Page 81 of Defy the Highlander

Colly shook her head. “I dunna have tae go there tae know,” she said. “I believe his wife is here, at Hawkhill.”

“Here? You’ve gone mad.”

“I believe his wife is none other than Lilia.”

Lady Currie stopped rubbing her foot. “Lilia?” she repeated, perplexed. “Our Lilia?”

Colly nodded firmly. “I’ll tell ye why I think so,” she said. “Do ye remember a couple of months ago when Lilia brought a man here tae Hawkhill, a man she said saved her from the assault when she lost yer sausages?”

By this time, Lady Currie’s rage had cooled and she was looking at Colly warily. “I remember,” she said. “The same man you said she was fornicating with.”

“The man who tried tae beat me when I discovered it.”

“I remember that,” Lady Currie said. Then, her eyes widened. “Are you telling me that Brody was that man?”

“Think about it, m’lady,” Colly said, grasping her wrists to emphasize her point. “When was the first time ye saw Brody at The Cal?”

Lady Currie was trying very hard to put the pieces of the puzzle together. “Just a short time ago.”

“But ye never saw him before I caught Lilia fornicating.”

Lady Currie shook her head. “Nay,” she said. “Clegg told me that he was a new recruit.”

“There ye have it,” Colly said. “Mayhap he and Lilia have planned this all along. He went tae The Cal just so ye would pay attention tae him. Mayhap they even wanted ye tae bring him here.”

“But why? He’s refused me since I first saw him. Why would he want to come here?”

“Tae be with Lilia, of course!”

Lady Currie’s mouth popped open. “He did not bring his wife with him,” she said. “He told me he left her at The Cal because he did not want to bring her here. But what if she was already here?”

Colly nodded firmly. “Now ye understand, m’lady. No doubt, the warrior and Lilia are planning something terrible. Mayhap they plan tae kill ye and the laird!”

Lady Currie looked at her with both fear and shock. “Is it true?”

Colly patted her hand. “Before ye do anything, let me speak with Lilia,” she said. “I can force her tae tell the truth. She might not tell ye because she doesna fear ye, but she fears me. I know I can force her tae tell me everything.”

Lady Currie was clearly bewildered by it all, realizing that her new warrior and one of her maids could possibly be married. Had they set a trap for her? She never would have believed it from Lilia, but Colly seemed convinced.

“Are you certain he was the same man Lilia brought here?” she asked. “Lilia has never been disloyal to me, Colly. I find this all quite shocking.”

Colly stood up, pulling her to her feet. “I will find out,” she said confidently. “I want ye tae return tae yer chamber and wait for me. I am going to find Lilia and get the truth out of her.”

Lady Currie allowed Colly to lead her to the door. “Colly, if this is all true, then I understand why Brody has refused me, but Lilia… why would she not tell me she had married the man? Why keep it a secret?”

Colly opened the chamber door. “Because she is a deceitful liar,” she said. “I have been telling ye for two years that Lilia is not someone ye should have around ye. When she confesses the truth, ye must dismiss her. Better still, send her tae another house far away. Mayhap ye should send her tae yer father’s house where she can scrub the floors from dawn to dusk. Send her far away so that ye will have all of Brody’s attention. With his wife gone, surely he will submit tae ye.”

Lady Currie liked that idea a great deal. Had she finally found the key to Brody’s submission? She nodded as if, finally, she had hope in the situation.

“Speak with Lilia and come to me when you are finished,” she said. “If the woman is guilty, then you will bring her to me. I want to hear it from her own lips.”

“I shall, m’lady. Not to worry. Colly will tend tae everything.”

“Make sure you get the answers to your questions. Do not let her be evasive.”

“I willna, lamb. I promise.”

As Lady Currie disappeared into her chamber, Colly felt great satisfaction. Whether or not Lilia was guilty wasn’t the issue. Colly intended to wrangle a confession from her one way or another because this was what she’d been waiting for.