Page 56 of This Laird of Mine

David took the rope, formed a loop, and slid it over his wrists.

“Good.” She nodded to the man holding Penelope. He forced her away as he reached to grab David. He tightened the noose around David’s arms, then twisted it around his torso, tying it in a knot behind his back.

“That should keep you subdued for a while,” the lackey said.

“Don’t do this, please let him go,” Penelope sobbed.

“Shut her up,” Agatha demanded.

The lackey gripped a sword.

David, despite his bindings, hurled himself forward, taking the man down before he could strike. The man’s head hit the stone wall with a sickening thud, and he went limp. The sword clattered to the floor.

Agatha started toward the sword.

“You are a coward, Agatha.” Jules lashed out with the only weapon he had available. He had to keep Agatha distracted while David struggled to his feet. “You’re a spineless coward who has to kidnap little girls in order to feel powerful.”

Agatha’s face turned red as her focus returned to Jules. “Watch what you say.”

“If you wanted revenge,” Jules continued as David’s hands edged down to his boot and the dagger hidden inside, “you should have come after me. Instead you went after children. That is as spineless as they come.”

Agatha’s eyes sparked. “Bastard!”

Yes, get mad at me, leave the others alone. “What did I do to you, Agatha? Was it that I refused your perverted advances?”

“I offered you a world of pleasure.”

“You were married to my father.”

“He wasn’t enough for me. Neither was your brother.” Jules startled at the revelation before he could catch his response.

“You didn’t know?” She laughed. “He wouldn’t touch me at first, but good old Kildare whiskey weakened his resolve.” Her features turned hard again. “But you were never one for the spirits, so I found something else that would bring you to heel.”

“Your vile plans won’t work, Agatha.”

“They already have. You should thank your father,” she said with a villainous smile that made Jules’s blood run cold. “He came to see Grayson and begged him to reveal your whereabouts. He had discovered the truth about my death, and feared for your safety once you were released from gaol seven months ago. However, Grayson knew the rift between you and your father went deep. Your solicitor’s strong sense of loyalty to you went on for months. But your father’s pleas wore Grayson down, eventually. I’ll give the man credit for holding out as long as he did.”

Jules stiffened as though struck by a sword. “Why should I believe anything you say?”

“I have no reason to lie, not now when I am about to get everything I ever wanted from you.”

“And what did you want?”

“To watch you suffer as I suffered. You gave me the means to my revenge when you created Claire. All I had to do was wait your father out and blackmail your solicitor. Both were easy enough to do. Your father wrestled the truth behind your false bride out of Grayson, and that was when I took over. I let your father find you a bride, then I stole her away. I forced her to play the game my way.”

Agatha turned to Claire. “You always had a soft spot for a damsel in distress. I figured she would be an easy way to seize your attention and your heart. Her little wards were an added bonus, and the perfect blackmail to use against her if she failed to cooperate.”

“Where are the girls?” Claire demanded, fighting against the ropes at her wrists.

“Close and yet so far away,” she said, smiling confidently. “You should be less worried about the girls and more worried about yourself.” Agatha turned back to Jules. “I can see why your father chose this one. She has courage. That courage will make her more interesting to try and break.”

“She means nothing to me,” Jules said, his tone sharp.

Claire froze.

“You don’t fool me, Jules,” Agatha said through narrowed eyes. “I watched you from afar for days. You gave her things you refused to give me.”

“I will not deny that I enjoyed the pleasure she brought me, but that was all we had between us. She means nothing to me. Nothing.” His voice was sharp.