Page 159 of The Highlander's Princess Bride
Victoria turned her eyes forward and kept walking.
The woods were thinning, and sunlight filtered down through the feathery branches, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. A wintry scent filled the air as her feet crunched through a thin crusting of snow and pine needles. Birds darted overhead from branch to branch, twittering away in joyous peeps.
It was a beautiful day, the Highland air crisp and invigorating. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the irony of it. She would never see Nicholas again or have the chance to walk with him through these beautiful woods secure in the knowledge that she’d finally found the place she truly belonged.
With him.
They walked for another minute or so before breaking through into a small glen. Though they weren’t far from the road, it felt completely isolated.
No one would be coming to her rescue.
“It’s about damn time,” Fletcher said from off to her side.
Simply hearing that dreaded voice firmed her resolve. She would do whatever she needed to survive or go down fighting.
Turning, she faced her enemy.
Fletcher stood at the edge of the wood, dressed for riding, and several horses were tied up to trees. Her nemesis and his merry band of thugs had come by horseback.
“Do you really think Sergeant Blair and Constable Gow will not realize who is responsible for this?” she asked.
He walked forward to meet her as casually as if he were out for a little stroll. His cold, utterly satisfied smile sent a chill down her spine.
“Those idiots are barely capable of remembering their own names,” he said. “Besides, Sergeant Blair already believes you’re guilty. He’ll think you’ve met a just and convenient fate at the hands of ruthless thieves.”
“You know Captain Gilbride will not believe that.”
Fletcher shrugged. “He will not be able to prove anything.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “You were staying at the inn last night, as was Alec. You were seen in Arrochar with the two lawmen who were instructed to bring me to Glasgow to stand trial for murder.Everyoneknows you wish to see me hang. Do you really think you’ll get away with this?”
“I’m already on my way back to Glasgow,” he said with a negligent wave. “The innkeeper saw me drive off in my carriage this morning, shortly after Sergeant Blair set off to fetch you. There was no point in me waiting, you see, since you had no choice but to return to Glasgow.”
He circled around her as he talked, taking obvious delight in tormenting her. “My servants will swear I arrived in Glasgow well before nightfall. And in the meantime, your captors will be long gone. They know their business, Miss Knight. I made certain of that before I hired them.”
Her head swam as the extent of his madness struck her. That he would take such risks and put such an elaborate plan in play was mind-boggling.
“Why?” she asked hoarsely. “You’ve won. Isn’t it good enough for you to drag me back to Glasgow to face trial for murder?”
Fletcher leaned in, practically spitting the words into her face. “No, it is not. I want revenge for my son.”
“And bringing me forward on a murder charge isn’t revenge? Destroying my reputation and my life isn’t enough for you?”
His pockmarked face turned a mottled red. “You already escaped justice when the magistrate refused to lay charges after you murdered my son. Even the blasted court official in Glasgow said that while he feels compelled to investigate, you’ll probably escape conviction again.”
Victoria shuddered at the hatred in his voice and on his face.
“You have too many friends in high places, damn you,” Fletcher said.
“You mean like my father, the Prince Regent?” Victoria said, giving him as cold a smile as she could muster.
“Wut?” Mack said from behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder, taking in his consternation. “That’s right. My natural father is the Prince Regent. If anything happened to me, I cannot imagine the depth of his distress.”
“That’s a bloody lie,” Fletcher snarled, poking her in the shoulder with his pistol. “He doesn’t even know you exist.”
Victoria swallowed against the fear squeezing her throat. “It’s the truth, and you know it.”
