Page 63 of The Scot Who Loved Her

Outfitted with weapons—in his boots, strapped to his arms, and held in his belt—Malcolm was ready to take on Thirlestane, Marian and whoever else was behind this ridiculous scheme. Once the ship and its items were recovered, they could put this traitorous ring to rest.

Malcolm was surprised to see Lorne was waiting for him with two horses saddled in the stable. The man stood braced for a fight as if he expected Malcolm to dispute his presence—and he was right.

“I’ll no’ let ye go alone,” Lorne said before Malcolm could argue. “Alec and Euan will protect those at the house and keep Caroline safe.”

Malcolm shook his head. “Jaime will have my head if anything happens to ye.”

Lorne grinned and nodded, the look of a man confident in his love. “She’s already promised to kill me twice if anything does, so I’ll be sure to return.”

Malcolm considered keeping up the argument, but in truth, he was glad to have Lorne come along. He was used to doing things on his own the majority of the time, but he was grateful for his cousin’s help in this case.

“Good.” Malcolm clapped his cousin on the shoulder with a chuckle. Olivia had said something very similar to that. And still, he wondered if she was going to try to sneak out of the house to come after him. “I appreciate it.”

Lorne nodded. “That’s what family is for.”

The idea of family, given the Helvellyn situation and his debacle with his mother, made Malcolm want to laugh bitterly. But he held it inside. The two of them mounted their horses and, when Jeremiah signaled all clear, they continued on to Girdle Ness. They’d beat the traitors to the meeting point. The harbormaster said he’d be sure to clear from the docks any dockhands who might get in the way by hosting a free ale and stew night at the local pub, funded by the War Office, of course. But free booze and beef always drew the locals.

W and his crew would be hidden from view and ready to pounce when Malcolm gave the signal.

Scottish summers meant the sun set late, but by midnight it was dark. The moon was high, nearly full, and stars dotted the sky. They were meeting on the rocky beach, slightly away from the wharf, away from prying eyes. The shapes of their horses and bodies melted into the shadows of the thick rocks that made up the shore.

A quarter of an hour later, Malcolm sensed a shift in the wind. The faint jangle of reins from somewhere onshore.

“They have come,” he murmured.

Thirlestane—still wearing his stupid cape with the hood up to cover his face and no doubt the ridiculous mask in place—rode his horse at an unhurried pace onto the pebbled beach, flanked by two smaller riders. They also wore capes pulled up, so Malcolm couldn’t tell which one, if at all, was Marian, though he did take note of the slight frame of one rider.

Malcolm saw no point in disguising himself. From the moment they’d robbed him in the forest, they had known exactly who he was. Though they didn’t know it was him they were meeting as the buyer—he was glad to have at least one element of surprise up his sleeve.

To his credit, Thirlestane kept his surprise at seeing Malcolm in check.

“Who’s with you?” Thirlestane asked, attempting to disguise his voice by lowering it several octaves, but Malcolm knew it was him. Of course, Thirlestane knew who Lorne was but, for some reason, was trying to keep that hidden as well. Maybe hoping they didn’t know his identity.

“My cousin,” Malcolm said, playing along.

“I said, bring no one.”

Malcolm shrugged. “I needed a second.”

“A second?” Thirlestane scoffed. “This isn’t a duel.”

Malcolm shrugged. “All the same. We’re here to make a deal. What does it matter?”

“None, I suppose.” Thirlestane waved his hand in the air as if swatting away their conversation. “You have the payment, I presume?”

“Aye. Where are the guns?”

“We left them in a wagon on the pier. Guarded, don’t worry.”

Malcolm grunted. “I’ll no’ be handing over the payment until I see the merchandise. Ye were supposed to bring it down.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“Ye sell weapons on the black market. Your entire scheme is distrustful.”

Thirlestane laughed, then snapped his fingers to the rider on his left. “Go.” The rider peeled away.

“I hope your man hurries. We’ve tarried enough already. We do no’ want the harbormaster to become suspicious.”

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