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“I know what the flowers mean!” Tarben tugged Beatrice’s skirt. “I know red roses are for love and blue hyacinth are for constancy and peonies are for—”
“And then we came back and went to bed.” Bernadette looked troubled.
“Ursella only found daisies, which mean loyalty,” Tarben added. “She was cross because I knew something she did not andsheis an Omega and thinks she knows everything—”
“I scolded you three up the stairs and into the nursery, squawking like the little rattletraps you are,” Morag said, offering up her taciturn joking for the children’s sake.
“We had no story because Mum said you were otherwise occupied, Aunt Beezy,” Bernadette said.
“We checked on them directly,” Charlotte said, struggling to keep her voice steady, “and that was that.”
Beatrice leaned against Arthur as a tremor ran through her. She was not the only one who experienced a quaver in the atmosphere, and fear settled over them like a heavy cloak.
“This is my fault,” Arthur whispered. “No sooner had I been so arrogant as to claim my place than disaster strikes.” He tore at this hair, and a thunderous rumble built in his chest.
“Arthur, come, let us keep our heads.” She laid a hand on his arm and addressed those assembled. “We shall look over the house and see where she may be hiding. If, as you have told me, Charlie, she is prey to the emotional well-being of our, our—” She looked to her husband.
“Sleuth,” Arthur said.
“Of our sleuth,” she continued, “then it only follows that even joyful emotions are taxing.” Beatrice took stock of those before her. “Morag, if you would organize Glynis and Ciara and the household footmen to search the ground floor and then mind Tarben and Bernadette in the den. Mr. Conlon, please direct Mr. Brosnyn as you see fit in dispersing footmen on the first and second floors and as well the attics. Bernard and Christopher may take the nursery and the schoolroom.” The footmaid nursemen appeared dismayed beyond comprehension. “Once we have concluded our searches, we shall reconvene if we have not discovered her hiding place. Mr. Todd, please remain behind. Thank you.”
She waited for the servants to embark on their assignments. She had a delicate question, but there was no time for hesitancy. “I must ask why, if scenting is among your powers, you cannot detect Ursella’s?”
Mr. Todd looked at Ben, whose expression conveyed sheer dread. “Mr. Todd drew to my attention a disturbance in the glasshouse, a great growth of neem in the southernmost corner.”
“It is not a varietal suited to our climate, and given its growth, it has taken years to cultivate, if I judge it correctly.” Mr. Todd’s demeanor said he did so. “It would not have been suitable for use until earlier this year.”
“Who would seek to conceal their signature?” Beatrice asked.
“Do not.” Arthur’s voice trembled with suppressed fury. “Do not tell me you were withholding the possibility Hallbjorn was here.” Hisdominatumvibrated around them, threatening to explode.
“The usurper? Who killed your father?” Beatrice wished she had power the opposite to this oppressive force, to spread peace instead. Which she supposed was Ursella’s gift, and the child’s absence pained her afresh. “Why should we think it was he?”
“Who else would have a stake in this place?” Arthur railed. “Who else would seek to undermine what little authority I can call mine without having done anything to make us a true sleuth? Who else would wait until we were at our weakest—”
Charlotte reached out and grabbed Arthur by the hand. “Artie, please open thesentio.”
“I cannot do that and fix this.” He was adamant but took Charlotte’s hand in both of his. “If he senses the connection has opened, he will be able to call us to himself, and it would not be within our power to resist. We escaped the first time because my father’s heart was broken and with it the connection. Had it not been, the result would have been horrendous.”
“What is thesentio?” Beatrice asked.
“Now is not the time, Madam, to further your indoctrination into mattersversipellian,” he snapped.
“Then when, Your Grace?” This was no use. “In the amount of time it took to speak that speech, you could have explained the concept.”
“It is the connection within the collective of a clan.” Mr. Todd fell on his sword. “It allows every soul to feel the strength and care of the Alpha and to aid one another through him.”
“It will endanger every soul here as it will be too new to have any useful strength except for the usurper to command us through it,” Arthur insisted.
“How is it he will be able to connect?” Was this what she had felt in the Alpha’s study?
“It is attached to this place, and he is still Alpha here.”
“I find it hard to believe,” Beatrice scoffed, “that he would still hold sway.”
“I am certain that his lack of offspring prevents it,” Charlotte said. “Artie, please.”
“When all is said and done,” Beatrice said, “it is Georgie’s responsibility to deal with the usurper.”
