AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Charlotte froze for a moment but then jumped in happiness. “Of course!”
* * *
Angus tried to collect himself as best he could. He remembered that night clearly when General Whiteman had plummeted to his death from the pressure of John Campbell’s boot. “What is it ye’d like tae know, Lord Darling?” He crossed his arms, attempting to gain back whatever ground he’d lost in this interaction.
Lord Darling shrugged. “Just tell me what happened to him. He is dead, and the King wishes to know the details.”
Angus was confused. “But we had a trial. Did General Andrews nae tell ye? All of it was sorted. The documents are there. He was killed at Duart Castle, but ‘twas nae at our hands. It was at the hands of the Campbells. Whiteman was found taking extra money from the surrounding clans. He wasnae even giving the money tae the Crown; he was keeping it for himself. We were able tae prove it tae General Andrews with the fake tax book as well as the hidden money in this very room! And my brother’s wife’s uncle, the General’s friend, testified against him!
He could hear his voice rising, and he wished he could remain calm. So this man did not wish to discuss inciting battles but rather the death of a horrible traitor?
Lord Darling, at Angus’ loud words, looked slightly taken aback. He showed it in the merest movement of his eyes, and his face went just a slight shade paler. Soon, he returned to normal, and Angus wasn’t sure if he had even seen a change at all.
“What are you talking about? The King knows nothing of this. General Andrews has not spoken of this to me, and there are no documents to prove it. The Campbell men claim that ‘twas you who killed General Whiteman, and I believe it was for no other reason than hate for the British. You wish to defeat them in battle, fighting to get back what freedoms you had before the Act that brought your country under ours indefinitely.” He grinned. He was calm and collected, but his voice held a cold menace that made Angus shiver.
He knew that he would not be treated fairly in this. For some reason, the man would not listen to reason. This man had the power to kill him and not receive any punishment for it. Unless he could get his hands on those documents. “Those Campbells are liars. They have been rivals of our clan for years. They wish tae get their hands on our land.”
Mortimer smiled. “Yes, they have told me all about it. So I have asked them to meet us here to join our little tête-à-tête. There are two men who say that it was you who killed him, one of which is a laird. You have no witnesses. Your brother is not here, and I can assure you that General Andrews will not be of use to you. He is subservient to the Crown, as am I.” In his seat, Mortimer did a slight yet still obsequious bow of the head. “Besides, that man you speak of, Andrew Bradford, is on trial for his brother’s murder. He will soon hang if the execution has not happened already.”
Angus could feel the precariousness of his situation heavily. It was true. He could be dead before his brother returned home. He had no way to contact him. The only hope that he had was if Calum appeared in Scotland within hours. And he knew that neither Charlotte nor her father would act as witnesses, even if Charlotte was allowed to be one. Her father would surely look upon him as a man who deflowered his daughter and endangered her.
Even though ‘twas she who tricked me. And those papers couldn’t have just disappeared!
Angus wanted to rage at the world. It truly was as if everything had been against him from the very beginning. First, Calum sank into depression and left him to try to manage a clan that was sinking into ruin. Then, he thought his world was finally getting better when Calum fell in love and married Julia.
But along with Julia came this woman who got under his skin and into his heart, only to leave him shortly thereafter. When Charlotte finally returned to Duart castle, he thought he had finally achieved happiness, and he had, for one bright day and night, until everything changed with the morning, and he found out that it was all a lie, a ruse to further bring his clan into ignominy.
Angus sat back in his chair, still not allowing Lord Darling to see any weakness. “Surely, we must wait for yer esteemed friends, the Campbells, tae arrive afore we begin any sort of trial. Even though General Andrews will nae act as a witness, surely he will wish tae be here during the trial? Then I can ask him what he did with those papers that I have seen with my very own eyes.”
Mortimer reddened at Angus’ refusal to look weak and dismayed. “There are no papers, you idiot! You must get that out of your head. And General Whiteman did nothing of the sort. He was an honorable man who would do anything for his country. Neither the King nor I wish to see his death go by without justice!” Angus felt a slight satisfaction at Lord Darling losing his cool. Why did he care so much about one man who was seemingly a stranger to him? Why should the King care so much either? It didn’t make sense.
Angus did not reply, and Mortimer simply said, a little calmer this time, “Yes, we will wait until they arrive. You will excuse me while I speak to the General about this, and then we can commence with your trial.”
Angus was relieved as the door shut behind him. He had possibly only minutes to find what papers he needed to prove his innocence. But why did the General not tell the earl about all of this? Lord Darling acted as if he knew nothing of the matter at all! It was strange, for certain, they had discussed it even before Angus had come into their minds as a murder suspect. He stood warily and glanced at the closed door quickly before he began to rummage through the desk, searching for the papers he had seen months ago.
He lost track of time as he shuffled and pulled, moving through sheets of paper as quickly as possible. But none of them were the ones he needed. All of them were very outdated, and most of them were not even from Whiteman’s time as General of the Fort. He sat, confused, and then stood up sharply, when Lord Darling arrived back in the study.
Lord Darling looked puzzled at first when he saw Angus in a different place, papers all around him in a pile. However, when the realization hit him, his face slowly folded into a wide grin, and Angus realized that it was too late.
