Well, the answer to the ‘why’ was easy.The villain did not want her waking up while he…or she…tried to kill Alex.But why attack him in the bedchamber?It would look too much like murder if he were found dead in his bed.
Why not keep to what had worked in the past?Killings made to look like accidental deaths.
The perfect crimes.
A sabotaged carriage wheel would do the trick.A drowning.Falling off a horse.
Perhaps that last idea had been used too much.
Two of the last dukes had fallen off their horses.
Two dead dukes.Two broken necks.
A third duke dying of a broken neck while out riding would raise too many questions.
Another problem to be addressed by the killer was Alex’s manner of living.He was not profligate like his predecessors.Anyone who knew him would never believe he was drunk or reckless.
So, how would the killer do him in?
More important, who was the killer?
And how was Alex to stop him?
Of course, this still assumed there was an actual killer and an actual threat, not just his instincts on fire and sensing danger.
He needed to find out more as fast as possible.
“Tulip, would you mind if we rode to Burnham after we tour the dairy?”
Her eyes widened.“Not at all.Are we to visit my Hester family?”
He nodded.“I know it is not polite to drop in on them unannounced, but they must be eager to see you.And I know you are eager to see them.We would not stay long, just a quick visit.”
She nodded enthusiastically.“They would love it.So would I.They’ll invite us to stay for supper.”
Alex shook his head.“Would you mind if we refused?Trent is not familiar with the roads yet and I prefer to have him navigate them in daylight.Also, I expect Mr.Carver would like to return to his home at a decent hour.He’ll need a ride back to Thornwycke Hall where he’s left his horse.”
She raised her eyebrows and smiled at him.“Mr.Carver lives in Burnham.On the same street as my aunt and uncle, in fact.He has only to walk down the street to arrive at his home.Oh, but his horse is at Thornwycke, that is true.He’ll need to retrieve his mount or else he’ll have to walk there tomorrow morning.But I’m sure someone will give him a ride, if it comes to that.Uncle William would do him the favor.”
“Good, then it is settled.We ride to Burnham after we tour the dairy.”
He saw the brightness in Tulip’s eyes and her satisfied smile.Indeed, the smile never left her face the entire while they toured the dairy and visited the cow pens.
Alex even tried milking a cow.
Tulip took a turn, as well, and was obviously experienced because every drop she squeezed went straight into her bucket, while he got more milk on his boots than in his bucket when he’d taken his turn.
“Burham next,” he said after grabbing a cloth and wiping the milk off his boots.
Tulip cast him a beautiful smile.“You’ll adore my Uncle William and Aunt Perty.Won’t he, Mr.Carver?”
“For certain,” he said with a hearty chuckle.“Your Grace, you won’t find better people than the Hesters.”
This light exchange pleased him, not only because it meant Tulip had been raised in a loving home.It also meant he could send Tulip to the Hesters if she needed to be placed out of harm’s way while he figured out what was going on at Thornwycke Hall.
Of course, this assumed something sinister was happening there.
He had no actual proof, for Tulip feeling particularly exhausted this morning could easily be explained away.
