Glancing up from the paperwork he’d been buried in, Iain saw it was Alec and dropped the pen with which he’d been writing in his ledger, into an ink pot. A look of uncertainty, perhaps, seemed to cross his expression, though Alec doubted anyone but himself would say Iain looked uncertain. Confidence and command radiated from his brother like a damn halo.
Iain opened his mouth to say something but then seemingly changed his mind. Instead, he stood up and slowly walked across to where Alec had stopped inside the room. The two brothers eyed each other for a moment, nothing said between them, the moment thick with tension.
Eventually it was Iain who broke the silence. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to greet you earlier.” He motioned over his shoulder at the pile of papers on the desk. “As you can see, there was a great deal to get done before tonight’s festivities.”
His brother was always immersed in running the estate and had a particularly good head for figures. Which was why the McGuinesses, along with their clansmen and village tenants, had been able to come out of the great Highland clearances relatively unscathed. The sound financial stewardship Iain possessed had ensured all on their lands received good incomes, instead of having to flee to faraway colonies in order to survive.
“You’re aware, then, why I’ve returned, in relation to the duchess?”
“Aye,” Iain confirmed. “Malcolm sent a telegraph ahead outlining the issues. Though what he failed to mention was that your duchess is now wanted for murder.”
“Is that a problem?”
Iain raised an eyebrow. “This is Castle McGuiness, brother. It’s withstood centuries of sieges. I think it can handle Lord Fergus if he dares to try to come here, and my men can certainly handle the police, should they dare to as well.”
“Your confidence has always been your biggest asset, brother,” Alec replied. “And your biggest fault.”
“Perhaps.” Iain shrugged. “But it has deterred a great many from daring to take on Clan McGuiness.”
“This isn’t the Middle Ages anymore, Iain. Law and order prevail in the land, or at least are starting to.” Alec stalked over to the hearth, grabbed the poker, and turned the coals in the pit. The low crackling fire flared up in response. “I promised her she would be safe here, and I intend to see that promise carried out.”
“There’s no need to worry,” Iain said. “I have had Malcolm organize for some of my men to be stationed around the estate and around the celebration tonight, too. They shan’t be drinking and will ensure no one enters McGuiness land.”
The measures eased Alec’s mind somewhat. McGuiness men were all hand-picked for their loyalty and looked after extremely well monetarily. They were trained by Iain, too, and Iain was one of the best swordsmen and marksmen Alec knew.
“Tell me this,” Iain continued. “Did she murder him?” It didn’t sound as if the answer would bother his brother either way.
“No.” Alec sighed. “But they believe she did, which is the problem.”
“Are you certain?” Iain walked across to the hearth and sat in one of the seats beside the fireplace. “You do tend to believe the best in people. A quality that is both an asset and a fault of yours.”
Trust Iain to use his own words back at him. Very deliberately, Alec replaced the poker into its stand and slowly spun around to face his brother. He couldn’t let Iain see how much Connie meant to him and had to control the slow boiling anger threatening to bubble to the surface. “She was bloody lucky she wasn’t murdered herself. But in answer to your question, no, she did not murder anyone. I am certain of it.”
“So it was Fergus who did?”
“Originally, we thought so, and it still could well be, but now with the other deaths, I’m not certain…”
“Other deaths?”
Alec briefly told him of their discoveries in Inverness, and in particular the mysterious lady, who’d accompanied not only the male who had purchased the sedative in the apothecary but had also accompanied Seraphina to the Hellfire and Hound club, asking about Duncan and his missing mistresses.
“And you have no idea who this mysterious lady is?” Iain asked.
“Not really,” Alec replied. “However, I’m beginning to suspect that perhaps Lady Lorelie MacKinnon is involved in all of this more than she would like us to realize. I was suspicious when she turned up at the Inn where we breakfasted, and then there has been mention of a mysterious lady asking questions. Perhaps Lady Lorelie is the mysterious lady. Perhaps even the killer?”
Alec could see the tightening that went through his brother’s jaw at the mention of Lady Lorelie. Clearly, the woman still got under Iain’s skin, and Iain never let anyone get under his skin. “She’s a damn pain in my ass, that woman. But she is no murderer. She’s as direct and stubborn as they come and is not into games of cat and mouse. No, if she was going to kill Duncan, it would have been done without an innocent woman getting blamed for it.”
“You sound impressed by her.” Now that was an interesting development. Iain was rarely impressed by anyone.
“Please,” Iain scoffed. “All I’m impressed with is that she’s been able to avoid getting throttled for this long. I know of many who would like to see nothing more—men and women included. Lady Lorelie gives stubborn and fierce a whole new damn meaning.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.” Alec smiled blandly at his brother as he took a seat on the other chair facing the hearth. “Though siblings do the darnedest things in an effort to supposedly protect their siblings, don’t they? I imagine they would go to even greater lengths to avenge a sibling who had been murdered? Wouldn’t you agree, brother?”
A great silence descended upon the room, as they glared at each other.
“Aye, ’tis true,” Iain eventually said. “And ’tis obvious you still have not forgiven me for trying to show you the sort of woman Elise was.”
