Engaging the Enemy (The Wild Randalls 1)

“Here now,” Tobias protested, “don’t you be getting rough with me. If you’re bedding them both, you’re a lot braver than I gave you credit for.”

Leopold squeezed Tobias’ jaw between his fingers. “I swear to God I will kill you if you do not answer my question.”

“Last week. Maybe Thursday morning. As the sun rose.”

Blythe could have had ample time to capture the rabbits, secret them into the abbey, and leave the dead creatures to be found. The woman had free reign inside the abbey and grounds. Mercy would never suspect her sister.

He shook his brother. “Did you or did you not slaughter animals and leave them inside the abbey to frighten the duchess? Your answer will decide the fate of your miserable life.”

Tobias’ eyes widened. “I’m not mad.”

“But you could threaten a boy.”

“I was threatening our slimy cousin to begin with. I did not know he was dead until I returned to England and came back to Romsey. There’s not much news to be heard in the places I’ve been sent to. It’s not like anyone ever wrote back to me. When I found him gone, I settled on giving the duchess a good fright and taking a look at the boy so I knew who’d be coming for me later.”

Leopold slumped and did a quick calculation. The first dead animals had been left well before Tobias had returned to England, if he could be believed. Would he lie about it?

Leopold wasn’t sure, but if Tobias hadn’t been the culprit then there had been two threats to the boy all along; the letters from Tobias and the other grim business from someone infinitely more cold blooded.

The door burst open and Mercy raced across the room. “What have you done?” she shrieked.

Tobias recoiled. “Nothing.”

Leopold caught Mercy and held her back as her fingers stretched to claw at Tobias’ face. Mercy struggled toward Tobias. “Where are they?”

“Who are you talking about?” Tobias squeaked. “I’ve been tied up here for the past quarter hour.”

“Then who is working for you? Who has taken our son and my sister?”

Leopold spun Mercy around to face him and gripped her tightly. “Is Edwin missing?”

Tears fell down her cheeks. “I cannot find him or Blythe anywhere they should be. But I bet Tobias knows what’s been done with them.”

Panic gripped Leopold. He turned and wrapped his hand about Tobias’ throat. “Where is the duke?”

Tobias fought against his grip. “I swear on our mother’s grave, if I knew where she was buried, that I have done nothing to the duke and the mad one.”

“Mad one?”

Leopold released Tobias. Of all his siblings, Tobias had been the closest to their mother. He would never swear false on her memory. He wasn’t involved in Edwin’s disappearance. There was someone else working against Mercy. His best guess was Lady Venables, her own sister, but it didn’t make any sense. “He speaks of Blythe, Mercy.”

“Blythe, but why?”

“I cannot be certain, but she may be involved in your troubles. All along, we have assumed that Tobias here was your problem, but what if two threats existed? He has admitted to sending the letters, but not to killing the rabbits you’ve found. What if someone else has been stalking you? What if it has been your sister all along? You mentioned that she has not been herself since her son died. Could Blythe be unhinged?”

“That’s impossible,” Mercy argued. “She would never harm Edwin. She loves him.”

“Enough to want him for herself?” Leopold wiped away the tears streaming down Mercy’s cheeks. “She is a changeable, complex woman. I never considered her a threat, but after hearing what Tobias has observed of her when you are not around, I’m uneasy about her. Could she be trying to drive you away from Romsey and leave Edwin to her care? She dotes on him like a mother does her son. When was Blythe last seen?”

Mercy wiped her tears from her face, but more fell to replace them. “When she fled this room, she went upstairs and disappeared. No one has seen them since.”

Leopold drew her into his arms. “We’ll search for them. My concerns may be for nothing. She is likely only hiding from the ugly scene she witnessed. No doubt my fool brother has scared her witless.”

“She’s very protective of Edwin, but she would never do what you suspect.” Mercy pushed at his chest to gain her freedom and turned to face Tobias. “How important is family to you, Mr. Randall?”

Tobias glared at her. “Everything.”

Mercy smiled. “Untie him. He can be useful to us.”