Page 99 of Keeping Kate

Like his nephew, the Lord Advocate seemed immune to her presence and any charm she might have. Kate watched him, realizing that she was so anxious just now about her fate and Alec’s too that she could not deliberately charm anyone. She trembled all over and clenched her gloved hands in her lap.

“Hmph,” Hume said. “Alexander, explain. I read the report from the camp of your encounter and arrest of the girl. Go on.” He sipped noisily, took another biscuit, and dipped it into the chocolate, munching on it.

“Sir, when Kate came into my tent that night in the camp, I believe now that she was searching for me,” Alec said. “I believe I made a mistake that night.”

Lifting her little chocolate bowl in her hands, Kate paused, the chocolate steam rising. She stared up at Alec.

“How do you mean?” Hume asked.

“I have been looking for this girl ever since we met in London months ago,” Alec said. “We fell in love there, if I may say so, sir. I gave her my heart, and she gave me hers. But we were separated, and I began looking for her.”

“It is not true,” Grant said.

“Quiet,” Hume said. “Go on.” He looked at Kate. “What do you have to say?”

“We were searching for each other,” she said. “It is true. I have looked for him everywhere I went since the day I first saw him at St. James. I feared I might never see him again.” She glanced up at Alec.

“As I have looked for her,” he murmured, setting a hand on her shoulder.

“Oh, I cannot bear this nonsense,” Grant said in a snide tone. “I suppose you were not looking for military documents everywhere you went.” He snorted in disbelief.

“I was looking for Captain Fraser’s name,” Kate said.

Lord Hume slathered another biscuit with marmalade and butter, and stuffed it in his mouth. “Mm-hmm,” he mumbled around it, swallowing. “Then why did you arrest her?” He sent Alec a sharp glance.

“Lover’s spat,” Alec answered. His fingers pressed her shoulder.

Kate nodded. “We had a terrible disagreement. He misunderstood,” she added.

“I did,” Alec agreed.

“A hell of a way to punish a lass for disagreeing with you,” Hume said, and wheezed with laughter.

Grant, standing beside Hume, looked thunderous. “I do not believe a word of it. You never mentioned this,” he fumed.

“The situation got out of hand, I admit,” Alec replied. “She was taken away to Fort William and jailed. But I found her again, and we made our peace with each other. Later we were married in Highland fashion.”

“What does that mean?” Grant asked.

“You do not need to know,” Hume said. “I told you to be silent, sir.”

“How long has this been going on?” Grant snapped, ignoring the judge.

“Something happened the moment our eyes met in London,” Kate said. “It was as if we had found one another.”

“Save us all,” Grant said. “Lord Advocate, sir, you cannot possibly accept this sentimental drivel. There is evidence aplenty of her transgressions.”

“Do not speak again, sir, if I have not asked your opinion,” Lord Hume warned. “None of you have proven this girl is the one accused of the crimes.”

“Sir, she has not done any such crimes as have been attributed to the girl who has been seen in the camps,” Alec said. “Katherine is an impetuous girl who thinks with her heart and not her head. It was foolish and dangerous for her to enter the camps as she did, but—”

“But I was looking for Captain Fraser,” she said quickly. Hume held up a hand to silence her. Kate subsided, blushing. Grant glared at her.

“But I will guarantee she is no strumpet, and no thief. She is an educated Highland woman of good family.”

“She is a spy,” Grant said bluntly.

“What family?” Hume barked.