Alec stood and leaned over to shake the doctor’s hand. “Thank you very much for your help today. And I’m sorry to have been confrontational at the beginning.”
The doctor chuckled. “As soon as I heard you were a McGuiness, your behavior made perfect sense.”
Connie tried to cover up her small laugh but knew she’d been unsuccessful when Alec shot her a glare of annoyance, which served only to make her laugh a little bit more.
It felt good to be able to still find humor in things. It had been so rare over the last few years that she’d begun to think she never would again. “Thank you for your help and information, Doctor Howlett.” She nodded across to the doctor, who bowed to her.
“You’re welcome, your grace,” the doctor replied. “I do hope you find evidence that will exonerate you.”
“I do, too.” Though in searching for that evidence, she was now extremely nervous about what else they may discover of Duncan and his activities. She didn’t know if she was strong enough to deal with the full truth.
But she had to be. She had hidden from reality for far too long to continue doing so. It was time to look up and actually see things clearly, for perhaps the first time in her adult life. The thought was terrifying yet filled her with a sense of purpose. Though, at this point, she hoped that Alec knew what to do next, because she had no idea at all.
She just knew that they had to find the information soon, because with each passing minute, she was certain to the depths of her soul, her time was running out.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“What do you mean, no one has seen a lady matching the duchess’s description?” Fergus said to the man standing at attention at the drawbridge gate leading into Inverness. “That’s not possible. I have it on very good authority this is where she’s heading. She must have come through this way.”
The man shook his head, the green cap perched on top of his balding head slightly askew. “Ain’t none of my men seen her, I tell ya. And we been watching. She mighta come across the other river into town.”
Fergus felt his fists clenching tightly by his sides as he took in a deep breath. He had to control himself. He refused to allow himself to give in to the beast as his brother and father before him had done. “My men have already checked that entry point, and she wasn’t seen traveling that way, either.”
“Well, meybe she ain’t arrived yet,” the man suggested.
“Of course she’s here already,” Fergus replied. “She’s on horseback, and even if she was taking her sweet-assed time to get here, she would have arrived hours ago.”
“Meybe she snuck in? She might have blended into the background, or else attached herself to another group traveling in, so we didn’t see her.”
“She looks too much like an angel to simply blend in to anything. But you may be correct, perhaps she was with a group or disguised, otherwise your men would have noticed her. They would have been drooling all over her, actually.”
“A good sort, hey?”
Fergus rolled his eyes in disgust and then turned on his heel and motioned to his second in charge, Darius. “He says they haven’t seen her, but she must be here.”
Darius’s eyes narrowed on the watchman Fergus had been speaking with. “Do you think he’s lying? Perhaps he needs some enticement to tell the truth?” He cracked his knuckles in his palms.
“No. We don’t have time for any of that.” Fergus scanned the vicinity. Inverness was not as large as Glasgow or Aberdeen, but it was still a bloody big town, with close to twenty-five thousand people within its bounds. “It’s going to be difficult finding her, but we need to start somewhere.”
“And where do we start, sir?” Darius asked him. “We don’t even know why she came here instead of London. Don’t make much sense in my opinion.”
“She’s obviously suffering from a mental illness, Darius, having just murdered my brother,” Fergus said. “We can’t really suppose she would be doing anything in a logical manner right now. All we can do is find her before the authorities do. We need to get her to the Hambly Insane Asylum, for it is the only way to save her from the hangman’s noose.”
“And how do we do that?” Darius asked, his eyes also glancing about the bustling pedestrian traffic. “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“Perhaps,” Fergus allowed. “But thankfully, I am acquainted with someone in the city who will know where to find her.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“So where to now?” Connie asked as they left the doctor’s rooms and began walking down the footpath. She was still processing the fact that her husband had been not only a faithless liar, among his many other faults, but possibly a murderer, too. Obviously, she’d suspected that something was dreadfully wrong with him, but she’d been too busy trying to simply survive that she hadn’t wanted to think of anything beyond that.
“We should go back to the inn, where we can get some dinner, and then to the room and sift through this file, as long as you feel up to doing so.”
“What do you mean?” she asked him, noting the concern in his eyes. A look that Connie was beginning to feel frustrated with.
“You have just found out your husband may have been a murderer. That is a lot to process.”
At least he was blunt about it. She preferred it that way. “It is. However, it’s important we do, especially if four of those ladies have gone missing.”
“Very well,” Alec replied, tucking the file under his arm. “We shall go through the list, and then I shall teach you some defensive moves so you won’t feel helpless in the future. Though first we will eat. Is that all acceptable?”
Connie looked for the sarcasm in his expression, but there was none. He really was seriously asking for her opinion. “Um, yes, that sounds like a good plan.”
“I’m glad, for we cannot have your stomach rumbling any more today than it already has.” He grinned at her, and once again Connie felt her heart do a flip.