“You were kissing her, Iain. If the roles had been reversed, would you have forgiven me?” There was silence from his brother, and Alec sighed. “I rather doubt you would have.”
For a moment it seemed as if Iain would argue, but then his shoulders slumped slightly, and he stared into the flames of the hearth that were slowly stirring back to life. “No, I daresay I wouldn’t have. But you’ve always been the better person than I.” His eyes sought out Alec’s. “I realize now I shouldn’t have done what I did. But at the time it seemed the only way to get through to that stubborn head of yours. If I’d have known it would push you away for more than a decade, I would never have done it.”
Alec dragged a hand through his hair before getting to his feet and stalking over to the hearth once again. For some reason he couldn’t bear the stillness of simply sitting a moment longer. “After Father banished me with Mother, and then she abandoned me, you were the only one I thought I could trust.”
“You weren’t the only one Mother and Father hurt, Alec.” There was a bitterness to Iain’s tone that mimicked Alec’s own whenever he spoke of his parents’ mess all those years ago. “My whole world was ripped apart when not only Mother left, but you did, too. My baby brother who used to follow me around everywhere and make me smile and laugh with all his questions and curiosity about everything. He was suddenly gone, and with no prospect of ever returning.
“You have no idea how many times I begged and pleaded with our father to go and get you back, and at first, he was adamant he wouldn’t. Then, after a while, I could tell he grew to regret ever letting you leave with mother. By then, though, he was too proud to admit he should never have let you go. Too proud even to admit it didn’t matter if you were his son by blood or not, because you were certainly his son from birth.” Iain paused, and Alec could see his brother’s jaw clench tightly and what looked suspiciously like a bit of moisture in the corners of his eyes. “When you and Mother left, you both took a piece of my heart with you. So you aren’t the only one who has been aban
doned.”
“Aye,” Alec agreed, finally realizing that Iain had been just as affected by what happened in the past as he had. “We’ve both been innocent pawns in their games. Which is why I trusted you above all else. And why it cut to the quick when you did betray me.”
“How else could I have handled the situation?” There was pain in Iain’s question. “You were a twenty-one-year-old who thought himself to be madly in love with a beautiful woman who could do no wrong. When I tried to tell you the truth about Elise, you wouldn’t listen to reason. You refused to accept that she was just using you. I could have talked until I was blue in the face and you still wouldn’t have believed me. Tell me that, brother, please. Tell me what I could have done to make you see the truth and not be hurt in the process?”
In hindsight, Alec could understand his brother’s reasoning, somewhat. At twenty-one he had thought he knew everything, and worse, thought himself in love. “You should have let me learn the life lessons on my own, without betraying my trust.”
“Aye, I probably should have. Hell, I know I should have, because then you wouldn’t have left. But I didn’t, and no matter how much I wish I had done things differently, I can’t go back in time and change a thing, as much as I bloody well wish I could.”
It was as close to an apology as Iain would ever be able to give, Alec imagined.
The idea of forgiving his brother was a confusing one. Holding on to negative emotions was never a healthy thing to do, and a part of him desperately wanted to go back to how things had been before the incident with Elise, but some things were too difficult to let go of and forgive. He didn’t know if he was ready to do either just yet. Though he also knew he was tired of holding on to this anger surrounding his brother.
Perhaps it was time to let bygones be bygones.
“Sons,” their father boomed from the doorway as he barreled into the room, dressed in his full Clan McGuiness regalia, kilt and all. “What in blimey hell are you two doing in here?” His brogue was thick as he shook his head in mock despair at both Alec and Iain. “I don’t know what I’ll do with the pair of you, you’re both not even dressed in your kilts yet, and the celebrations are about to begin. Oh dear…I think me poor heart is feeling faint…”
Alec had forgotten that the clansmen were expected to wear their McGuiness Clan uniforms and kilts. Connie was going to surely be amused at seeing him in a skirt, though she should be somewhat used to seeing men in their kilts, having lived in the Highlands for the last few years. He himself, on the other hand, hadn’t worn his dress outfit in more than a decade. And he’d certainly filled out some since. He could literally already feel the cold that would permeate a certain part of his anatomy when wearing his kilt. And the thought was not a fun one.
“We were talking, Da,” Iain announced.
The smile that sprang to their father’s face speared Alec with guilt. Though his father was in excellent health—contrary to the letter he’d written Alec and his efforts here pretending otherwise—the man was definitely getting old, nearing his seventies. The fact that he could gain such joy simply from his sons speaking together, really brought home to Alec how much his father wanted them to repair their rift.
The entire time Alec had been visiting Castle McGuiness, he’d done his very best to avoid speaking with Iain. Now, his stubbornness was beginning to seem rather futile and rather idiotic, too. At the end of the day, was one woman, who Alec now realized he’d never truly loved, worth sacrificing his relationship with his brother over? He was beginning to think it wasn’t.
“Oh, forgive me,” Connie’s melodic voice all but sang from the doorway, and instantly Alec’s whole body was alert. “I was looking for Alec, and I didn’t mean to interrupt you all.”
