Page 51 of Kilty Until Proven Innocent
“No’ all women are like that, manipulative and cunning. I thought that way for the longest time, thanks to the actions ofthiswoman. I thought allwomen were like her, and finding out Brigit was an Angel and had kept it from me…”
Shaking his head, he turned back to Avaline, whose expression clearly showed her rage. “I hate that I gave ye that power over me, Avaline. I judged Brigit based on yer example, jumping to the worst conclusions and thinking her just as manipulative as ye…when really, she was only doing what I would’ve done in her place to protect my monarch.”
“Howtouching,” Avaline spat, shaking her fists. “But it just shows she is as weak as ye are.”
“Brigit weak? Nay,” he chuckled, shaking his head as he settled his hands on his hips, ignoring his bloody forearm. “She is strong enough to stand at my side, and I am grateful for it.”
Hearing those words, something deep inside Brigit melted…she suspected ‘twas her fear. She felt the Queen release her wrist, and, in a sort of daze, stepped through the tapestry. She wanted to run to Drum, to nestle in his arms.
The King glanced about. “Whatexactlyis going on here, for the love of shite?”
“I dinnae love shite,” Craig rumbled from behind him. “But I believe ‘tis a case of finding the true villain.”
Brigit was already stepping toward the light when the Queen’s voice rang out clear from behind her. “I can tell you what is going on, husband.”
All eyes in the chapel swung toward the Queen, who held her head high as she stepped to her husband’s side.
“Lady Avaline, once known to Drummond Kennedy by the name Rebecca, has manipulated herway through life, intent on gaining power and control. Most recently, she herself set the ambush with the crossbow and poured the poison—which was not really poison—into your wine.”
The King’s expression clouded to anger. “She was trying to kill me?”
“No,” his wife’s voice rang clear, her face neutral as she examined Avaline. “She wanted it to appear thatsomeonewas trying to kill you, so she could ‘save’ you at the last moment and be the hero.”
Brigit wanted to throw herself into Drum’s arms, but instead, as Avaline scoffed and straightened, appearing just as regal as the monarchs, she wrapped her hand around her dagger and stepped to his side.
Briefly, he glanced down at her, and she saw his lips tug sideways, as if trying not to smile.
The King considered Avaline. “The plan seems clumsy at best.”
“Clumsy?” she scoffed. “ ‘Twas brilliant. It worked, did it no’? Ye thought me so brave, so smart.”
“Aye, it worked, Lady Avaline,” the King intoned solemnly. “But no’ forever. Thanks to my Hunter—”
“And my Angel,” the Queen interrupted.
Her husband nodded. “We now ken the truth. So, the question stands; what to do with ye? As an attempted assassin, I am within my rights to order ye executed now, and I have several loyal Hunters here to perform the task, although neither have their helms.”
Brigit’s chest felt as if an elephant was sitting atop it. Avaline executed? From the way the other woman paled, she was dreading it as well.
But the Queen saved her. “Nay, husband. I have a better idea. More fitting.”
“No’ death, darling?”
As if knowing the King was teasing her, the English Queen sent him a raised brow. “Worse. Marriage.”
Her husband chuckled. “Marriage is worse than death?”
“Nay!” screeched Avaline, slashing her hand through the air. “Execution! I’ll no’ be under some man’s thumb!”
“A good man could—” began the King, but Avaline shook her head violently.
“I’ll no’ be able to gain power!”
The King nodded solemnly. “Aye, that is the idea, lass. Do ye find the thought of a man’s touch abhorrent? Is that the case?”
Avaline hesitated, and Drum spoke up. “She doesnae, Yer Majesty. I can attest to that.”
Brigit wrinkled her nose, deciding she hated Avaline a little more.
