Page 45 of Kilty Until Proven Innocent
“Ye?” He pretended surprise as he turned back, eyeing her speculatively. “A woman? What would a woman ken about this business? I received a note telling me to meet a man here tonight who could tell me who was trying to kill the King.”
She stepped forward, the cloak billowing as she moved. “Aye, ye idiot, I was the one who sent the note!”
One of the first rules he’d learned as a Hunter was that people made mistakes when they were angry, so he pushed. “Ye? What wouldyeken of the man who is trying to kill the King?”
“Everything!” she snapped.
It wasn’t a confession, but when her arm emerged from her cloak, holding a long, thin dagger, Drum’s hand dropped to his sword hilt and he rocked forward on the balls of his feet, prepared for an attack.
But instead of thrusting the blade toward him, Lady Avaline slammed the dagger down atop the altar, where it gleamed in the candlelight. After a terse moment, Drum straightened to examine it.
“What’s that?” he finally asked.
“That is the dagger which will be used in tonight’s attack on the King. The assassin will enter his bedchamber wielding it.”
Despite his certaintyhewas the one setting the trap forher, Drum’s heartbeat began to speed. “What?” he croaked. “How do ye ken that?” Why would she be so stupid to announce her intentions tohim unless she planned to silence him? “Is the assassin here?”
In the candlelight, her scars reflected oddly as she smiled. “Aye, he is.” She stepped forward, her movements graceful, refined. “But dinnae fash, he’ll no’ hurt ye.”
‘Twas the mocking in her voice which raised his hackles, and Drum realized he was squeezing the hilt of his sword. “What are ye talking about lass,” he rasped. “Who is trying to kill the King of Scotland?”
She stopped, a mere arm’s length from him, her smile cruel. “Why, Drummond Kennedy…yeare.”
“Lies!” The growl tore from his throat before he could stop it. The way her grin grew told him that she was playing the same game he was; using his emotions against him, and he tried to force himself to calm. “I am no’ trying to kill the King.”
“Are ye no’?” She turned slightly, giving him her shoulder as she shrugged nonchalantly. One slender finger traced the blade where it lay on the altar. “Ye had access to that corridor where the ambush was set. Ye had access to the crossbow from the guards and the King’s schedule.”
“Aye, so did ye,” he growled. “And ye poisoned the wine.”
“Me?” Her expression of surprise was so convincing that Drum momentarily wondered if their assumption had been wrong. “Why wouldIwant to kill the King?”
“Ye dinnae want to kill him. Ye want to be the hero for once.”
Something like surprise flashed across her face before she turned away, hiding her expression in the shadows of her cloak once more.
And Drummond knew he was right. He and Brigit, working together, had discovered the truth.
“Ye…” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat, still staring at the dagger. “Ye are mistaken, Drummond.Yeare the one who wants the King dead. Tonight, he lies sleeping and helpless, no’ caring how he ruined yer life. Dinnae be a coward!” She finally returned her blazing eyes to him. “Scoop up this blade and do what ye must do!”
“The King didnae ruin my life,” he countered calmly, waiting for an opening.
“Aye, hedid!” She slapped her hand down beside the handle of the dagger. “He took everything from ye!”
Drum cocked his head, studying her calmly. “He didnae take my honor.”
Another slap. “Aye, he did!”
Interesting. Drum’s mind raced as he tried to piece together her plan. “Ye…want me to kill the King. Ortryto kill the King, I’m guessing. Ye were telling the truth that ye dinnae want him dead.”
She drew her hand back, movements jerky. “O-Of course I dinnae want him dead.”
“Then why encourage me—Och, of course,” he murmured. “Ye want me totryto kill His Majesty. Then, at the last moment, ye’ll rush in and save him.” He straightened. “I’m right, am I no’?”
Avaline scoffed, turning away. “Ridiculous.”
“Nay, ‘tisnae. ‘Tis the only explanation.” Her body language told him she wasn’t going to confess,not yet. So, he pushed. “Did ye come up with this plan all by yerself? I’m impressed a lass could be so cunning.”
She snorted. “It willnae work, Drummond.”
