Page 49 of The Beast of the Highlands
Natters smiled stiffly. “Aye, Miss.”
Together, they walked through the labyrinth of hallways, and up two narrow staircases, until they came to the familiar corridor that led to Flynn’s bedchamber. And as Autumn strode that last, short distance, she could not help but let her mind wander. Might they have time to enjoy one another’s company while she was in his chambers? With any luck, they would.
At the door, Natters ushered her inside and turned to leave. A second before he did so, however, he leaned into her ear and whispered a single, chilling phrase: “I’m sorry, lass… I’m so very, very sorry.”
30
“Did ye think me a fool?” Keira snarled from her perch on the end of Flynn’s bed, as the sound of a key turned in the lock behind Autumn. She was trapped, led here by a man she thought she could trust, to face a woman who clearly wished her harm.
Autumn blinked in astonishment. “I do not know what you mean, Lady Keira.”
Where is he? Where is my beloved? Why would Natters do such a thing?
A thousand questions barreled through Autumn’s mind, and no answers were forthcoming. Though at least Natters’ anxiety now made sense. It could not have been easy for him to betray his Laird like this.
“I think ye do, Miss Montgomery.” She spat the last two words as though they were sour in her mouth. “Otherwise, ye wouldnae be here, inmybetrothed’s private chambers, after a summonin’. I amnae blind, ye wretched viper. I’ve seen ye scuttlin’ into corners, thinkin’ yerselves unseen.”
Autumn’s stomach plummeted. “Again, Lady Keira, I do not know what you mean.”
“I wouldnae have intervened until after I was married to Flynn,” Keira went on, her face awash with anger. “Every lad has his dalliances, and there isnae much a lass can do until she has the title of wife. Ye could’ve had yer fill of secret encounters, and I wouldnae have done aught. But then, ye got greedy. Ye twisted his mind so he’d do foolish things, and I cannae let that happen.”
Autumn swallowed thickly. “A third time, Lady Keira, I do not know what you mean.”
Evidently, the scheme had been discovered, and though Autumn did not want to believe that Natters was the one who had informed Keira, there did not appear to be another viable culprit.
“Are ye goin’ to continue to plead ignorance?” Keira snorted. “Ye’re a crafty witch, and nay mistake.”
Autumn’s expression hardened. “I can only plead ignorance, as I do not know what you are inferring.”
“Yer plot to wed my betrothed tonight and have him give up his Lairdship to his brother, so my father willnae rain Hell down on this castle and everyone in it!” Keira snapped, confirming Autumn’s heartbreaking suspicions.
Why, Natters? Why would you do this?
“I have to admit, it is rather clever,” Keira continued. “My father wouldnae be able to do a thing, or he’d risk a war with Flynn’s other allies. And ye likely would’ve succeeded, if I wasnae just that little bit cleverer than ye.”
Autumn pressed her palm to her chest as sharp, fiery breaths singed her lungs. “What did you do to Natters? He would never betray his Laird. If he has obeyed you in this way, you must have done something to force him.”
“That is precisely what I mean.” Keira smirked. “I am cleverer than ye thought. It dinnae require much, in truth, and it’s an old tactic.”
Autumn clenched her free hand into a fist. “What did you do?”
“I kidnapped his son and threatened to have him drowned in the river if he dinnae bring ye to me. I thought about doin’ it sooner, right after I heard what ye had planned, but I knew it might give ye time to conjure another scheme. I’m patient. I waited. And I struck exactly when I needed to,” Keira explained darkly, with a malevolent glint in her eyes. “Ye cannae imagine the torment I’ve felt, these last few days, watchin’ Flynn vanish from the castle to make a fool of himself.”
You may be more intelligent than I gave you credit for, but you speak too much.
Autumn doubted Keira had even realized what she had given away, and Autumn was not about to tell her. Clearly, Natters had not been the one to reveal the marriage plot to Keira. His part in this had only been bringing Autumn to this very chamber, at this very time, to have this confrontation.
I pray your son will survive this harpy, Natters… and I forgive you for what you have done. In your position, I would have done the same.
“One of your spies overheard us?” Autumn tested the waters.
Keira cackled. “Naturally. Ye must’ve thought ye had them all figured out, but I have more in my ranks than ye ken. If ye’d wanted to keep yer conversation private, ye shouldnae have had it in the castle, where I hear all and see all.”
She certainly had a point, but the suggestion of the scheme had come so suddenly that there had been no time to move to a more private location. Although, in hindsight, Autumn dearly wished she had silenced Flynn in his brother’s study, and asked him to speak of it later, when they could be truly alone.
Even then, who is to say we would not have been overheard?
“And what, pray tell, is your scheme?” Autumn held her ground, refusing to show fear in front of this wretched woman. “I imagine you have one, or you would have not gone to the trouble of creating such a dramatic denouement.”
