Page 45 of Wolfhaven

“Aren’t you the one been leaving snares all around the cottage? Nearly got my leg caught in one of your inept traps.” The groundskeeper pulled out a wicked hunting knife and gestured to the deer. “Now get out of here unless you want to watch me field dress it.”

Evaine turned on her heel and stomped back to the orchard. Deciding her basket was full enough, she hefted it and strode back to the mansion in a pique. In the kitchen she found Gran and Gareth conversing amiably. He kept his injured foot propped on a chair and picked at the remnants of a lunch Hazel had clearly prepared for him.

“I see the two of you are getting on like a house on fire,” she said irritably, only realizing her error when the duke’s brow furrowed. Evaine set the heavy basket of apples on the counter, flustered. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean⁠—”

“You were gone a long time,” Gran interrupted before she could make things worse with her rambling apology. Evaine winced at the mild rebuke in Hazel’s tone.

“It’s been an eventful morning,” she mumbled. “I’ll put these away and then go freshen up.”

“I’ll help.” Gareth bent, but before he could get up, Hazel stopped him.

“Oh, no, you don’t, young man. You stay right where you are.”

He cast Evaine a long-suffering look. Despite her foul mood, she smiled. She placed some of the apples into a bowl on the counter and put the rest in a cupboard for later.

“Where did you go this morning?” asked the duke while she was working. Evaine recounted the strange events—chasing after the red cloak wearer, the crow at the graveyard, the giggles that had always accompanied signs of Marina’s presence, and nearly being shot by Cogswell—omitting only the dead badger she’d ensnared and accidentally left to suffer a prolonged death.

The guilt weighed on her. It was one thing to hunt for food. She hadn’t liked seeing the groundskeeper kill the stag, but his aim had been true. The animal hadn’t suffered. Her kill had been downright cruel in comparison.

People didn’t eat badgers. They were sweet, harmless, bumbling little things.

Her story was interrupted by heavy footfalls. Cogswell ducked into the kitchen carrying a long white object wrapped in a bloodstained white cloth. Protruding from one end was a black hoof. He glanced askance at Evaine when he came in. She detected no apology in his demeanor.

“Skeered you earlier,” was all he said. The man seemed almost pleased with himself.

“Yes, you did.” She held his eye until he looked away.

The groundskeeper dropped the bloody parcel onto the countertop. Gran flinched.

“Thought yer lordship might like a share of the deer I kilt,” he said.

“I appreciate that, Cogswell,” said the duke. “I would further appreciate it if you take greater care in the future not to frighten my guests while hunting on the property.”

Tense silence filled the kitchen.

“I’m going to go freshen up,” Evaine said. She was headed out when she happened to glance at the row of hooks where she had put Gran’s shawl…and saw her red cloak hanging beside it. She halted mid-step. Pointing to it, she said to the groundskeeper, “Did you put this here? It was missing earlier.”

“Ain’t touched nuffin’,” he scoffed. “Don’t want nothing from the likes’ve you lot.”

Annoyed, Evaine snatched her cloak and took it upstairs. She hung it inside the wardrobe in her room and brushed the dirt off her skirt and blouse, fixed her hair, washed her face and hands, and was about to return to the kitchen when she ran straight into the duke.

“Oof,” she said, bracing herself against his chest. His strong hands came to her forearms. “What are you doing up here? You shouldn’t be walking on that ankle.”

“What you did this morning was dangerous.” He brushed off her admonition with a scowl. “Don’t go wandering the property. It’s not safe.”

“What am I supposed to do, sit around and wait for you to wake up?”

“Yes. I’ll be better about getting up from now on. Yesterday was taxing. I didn’t intend to sleep late.”

Instantly contrite, Evaine dropped her gaze to the hollow of his throat. A wave of longing rolled through her. “I was only going to check the snares and pick apples. You did say I could. I didn’t mean to alarm you.”

“I know. But it isn’t safe here. Stay close to me from now on. Day and night, the three of us need to stick together. I won’t risk your safety.”

“Yet you neglect your own health?”

“My health is fine.”

“You have suffered a concussion, sliced your hand, and sprained your ankle. All in the few days since you arrived. Frankly, I think my presence is a hazard to your health. If you were truly concerned, you’d send me away,” she said wryly.