Page 90 of Midnight Conquest

He pushed away from the desk and strode toward the door with grim purpose. Davina scurried after him.

“Where are you going?” she asked, her voice tight with rising panic.

Tammus didn’t answer. He stepped outside, boots crunching on the gravel path as he crossed the courtyard toward the stables. Two guards stood nearby, passing idle conversation, but they snapped to attention at his approach.

“You two,” Tammus barked. “Find Broderick MacDougal in the village and bring him here. Immediately.”

Anthony and Gavin exchanged a wary glance but obeyed without hesitation. They mounted their horses and galloped off, their figures swallowed by the winding road and the mist rising from the early morning fields.

Tammus turned back toward the house, his expression grim. Davina followed him inside, her heart pounding.

“This is why I want you married off,” Tammus said as they re-entered the study, his voice rough as gravel. “Every man sees you as an opportunity. They’ll try to take advantage of you and your holdings. I’ll send a missive to Finlay’s parents, see if they can pressure the boy into coming back.”

Davina’s shoulders sagged, a breath of relief slipping from her lips. “Thank you, Uncle. Mr. McIntosh really is the only one I’d rather marry out of all of them.”

“Are you sure about that?” Tammus crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze probing. “You don’t have any feelings for MacDougal?”

Heat rushed to Davina’s cheeks. She lowered her eyes, fingers twisting at her sides. “Finlay is the one I want, Uncle.”

“You didn’t answer my question,” he said, his tone like iron.

Davina bit her lip, hesitating, but remained silent.

“Where is he, Davina? MacDougal.”

“I don’t know,” she replied quickly. “We may be friends, but I am not his keeper. But I can inquire.”

Tammus’s expression darkened with hard skepticism, but after a beat, he gave a curt nod. “See that you do.”

Davina offered a shallow curtsy and withdrew from the study, closing the door softly behind her. Yet as it clicked shut, she caught a glimpse of her uncle’s tight frown, his brows drawn with suspicion. He didn’t believe her. Not for a moment.

Gripping fistfuls of her skirts, Davina gathered herself and hurried up the stairs, two at a time. Her breath came quick, her pulse hammering in her ears. When she burst into her chamber, Rosselyn nearly leapt out of her chair.

“Finlay’s backed out of the marriage,” Davina announced, her voice tight with frustration.

Rosselyn’s eyes flew wide. “What? Why?”

Davina sighed, tugging her cloak from its hook. “Broderick may have had something to do with it.”

Rosselyn’s jaw dropped, her brow knitting in confusion. “Broderick? What do you mean?”

“Do you know where he goes during the day?” Davina asked, fastening the silver clasp at her throat.

Rosselyn shook her head, still visibly rattled. “Nay, I don’t. But Nicabar might.”

“I’m going to the Gypsy camp. Are you coming with me?”

Rosselyn blinked, then nodded firmly. “Let me get my cloak. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Chapter Sixteen

Davina marched down to the foyer and outside, pacing in the courtyard until Rosselyn appeared, then she led her out the gate. As they strode down the road, Davina’s jaw tightened. “Amice will know where he is. And when I find him, he’s not going to like what I have to say.”

The morning air carried a biting chill, bracing against her heated thoughts. Gravel crunched beneath their shoes as they marched in silence, Davina’s mind whirling with speculation and confusion.

Broderick had vanished after that earth-shattering kiss, leaving her breathless and burning. He had branded her with his mouth, possessed her in a moment that still seared her senses. Just a fleeting press of his lips, and she’d nearly surrendered body and soul—until Cailin’s ill-timed interruption.

And then, he’d disappeared. Without a trace.

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