Page 66 of Ghost Walk
Grace gave her head a clearing shake. No. She wasn’t going to give into panic and doubt. No matter what, shehadto make sure that Jamie survived this. Someone so alive couldn’t spend the rest of eternity trapped in limbo. It wasn’t fair! She needed to find a way to save him.
She neededhim. Grace had been crazy in love with that pirate since she was fifteen years old. She wasn’t about to lose him now.
The door to The Raven suddenly burst open and a good-looking man with blond hair sailed out like he’d been thrown headfirst. Grace’s eyebrows soared as the guy careened into the street, rolling to a stop by her anachronistic, but very comfy, Keds. It appeared that someone had punched him a few times and then tossed him right out of the tavern.
And it didn’t take a genius to figure out which Scottish sea captain that “someone” must be.
“Grace, my love, meet Ned.” Jamie stepped out of The Raven, dusting his palms together. “He’s simply dying to speak with you.”
“When I told you to use your imagination to get himout here, I expected a little more imagination thanthis, Jamie.”
“Yes, well, have I mentioned I’ve no liking for the man?”
Edward Hunnicutt struggled to his feet, an outraged look on his face. “You can’t just barge into my goddamn establishment and manhandle me like this, Riordan!”
“Seems that I can.” Jamie retorted. “And I’ll ask you kindly to be watching your fucking language around my fiancée.”
Ned’s head swung around to look at Grace. “You agreed to marry this maniac?”
“I didn’t exactlyagree, but I don’t think that’s going to stop him from planning a wedding.” She glanced at Jamie and arched a brow. “A pirate I know recently told me that marriage proposals and kidnappings are kinda the same thing to James MacCleef Riordan.”
Jamie’s eyes gleamed. “Smart pirate.”
“Who is this woman? Noladywould ever consent to link her name to yours.” Edward spat out, glowering at Jamie. “Why even Lucinda knew better than to…”
Grace cut him off. “Oh shut up.” She snapped, scowling at the man who she had absolutely no liking for either. Confrontations usually left her sweaty and panicked, but this was one time she felt just fine shouting at somebody.
“As I explained, the lady is my bride.” Jamie told Edward darkly. “Be nice or I’ll forget I promised her that I wouldn’t run you through until after she’s conducted her investigation.”
“Until after we find out if he’sguilty.” Grace corrected.
“I never promised that.”
“What investigation?” Edward demanded. “What the hell do you think you’re…?”
“We know you were sleeping with Lucinda Wentworth and now she’s dead.” Grace interrupted. “I think there area lotof people in this town who’d be interested to know about your affair with her.”
Ned’s eyes widened. “Who told you that? Riordan? It’s all a lie! All of it!”
“Lucindawrote all the juicy details of your encounters in her diary, which I now have. So I suggest you start cooperating.”
His face flushed an angry red. “Fine. Say Iwasmeeting her on the side.” He whispered fiercely. “What would killing her accomplish? You think Iwantedto lose a woman who looked like that? One who was willing to do the things she was willing to do? Why in the blue hell would I want to get rid of her?”
That was actually a fair point. Grace looked over at Jamie.
He shrugged. “Who’s to say why madmen do anything, love?”
“You can’t prove I didanything.” Ned thundered. “Riordan is the one you should be questioning.Hewas the one who was seen around town with her, not me.”
“I don’thaveto prove you did anything.” Grace retorted. “I’m betting all I have to do is make copies of a few of the more salacious entries and it’ll ruin your life.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I especially enjoyed reading about the time you took Lucinda to the stables and used the riding crop and bridle to…”
“What do you want?” Ned interrupted, his eyes frantically casting around.
“I want to know what kind of bad intentions you have towards Anabel Maxwell.”
The sidewalks were filling with people, all of them trying to figure out what was going on. Across the street, Clara Vance, Eugenia Wentworth, and Anabel Maxwell were standing in a group, all of them looking appalled.
Anabel gasped, one hand dramatically covering her heart. “Why would you have bad intentions towards me, Mr. Hunnicutt? Why my family’s lineage and reputation are above reproach.”
