The Perks of Being a Duke by Hanna Hamilton

Author:Hanna Hamilton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 32

J onathan followed Mr. McAhmladhson up the steep trail to the old sheep shed where the shearing was customarily done. They kept to the trail because Mr. McOwen, who was coming up the rear, wanted to be certain they didn’t obscure the signs he had found.

First, they stopped at the old willow, where Mr. McOwen pointed out the dead animals and showed the bit of meat to the him. “Not sure what it is poisoned with, Your Grace, but it did these small creatures in very quickly.”

“Gather the animals, Mr. McOwen and put them in a game bag. If the poison is that lethal, something could get sick from eating them. Did you find anything else?”

“Nothing except the crushed ferns and grasses that make it sure that someone laid down here. And the area where their horses stood and cropped grass while they were doin’ whatever it was they were doing.”

“Not too difficult to guess what,” Mr. McAhmladhson said. “The question is who, and why?”

“Who is still open for discussion,” Jonathan replied. “The why is less difficult. Whoever it was probably is responding to my notice that there was to be no courting whatsoever.”

“Isn’t supposed to be anyway,” Mr. McAhmladhson observed.

“True enough. But I have usually turned a blind eye to innocent flirting and the occasional kiss or two when the staff are off duty. If we are too strict about their behavior, where will I get the next generation of servants, after all?”

Mr. McOwen gave a little snort of laughter. “Ha! That’s rich, Your Grace.”

“Mr. McOwen,” Jonathan said with mock sternness, “There is a high probability that half the village married couples met while they were in service. Surely you do not wish to depopulate the countryside?”

Mr. McOwen lifted his hands as if to fend off criticism. “No, no, be it far from me to dictate the actions of others. But that somewhat seems to go with being a Duke, if you’ll pardon my saying so, Your Grace.”

Jonathan sighed. This sighing habit must stop. Soon it will be a tell, just as if I were in a card game. “Alas, you have the right of it, Mr. McOwen. I have been fortunate in the people who are on my staff and living in the village, so it has not been too great a responsibility. But this most recent situation is less than pleasant.”

“It is, Jonathan. And I will stop picking at you, and get these rodents into a bag.” So saying, Mr. McOwen then got out a game bag. He then slid on a glove and carefully picked up each mouse, vole, and squirrel, placing them inside it.

Back on the trail, they rode on up the mountain. There were no horse prints at the sheering shed, but there were a great many human footprints. Oddly, the shed showed no recent evidence of having been used for sheep.

Inside, Jonathan looked at the benches and makeshift podium. It was clear this had been a meeting place.

“Should we take it apart?”

“That would let them know that we are aware of them,” Mr.

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