Page 88 of Romancing the Scot
“She didn’t escape,” Hugh told her.
Grace looked at him as his words registered.
“We captured her as she boarded a ship in Greenock. Branson went to Glasgow to fetch her.”
Chapter 31
From the envoys’ ease in conversing with Lord Aytoun, who was present in place of his son, Grace decided that Elliot and Rivenhall must have found the older nobleman far more congenial than his hot-blooded son. She glanced around the library. Hugh’s clerk Mr. MacKay was sitting at a table off to the side and listening attentively, pen in hand, to every word. Apparently, their discomfort yesterday with disclosing the details of their mission had diminished.
“As you know, your lordship, the Prince of Wales feels a kindred connection with the Stuart monarchs of the past,” Sir Rupert was saying. “Granting Miss Ware a pardon has never been an issue. Many of the Scottish Jacobite families have been restored to their lands and titles.”
The envoy continued to talk, but Grace saw him constantly glancing at the folded document on her lap. She realized she was eyeing the letter in Captain Rivenhall’s hand with the same intensity. A game of exchange was about to be played.
The earl finally interrupted. “Gentlemen, I assume what you have in your hands is a free, full, and general pardon for Miss Ware, for all treasons, rebellion, and offences whatsoever.” He stretched out his hand for the letter.
“Quite so, m’lord,” Captain Rivenhall replied, handing it to him.
“And it includes the opportunity for Miss Ware to request a pension in the future,” Sir Rupert added. “If she so chooses.”
While they waited for the earl to read the document, the two men focused all their attention on Grace. If she and Hugh were right—if Sir Rupert Elliot was the man orchestrating the earlier attacks—he was doing an excellent job of keeping his expression natural. An implacable demeanor under pressure certainly had to be a requirement for a spy, she thought.
“I was asked by Lord Greysteil,” she said, “to pass on his apologies for the unavoidable delay of joining us. I’m sure the viscount will be along shortly.”
Captain Rivenhall’s gaze remained on Grace’s part of the bargain, still sitting on her lap. “Miss Ware, Mr. MacKay only provided us with the cursory details, but we cannot tell you how fortunate we feel that this correspondence of your father’s survived the horrifying crossing you endured.”
“Yes, it was fortunate for all of us that I happened to be carrying it in my reticule. As you know, Colonel Ware had complete confidence in me. During the years leading up to his passing, he entrusted me with everything of value when we traveled.”
Both men looked at the earl when he shifted in his chair and then settled back again. He was clearly taking his time reading the pardon.
“I should tell you that I did break the seal when I arrived at Baronsford,” she told them. “But the list of names—the code names—meant nothing to me until you arrived looking for it. I’m quite overjoyed that I didn’t dispose of it.”
The two men glanced at Lord Aytoun, and Grace noticed that Sir Rupert’s foot was beginning to tap on the floor. Captain Rivenhall’s knuckles were white from the grip he had on his chair; he appeared no less impatient with how long it was taking the earl to finish his reading.
* * *
Hugh motioned to his clerk to continue recording the conversation as Mrs. Douglas began to rant about her supposed ill treatment.
“I was forcibly removed from the ship, defying all conventions of dignity and courtesy. I was thoroughly humiliated before other passengers, who looked on aghast as that twit sitting over there read out false charges against me.”
“You registered for that voyage under a false name,” Branson commented.
“Is that a crime?” the woman snapped. “Because of the high-ranking position of my dear, departed husband, and theinvaluableservice he provided our nation at a time when it was most needed—service that caused him to damage his health irrevocably, I might add—I have always traveled under an assumed name. You don’t know how difficult it is to constantly be celebrated for the work I was a part of. Yes, a part of! I held him up, supported him in every way. And this is what I am now subjected to? Brutishly manhandled. Publicly humiliated. Dragged through the streets in shackles. Shamed to the point that I don’t know if I shall ever recover.”
“No shackles, m’lord,” Branson noted. “We used no shackles.”
“Don’t you know who I am? Who my friends are? Let me tell you, the Prince Regent himself will hear of this. And when he does, the wrath ofGodwill descend on your miserable heads. You will grovel in the depths of the filthiest prisons in the land. You will beg for my intercession with the courts, and I shall spurn you like the dogs you are.”
“MayI speak now?” Hugh finally had enough of it.
His tone was sharp enough to silence the woman momentarily.
“You were taken into custody on my orders,” Hugh started. “You were brought here where you will be charged with crimes related to the attempted abduction of Miss Grace Ware and the grievous injuries sustained by my blacksmith, Mr. Darby. Your manservant has been identified as—”
“This is madness. If he was involved with this at all, the man acted alone. I have no connection with him. Upon my departure from Nithsdale Hall, he left my service. I’ve not seen him since and have no desire to. He worked in my employ as a manservant. That’s all. No, you have no reason for holding me. I demand that you release me immediately.”
Hugh leaned back in his chair, studying the woman’s sour expression.
“The charges I’ve mentioned are nothing compared to what you will face when I transport you to London. The ill use you have allegedly been forced to endure will not hold a candle to the treatment you will receive on the gallows.”
