Page 97 of The Highlander's Virgin Widow
“Please.” Desperation swept over Keira, and she turned to Hudson. “Please, ye both have to believe me. I didnae do this. Last night, when it happened, I hurried to the apothecary and asked Lesley to help me. I cannae hurt Evander. I have never hurt anyone in me life.”
“Save yer crocodile tears for the dungeons,” Shona spat. “Because that is where ye’re going. We cannae have ye walk around the castle, in case ye decide to kill someone else.”
Keira’s eyes flicked to Hudson, whose hands were clasped together. He gave her an utterly helpless look. One that seemed to say,I apologize, but it is out of me hands.
“Arrest her and take her to the dungeons. She is too dangerous to be left out,” Shona barked.
“Nay, Hudson. Please dinnae do that. I didnae do it, I swear.” Tears welled up in Keira’s eyes again.
Hudson took a step closer, then another. Each step he took seemed to reflect her last chance at freedom.
This was happening, and she couldn’t believe it. How had she gone from celebrating her wedding just the previous day—oneshe never even wanted, by the way—to now getting escorted to the dungeons as a prisoner in her own castle?
Was this life’s way of playing a cruel prank on her?
She wondered once more whether she was cursed as Hudson took another step toward her. Was she truly cursed? First Fletcher and now Evander. Who did she need to appease?
Hudson stopped a few inches from her. “Ye have nay idea how sorry I am about this, M’Lady, but there is nothing I can do.”
Keira’s eyes snapped shut as he reached for her hands and tied them with a thick rope behind her back.
“Take her to the dungeons and make sure she is watched,” Shona ordered, her voice on the edge of cracking.
Hudson nodded and led Keira away from the door, Shona, and her maid.
Away from her freedom.
32
Keira didn’t struggle. There was no point. Hudson didn’t push her either, at least not as much as he would push a woman accused of killing the Laird. He was still gentle with her and let her lead the way as much as he possibly could. To a point, he was still her man-at-arms anyway.
“I reckon ye were right yesterday at the wedding, were ye nae?” she asked, refusing to slow down.
He didn’t respond. Instead, he continued to follow her, his speed slow and his voice gentle.
“I dinnae ken,” he responded.
“When ye asked me to leave while I still can. One might think ye were some kind of soothsayer. As if ye kenned this would happen.”
Hudson remained silent, and for some reason, his lack of response pulled harder at her heartstrings.
“This was never supposed to happen to ye,” he eventually said, still maintaining the same quiet and gentle tone.
They descended the stairs, their footsteps quickening. Keira was completely out of it at this point. All she wanted now was a moment to sit down somewhere quiet and think about Evander.
A pang of grief hit her. If the dungeons could provide that, then so be it. There was little to nothing she could do about her reputation now. If Stella was right, she was doomed either way.
The dungeons came into view—a large cavern underneath the castle, with wooden gates secured by a giant metal padlock. Hudson followed right behind her and halted once they both got in front of the gates. He moved forward and inserted the key in the padlock. It clicked, and he pushed the gates open.
A tense silence descended between them, one Keira used to study the gates, Hudson himself, and the direction they had come from.
“Ye ken I didnae do it, right? Ye ken I didnae kill Evander?”
Hudson said nothing, and Keira waited for the better half of a minute.
When she realized nothing would come forth, she moved closer to the gates anyway. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked into the cell. He pulled the gates shut and turned the key in the padlock once again, each sound a deafening resolution in her heart.
“I ken ye did nothing wrong,” he allowed, taking out the key and slipping it into his pocket.
