Page 55 of A Temptress in Tartan

When the noise settled, Lachlan said, “When we began our journey, the wind was stiff, but not a deterrent to a carrack like The Golden Rose. We set sail across the Firth. Halfway across, I spotted an already overturned fishing vessel with men clinging to the side. I ordered the captain to bring The Golden Rose alongside, and I and the sailors aboard who could swim went into the water to try and save as many as we could before they drowned. I was the one who brought Thomas Cockburn to the surface, and held him above the water until the men on the ship could hoist him aboard. After I released him, I dove back under the water in search of Dillon Kemp, but I failed to find him after many attempts below the surface of the choppy Firth.”

Lachlan’s gaze shifted to the fishermen who were still standing among the crowd. “Back aboard The Golden Rose, I bid the men go below deck to keep warm and regain their strength. There was no force of any kind applied to encourage them to go except for the constant pitching of the ship as we hit another patch of rough weather. Then once we arrived in Aberlady, we had to tender in because of the shallow harbor. The men were not forced into boats, they chose to go of their own free will. I offered to feed them and put them up at the Cairn Inn for the night, but while I was settling the horses in the stable, they returned to the shore. They are all men who know their own minds.” He shrugged. “I let them go, and by no means whatsoever did I turn into a cat. My wife was waiting outside the stable with a black cat when I returned to her.”

The Lord Advocate’s gaze pierced Lachlan’s. “Is that black cat in the tribunal chamber now?”

“’Tis the wee beast in the cage over there.” Lachlan pointed to the restless animal still pacing in the confines of its temporary home.

The Lord Advocate turned to the king. “Your Grace, do you consider yourself an expert when it comes to the tricks and antics of demons?”

The king shot a scornful look at the older man. “You know that I am.”

“Begging Your Grace’s pardon, would you, in your expert opinion please tell the tribunal if a warlock and his familiar can exist in two separate states—man and beast—or would it be more likely for the warlock to appear as either a man or his familiar.”

King James fell silent for a moment, considering, and Lachlan felt icy fear ripple through him as the entirety of the charges against him now came down to the king’s opinion about the laws of witchcraft. The king scrutinized the faces of the others at the table alongside him for signs of distaste or displeasure. John Swinton’s face was filled with contempt. Hugh Godfrey released a sigh of resigned disgust. A muscle in Reid’s jaw began to twitch as he returned the king’s glare as though compelling him to speak in favor of his cousin.

Finally, the king said, “In my learned opinion, if the animal is not a demon itself, then as a familiar, the witch or warlock must choose between the two forms—human or spirit, but not both at the same time.”

The tribunal chamber erupted in chaos. Lachlan tensed as the Lord Advocate turned away from those in the chamber to discuss what happened next with the panel of judges.

The men gathered together; their heads bent so that Lachlan could not read their expressions as they discussed his fate. After several long, agonizing moments, the Lord Advocate turned back to Lachlan and those gathered in the chamber.

Swinton and Godfrey’s faces held glacial hatred. Reid and King James’s expressions were that of relief. “Lachlan Douglas, Earl of March,” the Lord Advocate said in a clear loud voice. “Given the fact that Donald Ruthven fabricated many of the charges against you and based on the learned opinion of none other than King James of Scotland in all matters concerning witchcraft and sorcery, this tribunal finds you innocent of all charges against you. You are free to leave.”

Lachlan closed his eyes, so great was his relief. He drew an easy breath.

“Hold!”

Lachlan’s breath stilled in his chest once more at the sound of Donald Ruthven’s voice. The laird left his place at the back of the chamber to come forward. “Since you seem unwilling or unable to charge this man with the use of sorcery, then I would like to bring up a new charge against him. A serious charge. One that should have been addressed many years ago.”

“What the devil are you playing at, Ruthven?” the king asked with a scowl. “I’ll not have you dragging this out any further. It has been proven beyond a doubt that you fabricated the truth for your own devices.”

“I am not playing at anything. I charge Lachlan Douglas with the murder of my wife, Janet Ruthven, twelve years ago. He is a wife-killer.”

The words tumbled around in Lachlan’s brain. Murder. Wife-killer. Released one moment and accused of a horrendous crime the next.

“Call my daughter, Elizabeth, to the witness box and ask her about the night before her mother died.” There was a collective intake of breath and a low murmur that followed as those gathered speculated among themselves.

“Father, nay.” It was Elizabeth’s voice that pierced the haze around him.

The Lord Advocate turned to the king. “Your Grace, how would you like to proceed?”

The king’s eyes were grave. “Come forward, Elizabeth Douglas, and tell this panel about that night.”

Chapter Nineteen

Lachlan watched Elizabeth slowly come forward. She didn’t look his way as she entered the witness box and clutched the wooden edge until her fingers turned white. Why was her father doing this to her?

One look at Donald Ruthven’s face told Lachlan everything he needed to know. This wasn’t to hurt Elizabeth; it was all for Lachlan. This was the ultimate revenge.

With trepidation, Lachlan watched the Lord Advocate approach. “Elizabeth Douglas, please tell this tribunal what you remember about the night before your mother died.”

“I—I remember it was a long time ago and the details are not as clear as they once were.” Elizabeth stole a glance at Lachlan.

He nodded encouragingly as he realized the only way for them to move forward from this moment was to get this final obstacle out into the open, even if it cost him everything he held dear. Elizabeth had told him she loved him, regardless of who he was, regardless of all that stood between their two families. Could they also move past this and into a future together? He hadn’t shared his feelings with her in return because there hadn’t been enough time before the king had come for him, but also because he’d wanted to wait to fully express his feelings once he had been cleared of all charges.

This final charge could prove to be his undoing. For he had been at Ruthven Castle that night . . .

“Simply tell us all that you can,” the Lord Advocate encouraged in a kind voice.