Page 48 of Kilty Until Proven Innocent
And ‘twas sounding as if she mighthaveto.
Avaline had just admitted she was the person who’d not only set the crossbow ambush, but poured the potion into the King’s wine. “ ‘Twas perfectly simple,” she was now saying, “to use my connection with the Queen to suggestye, as the King’s Hunter, were the only real suspect.”
Brigit’s panicked wide-eyed stare landed on the Queen, but the other woman took her hand and squeezed. Brigit held the Queen’s gaze as they listened, forcing her breathing to slow to match the monarch’s. The Queen was helping her, without words, to calm herself, to focus on whatcouldbe done, and Brigit was grateful.
At least Her Majesty heard Avaline’s confession and heard her plans to pin the whole thing on Drummond. At least she knew he was innocent in all things.
Thank the Virgin.
Suddenly the Queen straightened, nostrils flaring and eyes widening, and Brigit heard what her monarch had heard.
Avaline growling, “Then I’ll kill ye here and now, andtellhim I discovered yer plot to assassinate him in his bed!”
Brigit was already standing when the Queen’s grip tugged her back down to her chair. She reached for her daggers, but the other woman stood instead, and moved her hands to Brigit’s shoulders, holding her down.
The Queen dropped her lips to Brigit’s ear and breathed, “Trust Drummond. He can handle himself.”
Could he?
Could he?
Brigit’s heart beat frantically, and she wasdesperateto be out there, protecting the man she loved.
Because there was no use denying it; she loved Drummond Kennedy and she wanted—needed—to protect him. She wanted to fight beside him, to be his equal. And she prayed she’d have the chance to tell him that.
Avaline! All these years, ye kenned she was devious and cunning, but to do something like this?
“Why did ye choosemeto pin the blame on,” Drummond was asking the bitch, and Brigit willed her pulse to calm so she could hear the response over the pounding in her ears.
Unfortunately, their voices dropped, and Brigit felt herself leaning forward, straining to hear the answer, despite the Queen’s attempt to hold her down.
It wasn’t until Drummond blurted,“Rebecca?” that she understood.
Sucking in a gasp, Brigit bounded to her feet, not even caring if she accidentally gave away their hiding spot. She darted forward, dodging the Queen’s grasp, and reached for the tapestry.
Some semblance of control stopped her from revealing herself, thank the Saints. As the Queen’s fingers wrapped through the back of her bodice, trying to hold her in place, Brigit settled her cheek against the stone wall and used one eye to peer from their hiding spot at the drama before the altar.
“Rebecca,” Drummond repeated, his tone and his expression showing his shock. “’Tis really ye?”
“I am hurt,” Avaline pouted, running her palms down the front of her cloaked gown. “And a little surprised. All these years together at court, and ye didnae recognize me?”
Why would he? Drum was a Hunter and Avaline a lady-in-waiting. They had no cause to ever be in the same room.
Drum shook his head then lifted his hand to gesture vaguely at his face.
“Ye’ve…changed.”
Somethingflashed in Avaline’s eyes, something Brigit only recognized after years of working with her. Knowing her? Nay, tonight’s revelations proved Brigit had never really known this partner of hers.
‘Twas something like rage, and something likehurt, but ‘twas gone quickly. “How like a man,” Avaline sneered, “to notice only a woman’s appearance.”
“Nay, lass, yer burns dinnae matter. ‘Tis…yer eyes? Ye’ve changed.”
“I’m a decade aulder!” she snapped. “The lass ye fell in love with was merely that—a lass.”
Drum had winced at the wordlovebut didn’t deny it. His fingers were still wrapped around his sword’s hilt and he watched her warily.
“Will ye tell me what happened?”
