Page 56 of A Stranger’s Promise

A gleam of interest sparked Nicholas’ eyes. “Shall I demand she turn the forged papers over at once?”

“Nae, do no’ give her the chance to destroy them,” Alistair replied. “Go to her rooms and find them yourself and take Foster with you.”

“Even better.” Nicholas grinned.

As he vanished through the door, Alistair turned to his young nephew still standing before him. Alistair ruffled the lad’s hair. “You saved the day, lad, in more ways than one.” He dropped his voice to a stern tone, “But enough wandering about the estate. You will stay out of mischief and learn your lessons like a proper gentleman.”

“Aye, Uncle.” The boy nodded, seriously.

They stared at each other, then Alistair’s lip twitched into a proud smile and the boy suddenly turned away, but not before Alistair caught a glimpse of his mouth curving up in response. Alistair followed him back to Charlotte’s side as the doctor stood to take his leave.

“Her injuries are minor, my lord.” The doctor snapped his black case closed. “A few days’ rest and she’ll be back on her feet. I suggest she go straight to bed—now.”

“I will see to it.” Alistair smiled and squeezed Charlotte’s shoulder. A rosy glow had returned to her cheeks.

He walked with the doctor to the door and assigned a footman to settle the bill. He’d just stepped back into the library when a screech shattered the air. He looked up. Lady Cassilis sailed down the corridor toward him, her thin jowls jiggling in rage. Nicholas followed sedately behind her. Alistair glanced at Charlotte and Oliver. The last thing he wanted was to subject them to another of Lady Cassilis’s tantrums.

“I am owed an explanation on this matter. At once!” she shrilled. “My privacy has been violated by this ruffian.” She swept into the library with Nicholas on her heels, carrying a leather package tied with red string. “That is mine,” Lady Cassilis hissed. “I demand you return it. At once.”

Alistair closed the door. “Is it yours? Be careful what you say, Lady Cassilis.”

She whirled, eyes flashing. “Yes, it is mine.” Her voice gained strength as her thin nostrils flared. “It is your undoing, Alistair. It is the irrefutable proof.”

Nicholas crossed to the desk and dropped his package next to the piper’s papers.

“This estate was never yours, Alistair,” she snapped. “In fact, according to what I have found, you might very well not even be the earl’s son.”

Alistair raked his fingers through his hair and hazarded a look at Charlotte and Oliver. Charlotte faced the fire, Oliver in her lap. Appreciation flooded him. She was staying out of sight. He couldn’t blame her. She had no wish to face Lady Cassilis.

He returned his attention to the older woman. He wanted this matter finished. “Irrefutable proof? I shall be delighted to offer your papers, along with mine, to the full scrutiny of the court. I ride for Glasgow tomorrow to present them both.”

She blinked. “Both? Of what do you speak?”

He nodded at the desk. “This night’s unfortunate events uncovered proof of a different kind, Lady Cassilis, one buried deep in the piper’s sea caves.”

She went rigid.

“Shall I show her?” Nicholas queried softly.

Alistair nodded, once.

The baronet picked up the marriage license and extended it toward her. Her gaze locked on the paper. Her expression shifted from a blank expression to one of deep, dark rage.

Her hands began to shake. “How could he?”

So, she’d noticed the dates. Alistair eyed her grimly. “I quite agree with your sentiments. How could my own father deny me and my mother? How could he allow you to treat me in such an ignoble, base manner, a wee, frightened child of no more than seven years?”

She jerked and fell back a step.

“It’s over, Lady Cass—” he broke off. “Perhaps, I should no longer call you that, for you were never a Cassilis.”

Her chin began to tremble. “You wrong me cruelly. Just like your father before you. What will you do now? He ripped away every penny I had. I have nothing. Nothing. Not even the monies that were to be set aside for my old age. Do you wish to see me penniless? Do you wish me to beg bread by the roadside?”

A nerve twitched in Alistair’s cheek. The woman had caused so much pain, and she’d clearly bought forged documents to steal his estate—and now she expected mercy? He was too tired to care. He strode to the desk. Nicholas handed him the marriage license and he gathered the piper’s papers along with the forged ones and dumped them back into the chest.

“Retire to your rooms and stay there until I call for you.”

“I didn’t turn the papers in, Alistair,” she wailed, then collapsed to the floor, weeping hysterically. “You cannot ruin me, not over that. I kept the papers in my desk. I didn’t turn them in.” She kept weeping, insisting she’d done no wrong as he ordered several footmen to carry her away.

“Poor sod, your father, to voluntarily wed that,” Nicholas said with a low whistle when the door finally closed behind them.

Alistair snorted. “Never did a man deserve it more. He ruined us both through his greed.”

His friend cocked a brow. “Will you show mercy?”

What would he do? He rubbed his eyes. The thought of dragging Lady Cassilis to court was unbearable. “I have nothing to fear from her now. She has no choice but to behave, now that I have proof she’ll never want exposed to the light of day.”

Nicholas let out a long sigh. “Then send her far away. Far, far away, or we’ll never have a moment’s peace.”

“Aye.” An idea caught his fancy. “Methinks Lady Prescott would enjoy her company. She wouldn’t dare refuse, not when she’s been living in my London townhouse rent free.”

His friend belted a hearty laugh. “Never did two women deserve each other more.”

Alistair smiled and faced Charlotte. She peered around the chair at him. The admiration in her eyes made his blood sing.

“Aye,” he said softly, speaking to her with his eyes. “I am done with Lady Cassilis and all the rest. I have other things to think of now.”