asked with some unease.
“Yes.”
The coach, led by four chestnut horses, rumbled up the drive and pulled to a slow, creaking halt in front of them. A footman hurried down the steps to open the door, and Lachlan watched it all unfold with a terrible ache in his heart.
