Page 58 of This Laird of Mine

David released his grasp on Agatha. He snagged the blade from her hand a moment before the injured madwoman wilted to the floor. “You’ve served justice, where justice was due, Penelope. Nothing more.”

Claire took advantage of the chaos. She gained her feet and in the same moment she swung her bound arms at the head of the lackey behind her.

He staggered backward but did not fall. When Claire moved to hit him again, he forced his hood back, revealing his face.

Jules recognized the debt collector instantly. “Arthur Cabot?”

“Stop,” Arthur said, putting up his arms in a defensive stance. “It is my duty to follow you in an effort to recover what you owe your creditors. I have been pursuing you since your return to Argyll. Just as she has,” he explained.

The explanation did nothing to stop Claire. She swung at Arthur again, knocking him in the gut.

He groaned at the impact, but did not fight back. “I know where the girls are,” he said.

Claire froze.

“I followed her here to the cemetery and into the mausoleum. They took the tunnel on the right. At the end of it, while they were occupied, I peered into a chamber similar to this one and witnessed them putting two young women into a sarcophagus.”

Claire fell to her knees. She cried out as if in pain.

“No, no,” Arthur exclaimed. “They put them in there alive.”

Claire drew in a harsh breath. “They are alive?”

Arthur nodded.

“You’ll never . . . get to them . . . in time,” Agatha said between gasping breaths.

Jules let loose a growl. He pulled at the manacles as hard as he could. “Get me down from here.”

David was at his side a moment later, pounding the tip of his dagger against the lock.

Arthur held out a key. “This might be quicker.”

“How did you come to be here then? Dressed as you are?” David asked while he accepted the key.

“I unfortunately made a noise while I was observing. One of Agatha’s henchmen came to investigate. I knocked him out, took his cloak, and assumed his role in her schemes.”

Jules was freed a moment later. “Show us where the girls are.”

Arthur grabbed one of the lanterns and headed out of the chamber. David retrieved his sword and a second lantern, then helped Penelope to her feet. “Are you coming?” he asked Jules with a frown when neither he nor Claire moved to follow.

“Right behind you,” Jules said. “Claire.” He waved her toward the doorway.

She looked back at the woman on the ground, at the blood seeping from her wounds. “What about her?” she asked haltingly.

“We will leave her here and send the authorities back to get her.”

“If she dies . . . Penelope . . .” Claire broke off.

Jules shook his head. “Penelope is the victim, not this woman.”

“She’s not a woman, she’s a monster,” Claire said, her tone flat. “I knew it the moment she took the girls, then tried to manipulate me . . .”

“You are not to blame here either, Claire.” He held out his hand.

She moved past it, out of the chamber, leaving him alone with Agatha. Jules stared at the chamber that had been alive with Claire’s presence a moment before and wondered how or if they could move forward from here.

Jules reached for the remaining lantern.