“Continue.”
“It wasnae an accident. It was orchestrated by me faither.”
Adair balked. “Ye are making a serious claim, Lady Isla,” he said slowly, tamping down his temper. “That is no small accusation. Ye could get in serious trouble if it turns out to be a falsehood.”
“I didnae want to believe it either, but what reason does Duncan have to lie to me?”
Adair did not have an answer to that.
“Ye’ve just attested to kennin’ the details of the former Laird Scott’s death, which matches Duncan’s tale. It only proves that he told me the truth.”
He rose, feeling his composure fray. Isla rose along with him but did not move. He paced the length of his desk.
His father had been murdered.
His hands came down hard on the headrest of his chair, and he squeezed the leather, as if taking out his anger on it. “Eventhough what he said is true, why did he confess now, after all these years?”
“He passed this evenin’ just before I rode back here. He wanted to die with a clear conscience. He felt he couldnae do so with the death of me cousins weighing on his heart.”
Adair could not tell her about Emily and Elize just yet.
“Me faither was riding out to meet Ewan Scott to discuss business. Did yer faither ken this? Did he intend to kill them both?”
“Nay. Duncan had written a letter to yer faither that mornin’ when he realized me faither intended to execute his plan that day. He was unlucky to nae have made it out.”
Adair let out a guttural growl. He wanted to wring the man’s neck—both men’s. Laird Scott and Duncan Morgress. He rose from his seat as red-hot rage flooded his veins, his fingers itching for violence.
“I am sorry for the pain me faither has caused ye. I understand the betrayal ye feel?—”
“Daenae apologize for him,” he gritted out through clenched teeth as he looked out into the night, the darkness mirroring the void in his chest.
“I willnae marry Callum.”
Adair spun on his feet. “If it’s guilt ye feel?—”
Isla lifted her hand, cutting him off. “I willnae bind ye to a name that has brought ye so much pain. If I am being honest, I’m doing this more for meself than for ye. I never wanted to wed yer braither; I was merely following me faither’s orders. I’m nae going to do that anymore.”
“With the truth ye have just revealed, I can expose yer faither. I can take away everything he has schemed for. Yer safety goes along with it. A marriage protects ye.”
“If I marry Callum, me faither wins.”
“And if ye daenae, ye lose everything.”
Isla smiled. “All I want from ye is to let me help ye bring down me faither. Daenae try to change me mind on this; it is made up. Please let me do this.”
Adair let out a sigh. “He is still yer faither. I ken it would hurt ye to betray him.”
“Choosing blood over truth will hurt me more.”
“Ye are more honorable than yer faither could ever be.” His mind had already settled on a plan. He regained his seat and gestured for Isla to do the same. “We have to prove everything ye’ve just told me.”
Isla could not hide her excitement when he stopped protesting. She shifted closer to the desk, then picked up the quill and paper he’d placed in front of her.
“Write down everything ye ken.”
“What do ye intend to do with it?” she asked as she scribbled on the paper.
“I believe what ye told me, but others wouldnae. For now, I need yer testimony documented. Then I need to find proof that backs up yer claim.”
