Unlaced by the Outlaw (Secrets in Silk) (34 page)

“I know he caused you and Paul a great deal of trouble.”

A shadow crossed her sister’s face. “Yes. And I can only give thanks that Strathland was already dead when Paul went after him. Or it might have been my husband in the Tolbooth.”

“I didn’t know that Paul went after him, too. What happened?” Margaret was aware that the two men had always been enemies, but there was a new fear in her sister’s voice.

“Lord Strathland left the asylum and he began hunting the members of our family. He wanted to kill all of us, starting with Amelia.” Juliette’s hands were clenched together, and she steadied herself. “She’s all right, but her husband was shot.” Before Margaret could react, Juliette reassured her, “He is recovering, thank goodness.”

Relief filled her to hear it, for Margaret had always been fond of Castledon. A shiver crossed over her to learn that their family had been in such danger. “And Paul went after Strathland to stop him?”

“Yes,” Juliette answered. “But when he caught up, the earl had already been shot by someone else.” She closed her eyes and took a slow breath, as if steadying herself.

“Are you feeling all right?” Margaret asked.

“I’m just tired.” There was a slight hint of emotion on her face, and she added, “I think I may be with child again.”

Margaret smiled at Juliette and squeezed her hand. “I’m happy for you.”

“I am, as well. Except that the smell of most food makes my stomach toss. I never had that with Grace or with—” She paused a moment as if changing what she’d wanted to say. “That is, I was never sick before. It’s terrible.”

“I hope it passes quickly,” Margaret said. Their tea arrived, and she poured a cup for her sister. “Drink this, and it might make you feel better.”

Her sister nodded and took a sip. Then she asked, “Does Cain know you are here?”

“No.” Margaret rested her hands upon her lap. “But I had to come.” A sudden shyness came over her at the thought of seeing Cain again. Would he be glad she was here? Or did he not want her to come this far?

Juliette waited a long pause, and Margaret admitted, “I told our parents that I am going to marry him.”

Her sister nearly choked on her tea. “What? Is it true?”

“Yes,” she said. “I-I want to.” The sudden giddy feeling took hold in her stomach, and she confessed, “I don’t know quite how it happened, but it feels right to be with him. I couldn’t stay away any longer—I was hoping I would find him here.”

Her sister positively beamed. “If Amelia were here, she’d be dragging you off to the nearest church.” Shaking her head, she added, “I imagine our parents were appalled.”

“Horrified, more like.” But it felt so good to admit the truth to her sister. “Father threatened to cut me off. He said it would bring embarrassment to them.”

Juliette set down her cup and went to sit beside her. She reached out, and Margaret clasped her hand. “It’s going to be all right, Margaret. I’ll help you in any way I can.”

Her sister’s support meant a great deal to her. Juliette had wed Dr. Fraser before learning that he’d inherited his uncle’s title, so she knew well enough what it meant to defy her family. Cain would never possess a title. And somehow, Margaret had reached the point where she didn’t care anymore.

“I’ve another favor to ask,” she told Juliette. “Cain thinks we should take control of Aphrodite’s Unmentionables. If it’s all right with you, I’ll manage the business from now on.” It was the easiest way to increase their income and provide enough for her and Cain to live on.

Her sister shook her head in disbelief. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d become a merchant.”

Neither had Margaret. Particularly when it involved selling seductive unmentionables. But she was beginning to understand why a woman might want to draw attention to herself. Cain had voiced his own appreciation for the color red. She imagined his reaction if he saw her wearing red lace over bare skin.

A flush of memory pressed over her, as she thought of him lifting her up against the wall and claiming her then and there. Beneath her gown, her skin rose up with anticipation.

Stop this,
she warned herself.
He’s not even here yet.

“I’ll become a business owner, not a merchant,” Margaret corrected. “It’s slightly more respectable.”

Although, given what she was selling, it would never truly be respectable.

Juliette’s green eyes met her own. “You really do love him, don’t you, Margaret?”

“I do, yes.” A lightness filled her up inside with the giddy sense of rebellion. “And whether or not he’ll ever admit it, Cain needs me.” She released her sister’s hand and said, “We don’t have to be poor, not with the business to run.” She straightened and added, “If anyone ever discovers the truth, I will say that it was always my idea. That you and Toria and Amelia had nothing to do with it.”

