Mad for the Plaid (36 page)

“
Rurik?”
Nik couldn't believe what he was seeing.

“Who else?” the guard said, his mouth white.

From anger? Or fear? Whatever it was, the pistol never wavered.

“Where are the others?” Ailsa asked.

“Oh, I did not change your plan. Your men are escorting the duchess and Lord Hamilton to safety. They are to wait for the rest of us at the inn just as they were instructed by you. You see, I have no need of them now.”

“And Gregor?”

Rurik's smile was more a showing of his teeth. “You set him to stop me, but it did not work. He will not bother anyone again.”

Ailsa paled, and Nik grasped her hand where it rested near his and squeezed it. “Ailsa? You knew about—” He jerked his head toward Rurik, unable to say the words aloud.

“I was suspicious. Gregor told me . . .” Her voice trembled, but she pushed on. “He could nae sleep last night as his bed was too uncomfortable, so he went to
fetch his bedroll and join the others in the stable. When he walked doon the hallway ootside our bedchambers, I was awakened by the creaking floor. I heard him, but this morning Rurik said he dinnae hear a thing. He is a guard, and his bedchamber was beside the stairs. How could I hear something he dinnae?”

“So your suspicions were raised.”

“Aye. Gregor and I investigated. We quickly realized that Rurik dinnae hear anything because he was nae in his bedchamber. When Gregor went to the stables that night, he thought he heard men talking in the woods, but they were nae speaking English.”

Nik shot Rurik a hard look. “A late-night planning session?”

Rurik lifted one shoulder. “My accomplices were getting restless, waiting so long.”

“Because of your previous failures in attempting to kill me?”

Rurik's mouth tightened. “Perhaps. I had to calm them, and assure them we'd finish this today. You were never meant to make it this far.”

“I see. There were never any brigands.”

Rurik let himself smile. “I was the brigand, but you— Oh, you are a lucky prince. I came so, so close, but . . .” He threw up a hand.

“I dinnae understand,” Ailsa said. “Why make it seem as if there were brigands at all? If you wished to shoot the prince, why dinnae you just do it?”

“I know why,” Nik said grimly. “If I am killed by brigands here in the wilderness of Scotland, no one will blink an eye. It is dangerous country, we were escorting
ransom money trying to save the duchess—who would question that set of circumstances?”

“And it was your idea to travel alone and concealed,” Rurik added.

“Led in that direction by you, now that I think about it.”

Rurik smirked. “You are not the only one who can dissemble when the need arises. To make certain I'm never suspected, I made certain Apraksin heard me protest time and again the way you were conducting this mission. I will, of course, fight to save your life today, but will sadly fail.”

“You thought of everything, didn't you?” Nik said harshly.

“I don't understand,” Ailsa said. “Why pretend to save Nik?”

“I know,” Nik said, trying to hold back his anger. “Rurik has big plans. After my unfortunate death at the hands of these brigands, he will escort my body home. Comfort my family. Swear vengeance on these criminals. Perhaps even return and shoot a few of them, declaring honor has been served. And then . . .” He raised his brows and said to Rurik, “Do you wish to finish this sad tale?”

“There's nothing sad to it; it is the most glorious of plans. After I've proven my allegiance to the throne of Oxenburg and delivered the vengeance they will be thirsting for, his family will bestow upon me wealth and titles, and perhaps even the hand of one of the royal princesses.”

“Honors?” Ailsa asked. “For
failing
to protect your prince?”

“Ah, but I warned him not to come, and then was sorely wounded trying to protect him— Did I mention
the wounds? It will be a nice touch. It won't need to be much; who would dare ask to peek under a hero's bandages? But my bravery will be much admired as I limp painfully beside my beloved prince's casket at his state funeral.” Rurik pursed his lips. “Should I weep at your funeral? Or display a stoic face? I cannot decide which will garner more approbation.”

Nik wished he dared charge at Rurik. It might get him shot, but God, it would feel good to die with his hands around that man's neck. Yet doing such a thing could endanger Ailsa, and he would not take such a chance.

Rurik smiled almost dreamily. “Oh, the honors I will receive, most of them because your parents will always think of their beloved son whenever I am near.”

Nik's stomach churned. “You know my family well.”

“I do.” Rurik's chuckle was as cold as winter. “We grew up together. Remember?”

“If you are going to kill me, I should at least know who bought your allegiance.”

The guard came closer, and Nik was struck by the icy fury in his gaze. “It does not matter.”

“The Prussians, perhaps? They weren't happy with the last treaty and blamed me for it.”

“The Prussians do not have the wits to plan something like this.”

The wits to plan? Who would— “Ah. The tsar.”

Rurik pressed his lips together.

“It must be. He knows why he's been called to meet with us in Edinburgh.”

“Perhaps.”

Nik sneered. “I should have known that weak-kneed
fool wouldn't attend this meeting without some sort of trickery.” Ailsa shifted slightly, and Nik was agonizingly aware of her proximity. His fear grew; he had to get her to safety. But how? He shook his head. “Rurik, please. It doesn't have to end this way. You can change the outcome right now. Put the pistol down and just leave. I won't follow. I promise.”

“I do this for me as much as I do it for the money.”

“But . . . why? Our families—they have always been so close. And you have been my trusted guard for over a dozen years now. Doesn't that hold any meaning for you?”

