Page 63 of The Wild Rose of Kilgannon (Kilgannon #2)

“I do,” I’d answered. “He was protecting me, Alex, and our son. And he kept his response to DeBroun in check partly because of me, because I had argued so much against violence, and partly to prove that he was not the barbarian the world believed him to be. Angus wasn’t the savage that DeBroun was, and that’s why he died.

Because of me.” Alex had mulled this over and I had studied him as he considered.

Thin and scarred now, he seemed older by much more than the weeks he’d spent away from me, and I wondered if my laughing Alex would ever return. At last he’d kissed my forehead.

“Mary Rose,” he’d said, “Angus was the finest man I’ve ever known and the finest friend I’ll ever have.

We’ll remember him that way, lass, and no’ guess what could have been.

Yer no’ to blame for his death. DeBroun is.

No’ ye. And if ye think Angus worried a minute about appearing barbaric or that ye changed his actions, ye dinna ken him as I did.

” He’d patted my cheek. “Put it out of yer mind, lass, and come here to me.”

The baby brought me back to the present with a whimper, and I watched Alex get up and lean over his son with a smile, the first rays of morning lighting his hair in the dim cabin.

“Mary,” he said as he bundled the baby up and brought him to me, “tell me again what ye named him. Seems like a lot of names for a wee one.”

“Alexander Robert Harold Lowell Keith MacGannon.” I smiled and sat up to take my son.

“And your name is just as long. MacGannon because it’s your family name.

And his. And just before that is his grandmother’s family name, and just before that his mother’s family name.

I named him after you and my father and Uncle Harry.

And,” I sighed, “if I had known we’d lose Angus… ”

Alex nodded, his mood growing somber. “Aye,” he said and took a deep breath. “Mary,” he began and my heart froze. I knew that tone of voice. There was something he hadn’t told me.

“What? What is it, Alex?”

He frowned to himself, then met my eyes. “I’m sending ye home with the Mary Rose , lass. And the boys as well.”

“And where will you be?” When he did not answer immediately, I stiffened. “Alex, where will you be?”

“Going back for DeBroun.”

I stared at him openmouthed, then closed my mouth and raised my chin, furious. “Alex, we have just moved heaven and earth to get us all safely out of London. What in God’s name do you think you can accomplish?”

“Mary, Matthew willna leave London without finding DeBroun. And Dougall’s with him. Apparently Angus asked them to kill DeBroun. And I’ll be damned if I’m no’ part of it.”

“How will you find him?”

“Duke John’s men have found him.” He looked down as his son stirred, his expression softening as he gazed at the baby.

“What are you going to do?”

He rubbed his neck, drawing my eyes to the scars he still bore from DeBroun’s “questioning.” His voice was quiet.

“Do ye see these, lass?” I nodded. “I owe DeBroun, Mary. For this. I owe him for having Murdoch and me beaten and then going off to parties and telling the stories, and for coming back the next day and telling us how the people laughed when they heard his tales. I owe him for asking ye to be his mistress while he battered me for his amusement; for frightening ye into thinking he’d treat me with kindness in exchange for yer body.

Yer my wife, carrying my child, a defenseless woman, and the bastard is making arrangements to have ye when I’m dead.

He’s a bully, lass. And a murderer. He’s the reason Harry’s dead.

And he killed Angus in cold blood, and Duncan as well.

In front of ye. I’m not forgetting any of it.

I owe him. Even if Angus hadna asked Matthew and Dougall to kill him, I would ha’ done it.

But with Angus asking…well, let’s just say I’m no’ running for home until it’s done. ”

I sank back against the cushions and studied him. I knew this mood. And this man. “What if I asked you not to do this?”

“It would make no difference.”

“Alex,” I said, feeling my temper rise, “what will this do? Will this bring Angus back to life? Or Duncan? Will it erase the scars on your neck, or all the other scars he’s responsible for? Will it erase the memories of what you’ve been through?”

He shook his head. “No. And Mary, it willna erase the memories ye have either. Nothing will change any of that.”

“I see. So you think this is the answer.”

“Aye.”

“When are you going?”

“Now. I’m meeting Matthew and Dougall.” I put Robbie down carefully and climbed out of the berth, standing in front of Alex.

“Tell me you’re not that foolish. Alex, this is madness. We’re on our way home. What can this accomplish but risking your life again? And this time Matthew’s and Dougall’s as well?”

“It’s justice.”

“Justice? It’s foolhardy! I forbid you to do this!

” As soon as the words had been uttered, I knew they were a mistake.

He smiled slowly, then reached for his clothes and began to dress.

“Alex?” When he ignored me, I put a hand on his arm, stopping him in the act of putting his shirt on.

“Alex, talk to me.” When he did not answer again, I stepped back and watched him dress.

“Alex,” I said at last, “how can you succeed? DeBroun will have half the English army protecting him. How can three men get through his defenses?”

“It willna be a battle, lass.” He met my eyes and raised his chin. “I’ve aready sent word to him. It’s a duel.”

I stared at him, horrified. “Have you gone mad?” I whispered.

“Perhaps,” he said and moved past me.

I beat him to the door and threw my arms wide to prevent him from leaving. “No! Alex, don’t do this. It is madness! It is lunacy!”

He shook his head. “No, Mary Rose, it’s the fairest thing I could have done with the man.

I could have killed him in his bed or attacked him on the street.

Instead I’d doing what Harry would have done.

Harry canna do it, so it’s my turn. I willna kill the man in a cowardly way, lass, but he’ll be as dead.

And die with the knowledge of who it was put the sword in his heart.

” He kissed my forehead and moved me out of the way.

“I’ll see ye in Scotland, Mary,” he said and was gone.