The Heiress Bride - Catherine Coulter [112]
“And what did you write to Douglas?”
“Ah . . . that I was off to see Sophie. Oh damn.”
Sinjun turned a twinkling eye to Sophie, who was now frowning ferociously down at her pale green slippers. “And you? Did you tell Ryder where you and Alex were bound?”
Very slowly, eyes still firmly on her feet, Sophie shook her head. “I just wrote to him that we were going to do a bit of sightseeing in the Cotswolds and that I would write him to tell him when we would return.”
“Oh, Sophie, you didn’t!” Alex threw a pillow at her. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell him the truth. What were you thinking, for God’s sake?”
“Well, Alex, you did no better!” Sophie rounded on her and threw the pillow back, striking her magnificent bosom. “You only told part of the truth because you were the first leg of the deception, so to speak. You didn’t have to lie like I did.”
“You should have realized that there was no need for a lie! You should have thought, but you didn’t think, you—”
“Don’t you dare call me stupid!”
“I didn’t call you stupid, but if the glove fits—”
“That’s enough from both of you,” Sinjun said, trying desperately not to laugh. Alex’s splendid bosom was heaving; Sophie was red in the face, her hands fisted at her sides.
It was Alex who said finally, her voice reeking of catastrophe, “What are we going to do?”
Sinjun didn’t crack that smile; the laughter was no longer bubbling up in her throat. She said very firmly, “Ryder and Douglas will figure it out quickly enough. I know they will. If it makes you feel better, then both of you write letters to them right this instant and I will have one of our stable lads go to Edinburgh with them. I don’t believe it’s necessary, though.”
“That will take forever!”
“It isn’t necessary,” Sinjun repeated. “Now, trust me. I promise that both husbands will be here before too much longer. Indeed, I still hold to Friday, no later. Would the two of you like to shake hands now and we’ll get on with the business at hand?”
Sinjun realized she felt quite good as she watched her sisters-in-law continue to grumble at each other even as they hugged. Yes, she felt stronger than she had the day before. Not up to full snuff yet, but she was clearheaded and her brain was functioning quite well. She didn’t feel wilted any longer.
They discussed their plan until Sinjun, at least, was pleased, and all the consequences she could think of were covered. Sophie and Alex didn’t like the plan but Sinjun convinced them it was the only way. “Would you prefer that I just shoot him and toss his body in the loch?” she’d said, and that had shut down most of their objections. She’d written her letter the afternoon before and had Ostle brought to her. Him, she had sworn to secrecy. Pray God he would keep mum about what he’d done.
Sinjun looked from one sister-in-law to the other. “Now, we will act this morning. We can’t take the chance that we’ll have another day. You may not have faith in Douglas and Ryder, but I do.”
Both Alex and Sophie had brought pocket pistols. Both knew how to shoot, not as well as Sinjun, but well enough. The sight of the pistols brought their feet firmly to the ground.
“The Virgin Bride said trouble, Sinjun,” Alex said. “We’re not stupid, no matter we didn’t think of everything. Or write everything. Now, where’s your pistol?”
Sinjun drew the small pistol from beneath her pillow. “I’m strong enough for us to do it this morning. I will ensure that Colin is off doing something else and not paying any attention to either of you or to me. I’ll manage it somehow. Now come here and listen carefully.”
Getting rid of Colin wasn’t as easy as Sinjun had hoped it would be. Finally, at her wits’ end, she played the invalid and began to cough pitiably, bending over and clutching at her ribs as she coughed and coughed. She had the headache, too, of course, a pounding pain over her left eye. Ah, and she could barely catch her