Page 35

C ampbell could already feel the caress of slumber on his senses, urging him to accept the rest it offered.

He pulled Mabel closer, enjoying her warmth as he allowed slumber to pull him under, taking him far away from his surroundings and the overwhelming reality that lingered.

Just as his eyes fluttered shut, he was startled by the sound of shy knocks on the door. Almost like the intruder was unsure if they were right to disturb them at that hour.

Campbell agreed. He was definitely not in the mood to entertain any visitors. He turned to see that Mabel had awoken at the noise.

Sighing in resignation, he called out, “Come in.”

There was a pause, and Campbell thought that their visitor might have decided against meeting them. He was about to lie back down when the door opened and, surprisingly, Talia walked in, looking subdued and small, like a criminal who was heading to the guillotine.

Mabel must have noted the woman’s strange demeanor because she rose to her feet and stepped towards her.

“Talia,” she said, stopping before the governess in the middle of the room. “Is everything alright?”

Everything was definitely not alright, Campbell was sure of it. While Talia’s somber expression might be normal in light of the boys’ disappearance, something about her posture told him that there was something more. Another reason why she had needed to come to their bedroom.

Slowly, he stood up and walked up to the young governess, his hard eyes fixed on her, watching for any hint of her mission.

“Everything is nae alright,” he said quietly. Turning to Talia, he asked, “What did ye want to tell us, lass?”

“I am so sorry to disturb yer rest, Me Laird, Me Lady, but ye need to ken something important,” Talia began, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Campbell wrapped his arm around Mabel’s waist and drew her into him, her warmth almost like a buffer from whatever news was going to come out of the young governess’s mouth.

“I cannae take it anymore,” Talia burst out, falling to her knees. “I am so sorry. Please forgive me.”

“What are ye apologizing fer?” Mabel asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

Already, Campbell could feel the pieces coming together, bringing him to the perfect conclusion.

“I believe this is about the twins,” he said quietly, anger smoldering in his chest, threatening to boil over, while he waited for the bedraggled woman at his feet to confirm his suspicions.

“It is true, Me Laird,” she said between sobs. “I ken where the boys are. I ken who took them.”

“Who is it?” Campbell asked hoarsely, taking an unconscious step forward. His whole body was vibrating with rage.

“Darragh. Darragh took them,” Talia replied, fear blooming in her eyes.

Campbell held on to the sofa beside him and slowly lowered himself before his weak legs decided to collapse from the shock.

“Darragh?” Mabel echoed, confused. “Yer grandfaither?” Her gaze flitted between him and Talia. “Why would yer grandfaither kidnap his great-grandsons?”

“Why are ye surprised?” Campbell asked with a bitter chuckle. “He had nay qualms about forcefully taking his grandson twenty years ago. I guess he needs a new heir, now that the last one is dead.”

“Laird McCormick doesnae want the twins as his heirs,” Talia interjected quietly from her place on the floor.

“Then what does he hope to gain from kidnapping two little boys?” Campbell gritted out.

“He said that he wanted to remove them. That they were distractions. They were distracting ye and the lady from performing yer duties.”

“Duties?” Mabel’s mouth fell open in shock. “What duties?”

“Producing heirs. Laird McCormick believes that the twins are preventing ye from producing heirs.”

“I dinnae understand, the twins are me heirs—why did he nae attempt to take one of them to replace his lost heir?”

“He believes their blood to be tainted, since their maither was a servant,” Talia replied with an apologetic look in Mabel’s direction.

“He sent me here to ensure that they were taught well, since they are still related to him. He also wanted me to keep an eye on ye, Me Laird, to ensure that ye were making plans to produce an heir soon.”

Suddenly, everything became clearer. The reason why his grandfather had been sending him letters, all urging him to marry, since Aiden had died.

It was not because he cared. It was simply because he wanted him to produce an heir so he could steal him, just like he had stolen Aiden all those years ago.

Campbell was actually impressed with the man’s consistency of character. It could not have been easy to remain a right bastard, even after decades.

But while his grandfather was formidable, Campbell was even more so, and he had the advantage of youth on his side. He would never be as weak as his father. He would never sit back and allow the bitter old man to destroy his family again. Not now, not ever.

