Wild (Regency Scandal 2), Carole Mortimer [novels for teenagers .TXT] 📗

despising his previous stiff formality. “Also, before I go any further, please let me assure you I am not prone to making wild or inaccurate accusations.”

The older man studied him for several long seconds before nodding. “I have heard many things about you, Essex, but having flights of fancy is not one of them.”

“Thank you.” It didn’t surprise Andrew that this wily old man knew more about him than Andrew did about him.

McGregor nodded. “Seems you were over critical of your sister’s choice of husband in the past, but hopefully ye’ve seen the error of yer ways now?”

Andrew deserved to feel uncomfortable at this warranted criticism. “Very much so, sir.”

“Then we shall proceed,” the older man invited.

Andrew knew he had been let off lightly under the circumstances. “Are you acquainted with the Munro family?” He winced. “Of course you are. Cat was married to one of them.”

McGregor nodded. “The best one, in my opinion.”

Andrew eyed him curiously. “What is your opinion of Alastair and Alec?”

“Young Alec is trying, and failing, to step into his elder brother’s shoes, and Alastair…” The advocate paused. “It is my belief Alastair has not been the same man since his eldest son was taken from him at Waterloo.”

Andrew released a relieved sigh. “Then that makes it somewhat easier for me to tell you of what I have learned since meeting that family yesterday.”

Simon settled himself more comfortably in his chair. “Whenever you are ready.”

“I now have reason to believe my sister and her husband’s boating accident to not have been an accident at all, and the attack on you to have been deliberately carried out by the same person who killed them.” He could still see the evidence of that attack in the way the older man walked slowly and with the aid of a cane, his leg having been broken and obviously taking its time to heal. If McGregor had been battered and bruised too, then any sign of those injuries had faded over time.

The other man’s expression remained inscrutable. “Because…”

“Because yesterday, I not only overheard Alec Munro and his father, Alastair, discussing how Alec had arranged the ‘accident’ that killed Hugh and Elena, but also how Alec intended to travel to Inverness last night, where he would have no trouble disposing of me whilst I am here. They knew the murder would undoubtedly be attributed to the thieves and cutthroats inhabiting the city.”

Andrew had been deeply shocked to hear what he had previously thought was the mild-mannered Alastair Munro talking to his son of having instigated these atrocities. Perhaps Simon McGregor was right, and Ewan’s death had unhinged the father, but that did not make his actions since then any less deplorable.

“What I need from you,” Andrew continued, “is your belief in what I have told you followed by your help in bringing these men to justice.”

“You believe Alec Munro to now be in Inverness for the sole intention of killing you?”

“I do.”

“Why kill you at all?”

“Because the attack on you two months ago was supposed to ensure I was never informed of my shared guardianship of Malcolm with Cat—Catriona,” he corrected uncomfortably.

Without Hugh’s will, Andrew would not have been informed of anything but his sister’s death, leaving Cat as Malcolm’s sole guardian. That would have left her alone and vulnerable to the attentions and “emotional support” of Alec Munro. The same man who had conveniently arrived at the McGregor family home, no doubt after being contacted by his cousin on the same evening that Andrew arrived from London.

It had sounded as if this was far from the first time Alec Munro had supposedly come to Cat’s rescue since the death of her brother and sister-in-law.

“There have been attacks on the McGregor ewes and lambs the past few weeks. I believe Alec Munro to have instigated those too, rather than it being the responsibility of wild dogs from the city. He’s making himself indispensable to Cat as her savior.” The very thought of the lengths Alec Munro had gone to in achieving that purpose made him feel ill.

The thought of Andrew never having come to the Highlands and Cat having married the other man made him feel even more so.

There was no doubt in Andrew’s mind that the other man had meant to make Cat his wife and step in as laird in Malcolm’s place. No doubt only until the boy reached an age when Alec and his father might decide to kill him too.

Simon’s mouth tightened. “While we are eating dinner, I will have some of my men search the city and see if Alec Munro is to be found there. I will send more of my men to arrest Alastair Munro and bring him here. The two of them can then explain themselves to me in the morning,” the advocate added grimly. “The idea you had of staying at an inn in Inverness, with or without Catriona and Malcolm, is no longer viable.”

Andrew had already made his peace with that fact. He would rather Cat and Malcolm were safe here than in danger in Inverness. “I would appreciate it if we could all stay here for the night instead.”

“Verra sensible of ye.” The older man’s brow cleared, and he gave a half smile. “That is several times now I have heard you call my niece Cat. I trust your intentions toward her are of an honorable nature?” He demonstrated why he had been chosen as Sheriff Principal of the Highlands.

“They are,” Andrew assured the older man decisively. “But I cannot say whether or not she feels the same way about me.”

After remaining sleepless the previous night and going over and over his lovemaking with Cat, Andrew knew that his heart and body belonged to her.

But he had no idea whether or not she felt the same way about him.

How could she, after knowing him for such a short time?

Andrew now completely understood why Elena had eloped with her beloved Hugh after knowing him for only a week, because after knowing Cat