“We’ll stand by you, in whatever way you want us to,” Juliette said. Her sister faced her and said, “You’ll always be our sister, and nothing will change that. If our secret is revealed, let the others say what they will about scandal. It doesn’t matter.”

In that moment, the decision felt right. No, she wouldn’t be married to a duke or a prince. But she would have the man she loved, she could bear his children, and with the profits of the business, they could live comfortably.

The sound of men’s voices interrupted their conversation, and Margaret stood. She heard Cain arguing with Paul, and the moment she heard him speaking, her heartbeat began to quicken. The urge to run into the hallway and throw herself into his arms was far too strong.

But he entered the drawing room with Dr. Fraser, and she caught the end of their conversation. “We’re going to hire men to search for MacKinloch. He has to be found within the next two days. Then we can—” His words broke away the moment he saw her.

She expected him to smile or to pull her into his arms. Instead, his expression darkened. There was no sense of surprised welcome, and her spirits sank. He didn’t look at all glad she was there.

“Why did you come, lass?”

Chapter Fourteen

C
ain didn’t know why Margaret had traveled here, but the sight of her filled him with a blend of joy and fear. In her violet traveling gown and bonnet, she reminded him of a lilac in spring. He wanted to embrace her, to breathe in the scent of her hair and give thanks that she was with him. Right now, he couldn’t touch her, for the stench of the Tolbooth was still upon him.

But he was afraid of the real reason why she might be here—if she were with child. The very thought sent a wave of terror over him. He couldn’t possibly be a father. Not now.

Damn it all, he needed to speak with her alone and find out why she had come to Falsham.

“Come with me, and we’ll talk,” he ordered. Without waiting for her to agree, he gestured for her to follow him. Fraser started to protest, but thankfully his wife pulled him back.

Cain didn’t turn around, but walked up the stairs to the third floor. He’d chosen a room only slightly better than a servant’s, though Paul had tried to put him in one of the guest rooms. It hadn’t felt right, and he’d admitted that he wouldn’t sleep well in such a place.

The moment he opened the door, he waited until Margaret was inside. She started to move forward, but he held up a hand. “Don’t be touching me, lass. I’ve been with Jonah, and I stink like a ruddy pig.” He poured water into a basin and began stripping off his shirt. It mattered not that she was standing in front of him, for she’d seen his bare chest before.

“Tell me why you’re here, lass.” Cain lathered up his arms and chest, rinsing himself with the water in the basin. Though it was cold, it felt good to wash away the filth of the prison. Even after visiting his brother every day, he couldn’t get accustomed to the harsh conditions.

Margaret didn’t speak at first. When he turned to her, there was a faint blush on her cheeks, as if she were choosing her words. “I missed you, and I wanted to help you find Jonah. I’m sorry for what happened to him.” She drew closer and added, “We’ll do everything we can to clear his name.”

Cain wanted her nowhere near the Tolbooth. He could hardly bear to be there himself, and he wanted to shield her from such a place. Though he admired her courage, there was a darker side of life that he never wanted her to see.

“It’s naught to do with you, lass,” he said. “Visit with your sister, if you wish, but leave Jonah to me.”

“You think I’m not capable of helping you?”

He felt the touch of her hands upon his bare shoulders, and it burned through him. It took every effort not to seize her and hold her tightly. Though she was capable of anything she set her mind to, this wasn’t a trial in the House of Lords. She needed to understand what would happen to Jonah if they couldn’t find the true murderer.

“My brother was accused of shooting Lord Strathland in the head,” he said, stepping back. “If they find Jonah guilty, they’ll hang him.” Seizing a towel, Cain dried the water from his face and torso.

She paled but nodded. “Have you hired a solicitor for him?”

“I have, aye. But the evidence is strong against Jonah.” Cain strode forward until he was standing before her. Though he’d washed away the filth of the Tolbooth, he still felt unclean. He reached for a new shirt, acutely aware of her eyes upon him. There was an intimacy between them, as if she had seen him this way a thousand times.