“Where did he take them?” he asked, rising from the sofa so swiftly that it groaned at the rough treatment.

He prowled towards the traitor on the floor, his fists clenched tightly at his sides as he fought the urge to wring her slender neck.

Talia must have sensed the restrained menace in his body because her eyes widened with fear, and she rushed to answer.

Better.

“The Laird sent men to take them to McCormick Castle. From there, he plans to send them to Sinclair Orphanage and keep them there until ye produce an heir.”

He crouched down before her, and she flinched as if she expected him to strike her.

While the little witch deserved it, he was not in the habit of beating women, no matter how aggravating they were.

He marched straight out of the castle, calling for his horse as he went. The stablehands hurried, and in no time his stallion was saddled and he was mounting it, calling for his warriors to get ready.

They moved as a formidable group towards Clan Sinclair to bring his sons home.

No longer his nephews. The twins were his sons, and he would like to see who would be stupid enough to prevent a determined, angry father from reaching his children. He would not hesitate to teach them a lesson. If they wanted a war, he would give them one.

His sons were coming home with him, no matter what happened.

Campbell was gone, and Mabel was left in the room with Talia, whose latest revelations had made her question just how much trust she should have in people.

Before this evening, she could have sworn that Talia was a young, beautiful woman, albeit withdrawn. She would never have guessed that she had a deceitful bone in her body. Perhaps it was just as they say—that appearances could be deceiving.

At first, Mabel was furious when the governess admitted to her part in the twins’ kidnapping, but over time, that anger cooled and was replaced with gratitude and even a little admiration.

It could not have been easy for the lass to come up and tell them what she knew, knowing that she risked capital punishment or even death for her betrayal.

“I guess ye are the golden-haired lady who accosted them in the market?” Mabel asked quietly.

“Aye,” Talia mumbled. “It wasnae me intention to take them that day. I just came to observe them in order to report back to Laird McCormick, but Connor drew me into conversation.” She gave a rueful smile.

“They told me they were hungry but didnae want to disturb their aunt Mabel, so I offered to buy sweets for them. I was just taking them to the candy stall when ye saw us.”

“Why did ye run, then, if ye were just taking them on a short walk?”

“I panicked. I thought ye might somehow realize me true mission. I was nervous all the time.”

“So ye decided to come into our home? Ye must nae have gotten enough information from the first visit,” Mabel probed, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

“Laird McCormick decided that I needed to watch ye even closer. Watching ye from a distance was nay longer enough.”

“Then why did ye confess? That is a sure way to blow yer cover.”

“I lived in McCormick Castle since I was little.

When I reached the age of sixteen, the Laird decided that I was smart enough to help the clan.

He sent me to spy on neighboring clans. He figured that a small, fragile-looking lass willnae attract attention, and he was right.

They never suspected me, and I felt proud that I was helping keep our clan safe.

He then sent me here, saying that he wanted to keep an eye on his unruly grandson to make sure he was doing his duty and that he was giving his nephews the good education befitting sons of a laird.

“To be honest, when I first came here and saw ye playing freely with the lads, I thought ye werenae a good influence on them.

But over time, I realized that ye had a loving heart.

I loved how ye created a happy family from the grieving family.

I envied the love ye all shared, and I didnae want to be the intruder who destroyed it.

“I told Laird McCormick so, and he was angry. He threatened to throw me ailing maither and sister off the castle walls if I didnae comply. I agreed to continue, but he must nae have trusted me because he sent someone else to spy on me. He thought I didnae ken, but I did. I shadowed his new spy, and it was how I ken where he took the boys. I love them. I dinnae want to see them hurt and afraid, that is why I summoned the courage to tell ye. I am sorry, Me Lady. I would accept whatever punishment ye decide on,” she said with a bowed head.

“I willnae punish ye, Talia. Ye have been a good governess to the boys, and I am grateful that ye told us where they were taken. I admire yer bravery to tell the truth. I promise that Clan Muir will protect ye from Laird McCormick. We would make sure he cannae touch ye. We will find a way to bring yer maither and sister here.”

“Thank ye, Me Lady.” Talia smiled. “I am grateful for yer kindness. But before we proceed, there is something ye must ken,” she said seriously.