Page 98 of Tempting the Highland Spy
Belle folded her arms like a shield. “Donnal would never hurt me.”
“Please, think about this—you saidit’sfollowed you. What did you mean?”
Belle’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know my husband. But I do. He’s the only man I’ve truly loved—the only man who saw me as a woman and not an heiress. Donnal would never hurt me. But I’ve said too much. Like a fool, I thought you’d understand. I thought I could trust you.”
With that, Belle turned on her heel and marched to the door. Grace hurried after her.
“One more thing—” Belle regarded Grace as though she’d transformed into an enemy before her eyes. “As I am cancelling the ceremony, I’ve no need for a bridesmaid, now do I? I would like you to leave—at first light.”
Lacing her fingers together to stop their trembling, Grace made her way down the corridor. Belle had rushed off to her room, making it clear she did not wish to continue the discussion. Well, she’d gone and done it now, hadn’t she?
She’d accomplished preciselynothingsince she’d arrived at the castle. She’d found no evidence to prove Raibert guilty of any crime, much less murder. She’d come upon no proof that Belle hadnotbeen involved in her father’s death. She believed Belle innocent. But her impressions of the heiress and suspicions of the others in the woman’s life meant nothing to the law. They’d mean nothing to Mr. Jones.
And now, she’d managed to alienate the one woman whose trust she needed.
She’d failed miserably.
She’d destroyed the investigation in fine fashion.
And to top it all off, she’d allowed her heart to be dragged into this rather hopeless muddle. How would Harrison react when he learned that her concern for Belle’s safety had led the heiress to call off her for-show-only ceremony and send them packing?
She sighed, a miserable sound wrung from the depths of her being. There was nothing to be done about it now. When she made a mistake, it was a humdinger.
A shadow crossed her path. Jason Thornquist came into view. He stared at her, his eyes hard and questioning.
“I saw Belle rushing back to her room. What did you say to her?”
The hairs at her nape prickled in an instinctive warning. Something was wrong. The man had no cause to look at her that way. Instinctively, she took a step back.
“We had a bit of a disagreement. A minor spat.” She inched away in retreat. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
“Why are you ill at ease? Were you expecting to roam around this place without anyone noticing?”
“I beg your pardon.” She took another step back, out of his reach.
No trace of the charming man she’d met at dinner remained. “Thieving again, are you?”
He lunged, easily closing the small distance between them. One hand clamped over her mouth as he dragged her against him. What madness had come over him?
A cloth she hadn’t noticed in his hand grazed her cheek. He pressed the felt to her face. Covering her nose. Her mouth.
No!Alarm careened through her. Jerking her head away from the cloth, she gasped for air. Desperate, she kicked her heel hard into his shin.
“Goddamned bitch,” he muttered. As the cloth fluttered to the ground, she rammed her heel into him again and the tension in his arms eased—just enough for her to pull free.
Screaming for help, she bolted away.
He chased her. Long-limbed and swift, he caught her easily and pressed a hand over her mouth, silencing her.
He hauled her into the unoccupied wing of the castle. He carried her kicking and flailing into an empty room. Utter darkness surrounded them. His hands fell away, and he shoved her toward a dark corner, closed the door behind them, and lit a small oil lamp.
The dingy light cast shadows against the wall. Keeping her gaze on him, she scrambled across the floor. If she could get to the door—
Her foot caught on an obstacle. She stumbled. Catching herself, she turned to look behind her.
Dear God! A body—was that a woman?—sprawled on the floor.
Her stomach lurched. Sickened, she pressed a hand to her mouth.
