"I can understand you being angry with me, Mr. Fitzsimmons. After all, you think I jilted you." She tested him then, though she nearly choked on the lie. "Is THAT what this is all about? Because if it is, I think there's been a big misunderstanding. I know you offered for me. Would it make any difference if I told you that my brother said he'd disown me if I didn't marry Will instead of you?"
He nodded, and now slapped his hand on his thigh. "I knew it!"
She couldn't believe her luck. The vain fool actually believed her.
"You're right, it does make a difference. Your brother can be added to the list of all the people I'm going to ground into dust when his glorious Imperial Majesty defeats this pathetic little island nation and turns the entire political system on its head."
"You mean the same man who made all of his siblings kings or queens," she observed dryly.
Her sarcasm was lost upon him. "Exactly so. I knew you'd understand. Most of the people hereabouts are so obtuse. Catholics." He practically spat the word. "All sorts of Popery and pagan nonsense. Our new world order will be one of reason and enlightenment."
"So I see. Anyone who disagrees with you, you kill. Don't tell me you're doing this out of some youthful idealism," she hissed. "The French are planning to invade, aren't they?"
His flat pewter eyes narrowed. "Not so stupid after all, are you, for all you've fallen on your head."
She shrugged one shoulder. "I know of the history of this area. Then you just mentioned Napoleon. So it stands to reason. I also know about the false treason charges against Will's father and their whole family. So I can add two and two, and see a nest of traitors. You're Stewart's cousin, after all, which means you were also Samuel's. He married Vevina by force and tried to betray his own brother to get the Dukedom.
"You've been conspiring for years so you can get your hands on estates that don't belong to you. You've sold out your friends and family for a few measly handouts from the most powerful men in Europe."
Fitzsimmons's fist swung and caught her on the side of the head, making her ear ring.
She did not give him the satisfaction of crying out. Instead her eyes narrowed, and she stared at him coldly. "You're going to pay for that. The sun is going down."
"Me, pay? I don't think so. I'm in control here now."
"You can't control nature," she said, keeping her eye on the dark cloud she was sure was coming straight for them.
"I can take you any time you like. In fact, I rather fancy it right here and now out in the open so I can see you suffer."
Her gaze glinted with an inner fire. "The only one who's going to suffer around here is you."
The cloud which had been hovering over the coast of Ardmore now seemed to descend directly upon them.
Elizabeth saw her chance. She rose and ran, twisting her wrists in front of her in an effort to loosen the ropes. A black mist obscured her for a moment, long enough for her to get out of the cottage. She could hear his cursing behind her, and she was disoriented from the box she had taken on the ear.
She ran and stumbled, then felt herself pitching head-first over the cliff. She gasped and held her breath, forcing herself to relax and not struggle and thrash. Twisting and writhing might only lead to even worse injuries when she finally landed. She prayed it would not be on a pile of boulders.
To her infinite relief, she landed with a thud on a sandy dune. The wind was knocked from her, but as she lay there winded for a moment, she was sure that at least nothing was broken. She offered up another prayer for her unborn child, and thanked the gods for the soft sand.
As she sat up and looked around, she recognized the spot at once. It was the same dune that Will had placed her upon so many months before after they had nearly made love in the cave.
Full circle.
It was now becoming almost black as night on the beach, but she could see some twinkling lights in front of her and heard the crash of the sea at her back.
She stared into the gaping maw. Who had opened the cave entrance? Or had the traitors already discovered it? How many others were working with him?
But no. If Fitzsimmons had known about the location of the cave, he would never have kidnapped her. He certainly wouldn't have taken her to the ruined cottage and demanded to know where it was.
It had to be her husband. Will had to be looking for her. He was probably laying a trap for the conspirators.
All she had to do was stoop down and enter and she would be safe. He would be waiting for her. Or even if he wasn't, she could try to heave the slab closed so Fitzsimmons and his co-conspirators couldn't find it, and wait out the storm and Fitzsimmons' plot, and stay safe until Will could come for her.