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Chapter Twenty-Seven
Angus had heard everything. Lord Darling had been interrupted in his satisfaction at finding Angus amidst all the papers by the arrival of the Campbell men. He left the room once more, and Angus was lost, trying desperately to think of a way out of his arrest. But soon, he heard raised voices, and he moved closer to the door to listen in.
When he heard Charlotte’s voice, defending him, he felt a leap of joy. She knew about the documents, and maybe she could find them? He felt a little guilty then for the hateful words he spoke to her earlier. She was here now, trying to get Lord Darling to free him. And she was there at the time of death! Perhaps she would even become a witness if it was so allowed.
He opened the door, curious about what was happening, hoping to get everything sorted, but the soldier at the door stopped him, and then the chaos began. Once Lord Darling had the gun in his hands, sweat beginning to bead at the corners of his brow, Angus felt like time had stopped. He felt the prick of the bayonet on his neck, and his eyes flickered to Charlotte’s.
Lord Darling was crazed. That was obvious enough now. Angus realized that if somehow, the trigger was pulled, and he lost his life right then, he wanted one last look at Charlotte, even if he was angry with her. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, and when he watched her, his heart swelled with love. She looked to be on the verge of tears, even though he had heard power and defiance in her voice earlier.
She cares. It’s in her eyes. Even Lord Darling had called him ‘her precious Angus.’ He kept his mind on that and tried to not think of the prospect of death as it loomed at his side.
Suddenly, Archibald spoke up, his thick bushy red eyebrows furrowing in anger as he watched the scene. “What are ye about, ye daft Englishman? We shall have a furious battle on our hands if ye kill the laird’s brother! And we will have lost our bargaining power! How will we ever get the land if we lose him? Ye daft idiot.”
Lord Darling’s dark eyes shifted from person to person. Angus could tell the man’s madness was increasing with each passing moment. He shifted his hands on the gun, and Angus swallowed, trying not to let his nerves get the better of him. He could try to fight the older man and push the gun away from him, but with Charlotte and the other woman in the room, he couldn’t risk it. He was still slightly weak, and he didn’t trust his muscles to do what they were used to when the man had a weapon. So he stood frozen, trying to think of something.
Lord Darling replied to Archibald, “You Scottish idiot. You think that I care about your end of this deal? I only used you for information! Whether or not you get the MacLean land is of little consequence to me when revenge is at hand!”
John said, “Revenge? What do you mean?” He even took a step towards Lord Darling, and Angus wished he could kick him back.
Lord Darling laughed then, a mirthless, hollow laugh that echoed off the walls of the room sharply, adding a strange and ominous tone to the air. “Revenge! For my dear departed brother, General George Whiteman!”
Suddenly, General Andrews burst into the room and yelled out, “I knew something was not right here. Whiteman was your brother?!” Charlotte felt a leap of hope as she saw her father’s angry arrival.
“Father!”
Lord Darling laughed again. The musket began to tremble in his hands as he laughed, and Angus felt sweat pouring down his own head. He could lose his life at any minute.
“That’s right, you blasted idiot! You finally had enough intelligence to string a pair of thoughts together! He was my brother, and he was murdered here! I came to find out who it was, and these Campbell men told me the truth.” Lord Darling pushed the bayonet further into Angus’ neck, and he winced in pain. He opened his eyes again to see Charlotte watching him with fear, and the woman next to her was crying.
General Andrews glanced at Charlotte and spoke again, edging closer towards the surprised group, “Then there was no reason for you to come because of war or extra training? I knew it. While I rode towards Fort George on your useless mission, I thought to myself, what am I doing here, allowing a strange man to collect my daughter and take over the duties of my Fort?”
Angus wished that everyone would stop with the questions and conversations. He was the one who was on the verge of death. They needed to find a solution, not simply pepper the madman with questions that seemed to give him no end to his morbid amusement.
Lord Darling replied gruffly, “Well, I’m surprised you were able to come to ask such an intelligent question. I did not come to the Fort to take over, though. That’s where you’re wrong. I came for one purpose only. Even the King had forgotten about my brother and had not even heard of him when I brought up his name. I will not have my brother lost to history or become vilified for his treason. It is not true, I tell you! So you will give me the documents that I desire so that I can destroy them.” Lord Darling set his teeth and stared at the small party before him, daring them to say anything else.
There was a whimper of “Father, how could you?” from Elizabeth, and everyone’s eyes turned to her tear-stained face.
“Shut up, daughter! This does not concern you. You never met my brother, for your mother would not allow it. Once the old bitch died, I had hoped you could meet him and see him for his honor and accomplishment. But then he was taken from me by this man!” Angus could feel a warm trickle of blood slide down the skin of his neck as Lord Darling pushed the tip of the bayonet even further into his skin. With a stronger push, the blade would plunge through his neck, and he would die, spilling his blood on the floor of the Fort, an empty man.
Charlotte then cried out, “John! You must tell him!” and at the same time, John stepped forward, nerves making his arms tremble. General Andrews watched his movement warily. Angus knew what John was about to do, and he was shocked. But even though he knew what was about to happen, he was still surprised by the next words that came out of John Campbell’s mouth.
* * *
Julia and Calum stepped out of their carriage and left it at the inn’s stables. Calum stretched his arms high and took in a deep breath of air. “I feel rather revitalized from that part of our journey.”
Julia moved towards him, a satisfied smile on her face. She said softly, “From the lovemaking in the carriage, you mean.” Calum smiled and rubbed her shoulders.
“Aye, I do seem to recall something pleasant like that happening.”
Julia cried, “Calum MacLean, you are becoming much too cocky for my taste, you know. You will grow to regret it one day. What if I refuse to go to bed with you one of these days? You’d feel remorseful then, I am sure. Julia taunted her husband, her hands on her hips. Never before had she dreamed of being so brazen with another man, and especially not in public.
Calum threw his head back and laughed. Then he looked at her with a grin, his eyes full of amusement. “Now dinnae go saying things ye dinnae mean, lass. I know that ye’d regret nae going tae bed with me just as much as I would.”
Julia huffed. He was right. Each time she and Calum made love to each other, it was better, more heated, and more passionate than the last time. But she still wanted to tease him just a little. “Calum MacLean, I am warning you. I will find some punishment that shall fit the crime. Your pride in your abilities is infuriating!” But she threw him a smile and shook her head at him. “Come, let us go to the Fort. Please! I wish to see my uncle before we part over the water. Perhaps Charlotte will even be there.”
Calum nodded. “Aye, lass. Of course. Shall we walk? ‘Tis a fine day. I shall go and tell the men tae take our trunks tae Duart.”
Julia heartily agreed. “Thank you! I feared my legs would be eternally filled with cramps after such a long carriage ride.”
