Highland Scoundrel (Campbell Trilogy #3)(80)

Her decision must have shown on her face. She could feel Duncan pull away from her. Feel the tenuous connection that they'd established snap. His face shuttered. He took a step back and placed the map and letter in his sporran. “I'll be leaving at daylight.” His voice was flat, emotionless.

Jeannie flinched. Leaving. Again. Pain wrapped around her like a vise. It shouldn't hurt so much. She'd known it was coming. She'd made her choice, she'd have to live with the consequences. “I see.” She gazed up at him, her heart squeezing like a fist. “Where will you go?”

“To my brother. Jamie is Argyll's closest advisor.”

She drew back in shock. He must be mad. Argyll's enforcer was the most ruthless pursuer of outlaws in the Highlands. “He will toss you in the nearest dungeon and have a rope around your neck before you can blink.”

His eyes darkened. “He is also my brother and right now my best option. My only option. It is not without risk, but it's a chance I'll have to take.”

She wanted to argue. But he was right—where else could he turn? He'd come to her and she'd turned him away. But to go to Jamie Campbell … right into the heart of the dragon? A dark ball of fear lodged in her chest like a rock—hard and unyielding. Why did the idea of him putting himself in that kind of danger make her stomach churn? Make it feel like the bottom of her heart had just dropped out? “If it is mercy you seek, you will not find it with the enforcer.”

“It's not mercy I seek, but justice,” he said flatly, his eyes as hard as steel. “My brother will be as good a source as any.” The rebuke stung as it was meant to. But how could she tell him that she wanted to help him, she just couldn't. “I will tell him what I've discovered and see if it will be enough to convince my cousin of my innocence.”

She looked up at him, her heart in her throat, wishing there was more that she could say. “Will it be enough?”

He shrugged. “It would be better if I had a link to the gold.”

“Or to the person who stole the map,” she said softly.

He held her gaze. “Aye, or the person who stole the map.”

He might not fully trust her, but at least he was willing to acknowledge that it could have been someone else. He'd believed her guilty for a long time—not without reason—and she could not expect him to suddenly change his mind. Even if she wished it.

It seemed neither one of them was willing to take such a leap of faith. Following her heart had almost destroyed her—she could not do that to her son.

But she hoped Jamie Campbell helped—

Dear God. Why hadn't she considered the possibility before? Panic shot through her veins. She tried to keep her voice steady though every nerve ending in her body buzzed with alarm. There was no reason to think … the Campbells had many castles. But still her voice squeaked when she asked, “You are going to Ascog Castle?” Please, please, please say yes.

He gave her an odd look. “Nay. In my sister's last missive Lizzie mentioned that Jamie and his new wife would be spending the winter at Castleswene.”

No! Dread settled over her. Dougall was at Castle swene.

Her heart pounded. Surely he could hear it? The sound seemed to trumpet in her ears. Despite the cold night air, sweat gathered on her brow and hands. Duncan would see Dougall. Her fingers crushed the velvet of her dressing gown. Every instinct clamored against the possibility. “I'll go with you,” she blurted.

His eyes narrowed, her sudden change of heart having roused his suspicion. “Why would you want to do that?”

She didn't know, but she had to do something. She might not be able prevent their paths from crossing, but perhaps she could distract him? All she knew was that she couldn't stay here and just wait for disaster to strike.

She held her expression impassive, panic turning her to ice. “Traveling as one of my guardsmen, you are less likely to be discovered, and,” she continued offhandedly, “I should like to see my son. After what you've done for me and Ella, it's the least I can do.” That much at least was true.

“And you care whether I am discovered?”

Her eyes locked on his. Her chest rose up to her throat. It hurt that he could think that of her, but what else could he think? “I've never wanted to see you hurt, Duncan,” she said quietly. “I'm only trying to protect my family. The same family you seem hell-bent on destroying.”

He gave her a long look, his penetrating blue gaze darkening to black. “Is that the real reason you wish to come, Jeannie? To prevent me from sullying your father's and husband's names?”

She flinched. It hadn't been what she was thinking at all, but perhaps it was better if he thought so. Anything to keep him from guessing the truth: that the thought of him within a mile of their son drove nails of terror down her spine.

I would never allow a child of mine to go unclaimed. His words echoed in her head.

She lifted her chin, not denying his accusation. “Believe what you will, but I am going to Castleswene, whether you choose to ride with me or not.”

Chapter 16

In the end Duncan had ridden with her, though it had meant a day's delay in leaving in order to organize the traveling party—or funeral party, depending on whether his gamble paid off.

Jeannie's estimation of the situation was accurate. Turning to his brother for help was a risk, but it was one he had to take. He'd run out of options. Jeannie wasn't going to help him; he had to hope that his sister's assessment of their brother proved more accurate than some of the rumors he'd heard. If he was wrong, he was a dead man. He might as well be handing himself over to the executioner.