Page 81 of A Highland Duke to Claim Her Heart

“The letters are gone,” Cassandra said, her voice small and frightened, as she stood at the end of Ewan’s bed. Her face was very pale, and she trembled slightly as she said the words. Alaric, who stood next to her, began to pace around the room. Dr. Ludley, meanwhile, put his head in his hands.

Downstairs, his brother was still being entertained by Lady Pembury. But how long would the dinner go on?

“What does this mean, exactly?” Ewan asked, looking at the doctor. He still did not have enough energy to stand, but he was sitting up in bed at least, and all his other symptoms seemed to have evaporated. His headache was gone, he was no longer clammy and feverish, and he was breathing perfectly once again. “If we do not have the vials or the letters, can we still prove that Christopher was behind this?”

“I am not certain,” Dr. Ludley said, looking up and frowning. “I am not a legal expert. We will have to consult a solicitor to be certain. Even then, Christopher will undoubtedly employ great solicitors in his own defense. Without proof of arsenic poison over a substantial period of time, we may have no case.”

There was a long, terrible silence as the reality of these words hit them all. Ewan was disappointed, of course he was, he knew that his brother deserved to face justice for his crimes. But it wasthe look of pure distress on his wife’s face that caused him the most agony. She looked as if she were about to cry, and when she looked at him, he could see the anguish in her eyes.

“We cannot let him get away with this,” she murmured. “There must be a way.”

“We could keep searching for the letters,” Dr. Ludley suggested. “Christopher may have put them somewhere we would not think to look for them.”

“He will have destroyed the letters by now,” Alaric said. “If he suspects that we are investigating him, he would not want any evidence lying around. Attempted murder is punishable by death in Scotland. He would not risk it.”

Dr. Ludley nodded, then fell silent. There was another long pause. Then Ewan spoke.

“We can let him attempt to poison me again.”

Everyone turned to stare at him. Their reactions were immediate and predictable. Alaric’s face twisted with anger, the doctor’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and terror flitted across Cassandra’s face.

“No, Ewan!” she said at once. “We cannot allow that! What if he is able to force some of it down your throat? You are only justbetter now.” She looked at the doctor desperately. “Tell him that you will not allow such a thing, Dr. Ludley! Tell him it is too risky.”

Dr. Ludley shifted. “Under ordinary circumstances, I would say that it is too risky. After all, if Christopher suspects that His Grace is getting better, he could try for a bigger dose, one that will end his brother once and for all. However, considering our options…” he spread his hands wide. “I am not sure what choice we have. If we do not allow him to try again, if we do not have witnesses who can testify that he was trying to administer the poison, then I am afraid that we would be thwarted when the case came to jury.”

Cassandra’s lip quivered, and for a moment, Ewan really did think that she was going to burst into tears.

Then she took a deep, steadying breath, and he watched in utter amazement as her face went from one of terror and pain to something calmer and resolved. The face of someone who knew what had to be done and was willing to do it.

“Would he need to administer the poison?” she asked. “Or simply deliver it to the duke?”

“I think delivering it would be enough,” Dr. Ludley said. “Although we must make sure that he does not throw it away. We must have the liquid.”

Cassandra’s jaw worked as she nodded. “Very well. Then I will send word to the household staff that I am feeling ill and have taken to bed.” She sounded like a military commander marshaling her troops, and Ewan could not help but feel a surge of admiration and desire as he watched her. There was no woman like her. None as brave or as capable.

And she was his.

“Dr. Ludley,” she continued, “you will make a show of leaving the house, then double round to the back and sneak back up through the servants’ corridors. That way, Christopher will feel emboldened, thinking there are fewer people about to catch him. Meanwhile, of course, we will all be waiting here to catch him in the act. Dr. Ludley, you will stand in wait in the closet across the hall, and when Christopher enters the room, you will have to come and peek through the door. Alaric, you will be stationed at the end of the hall, to catch Christopher if he tries to run.”

Alaric nodded. “And where will you be, Your Grace?”

Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. “I will be waiting in the wardrobe.”

They all turned and looked at the tall, mahogany wardrobe with elaborate carvings of vines and flowers on the outside. At the same time, Ewan felt his stomach lurch.

“No,” he said at once. “It is too dangerous.”

But Cassandra would brook no opposition. She folded her arms and glared at him.

“Yes,” she said. “We have no other choice. There must be a witness directly in the room. And that is the best location.”

“But… what if he hurts you?” Ewan asked desperately.

“I will be right outside,” Dr. Ludley said. “And Alaric will be right down the hall.”

Ewan licked his lips. His whole throat felt suddenly far too dry. But as he looked into the determined gaze of his wife, he knew there was no point in fighting. She was willing to risk this for him, and he had to trust her. Hedidtrust her. With his life.

“Alright,” he whispered, and his hand reached for her. She took it, squeezing it. “Just be safe.”