Page 101 of Keeping Kate
“Huh,” Hume said. He finished his cocoa, brushed the crumbs off his black robe, and stood. “I am not wasting my time, or the Crown’s time, on a lovers’ spat between two besotted fools who chased each other across Scotland for a kiss and a pledge. This case is not strong enough to present in court. Grant, you should have known better, and sought counsel from a military lawyer before submitting this to the Court of Justiciary. My nephew is a fine advocate for the military, but it seems he heard none of this, am I correct?”
“True, I did not see the final papers, sir,” Alec said.
“What is your decision, sir?” Grant asked. “We can present it formally.”
“My decision is that this has no value before the court. I am the Lord Advocate of Scotland, not a blasted matchmaker. If the girl is a spy, she is not a very good one. But we cannot prove it. And if there is another woman out there poisoning officers, I suggest you turn your attention to finding her, Grant, and take this lovestruck MacCarran lassie off your list. Fools, the lot of you.” He threw down his cloth napkin. “The Court of Session has a fair burden of cases as it is.”
“Sir,” Grant said. “I implore you to pursue this.”
“Love has no place before my bench. Alexander, good day to you. Katherine, welcome to the family. My congratulations to you both. Colonel Grant, come with me, sir. You have a report to prepare.” Speaking in an intractable tone, Hume pointed Grant toward the door, then turned.
“Excellent choice in a wife, Alexander. That was a damn fine story. My wife will enjoy hearing it when I return home this evening.” He smiled for an instant.
“Sir, thank you,” Alec said, sounding surprised.
“Aye, thank you, sir. Uncle,” Kate added.
“May I?” The Lord Advocate took her hand. She stretched up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. He blustered, saying nothing coherent, and left, slamming the door behind him.
Alec stood in silence for a moment. Then he looked at Kate and smiled, shaking his head. “Now that was either a miracle, or some very fine fairy magic.”
Smiling in relief, hardly believing what had just happened, Kate circled her arms around his neck. Alec hugged her to him, arm in a sling between them, and she lifted her face for a kiss mingling chocolate, coffee, and a good measure of passion and tenderness.
Alec drew back to look at her. “My love, much as I would like to continue, we have a more pressing task.”
She nodded soberly. “But if any should be caught removing Ian and the others from the castle after the Lord Advocate’s leniency here, we would have no chance of mercy or miracles. What if it goes poorly?”
He took her into his embrace, silent, just holding her. The rock of security and comfort offered in his arms took her breath away. “The lads are determined to take the risk. The others will linger, awaiting sentencing. And Ian will be transferred to the Tower of London soon, I suspect. Kate, you do not have to do this if it makes you anxious.”
“I want to come with you.”
“Well then,” he said softly. “Your glamourie will be a help up at the Castle.” He led her out the door and through the chocolate shop to the street door. Waving to Walter as they left, Kate saw a few people standing outside the shop near a group of sedan chair carriers waiting for customers. Three women in gowns and cloaks stood on the cobblestone walkway and turned to look toward the chocolate shop.
She looked, gasped, looked again. Alec gave a low huff and a smothered laugh.
None of the ladies looked particularly attractive—tall, hefty, wide in the jaw, with a strong touch of rouge and a few too many black beauty patches. Recognizing then who they were, Kate put a hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh.
The situation was desperately serious, she knew. Men could die this day or hang later for what they planned to do. And she was sure none of them would want to die looking like this.
“Good day, ladies,” Alec said.
“A fine day,” Kate said in a choked voice.
“Well,” Jack said, coming toward them, his green satin gown swishing around his big feet. “We are ready. Let us do what must be done. We have hired the chairs. Time to go up to the Castle.”
“Roberta, Constance,” Alec said to Rob and Connor. “How nice to see you. And Jacqueline,” Alec added, “you look ravishing today.”
“Go to the devil,” Jack growled, producing a fan and flapping it madly.
