Page 45 of Highland Jewel
Maisie had explained everything to him. He knew what the two of them had spoken about that night at the meeting. He knew about the newspaper article and the letter sent to them by the Manchester Female Reform Society and how they’d ended up in Fiona’s satchel. But Niall had no doubt that she would have been arrested, regardless. The letter simply added fuel to their fire.
“You and I both know that my sister has done nothing that warrants these charges. And I know you have no desire to pursue any of this in the courts.” He dropped the page on the desk. “So here I am. What is it that you want me to do?”
The older man studied him for a long moment and then gestured again to the chair across from him. Niall would have liked to think he still held some shred of control. But the battle had been lost before he had a chance to fight it. Regardless of how disgusted he felt right now, he couldn’t let that emotion interfere with what he had to do. To get his sister back, he had to surrender. He took a seat.
With a flick of his fingers, slight enough to go unnoticed if Niall weren’t watching, Burney sent the others from the room. The door closed behind them. They sat there in silence for a few moments while the old fox either thought about his next move or reveled in his victory. But as Sir Rupert finally decided to speak, Niall interrupted him.
“I want assurances that my sister has not been interfered with in any way.”
“What do you take me for, Lieutenant Campbell? I treat the families of those who work for me as I would my own. Mrs. Johnston has been treated with only the utmost respect.”
Niall didn’t believe him. He also did not work for him. Not yet. But he would go along with whatever was said, for now. “Where are you keeping her?”
“She is being moved at the moment.”
“Where?”
“You’ll know it soon enough.”
They were holding Fiona hostage. Niall already knew the job they’d initially wanted him for in Edinburgh had been filled. But Lord Sidmouth was unleashing his hounds across England and Scotland. Dozens of efforts to entrap, to coerce, to spy, and to arrest had to be in the works.
“I’ve agreed to work for you, but youwillset her free now.”
“Mrs. Johnston will be set free when you complete the task you’re assigned.”
“Complete?” Niall ground his jaws together. “How long will it take?”
Burney shook his head. “It depends on you and how clever you are about positioning yourself with the right people.”
The right people?Niall leaned toward his foe. “Are we talking days? Months? Years? I’ll not have you keep my sister shackled in some prison for any amount of time.”
“A few months, perhaps.”
“I’ll not do it.” It took all of Niall’s willpower not to go for Burney’s throat.
“I told you before, she won’t be treated like a prisoner.”
“Bollocks.”
“Lieutenant Campbell, we’re getting distracted again.” Burney rubbed his chin. “I should think you’d be anxious to learn the details of your task and thereby expedite your sister’s release.”
Niall felt the rage tearing him apart, but he clamped his jaws shut.
Sir Rupert sat back in his chair. “Less than a fortnight ago, a lawyer approached you on the streets of Edinburgh with a proposal.”
So, they were watching him. No, that wasn’t it. They were watching Henry Brougham. Of course, Niall thought. The lawyer had been a thorn in their side for years. The mists began to lift, and he started seeing more clearly. Lord Sidmouth would love having something to discredit their foe. Fiona had been arrested little more than a week later.
“I recall the meeting.”
“And the proposal?”
“We didn’t get that far in the conversation.”
Niall would never admit his reasons to this blackguard. He would never mention Maisie’s name and their connection. Perhaps it was pointless, though. Burney’s spies were probably well aware of the time the two of them spent with each other. Still, he was thankful now that their marriage plans had not been made public. He would give this vermin no more leverage over him.
“I told the gentleman the same thing I told you,” Niall continued. “I’m not interested in government employment. He didn’t provide any further detail.”
Sir Rupert’s spies must have reported exactly that, for Burney didn’t dispute the claim. “Then you should know that Mr. Brougham’s employment pertained to a request from the king’s estranged wife.”
