Page 25 of Kilty Until Proven Innocent
“Respectfully, Yer Majesties,” Drum heard himself growl, and offered a little bow to both of them. “What in the hell is going on?”
The King made a little noise which might’ve been a laugh, but the Queen rolled her eyes.
“It is not obvious, Sir Hunter? Your job is investigation, is it not?”
“Generally I prefer to swing a sword at the bad guy, Yer Majesty,” he growled.
Aye, that was definitely a snort from the King, but his wife huffed.
“Well,myAngels have been trained to use their minds instead. Lady Avaline and Brigit have been partners for years.” She nodded to her lady-in-waiting. “You noticed an issue, correct?”
The slender lady in maroon had taken up position between the monarchs, and now said, too ingratiatingly, “Indeed, Yer Majesty. I recognized a scent out of place as Lawrence poured it, but it took me a few minutes to recognize it as poison.”
“So my seneschal tried to poison me?” the King asked.
His wife shook her head. “It might have been anyone.”
“No’ true,” her lady-in-waiting pointed out. “Only those who kenned ye’d both be dining here tonight, and kens where the wine is stored.”
The King’s gaze swung back to Drum. Startled, he stumbled backward. “Idinnae ken ye’d be dining here! Why would I want to kill ye, Yer Majesty?”
“Aye,” the man murmured, “something I’ve asked myself many times over the last sennight.”
Despair settled into Drum’s bones.
It hurt even more, coming so quickly on the heels of the elation and peace he’d felt earlier. What could he say to the King of Scotland to convince the man he was still loyal? That he would give his life for his monarch?
It turned out, he didn’t have to.
Brigit was the one to step forward, to take a deep breath. “Drummond Kennedy is innocent, Yer Majesty. He has been with me since this morning, and has had nae chance to poison anything. Furthermore, I will swear that he had nae idea I’d be bringing him to ye this evening.”
The Queen hummed. “So no opportunity. And we are still without a motive.”
Drum was shaking his head, the despair turned to dread and now to panic. “Yer Majesty, I—”
“He is innocent,” Brigit stated again, chin held high as she met the monarchs’ gazes. “Ye tasked me with investigating him, and I did. Drummond Kennedy did no’ try to kill ye, Yer Majesty. Neither tonight nor last week.”
She’d been investigating him.
All this time, he was merely ataskto her?
Drum’s knees had gone weak, which was a fooking humiliating thing to happen to a warrior. He wished he had his helm so he could close off these thoughts, these feelings, from the outside world.
Dear God in Heaven, he thought he’dtrustedBrigit.
But…staring incredulously at her profile, something niggled at the back of his mind.
Ye started fooking her a year ago. Ye hadfunwith her a year ago.
Aye, a year ago, she’d been just a bit of fun, a bit of skirt. More recently, he’d felt more strongly about her, and what they’d done today…that hadn’t beenfooking. It had been special. Meaningful.
Except ye were just a mission to her.
Aye, there went his knees.
Cursing, Drum turned away and stumbled toward a chair, grabbing its wooden back to keep himself upright as his heart fell into his stomach. He couldn’t look at Brigit, couldn’t look at her friend, or at his monarchs.
Vaguely, he heard the Queen speaking. “Brigit, my dear, I can recognize your insistence, but surely you can admit you are too close to be rational? Your feelings…?”
