Midnight Honor

did not.”
    “And would you tell me if you had?”
    “No,” she said simply. “I would not. Now, if you are quite finished—”
    “I am told your relationship with John MacGillivray goes much deeper than just a casual friendship.”
    “Then you were told wrong, sir. John MacGillivray is an honest, honorable man, loyal to his clan and to his country.”This time her eyes cut openly to Angus before returning to Worsham. “He was ever my friend, yes, and I'm proud to say so to anyone who would ask. But there was never anything more between us.”
    “Nothing that would prompt you to lie for him? Or protect him?”
    “John MacGillivray hardly needs my protection, sir.”
    “Where is this line of questions going, Major?” Angus asked, his annoyance evident in the way he removed his gloves and slapped them down on a nearby chair. “And I should tread very carefully with your answer here.”
    “As you know, someone was in the Lord President's library last night and stole some rather … sensitive papers.”
    “By God,” Angus murmured angrily. “And this is why you accompanied me from Culloden House? So you could accuse my wife of theft?”
    “Her whereabouts at the time of the robbery were unaccounted for, as were MacGillivray's.”
    “Well, she has accounted for them now. She has also said she did not see MacGillivray, though if you had asked me, you might have saved yourself a trip.”
    “You?”
    “Indeed. I saw and spoke to MacGillivray in the lower hallway just after our meeting in the library. He had already paid his respects to the dowager Lady Forbes and was begging my leave, as he had a matter of some urgency to tend to in Clunas this morning and wanted an early start. I believe he said it was to do with the health of his fiancée, Lady Elizabeth of Clunas, who was prevented from attending last night because of illness. He was quite beside himself with worry, which would explain his seeming distraction. I believe they are to be wed next month, though he has been singularly smitten with the lovely lady for some time now. At least, she was all he could speak about the previous evening—to the point I was damn near distracted myself.”
    “Ahh, yes.” Worsham's eyes took on a predatory gleam again as he confronted Anne. “I believe we were discussing your whereabouts Thursday evening when we were interrupted last night.”
    Anne, remembering MacGillivray's warning that someonehad followed her and Eneas away from Dunmaglass, hesitated a fraction of an instant with her answer, long enough for Angus to release another impatient huff of breath.
    “And I shall interrupt you again, sir, by reiterating the fact that my wife and I were both at home Thursday evening. If you care to recall, I told Lord Loudoun that John MacGillivray was also with us, playing cards until the small hours of the morning, at which time the pair of us, having consumed several”— he glanced uncomfortably at Anne who was, in turn, staring wide-eyed back at him—“well, yes, all right, rather more than several bottles of strong spirits, both had to be carried to our beds. If you saw my wife whispering with MacGillivray last night, and if what she said to him was anything like the dressing-down she gave to me earlier in the day, I can promise you it would have scalded your ears red.”
    A muscle jumped in Worsham's cheek as he looked from Angus to Anne. She barely noticed, for she was still staring at her husband. He had done it again. He had lied for her
and
MacGillivray, giving them both alibis that only a man with absolute, incontrovertible proof would dare challenge. It was clear the major did not have any such proof, and Lady Drummuir wasted no time in taking advantage of his hesitation.
    “Shall I have Gibb show ye out, Major, or can ye find yer own way to the door?”
    Worsham looked from one face to the next, obviously not pleased with the way things had gone. His fists curled momentarily as he considered his options, but in the end, he merely offered a curt nod and strode out of the drawing room, his boots sending an angry echo back along the hall.
    The dowager waited until there was silence before she spoke again. “I'm not thinkin' ye made a friend there, Angus, love.”
    “He's a pompous fool and lucky I did not draw my sword.”
    “Aye, ye're a real threat to a man who likely picks his teeth wi' his saber.” Her sarcasm earned a stony glare and she moved toward the door. “I've a rare need for a morning