The three of them turned toward her, and Alec could have sworn all of them lightly gasped upon catching sight of her standing there in the doorway. She was stunning. Simply, utterly stunning. The sapphire-blue gown she wore fit her to perfection, with the tiny crystal beads interwoven throughout the bodice illuminating her with a thousand sparkles and molding her top curves like a second skin.
How Malcolm could have found such a gown belonging to another that fit so well, was a true testament to the man’s capabilities of getting a job done. And a job well done, he could happily say on this occasion. She would outshine every lady present tonight.
He had never been a jealous man before, but he found himself ridiculously jealous of the material of her dress, which was hugging and brushing against her soft skin everywhere except the delicate curve of her chest and neck. There, her corset was doing its work damnably too well, with the swell of her breasts showing just enough to tantalize but still within the bounds of decency.
She would tempt every man there. He was going to have to stay plastered to her side to protect her.
Even his normally stoic father and brother, who were never surprised by anything or anyone, were standing there speechless as they looked upon her. She was without a doubt the most stunning creature to ever grace the halls of Castle McGuiness.
He’d always been very aware of Connie’s beauty, how could he not? But it wasn’t until that very moment that it kicked him in the gut, and he knew then he was in trouble, because he wanted her with an intensity he’d never felt before.
“I don’t think we’ve been introduced properly yet,” Iain said, taking a step forward.
Without even realizing what he was doing, Alec moved between Iain and Connie. “Aye, you haven’t, and it’d be rude to introduce yourself to her grace. So don’t.” There was steel in his words.
Iain raised his brow, an expression of consternation in his gaze, and Alec had to admit his own behavior had surprised even him, but when Iain had looked at Connie with interest, an overwhelming urge to pummel him had come over Alec. An impulse he was still fighting.
“Alec, it’s fine,” Connie soothed as she came up behind him and placed a hand on his arm. “I am a guest in your family’s home. It would be rude not to introduce me to your brother.”
For a minute he debated doing so, but then reluctantly he did, all the while clenching his teeth and then grinding his jaw when his brother reached out and took Connie’s hand before bending over and placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles.
Why had he brought her here where his brother was? His brother, who was heir to not only an earldom, but a vast estate and wealth, too. Iain would be able to give Connie all the things she desired, and though he looked absolutely menacing, he would never raise a hand to her and would always protect her.
Was that really so bad? Particularly when Alec couldn’t give her his own heart, and he could never give her the sort of lifestyle she was accustomed to?
But Iain could, even if the very thought of the two of them together felt like a thousand daggers were piercing his heart.
Chapter Forty-One
It seemed that this place brought out the worst in Alec.
Connie had only just been introduced to his brother, most reluctantly by Alec himself, and now Alec was staring at his brother like he wished to kill him. And if looks could kill, Iain wouldn’t have stood a chance. She didn’t think she’d actually seen Alec with such a ferociously dark expression on his face before, and that was saying something, as he more often than not wore a scowl.
Clearly, Alec was still greatly upset over his brother’s betrayal with Elise. So much so that Connie was starting to suspect that perhaps Alec still did care for the woman. A depressing thought, to be sure.
She returned her attention to the introduction, not having intended to interrupt them; however, after she’d finished dressing, the first thing she wanted to do was find Alec. Perhaps a part of her had wanted to see his reaction to the dress she was wearing, but another part of her had missed him. They’d been in each other’s company nearly every hour for the past few days, that to not be near him felt odd and strangely lonely. Not to men
tion that she felt safe around him.
So she’d sought him out, and in doing so was now meeting the elusive Iain McGuiness, a man she’d only ever seen from a distance at balls but to whom she hadn’t been officially introduced.
The first time she’d laid eyes on Iain McGuiness, she’d been intrigued at how he intimidated those in his vicinity simply with his size and fierce glare, just like Alec. He was big and brawny, and there was a keen intelligence behind his gaze that confirmed to her, even without meeting him, that this was not a man to trifle with.
Not to mention, Duncan had been ridiculously jealous of Iain McGuiness, to the point that Connie had known if she’d been caught so much as glancing at him, let alone talking with him, Duncan would certainly have sought her out when they returned home and punished her dearly for the perceived slight to him. Which was why it had been easier back then, both physically and mentally, to stay as far away from Iain McGuiness as possible, and especially to not seek out an introduction. Even if others had probably considered her behavior rude.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Dalkeith,” she said, using his honorary title. Iain released her hand and took a step backward.
“And you too, duchess.” Iain nodded to her, a smile forming on his lips. “And might I say, you look lovely this evening.”
She’d never seen the man smile before, and it transformed his face from downright intimidating to wickedly handsome. In that, the two brothers were alike, although Alec was of course far more good-looking.
“Why, thank you, sir.” Connie grinned back at him. It was nice to be able to flirt again without fear of repercussions, and particularly with a man she held no interest for, nor he for her. Because, though he was looking at her with male appreciation, she knew from experience flirting as a debutant, it was just that, and the man held no true interest in her, which put her mind at ease greatly. Otherwise things may have been somewhat awkward, considering the circumstances.
The Sinful Scot (Saints & Scoundrels) Page 27