And though she shouldn’t be here, her presence did comfort him. He could imagine her as his wife, sharing in a private moment together. He thought of drawing her in for a kiss, of laying her down upon his bed and caressing her until she sighed with pleasure.

Margaret’s expression turned serious. “Why would anyone think a boy could possibly murder a man like the earl?”

“Jonah admitted he was there that night. And the gun used to kill Strathland was my father’s.” Cain didn’t know why his brother would have taken the weapon back with him, but it undoubtedly gave the impression that he’d planned to seek out and murder the earl.

Margaret sat down, frowning. “It’s still too coincidental. Anyone could have stolen the gun.”

“I think it was MacKinloch who blamed Jonah to hide his own guilt.”

“Surely Jonah denied any wrongdoing,” Margaret said. “If he told the truth, why would they not look for other suspects?”

“I’ve no idea why.” Cain paced across the floor. “But I suspect they confused him in the questioning. He was scared and might’ve said anything.” Tension knotted his muscles, and he added, “He tried to run, and it only made him look guiltier.”

“How long has he been imprisoned?”

“A few weeks. After they took him to the Tolbooth, the questioning got worse.” He met her gaze, and she understood what he meant.

Margaret exhaled softly and went to stand beside him. She drew her hands over his shoulders and down his back as if in memory of the burn wounds. “You’ll protect him. Surely there’s not enough evidence to convict him.”

“I hope there’s no’ enough. But I canna say what they’ll do. We have to find MacKinloch.”

“And if we can’t?”

He couldn’t let himself think of that. Cain closed his eyes and reached for her gloved hands. “I won’t let my brother die, Margaret. I’ll do whate’er I must to save him from the gallows.”

Her hands moved up his chest in a gentle caress, an offering of herself. He wanted so badly to kiss her, to take comfort in her arms. But he hesitated, not knowing if he should make the first move.

It was Margaret who did. She moved closer, resting her head against his heart. “I’ll help you save him.”

The ache within him intensified, shoving past the voices that insisted he didn’t deserve her. He knew that. But he held her tightly, savoring the warmth of her arms.

“Nay, I’ll handle it myself,” he told her. Then he drew his hands down her back, moving to her stomach. “And what of you? Are you all right, lass?” He let his touch linger, asking her without words if there was a child.

Her face flushed at his question. Without him having to voice the true question, she shook her head slowly. “I’m fine. There’s no reason to worry.”

He breathed easier, knowing she wouldn’t suffer the consequences of their actions. But there was a glimpse of sadness in her green eyes, as if she had wanted a bairn.

Margaret would make a good mother, he didn’t doubt. But he didn’t know if he would ever be ready to become a father. After all the mistakes he’d made with Jonah, he questioned whether he was any good at it.

“I am glad that all is well,” he said at last. “I suppose you’ll be wanting to visit with your sister.” He started to walk with her toward the door, but Margaret didn’t follow.

“I came to visit with
you
, Cain.” She folded her hands and squared her shoulders. “I can help you to hire good men to represent your brother in court. Or we could hire more investigators to find the right evidence against MacKinloch.”

Though he knew she didn’t mean to offend him, her insinuation was that he couldn’t afford to defend his brother. “I don’t need your help, lass.” What he needed was more time. He had to locate Joseph MacKinloch and demand a confession from him.

Her expression remained dire. “This is his life, Cain. Don’t let your pride get in the way of that.”

It wasn’t only his pride. If he allowed her to help, she would be pulled into the middle of this nightmare of investigations. He wanted her safe from harm, and if she became involved, it would taint her reputation. Ladies were never associated with murder trials—even
he
knew that. “I will take care of my brother. I’ve done it ever since our parents died.”

“And you’ve done well,” she started to say. “But—”

“Nay. If I’d been there for him, he’d ne’er have left,” he shot back. “I’m the reason he’s locked away in there.”

“You’re not,” she said. “And you mustn’t believe that. You did the best you could.”

“Nay.” A shadow of frustration darkened his mood. “I left him with Rory and Grania far too much. He couldna depend on me.”

A softness stole over Margaret’s face. “You were busy earning a living for both of you. And you took care of him.”