Rurik gave a mirthless laugh. “Lady Ailsa, did you know that in Oxenburg, the royal guard is chosen from the best families, the ones closest to the crown, to ensure their honesty and integrity? It is a rubbish heap upon which the nobility can toss their second-born sons who have no other purpose in life.”

“I now see it is a foolish custom,” Nik snapped.

Rurik's smile didn't reach his eyes. “You can change it when you're king— Oh, you won't be able to do that, will you?”

“Your father would be destroyed to know you are doing this.”

“Which is why my father will never know. But because of my father, I made certain Her Grace was well cared for. For that, you can thank me, for she has been naught but a pain.”

Nik had to swallow twice to get himself to do so, but he managed a nod. “She is very important to all of us.”

“She is a favorite of my father's. Plus, I think she will be particularly kind to me once you've met your
demise at the hands of the evil men who abducted her.”

“It will not work. Someone will talk, and you'll be discovered. The men who abducted Her Grace—”

“—will not live to see the end of this day. There will be no witnesses. None.”

Nik's throat tightened and it was all he could do to keep from looking at Ailsa, though he dared not let Rurik know how much she mattered to him. Good God, how had he so misjudged this man? Was there anyone he could trust?

Ailsa slipped her hand over his, her fingers warm and strong.

Yes. He could trust her.
I was a fool to ever question you.
He gave her hand a quick squeeze. “You have no soul, Rurik.”

“I have a soul. One cut to shreds watching you change over the years, always taking, always expecting more. You used to be a good friend, someone I could talk to, and you would talk to me. But now . . .” Rurik sneered. “Sometimes days go on end and you never even
look
at me. Once you became a prince, I became a worthless footstool.”

“I've never thought you worthless. Dammit, Rurik. I wish you'd come to me, told me how you felt. I know I should have noticed, but I've been so tangled up in these negotiations that I—”

“Stop making excuses! You never notice anything unless it pertains to one of your precious missions. I'll admit I've changed over the years, too. I used to think you could do no wrong. That you were better than the others. Now? I don't care whether you live or die. How could I, watching you get everything you've ever wanted, while I am left behind? Am I supposed to just stand by, with nothing? Work my fingers to the bone
protecting your ass as if mine isn't worth the skin covering it?”

“Rurik, please,” Ailsa pleaded. “Think what you are doing! There must be a way for us to solve this, something that does nae involve pistols.”

Behind Rurik, a shrub trembled. Nik forced his gaze to never waver from Rurik, but whatever or—please God—whoever it was, moved again, and made their way closer.

And then closer still.

Nik caught a glimpse of a brown head as it disappeared behind the ledge of a rock.

Gregor. Thank God!
So Rurik has made one mistake already.

But it was obvious that the lad was too far away to shoot. He needed to get closer, and was trying to do so quietly.

Nik wet his lips. He must keep Rurik talking, at least for another minute. “Perhaps I can make it all up to you. What would it take? Money? A castle? Gold? Horses?”

“Don't insult me. This is about respect and power. You can give away neither of those.”

“Fine, then. Would you like more responsibilities? A higher position?”

“All I want is to end this now.” The guard raised his pistol toward Ailsa.

Nik stepped in front of her. “I will make this easy for you, but only if you give me your word not to hurt Lady Ailsa.”

Rurik lowered the pistol a touch. “Make it easy on me? How could it be easier than it is now?”

“When you shoot me, I will not fall down and die easily. I will come for you, and before I die, I will take your life.”

Rurik laughed, this time with real humor. “Good God, do you think you're so high-and-mighty that you can just ignore the effects of a bullet?”

“I can try. So if I were you, I'd shoot me first, and I would take my time and make certain I didn't miss.”

“Nae!
” Ailsa sent Nik a wild look. “Dinnae encourage him, Nik. Dinnae—”

He pushed her behind him as he continued to talk to Rurik. “I'm the reason you're doing this. So do it. Get it over with.”

She clutched his arm, trying to push him out of the way. “Nik, dinnae—”

“Enough!” Rurik snapped. “The time for talking is long past. Lady Ailsa, I am sorry you became tangled in this. But sadly, like your cousin, you have become a complication.” Rurik lifted his pistol and cocked the hammer. “Ah, Your Highness, how many times I imagined doing this!”

“Nik, please! Dinnae do this. I—I love you!” Ailsa choked back a sob. Her voice was more whisper than else, but her words rang through his mind as loudly as a church bell.

It was a hell of a time for a declaration, but it didn't matter now. It
couldn't
matter now.

Nik's stomach churned, his heart thudding so hard, he could hear it. “Stay back,
krasavitsa
.”

Then he met Rurik's icy gaze, and knew the time had come.

Nik held his hands open to each side. “As you will.”

Ailsa gasped. “
Nae!
”

Rurik sited down the pistol barrel.

A deafening roar rang out.

Chapter 24

The wind blew over the lawn of Castle Leod, ruffling the grasses, the dead leaves dancing along the ground. Overhead, the gray skies scattered snowflakes that skittered down the cold stone and stuck to the windowsills in icily beautiful patterns.

“Your Highness?”

Nik dropped the curtain and turned to Apraksin, who stood just inside the library doorway. “The coaches are ready, I see.”