Page 113 of My Highland Love

“Listen,” Justin cut in, “there's a very interesting stipulation in her father's will. If Elise dies, a body must be presented as evidence, or five years must pass before Ardsley can take possession of her stock.”

“How does that prove she's alive?”

“Ardsley claims to have her in a convalescent home.”

Shock ricocheted through Marcus. “An insane asylum?”

“Yes.”

His mind reeled. Elise, alive? And in an asylum. “'Tis not possible,” he said in a hoarse voice.

“No?” Justin held his gaze. “For the past six months, Ardsley has been attempting to get Landen Shipping's board of directors to agree to a large loan he wants in order to expand the shipping company to include west coast trade. Many of the board members plan on retiring in the next few years and don't relish the idea of putting their life savings at risk. They have a date set three weeks from tomorrow to settle the matter.”

“Ardsley needs Elise's twenty-five percent interest to control the vote,” Marcus said in a near whisper.

“Fifty-one percent,” Justin rejoined.

“What?”

“A year after Elise married, Steven Landen signed his interest in the company over to her.”

“My God.”

Justin's brows lifted. “It's rather late in the game for Ardsley to present Elise's body, don't you think?”

“An insane asylum,” Marcus murmured. “If it is true…”

'No Campbells, or anyone else, can harm you,' he had told her. 'I can protect you.' Wed only two days and he had utterly failed her.

“Marcus.” Justin's sharp voice cut into the picture of Elise huddled in a tiny filthy cell, hands clamped over her ears to drown out the screams of the other inmates.

“I saw her body,” Marcus said. “If that wasn't Elise, then who—”

Justin's mouth thinned. “That is a mystery to be solved—but not one we cannot solve from here. Agreed?”

Marcus stared. “Aye.”

“What have you learned of Steven?” Justin asked.

Marcus's mind registered the letter lying on the table. He picked it up and handed it toward Justin.

The earl unfolded the paper and began reading. A moment later, he murmured, “Shay. Wait. Shay. This cannot be the fellow whose son you saved while on campaign in America?”

Marcus nodded.

Justin frowned. “What prompted you to contact him?”

“Landen Shipping informed me Steven Landen was serving in the Army.”

Justin laughed. “Good of them to be so obliging.”

“Colonel Shay located the boy.”

“Boy?”

“He is twenty-five.”

“I expected someone older than Elise.”