Traitorous organ.
A feeling of happiness engulfed her with the fact that Alec cared to ask her for her thoughts and had remembered his promise. Duncan had never bothered or cared to ask for her opinion or gain her agreement on anything.
Although, the more she thought about the close proximity she’d be in with Alec when he taught her some techniques, the more she was becoming self-conscious. Probably because she was very likely to embarrass herself all over again, just like earlier today, but this time, she might do something she’d regret.
Like try to kiss him.
But would she actually regret doing something like that?
With the thought of Fergus and his men searching for her looming large, there was a good chance that she could be caught before she and Alec could find any evidence to exonerate her. And if that happened, she doubted she’d ever get another chance to kiss Alec again. To do anything again, really, apart from seeing the inside of a jail cell, or the cell of a mental asylum. That’s if she wasn’t killed beforehand.
Such depressing thoughts. But they were a reality that she had to face, as much as she didn’t want to.
Suddenly the idea of embarrassing herself by kissing Alec didn’t seem all that embarrassing. She was definitely beginning to realize that life was increasingly short, and perhaps she did need to start embracing opportunities, before it was too late.
“A penny for your thoughts.” Alec’s warm voice penetrated across the cooling breeze.
She glanced out the corner of her eye at him. “I don’t think you’d want to know them. They’re rather scandalous.”
He raised a brow, and his very expression sent a shiver of delight down her spine. Goodness, he was handsome. His thick brown hair was just begging to have her hands ruffle through it, and the stubble on his face was creating a dark shadow over his jawline that did the oddest things to her. She couldn’t help but wonder what it wo
uld feel like brushing against her own skin. Rough, she suspected, but perhaps thrilling, too?
As long as she didn’t make a ninny out of herself again and flinch away from his touch.
“You have me extremely curious,” Alec said.
“Very well.” Connie relented as a sense of daring overcame her. “I’m thinking about what it would feel like if you kissed me.”
She couldn’t believe she’d just blurted that out. But now that she had, it felt good. They were both adults, after all, and she was certain he’d felt the same pull of desire earlier, just as she had. Why shouldn’t they explore that attraction? There wasn’t anything stopping them from doing so. Even if she was technically meant to be in mourning and was still rather scared of physical contact with a man.
But this was Alec, and if she could feel comfortable in a man’s embrace, it would be in his. At least, she hoped so—and that Duncan hadn’t scarred her for life.
A part of her felt guilty that she was talking of kissing Alec so soon after Duncan’s death, but if she was going to end up imprisoned over it, then at the very least she should be able to experience some actual passion for once in her life. An experience Duncan had denied her but that she was certain Alec could provide, if he let himself. And if she allowed herself to let go of her fear.
Though judging by his furrowed brow, she suspected he wasn’t going to be too open to having an affair with her.
But rather than feeling depressed by the observation, Connie actually felt challenged. Which was a nice surprise.
She’d always succeeded when she’d had a goal to pursue, and the goal of kissing Alec and truly eradicating Duncan’s hold over her, physically, seemed like a worthy endeavor. In fact, she’d never felt such determination before, not even when pursuing Duncan and his title.
“Pardon me?” It sounded like Alec was choking slightly on the words.
“You heard me well enough, Alec McGuiness. I might lose my freedom anytime, and I would like to experience what it’s like to actually feel passion before that eventuates. I never have, you see. And I do not want to go to the grave with only the memories of Duncan’s touch. I want to experience the joy of being with someone. Are you up for the challenge?”
“Good God, no!”
Several people passing by gave them odd looks at Alec’s raised voice.
“I mean, of course I wish to help you erase every sort of horrid memory of the man.” He cringed slightly as he took her elbow and guided her across the busy street. “But you and I, kissing, or doing anything more, is a very bad idea.”
“Well, I intend to change your mind.” And rather than feeling upset by his words, if anything, she felt exhilarated.
Or at least she’d finally gotten to the point where she didn’t care anymore. And after all she’d been through, could anyone really blame her? Quite frankly, it felt liberating to actually speak her truth and give voice to what she wanted. She was done with toeing the line of being polite and respectable.
Life was about living, and she was going to live it. Especially as she didn’t know if she had much life left.
…
Alec really thought he must be dreaming.
Connie telling him she wanted him to show her how to experience passion? He was either having a mental break from reality or she was. Or perhaps they both were. He guided her across the street to the inn, trying to ignore the inherent awareness his whole body felt being so close to her.
There was a part of him that was drawn to her, and as much as he tried to resist, his body wasn’t having a bar of it. There had been that moment in the room earlier in the day, where he’d wanted nothing more than to feel his lips against the softness of her own. To feel the soft curves of her body pressed tightly against him, her thighs cradled between his own.
Which was why he’d gotten the hell out of there and to the telegraph office as quickly as his legs would carry him.
