Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“If you think to delay so your husband can come rescue you, you are wrong. He is in a lively debate with Walsh and paying heed to no one else.”
Her heart felt as if it stopped for a moment, but she would not allow the news to defeat her. Henry was unaware that Anwen would speak with Torin after she spoke with the servants. She simply had to survive until her husband reached her, no matter what it took.
“Then you have time to satisfy my curiosity,” she said, keeping her fear from her voice.
“I always admired your courage and audacity. You would have made me a good wife… until I did not need you anymore.”
Flora saw whatever Henry had never shown before, arrogance and anger. “You have worn a mask all this time.”
“And it has not been easy, showing a weak side while befriending people I found loathsome.”
“Was my da one of them?” she asked.
“Not until I discovered he spied for the king.” Henry’s brow shot up when he did not get the shocked response he had expected. “It is no surprise to you.” He shook his head. “Walsh told you, a spy himself. Though, not a good one since he never realized I spy for England.”
“England? Whyever, would you spy for England?”
“It is my mother’s homeland and through the years I have come to love it. It is a powerful country, and it expands its power to grow even larger and like others who are true Englishmen, I will do whatever I can to assist and see it victorious in all its endeavors. That means making sure no spies obtained any valid information that could hurt England.”
“The reason you want me dead. You fear my da shared information with me before he died,” she said, it beginning to make sense.
“Nay, I made sure your da and mum would be too ill to speak of anything with you.”
Flora rushed a hand to her stomach, feeling as if he had punched her there, realizing what he alluded to. “You poisoned my parents?”
“They left me no choice. I engaged a fellow spy to poison a few members of your da’s group in France, then had the poison fed to your parents slowly so they would be ill and beyond help upon their arrival home, leaving nothing nefarious to be suspected. You see, what information your da discovered would have eventually led to me and I could not allow that to happen.”
Her hand fisted in anger at her waist that he had taken her parents from her when they had so much life left in them yet.
“But I had no hand in putting a bounty on your head. That was my uncle’s doing, my mother’s brother, a useless sot. I was the one who had the bounty rescinded. Upon Lord Simon’s death, my uncle discovered that since he had no family, Simon named you as sole beneficiary of his estate and wealth. You are a wealthy woman, Flora.”
“But women cannot inherit—”
“Lord Simon was a wise man. He claimed you as his ward after your parents died and made provisions for you to inherit everything. I believe he wanted you to have the freedom denied to women. Naturally, when you wed your husband would have access to your wealth. My uncle saw this as an opportunity and had a false marriage document created showing we were wed upon your parents’ death. He then placed an extremely large bounty on your head so that I would inherit everything, thinking I would be pleased and share it with him.”
“You were not pleased?”
“I found his plan enticing, but not how he imagined it. I had the bounty rescinded immediately, saw to it that I would never be troubled by my idiot uncle ever again, though I took advantage of the opportunity he had given me. I planned to rescue you from a life I believed you abhorred here in the Highlands and make good use of your money to help me with my missions… until I could take your endless chattering no longer.”
“But love ruined your plans,” Flora said.
“When your uncle told me he had you wed to a Highlander, I thought for sure you would be relieved to see me and learn we were wed, and eagerly embrace our marriage and return home. Never would I have expected you to fall in love with a barbarian.”
“So, you had no choice but to see me dead.”
“I simply had to adapt my plans. I was not about to lose all that wealth.”
“And how do you plan to escape after killing me?” she asked.
“I did not kill you, dear heart. You had a tragic accident. You fell down the stairs and broke your neck.”
“My husband will never believe that.”
“What choice will he have when I am there beside him as he discovers your body?” Henry said with a smug grin and stepped toward her.