Page 98 of Highland Sword
“His people could pay off those men who made statements against him. His friends at the Home Office could convince Madame Laborde to admit that she met with us. She could say we engineered the entire entrapment scheme, even though we only planted the seeds.”
“He’ll never get out,” Aidan said again, tracing the frown creasing her forehead. The tip of his fingers caressed her face, moved down to the side of her neck, inching lower to the curves of her breasts.
“They could move the trial back to London. Lord Sidmouth could assist him and—”
“He’ll never get out.” He rolled Morrigan until she lay on top of him.
Heat erupted within her as she felt his erection nestle against her. This was the way it was for them. Looking into each other’s eyes led to lovemaking. Arguing about the color of the sky led to lovemaking. Lying in bed talking about nothing led to lovemaking. A touch, a brush, a kiss, a smile led to lovemaking. The man was insatiable and so was she. And now this talk of Sir Rupert getting out of jail or not was leading to lovemaking.
She raised herself to look into his face, and he took advantage of the movement, nipping playfully at her breast. That was all it took. Her legs opened a little wider. Her body had a will of its own.
“Before we get distracted…” She took a quick breath, feeling him pressing into her.
“This is not distraction.”
He took hold of her breast and brought it to his mouth again. Sparks exploded inside of her, and Morrigan could think of nothing but wanting him buried deep within her. She was ready for him. It seemed she wasalways ready for him. She moved her hips and he slid into her.
Later, when they were both spent and she lay sprawled across his body, Morrigan asked her question again.
“What makes you think that he’ll never get out?”
He chuckled. “You’re very difficult to distract.”
“Tell me.”
“For the same reason that Wemys was afraid and wanted me to hide him. Sir Rupert knows too much. And he can talk all he wants about ‘king and country.’ The only thing that matters to him right now is saving his own skin, and he’ll do anything, make any deal to accomplish that. He would testify and bring down Lord Liverpool’s government if he had to, without thinking twice about it. Burney would destroy the Home Office entirely to escape the gallows. For that reason, Lord Sidmouth cannot afford to let him live. I suspect one morning, quite soon, his jailor will find the prisoner hanging in his cell, and they’ll swear it was done by his own hand.”
CHAPTER36
AIDAN
The reception and dinner at Captain Kenedy’s house had all been a ruse to catch Sir Rupert in his own web. The actual meeting between Cinaed and the duke took place in the admiral’s stateroom of His Majesty’s shipWilliam & Mary,docked at the north end of Merkinch Wharf, near the mouth of the unfinished canal.
Aidan boarded the vessel behind Cinaed, Niall Campbell, and a dozen Mackintosh fighters, who remained on deck trading glares with the ship’s marines. Aidan believed that each side was operating in good faith, however, and that no danger would befall anyone. Happily, everything proceeded according to plan.
Cinaed and the duke were both men who possessed strong personalities. As a result, the discussion comprised as many disagreements as agreements. But in the end, the two of them reached a place of mutual respect and understanding. Promises of communication and support followed. They each walked away with the belief that when and if this son of George III were to become the monarchof the Great Britain and Ireland, both men would remember this meeting and abide by their promises.
It was with a sense of elation that they all went ashore hours later.
Cinaed and Niall and most of the men were returning immediately to Dalmigavie. Aidan was to wait at Searc’s house until his wife returned from her visit with Madame Laborde.
The day after Sir Rupert’s arrest, the artist had moved back to Barn Hill with Aidan’s promise that financial arrangements would be made for her once Burney’s trial was behind them. There could be no hint of impropriety between her and the Mackintosh clan. She would testify that she’d conveyed a number of rumors that she’d heard. She would admit that what she said may have induced Sir Rupert Burney to hire men to attempt an assassination on the duke. But she had no part in any such plan of his. And it would be clear to any jury that the spymaster would have benefited, regardless of the outcome.
They were standing on the pier, preparing to mount their horses when they saw Blair galloping toward them from Inverness.
“Burney has escaped,” he told them as he reined in his steed. “They were taking the rogue to Fort George. The prison wagon was attacked before they even got out of the city. He’s gone.”
Aidan immediately thought of Morrigan. She’d taken a carriage to Barn Hill with two Mackintosh escorts, in addition to the driver. That should be the last place Sir Rupert would go, but he had to be certain.
Cinaed and Niall began to ask Blair what else he knew, but Aidan couldn’t wait. Leaping onto his horse, he told them he was going after his wife.
CHAPTER37
MORRIGAN
The enormous house on Huntly Street had been locked since the day after Sir Rupert’s arrest. The servants were dismissed. His clerk and his henchmen had disappeared. Morrigan followed Madame Laborde out of the carriage. A frigid wind was whipping up the icy waters of the River Ness, and she promised the driver that they wouldn’t be long.
The two Mackintosh fighters walked them to the door.