Connie had gone through too much, was too vulnerable, for him to be thinking of ravishing her until they both collapsed in exhaustion. But damn it, it seemed she was contemplating the same thing he was.
Not a good idea. At all.
Actually, it was an extremely bad idea. A fact he needed to keep reminding himself of. Though he was having a difficult time remembering why it was such a bad idea at the moment…
What was he going to do? She was smiling at him, with a look of abject determination in her eyes, an expression he was extremely familiar with from her debutant days. She’d clearly set herself a goal and would not be deterred.
God help them both.
He wasn’t overly religious, but he nearly thanked the Almighty aloud when the inn came into view. “Let’s eat.” Perhaps if he didn’t talk about the matter anymore, it would be forgotten. And maybe the lightheadedness he was feeling simply from touching her arm was actually because his blood sugar was low. Even though he’d never suffered from low blood sugar in his life.
Somewhat wearily, he led her through the reception area to the dining room, until they were seated at a table toward the back, away from the windows. He held her chair out for her as she took a seat. There was a sense of purpose he could feel radiating from her.
“Don’t fret, Alec McGuiness,” she said. “I’m not going to ravish you.”
He nearly groaned aloud at the suggestion, his body instantly reacting to the image of them naked and intertwined together, tangled amid the bedsheets.
“At least not yet, anyhow,” were her next words.
Alec gripped the back of her chair so hard, he thought it might break. “Don’t be saying such things.”
A grin tugged the corner of her lips upward. “Oh goodness, do relax. I’m simply teasing you.”
“You are?” His voice sounded slightly hoarse as he walked over to his chair and sat.
“You’re easier to rile than I remember.” She picked up the menu and began perusing it. “But back to my question from earlier…”
Dear Lord, which one? he thought, desperately searching for a question of hers that didn’t involve kissing or passion. “Ah, which question?”
She peered over the top of her menu. “What our next moves will be.”
“Oh.” He could have sworn he heard a hint of amusement in her tone. But thankfully, she was no longer mentioning anything to do with passion. Questions regarding their investigation, now that he could handle a lot better than her other topics of conversation from the evening. Though he didn’t want to think about what he’d do later when they had to retire to their shared room.
“Excuse me, sir?”
Alec glanced across to the front desk manager who had approached their table. “Yes?”
The man cleared his throat and produced a white envelope from his jacket pocket. “This was left for you while you were out.”
Taking the envelope, Alec saw it had no name on the front or anything written on the back. “It’s not addressed to anyone. How do you know it’s for me?
The manager shrugged. “The man who delivered it said to give it to Doctor McGuiness and the blond lady who was traveling with him.”
“And who was this man?” Alec asked, placing the envelope on the table.
“I am sorry, but he refused to leave his name,” the man replied. “Though I assure you, I did ask. But alas, what is one to do? I thought it best to take the envelope and deliver it, rather than not. I do hope that was acceptable?”
Alec nodded. “Aye, it’s fine. Thank you.”
The man bowed and then turned on his heel and left them.
Connie breathed in sharply, her eyes following the manager as he strode away, weaving around the tables toward the main hallway. “Who would know we are here?” she asked, a note of panic in her voice. “Perhaps we should leave? Maybe Fergus has found us…”
Alec picked up the envelope and flicked open the flap bef
ore pulling out the letter and quickly reading the contents. He stood abruptly. “Come. We need to go.”
“What is it? Is it Fergus?”
“No, it’s not Fergus.” Alec once again took her arm and guided her in the opposite direction of the entrance.
“Alec, what’s going on?” There was frustration and fear in her voice. “If it’s not Fergus, why are we leaving, and out the back, too?”
“Because the author of the note is waiting for us in the back alley.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Good gracious, the man was frustrating, Connie couldn’t help but think as he led her down the dim hallway of the inn, toward what was presumably the back exit to the alley. “You do realize that the only reason I’m blindly following you, and to a back alley of all places, is because I trust you, don’t you? Otherwise I would dig my heels in, literally, and refuse to move another inch until you explained the situation to me!”
Alec flashed her a quick smile over his shoulder but didn’t pause in his stride. “Well, I thank you for your trust. Time is of the essence, and I hope he hasn’t already left.”
“Who hasn’t left?” She didn’t want to be completely blindsided, after all.
“We are about to meet with someone who I hope has information that will assist us.”
Her mouth dropped. “How did anyone even know we were here?” She stopped in her tracks, and Alec was forced to stop mid-stride. “We could be walking into a trap.”
An easy grin spread over his seductively handsome face, and for a minute Connie lost her train of thought. Handsomeness, on the scale that Alec McGuiness had, should be outlawed—it was darn dangerous to a woman, as it completely addled one’s thought process.
“We’re not walking into a trap,” he replied. “Malcolm Dalton is waiting out there for us.”
The Sinful Scot (Saints & Scoundrels) Page 15
