“I could do nay such thing. Your daughter was verra vehement in insisting that she was no’ the prowler, and that she could prove it.” He pointed to the picture that Lizzie told him would prove her innocence.
“She stated that I only needed to set eyes upon this portrait and that she would be proven innocent. She made a verra believable plea. And, dare I say, that the amount of noise she was making trying to find her grandmama’s jewels would most definitely rule her out of being the prowler. The prowler was aptly named Phantom as no one kenned he was there. I couldna say that about Miss Lizzie. Which is a good thing,” he added.
“Howe’er, I did need her to prove her case. At one point in our travels, a nearby estate was robbed. I would be remiss if I didna confess that there was a moment, I thought Lizzie was playing me for a fool. ’Tis why I am here.”
“Well,” Mrs. Barclay said. “Now that that has been cleared up, we can move on.”
“No’ quite so fast,” Sir Barclay chimed in. “I am glad ye have concluded our Lizzie is no’ the Phantom Prowler and that her intentions were pure. What is no’ clear, is why did Lizzie believe she would find the jewels at the viscount’s estate? Why were they at the estate in the viscountess’s jewelry chest?”
“Ye may be best to ask this question of Miss Lizzie. I asked her the same.”
Sir Barclay assessed Malcolm as if to verify he was telling the truth. Malcolm kept a straight face, his mouth set in a firm line that offered no argument. He’d been scrutinized by far morethreatening men in his lifetime. Though admittedly, not by any of whom when he found their daughter incredibly enticing.
Sir Barclay sighed. “I suppose we shall ask her.” He called for Mary and they waited in silence for the maid to arrive. When she did, he ordered her to collect Lizzie and have her rejoin them in the salon.
“Whilst we wait, may I offer ye tea, my lord?”
“I am fine, thank ye.” He thrummed his fingers along the wooden arm of the chair he sat in as he waited for Lizzie to reappear.
When she entered the room, Malcolm’s heart tugged. She looked defeated. Gone was the sassy, chipper lass that he’d gotten to ken over their journey to Tolton Hall. Guilt assuaged him. He couldn’t help feeling that he was to blame.
“Ah, Lizzie. Please have a seat,” her father ordered.
She hurried to an empty chair and gracefully folded into it.
“It has been confirmed that ye couldna possibly be the Phantom Prowler.”
Lizzie rolled her eyes as if that were obvious.
“Howe’er, how did ye ken ye would find your grandmama’s jewelry at the Wilson’s?”
Malcolm sat quietly as he listened to Lizzie explain how she figured out Viscountess Wilson was the Phantom Prowler. Her explanation now was the same as it was, when he’d asked her the same question.
“But I dinna want to get the viscountess in trouble. No’ at all. I did what I set out to do.”
Finally, not able to remain silent any longer, Malcolm spoke up. “Ye realize what ye have done?” he asked Lizzie.
Her gaze flew to his, worry darkening the irises. “I-I dinna ken,” she said quietly.
Smiling, he pushed off the chair and walked to the far side of the room, then turned to face the Barclays. “All of Scotland is onthe Phantom Prowler case, who, by the way, is widely believed to be male. Ye have succeeded in what they have failed. Ye identified the prowler.”
Lizzie shook her head. “That is no’ what I was trying to do. I only wanted—”
Malcolm held up his hand. “I ken, ye only wanted to retrieve what was rightfully yours. Which ye did, but also, in the process, ye uncovered the thief. Something some of the most qualified investigators have been unable to do.”
“I willna say a word or turn her into the authorities. The viscountess is a family friend. Has been for as long as I can remember. But I willna ruin her life. E’en if she stole what was most precious to me.”
He admired her determination to keep her family friend safe, even when that friend put her own freedom in jeopardy.
“Was the viscount made aware of Lizzie’s actions?”
Malcolm shook his head. “Absolutely no’. I gave no inclination whatsoe’er as to what Miss Lizzie had been up to.”
“Well, whilst I am proud of ye for uncovering the thief, I am no’ happy with the way ye went about it. Howe’er, I have no intention of bringing any related attention to our family, so I will leave ye do to what ye will with the information regarding the viscountess, Lord Kennedy.” Sir Barclay sat back in his chair and pierced him with a serious look.
“Now, onto the subject of my daughter. Ye have traveled the countryside with her. Alone.”
“Papa,” Lizzie chimed in. “We werena alone. Mary was with us at all times.”
