"How did you know?" she asked. Her voice was hoarse with fear.

“How did we know it was him?" He paused. "I have a very perceptive wife, Maura. She saw the way you and Ewan Taggart looked at each other. After that, she began to notice a lot of other little signs. You stood very close, he put his arm on your waist when he was showing you something, little things like that. But it was when I saw you going into an empty room today and I listened at the door to hear a very revealing conversation that I was certain.

“During that conversation, you admitted the poisoning of Ruaridh and Una Anderson. You were gleeful about it. I could even say that you enjoyed the results of your handiwork. Ruaridh, as you know, subsequently died, so now you are a murderer, and so is your accomplice, because he procured the arsenic for you. And in case you are thinking of telling Davina about the baby, do not waste your breath. I told her a long time ago. You are never going to see her again anyway.

“We know why you wanted to destroy her family. It was to push her out of Craiglochan and Sutherland so that she would go somewhere else, anywhere else to be out of your way. Her parents were disposable."

"Why did I not murder her then?" she asked, thinking she had scored a point in the argument.

"Because it would have been one killing too many," Athol replied. "It would have looked too suspicious, been very thoroughly investigated and the trail might have led back to your door. Anyway, you enjoyed your smear campaign. Blackmail and slander are your best weapons, Maura. There is a rumor that you killed your brother and father too, but we have no proof of that.

“So, the only reason that you were going back to your ruin of an estate in Fort Augustus is that you could not get your hands on Craiglochan. If you had, you would have sold your estate there to the highest bidder."  

"This is going to destroy Grant," Maura pointed out in a trembling voice. "What are you going to do about that?"

"You should have thought of that before, you heartless bitch. As to Grant, nothing," he replied, "I will keep him in ignorance as long as is possible. After you are gone he can find a new and better love. He will be sad for a while, but at least he will have a life. Yours might be very short. If I hear that you have said anything to him you will spend the rest of it in my dungeons."

Maura looked at him in utter astonishment and horror. Her carefully crafted schemes had been destroyed, her life was in ruins and she was carrying a baby she did not want and could not love.

"Your ship will be leaving without you tomorrow. You will keep your mouth shut about all of this. I want Grant to be happy as long as possible. If you say anything to him I promise you will regret it and I always keep my promises."

On that threatening note, Athol locked the door behind him, then he left the room. Lyle was standing in the corridor. "Did you hear all that?" Athol asked.

"You did very well, my friend," Lyle patted him on the back and smiled. "Was she scared?"

Athol smiled, his eyes full of grim satisfaction. "I think so," he replied. "Oh, yes. I definitely think so."

"So, what shall we do now?" Lyle asked.

"Find another excuse to keep them here without telling Grant," Athol sighed. "That gives us another week. We can use that time to interrogate her more. although I will not have torture of any kind used on her. I'll think of something by morning." He looked at Lyle, who nodded.

"Aye," he sighed sadly, "it's about time all this was untangled. But poor Grant! Imagine being married to a woman like that."