Page 22 of The Scot is Hers
“Either downright disregarding them, or by telling the men below him to do the opposite, saying that it was me who’d changed tactic. It caused a lot of chaos. And worse—
it cost men their lives.”
“As if war isn’t hard enough, to have to deal with a soldier who wants to create more turmoil.”
“Exactly. I should have had him flogged, locked up, or sent back home, but I decided to give him one more chance. And I’ll never forgive myself for that.” Alec swiped a hand over his face, not certain he could go into more of what had happened between himself and Sir Joshua Keith. Besides those in the War Department and his commanding officer, Alec had never told another soul. Not even Lorne when he’d asked.
Giselle seemed content to sit and wait until he was ready. She picked at the rubble beside her, making a neat and tiny stack of stones in a row.
“He went against my orders when the French attacked us. As a result, we lost a good man to God, and another was abducted. And this…” He touched the scar on his face. “This was at his hand. But he’ll deny the truth, clutching it against his cold heart even to his grave.”
Giselle’s gaze whipped up to his. “Dear God, nay.”
“Aye. And to this day, he’s yet to apologize or take any responsibility. After I recovered, when the War Office questioned us on what happened that day, he blamed me.” Alec bristled at the memory. “Typical of the whoreson. Pardon my language.”
“Did they believe him?”
Alec shook his head.Thank God. “I set them straight on what had happened, and as there’d been many documented disputes with witnesses over the years, they believed me. Keith was levied a heavy fine for his insubordination, however.”
Giselle frowned. “That does no’ seem a fitting punishment for his crimes. He is wealthy enough to afford it. How is that a penalty?”
“He was wealthy. No’ so anymore.” Alec suspected that Keith had a gambling problem. There’d been several times he’d had to pull him out of gambling hells while they were overseas.
“What do ye mean?”
“He’s a lot of properties, but the Keith coffers have run dry. Likely why he’s so eager for ye to be his wife.”
Giselle was quiet for a few moments. “What would ye know of my family’s wealth?”
Alec grinned. “I make it my business to know the wealth of everyone.”
Giselle shook her head, a slight smile lifting the corner of her mouth. “’Tis a shame that ye had to contend with Keith and that he was the cause of ye losing your men.” She bit her lip and looked poised to say something but held her tongue.
“What is it?”
“Was the man who was abducted the Duke of Sutherland, perchance?”
Alec’s eyes widened. “Aye. And the one killed was Douglas. How did ye know about the duke?”
Her grin broadened, and she leaned forward, eager to share. “I am quite good friends with his wife.”
“Jaime?”
“Aye. Since we were wee lasses.”
That was a coincidence that was too good not to latch onto. “Well, isn’t that splendid. They are at my house as we speak.”
“Are they, truly?” Lady Giselle was nearly squealing at that bit of news. “In that case, our meeting was Fate. Ye must take me to your castle.”
It did indeed seem as if Fate had intervened in more ways than one. “Aye. It would no’ do for ye to ride back to Boddam alone or with me. There is only one choice. When the weather clears, I’d be happy to take ye to Slains to convalesce. Ye’ll no’ be able to go anywhere any time soon with that ankle.”
Giselle’s excitement faded. “I wish to never return to Boddam Castle.”
“I can understand that.” He only wanted to go there so he could wring Keith’s neck. So he supposed it was a good idea if he never did as well. Purgatory with his mother’s meddling seemed far better than the newly minted Calton Jail in Edinburgh.
7
Before Alec made it up the last stair on the stone front steps of Slains Castle, the door was swung wide by his butler. The faithful servant was then shoved aside by the fussing countess, who gaped at Alec as if he’d returned with a selkie he’d dragged slaughtered from the sea.
