“He has my sister,” Elaine blurted through the tears. “It’s too late now, anyway. Finn has shown how evil he truly is. Rhona is probably…” Elaine couldn’t finish her sentence as if she would have to accept the horrible truth by speaking the words.
“I ken, Elaine,” Duncan said confidently. “But it’s nae as ye say. Rhona is alive and well.”
“What?” Elaine cried.
“It’s true,” Duncan replied, nodding firmly. “We ken where Rhona is.”
“Ye found out where he is keeping her?” she blurted, still hardly able to believe his words.
“Aye,” he nodded. “I got it out of Finn, and when he told me her whereabouts, I sent soldiers to fetch her. They should return tomorrow.”
“Oh, Duncan,” Elaine cried, tears once more, bursting from her eyes. “Thank ye. Thank ye.”
“I’m glad for ye, Elaine. I wouldnae want ye suffering the same pain I’ve had tae suffer.”
Elaine shrugged. “Actually, I have already suffered it, Duncan. I lost both my father and brother in this very castle.”
“I ken,” Duncan said gently. “Finn told me the whole story. He told me all about Angus and then what he had made ye dae.”
“Then ye ken Finn had already tried tae get my brother tae steal the ring that sits on yer finger,” Elaine nodded to his hand. Duncan looked down at it absently before returning his gaze to her. “Angus would nae tell me what he was involved with, only that it would pay him good money. He was determined to keep me out o’ it. In fact, he told me, the less I kent the better. Had I kent he was breaking intae the castle, I would never have let him go through with it. But then, look at me now. How am I any better?” she sighed.
“Ye had little choice under the circumstances,” Duncan replied.
While he was right, she didn’t want Duncan thinking any less of Angus. He was no longer there to defend himself.
“Angus was a good man, Duncan. I ken, it doesnae seem like it; breaking intae the place ye call home and trying tae steal a possession ye treasure. But it was an act o’ desperation. He was only trying tae look after us.”
“Because of yer father’s drinking?” Duncan nodded.
“Aye. My father was nae a bad man either. He just made some bad choices, like putting his grief before the welfare of his family. Father had been drowning his sorrows from the moment my mother left, leaving us tae fend for ourselves. It was as though he was the only one who suffered at her sudden departure. While I’m nae proud o’ it, a part o’ me hated him for his selfishness. He had a family tae tak’ care o’. He had nae right tae allow himself tae become so self-absorbed. But,” she shrugged with a heavy sigh, “he did. Angus was wrong. But he was only trying tae protect the family, what there was left o’ it.”
“There were likely other ways, Elaine,” Duncan said gently.
“I dae ken that. I’m neither proud o’ my brother, nor excusing his actions. I suppose, I am trying to get ye tae see that he was more than just a thief,” she shrugged. “Clearly, with Angus gone, Finn needed someone else tae dae his dirty work.,” Elaine sighed heavily. “I went along with it at the beginning. It didnae seem like I had any choice. But…” she hesitated.
Did she really want to tell him how she felt, after all that had happened? He knew the full story now, which on some level, brought her relief. Yet it did not suddenly remove her from blame of the wrong she had committed.
“But?” Duncan pressed. “Go on.”
“The more time I spent here,” she gestured to her surroundings, “the more I should have just trusted ye. Ye had a right tae ken that someone was trying tae take from ye.”
“Ye were in a difficult position, Elaine. Nae one can blame ye for trying tae keep yer sister alive.”
“Well, stealing a ring is one thing, murdering ye is something entirely different. When Finn gave me the arsenic, I told him I would dae it because I was too scared of what he might dae tae Rhona if I didnae. But I never had any intention, Duncan. I swear,” she cried.
“I believe ye.”
“I hid the vial of poison in my desk and vowed tae myself, I would tell ye everything today. Only, nae realizing that the masked man was in fact, Finn, I unburdened everything tae him last night while ye were still at the feast.”
Duncan nodded with a knowing look. “And he slipped the note under my door, putting all the blame on ye.”
“Aye,” Elaine said. “I never meant any of this tae happen. I’m sorry I lied and deceived ye. Ye’ve suffered more than any man should’ve already.”
Duncan remained silent for a long time. Elaine couldn't imagine what was going through his mind as he bowed his head and clasped his hands in front of him. Perhaps it was the memory of his lovely wife and child, and the terrible thing that had happened to them. Perhaps how hewould love to tear Finn limb from limb, as Elaine would if she were in his shoes.
Eventually, he lifted his head and looked at her. She could not decipher, from his expression, what was on his mind. But his gaze was intense, and she struggled to hold it.
“I have one last question for ye, Elaine,” he said softly.