“Do you think you can safely remove him from the garden?” Eoin asked the physician.
Aunt Eliza suddenly sprang forward. With surprising speed, she gripped Matthew’s sleeve. “Please save us!”
He gave her a kind smile and patted her hand. “There isno reason for fear. You’re safe inside this building, my lady, although I would not recommend a garden stroll at the moment. As soon as my friend arrives with proper equipment and one of the wagons that we’ve specially designed for transporting large predators, we will safely remove the animal.”
“Why not just shoot the blasted thing?” Uncle Francis demanded. “If you’re all too lily-livered to do so, I’ll volunteer.”
“I assure you that it takes much more bravery to capture the animal alive.” Matthew’s polite scholarly demeanor had hardened.
“I still say that we should—” Uncle Francis began anew.
Eoin rubbed the bridge of his nose, wishing that his relatives weren’t so difficult to corral. “As the duke, I have decided that we’re not harming the bear unless it poses an immediate danger to someone. Ursus is contentedly eating in a walled space. We can and shall wait until more help arrives.”
“We are doomed!” Aunt Eliza cried.
For once, Eoin had to agree with her. Although Ursus hadn’t harmed anyone, it was clear that the bear had been released to kill him. The Purveyor—or whoever was behind the murder attempts—wasn’t going to stop. And worse, the killer seemed intent on choosing exceedingly dangerous methods that could easily result in others being injured too. It was past time to discover exactly what was happening at the Horse and Hen.
“Ursus seems content,” Hannah said later that afternoon as Eoin stood next to her outside the bruin’s new home. The summer sun burned overhead, drenching the grassy field in light. Matthew and his friend had created ingenious enclosures withsunken walls that made it appear that the animals were contained only by low-lying hedges.
Ursus ignored their presence as he industriously lumbered around the perimeter of his sizable quarters. The black tip of his wiggling nose did not appear to miss a single, solitary scent. Although Eoin knew little about animals, he swore that the bear radiated joy. Perhaps it was because Ursus still managed to eject a little sprightliness into his otherwise stiff amble despite his obvious age. He certainly was no longer growling and roaring.
“I am glad Ursus can finally receive proper care.” Eoin gazed at the bear, surprised by how gentle the creature appeared. Ursus exuded an almost cuddly cuteness until one noticed the fearsome claws and teeth.
“I do feel better after seeing him under more cheerful conditions.” Hannah leaned against Eoin and gave his midsection a squeeze. “Thank you for stopping by here.”
“It was no great detour. We would have practically passed this place on the way to the ducal seat regardless,” Eoin said.
“I hope we do find a clue at your estate, and we’re not haring off on a wild-goose chase when there are better leads in London.” Hannah sighed as she let go of Eoin to pick a small leaf from the shrubbery hiding the recessed ha-ha.
“If my uncles and aunts are involved in the Purveyor’s business, they would have removed or destroyed any evidence in the London townhouse when I first visited the Horse and Hen. They wouldn’t have a chance, though, to sort through their belongings at the Kent property,” Eoin said, although that was only part of his rationale. He also wanted to protect Hannah. Each time he’d been attacked, she’d been by his side. He had to consider that perhaps the Purveyor wanted her dead too. It seemed best to remove both of them from danger until theyhad a chance to discover more about the threat that they faced. Eoin, however, doubted that Hannah would be keen on avoiding peril. She was more apt to hurtle toward it.
“Do you believe now that one of your relatives could be the Purveyor?” Hannah asked as she plucked another leaf and flicked it into the air.
“Not particularly, but my uncles may at least have a connection to him,” Eoin admitted as a heavy sadness weighed down on him. He had never been close to the foursome, but it still hurt to think one of his father’s siblings might be helping to engineer his demise. “After I napped this morning, certain conclusions became clearer to me.”
Hannah turned from pruning the boxwood to wrap her arms around him once more. “I cannot imagine they were easy inferences to make.”
“Not particularly,” Eoin agreed as he fixed his gaze on Ursus. The bear had stopped to paw rather aggressively at a clump of lavender. Chunks of the plant flew into the air, and Eoin wished that he could root out his own problems so easily.
Hannah did not press for more details, and Eoin realized that she was giving him time to prepare himself. He reached his arm around her and squeezed, glad for this moment of privacy.
“I…” he began and then swallowed. “I realized that someone who knows my routine must have helped plan the recent incident.” It made him feel a little better, calling what had happened an incident rather than attempted murder. Still, speaking about last night caused a flurry of angst and rage to swirl in Eoin’s gullet. “Sending a bear into a garden isn’t a very effective way to kill someone.”
“Although it would send a gruesome message to those who are under the Purveyor’s thrall,” Hannah pointed out. “Eventhough we lived, it is still a terrifying tale that will be repeated throughout London. For some people, such an experience would be enough to persuade them to halt their pursuit of the truth.”
“I had not considered those factors,” Eoin confessed, a bit ashamed that his normal logic had failed him. “I was primarily focused on the method than the potential results. Most noblemen don’t frequent their gardens at night, nor have I revealed this practice to anyone but you. And even you were not aware until last night.”
“Which means that either your relatives or your staff informed the Purveyor about your penchant. Given that Ursus was released into the garden after we’d been lingering there for a while, it is likely someone told the Purveyor about our exact whereabouts,” Hannah finished, and Eoin was thankful that he didn’t have to explain his uncles’ potential perfidy further.
“I share your conclusions.” Eoin held Hannah tightly.
“I am sorry.” Hannah stood on her tiptoes and bussed his cheek.
The simple warmth of her gesture pooled through Eoin, soothing the raw edges of hurt. Gratitude slipped through him that he had this wonderful, bold woman by his side. Neither of them spoke as they silently watched Ursus utterly destroy the stand of lavender. The bear’s claws swiped furiously, scattering dirt in all directions. It was oddly cathartic to watch Ursus take out his rage upon the flowers—almost as if Eoin could find some release as well.
Chapter Twenty
You didn’t tell me that you owned an actual castle!” Hannah didn’t care that she was half hanging out the coach window as the horses started down the impressive driveway. As if nature herself wanted to wreath the sprawling building in glory, the sun was setting on the horizon just beyond the west wing. The pale sandstone glowed a faint pink, and the central medieval keep shot into the sky like a monument to another age. Hannah almost expected the portcullis to open and an armored knight to burst forth on his warmblood. A moat, its waters reflecting the pastel-colored sky, still surrounded the sturdy walls although the more romantic drawbridge had been replaced by a permanent structure.
