Page 53 of An English Rose for the Highlander
“Our marriage license. You had acquired special dispensation to proceed with the wedding so quickly, and we signed the agreement during the ceremony.”
Nodding, Dominik stepped away from Rose to the side of the room. Within the bookshelves in the chamber, Dominik used a bottom section to hold the many letters and agreements he had drafted up between himself and his several business contacts. Within that same set of documents was their marriage license. He retrieved the document quickly, returned it to the officials and presented it to them without so much as a blink.
“I believe ye can see the signatures there yerself.”
The officials looked over the document, comparing the signatures on the pieces of paper against each other. While there may have been a similarity or two, it was impossible to say that they matched. Burns scowled, looking at his fellow with a severe expression. The room was silent, and in the quiet, a thought occurred to Dominik that he knew he must vocalize to Rose as soon as they had a moment.
Lord Egerton had presented this claim of a promised marriage to the officialsafterhe had seen them in the inn. It was obvious that he had been the one to spread the rumor of her “abduction,” and Dominik wouldn’t put it past the man to have been the one to tell them about the copper as well.
How that bastard found out, Dominik did not know, however.
“Thank you for your time, Laird and Lady MacKay. We will deliberate our findings and return word of the Crown’s decision to you.”
The men got up, proceeding to the exit, before Dominik stopped them. He held out his hand.
“The licenses, please.”
Remembering himself, Burns handed the document back, then straightened his coat. Dominik nodded once, maintaining decorum as he gestured out of the room and into the hall. As a servant passed, Dominik raised his brows, making eye contact with the man.
“Would you be sure our guests are properly shown to their carriages. They have made a lengthy journey, come all this way, and we shall show them the height of Scottish hospitality.”
The servant nodded hastily, escorting the men to the main entrance where they could retrieve their coats. Dominik watched them slip down the hall until he could no longer see them. His shoulders sagged slightly before he spun around and headed back into the study. Rose stood up the moment he entered, rushing up to him.
“Lord Egerton did this. There is no other explanation.”
Dominik nodded back at her. “I came to the same conclusion. I have a feeling that he caught wind of that copper discovery while he was still lying low in Scotland after abandoning ye. Something tells me the man wants to get his hands on it.”
“This is ridiculous. He must know I would never agree to marry him. And that is the only way he would be able to get his hands on the land.”
“I am quite sure Egerton does ken that verra well. He drafted up a false promise, lass. The man is clearly…unwell with greed.”
Rose opened her mouth, words on the tip of her tongue, when Fiona suddenly came in through the open door, rushing up to the pair of them. Out of breath, the young woman gripped Rose’s hand as his wife stepped forward to aid her.
“I am sorry for the intrusion, but I’ve discovered it. The reason the livestock became so ill.”
Dominik’s attention snapped to Fiona all the more, his hand instinctively going to the small of Rose’s back.
“Well, go on then, lassie.”
“Arsenic. It’s used to kill vermin and the like. We daenae use it here in the castle because of the mouser cats and such. It is easy to get. I only wish I had recognized the symptoms sooner. But it is the poison ye speak of.”
A shiver ran down Dominik’s spine. Arsenic was a common rodent killer, the stuff used for pests of all sorts, and theydid notuse it in the keep. The pieces of some massive, invisible puzzle that he could not see were falling into place. The false document, the poisoning, and the officials knowing of the copper deposits.
It was all connected, and Lord Egerton sat at the center of it.
Dominik turned to a servant standing to the side, Finley McGregor, one of his personal guards for years, and said, “Find out everything you can about the man, and do not rest until he is in your custody. I will have his hide for this.”
“Of course, me laird. Right away. Though I will also mention,” the tall reedy man took a step forward, doing his best to keep himself calm, “there have been a few reports of a figure spotted walking across the grounds the past few nights. Oskar asked us nae to bother ye with it, but I fear now it may be connected.”
“Blasted man,” Dominik cursed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It must. Search out the house, Finley. Daenae rest until the man, who is indeed likely to be Egerton, is apprehended.”
Finley nodded, turning on his heel and rushing out of the room to deal with the threat upon the keep. Dominik turned to Rose, taking her hands in his as he met her stare with calm determination.
“We will sort this, lass. I have nae doubt.”
“I trust you, Dominik.” She nodded once, a tight smile on her face. “We will overcome this.”
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