Page 43 of Kilty Until Proven Innocent
She reared back. “Nay! Did someone ask ye that?”
He nodded grimly. “And I think I ken who ‘twas.”
Brigit swallowed, holding his gaze. “Someone who wanted the King tothinkhe was the target of an assassin?”
“While no’ actually wanting him dead,” Drum agreed with a nod. “Someone loyal to him, but who wanted to feel more important.”
“Who?” Brigit whispered, knowing the truth.
Suddenly, Drum’s lips twitched. “Well, in murder mysteries, ‘tis always the butler who did it.”
“The…what? What’s a murder mystery?”
“Ye ken, a book about a sleepy little New England town where the resident author works parttime as a sleuth—making it completely unbelievable that she couldeverproduce books at such a prodigious rate, what with all the murders happening. And at the end, someone yellsThe butler did it!”
Brigit blinked.
She blinked again, wondering if the earlier exercise had rattled her brains lose. “I…have nae idea what ye’re talking about.”
Drum shrugged. “My point is, Lawrence’s role here in the palace is the closest thing we have to a butler, aye? He was the one who delivered the wine. Does he ken aught about crossbows?”
Oh dear.
“Ye thinkLarryis our suspect?” Brigit shook her head. “Ye’re on the right trail, though. We’re looking for someone who is already close to Their Majesties. Someone who kens weaponry, but isnae as experienced with the larger crossbows the guards use. Someone who was there when the potion was slipped into the King’s wine.”
Drum’s eyes widened. “Ye mean yer partner, the other Queen’s Angel?”
Brigit nodded grimly. “Lady Avaline.”
Chapter 9
“Ye’recertain ye understand what ye need to do?”
Drum’s hand gripped Craig’s shoulder and he gave him a little shake in the moonlit corridor. The other man’s grin flashed. “Nay, but when has that ever stopped me?”
Scoffing, Drum shook the larger man again. “I told ye, ye’re no’ stupid. Just…fook, just follow my instructions, eh? If ye can bring him in at the right moment, we might be able to pull this off…”
Craig twisted to slap his free hand againstDrum’sshoulder. “I was teasing, Drum. Aye, I understand, and I’ll do as ye say, nae matter if he willnae listen to me. We’ll be there.”
With a sigh of relief, Drum nodded and stepped back, feeling strangely bereft when his friend’s touch fell away. “I dinnae ken why I’m so antsy about this.”
“I do.” Craig beamed good-naturedly as they fell into step. “’Tisyerneck on the line this time, aye?”
“No’ really. The King and Queen already ken I’m innocent. I—wejust need to set the trap to snare the guilty party.”
“Aye, ‘tis thatweI’m speaking of.” The other man was smirking. “After all these years, ye’re finally working with a woman. A woman ye care for.”
Care for? Hell, Drum wasn’t certain of his feelings for Brigit, but something had changed today. His anger at not having been told the truth had sort of…drifted away in her embrace. Not because she’d been manipulative in her attempts to apologize, but because he just didn’t care anymore.
And because part of himdidunderstand her reasoning for keeping her secret for so long.
He’d kept secrets as a King’s Hunter. Was it any surprise she, as a Queen’s Angel, also had secrets? Deep down, he was flattered she’d shared her identity with him at all.
It meant they could work together.
“Ye ken, when we said we’d get together for a drink after Robbie was safe in bed, I didnae expect another Hunter’s adventure.”
In the darkness, the two men reached the turn-off for the royal wing and Drum snorted as they halted. “Neither did I, but I appreciate having ye at my side, Craig.”
