Lured to the Night (The Brotherhood 4)

He stood in silence while he waited for her to acknowledge his presence. After a brief moment, she turned to face him. As she met his gaze, he said a silent prayer of thanks, promised to show his gratitude each and every day.

“Oh, Lachlan.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she ran into his arms.

“I’m sorry about Boyd.” He held her tight, smoothed her hair, kissed her numerous times on the head. “The man has been stealing from my father for years. I assume he sought to use you as a distraction so I would not have time to examine the household accounts.”

She looked up into his eyes. “You’re right. Boyd told me so. He wanted to ensure you had no reason to stay. He intended to leave us down here to die. But that is not why I feel so solemn.” She glanced back over her shoulder at the coffin. “I wish I could do something to help her.”

“We cannot help what has happened in the past,” he said, suspecting she felt an affinity with the lady in the tomb. “All we can do is look to the future.”

“It could have been me.” A tear trickled down her cheek, and he wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. “If Ivana hadn’t come all this way to find me, I would still be suffering from the affliction. Ivana dreamt about me. That’s how she knew where to come. Talliano mentioned the mine in his notes and so they travelled all this way on a whim. I cannot help but feel I am connected to her somehow.”

Lachlan cupped her face tenderly. “Your shared experiences will always bind you to her. We will always remember Ivana’s kindness and generosity. And I suspect the lady with the bracelet also came to your aid today.”

Isla’s eyes widened. “I saw her, Lachlan. She was right there in front of me.”

“I know,” he nodded. A smile touched his lips as he drank in her look of wonder. “I saw her, too.”

She hugged him, pressed her cheek to his chest and gave a pleasurable sigh. “So much has happened these last few days I can hardly think clearly.” She stepped back. “We should seal the coffin. Let the

lady rest in peace with her family.”

He nodded. “Help me slide the stone slab into position.”

Isla took one last look inside the coffin. With a curt nod, she grasped the edges of the lid and helped him secure it in place.

“There,” she said brushing the dust from her dress. She picked up the lantern. “You know Boyd was the one responsible for the death of the cattle.”

Anger flared at the mere mention of the steward’s name. “Hendry unwittingly informed me Boyd was responsible for the rumours about you. I’m not surprised to learn he took his obsession too far.”

“When did you discover Boyd was stealing from your father?”

“A few hours ago.”

Isla frowned. “How did you know to come here?”

“Hendry told Boyd about your illness, how they were all mistaken when they accused you of being the culprit. Hendry said he saw him heading this way, yet my father informed me he was supposed to be in Crieff.”

She gave a satisfied smile. “It appears that fate was on our side once again, and your discovery came at the perfect time.”

He stared at her, allowed the sudden rush of desire he always felt in her presence to consume him. “I made another surprising discovery today. One that will change both of our lives dramatically.”

“You did?” Her eyes glistened with curiosity. “What was it?”

“You were not married to Nikolai.”

Her shoulders sagged with disappointment. “But we already suspected as much.”

“No. We suspected it might be the case. I went to the parish church and examined the records. There is no evidence of your marriage, and so we have no need to prove Nikolai is dead.”

Isla stepped back. She put her hand to her chest as she looked at him with astonishment. “You are certain of this?”

“I spoke to the minister personally.”

A deep furrow appeared between her brows. “But I was there. I remember standing in the church.”

“Do you remember anyone else there with you?”

“It all seems rather hazy.” She shook her head. “My father and Malmuirie were there. No one else.”