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

for two days, Andrew wished he might carry her off and marry her in exactly the same way.

He had cautioned himself with the knowledge there was no rush. That once the Munro family was dealt with, the two of them would have time to get to know each other, and for Cat to hopefully fall in love with him too.

But none of that would be possible until the relevant members of the Munro family had been arrested and brought to justice.

A truth which was sure to come as a great shock to Cat.

A truth she demanded to know the moment dinner was over and she had come back down the stairs to join the three adults in the parlor after putting a very tired Malcolm to bed. “Will someone now please tell me what is going on?” She bristled with anger. “First we are staying in Inverness, then it is decided we shall stay here. Then there have been men coming and going to this house all evening, and none of you seem to be in the least surprised by it.”

Andrew glanced across to where Simon McGregor and his wife were watching them as they sat either side of the fire. “Might I request the use of the privacy of your study for a short time, McGregor?” He had no doubts, after observing the couple together during dinner, that Simon McGregor had already told his wife of this evening’s events. But Andrew didn’t feel it fair to reveal those facts to Cat in front of an audience, even if they were her family.

Events that had, unfortunately, served to confirm all of Andrew’s suspicions. Quite how Cat was going to take that news should not be done with an audience, even of those who loved her.

“Of course,” Simon invited graciously. “Morag and I will be going to bed shortly, so there is no reason to hurry yourselves,” he added with a twinkle in his wily blue eyes.

From the angry sparkle he could see in Cat’s eyes, Andrew doubted that there would be a repeat of their lovemaking together yesterday, this time in Simon’s study.

His cock, unfortunately, refused to accept that possibility and became engorged and throbbing the moment the two of them were alone together.

Chapter Thirteen

“Well?” Cat demanded impatiently when Andrew stared at her with hungry lust rather than attempting to offer her an explanation.

He sighed deeply, pacing the room for several seconds before sitting on the chaise in front of the window, a piece of furniture where Cat knew her uncle liked to recline when he was taking refuge from the women in the household.

“Come and sit with me,” Andrew invited huskily.

She eyed him warily as she slowly crossed the room, giving a small squeak of surprise as, instead of allowing her to sit next to him, Andrew lightly grasped her arm to pull her down until she was seated across his muscular thighs with his arms tightly about her waist.

He gave her no opportunity to voice a complaint. If she had wanted to make one, which she didn’t. She had been longing for this physical closeness with him all day.

Once she was ensconced upon his knees, he told her the reasons he and her uncle had been so preoccupied and why there had been men arriving to and leaving the house all evening.

By the time he finished his explanation, hot tears were falling unheeded down the pallor of Cat’s cheeks. “You are certain of all this?” she choked.

Andrew nodded. “Your uncle’s men apprehended Alec Munro in a tavern two hours ago. On your uncle’s instructions, they have since questioned him.” He paused as if searching for the right words. “He admitted everything. In fact, your uncle’s men thought he seemed almost relieved to admit to his misdeeds.”

“He really killed Hugh and Elena on his father’s instruction?”

“I am afraid so.”

“He intended killing you too whilst you are here in Inverness?”

“Yes.”

“The attacks on the sheep?”

“Made by his own dogs.”

“So that I might lean on him for support now that I have been left alone?”

Andrew’s arms tightened about her. “You are not alone.”

Cat chose not to respond to that statement, knowing that Andrew would have to return to London at some time in the future. He was the Duke of Essex, after all. “I would never have married Alec, no matter how alone I felt. Besides, I have Dougal McGregor to help with the running of the estate until Malcolm is old enough to do so.” She gave a shake of her head. “I have known the Munro family all my life. I find it hard to believe either Alastair or Alec are capable of committing such wicked deeds.”

Andrew grimaced. “Your uncle believes Alastair to have become emotionally deranged after Ewan’s death, and Alec to have felt inferior to his older brother and desperate to please his father now that he was the eldest son and heir.”

“Alec has killed people for that cause,” Cat wailed as fresh tears fell hotly down her cheeks.

“And he will hang for it,” Andrew said evenly. “When his father arrives in the custody of your uncle’s men, he too will stand trial for inciting murder.”

Cat could only imagine what effect this would have on all the Munro family. She might not like her in-laws very much, but they were still her beloved Ewan’s family. And all this seemed to have been done after Ewan had the misfortune to die.

“Ewan would have hated them for this,” she stated with certainty.

“I have no doubt,” Andrew acknowledged softly.

She sat up to peer at him. “Do you hate him for it?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then do you hate me?”

He looked taken aback. “Why on earth would I hate you?”

“Because the family I married into are responsible for killing your sister!”

“And your brother,” he reminded quietly.

She nodded. “And if you had gone into Inverness tonight, you might have been killed too!” She buried her face against the hardness of Andrew’s chest. She was devastated at the thought of him lying dead in a filthy