Page 76 of Most Unusual Duke

And Ursella smiled.

Nineteen

With the bat and the falcon on their way and having no notion how long it would take for aid to arrive, the search for Ursella continued out of doors. Armed with Ben’s knowledge and due to Arthur’s absence, Beatrice struck out on her own. Charlotte implored her to take one of the footmen, but the tug in her chest returned; whether or not it was quite ridiculous, she trusted it and followed her instinct to go alone.

If it was not quite, quite ridiculous to think it, she understood Arthur was on a mission only he could execute, and she must carry on at home in his absence. Compounding the potential foolishness, she muttered to him as if he walked by her side.

“You may like to know having footmen in numbers is quite handy when one’s niece goes missing. And footmen with a difference as well, though their noses will not discover many clues if Ben’s suspicions about the use of neem are true. I suppose they may look for tracks upon the ground as hunters do? It is well past midday, although I doubt a lack of sunlight would prove an obstacle.” She felt a tug on her heart. Was it affirmation? It must be thissentioArthur spoke of, though how it could work without danger or without having been officially opened she did not know. “You had best undertaken a worthy task or I shall know the reason why.”

She shivered. “I set off with no thought of a coat for Ursella. If she decided to go for a wander under her own power, I hope she dressed herself accordingly. In any case, I have my shawl. I may at least offer it should I be the one to find her.”

After making her way through Arthur’s copse, she found herself drawn to a newly cleared path. If her memory served, it led to the circular space of no name… “Or a name not made known to me. I suspect it is significant enough to have remained unlabeled on a map and the sleuth knows it without naming it.”

The presence in her heart turned both warm and warning. “Its importance may prove to be the usurper’s undoing. Your brother has told me of your ways in this regard, and I am certain Hallbjorn will be no match for Lady Frost.” Beatrice jutted out her chin, not that Arthur could see it. “I feel I must gently remind you of my proficiency at goading decrepitversipelles. It took little effort to push Castleton to his limit. Whenever he revealed himself, his pack did so as well, seemingly against their will, increasing my knowledge and hold over them. Why they did not kill me I do not know. I imagine the punishment for killing one’s Alpha female is quite harsh. All this is to say, I am well able to provoke a Change in his Shape and therefore…”

The connection was useful insofar as the response she received from the other end was a cacophony of emotion. How helpful it would prove in the future. “I am here,” she said aloud, and her voice summoned the creature from the trees surrounding the circular grove.

A creature it was: though greater in size than Castleton’s wolf, this bear was similar to him in many ways, none of them salutary. Its skin was patchy and discolored and hung from its gaunt frame. It looked underfed and unwell. Its mouth hung open and displayed jaws underpopulated by teeth, and it was in possession of only one fang. Its eyes were mad, unfocused, filmy. Nevertheless, she did not fool herself into thinking she could defeat it physically. Words would have to do for now.

“You have forfeited any chance of victory ere you have begun,” Beatrice said. “As I understand it, the challenge must be made in human form and only then may the essential selves of the combatants engage in the battle for primacy.” She called upon every shard of ice Lady Frost possessed. “Show me the child.”

“Here I am, Aunt Beezy.” Ursella stepped around the creature into view.

“Hello, Ursella, it is wonderful to see you,” Beatrice said. “I am sorry you are without your coat. You must feel the chill.”

“It was cold in the night,” the child said, “but I am well.”

How was she to ask her niece if she was entirely unharmed? “I am glad to hear it. Your sleuth has been searching far and wide. It is my privilege to have found you.”

“They would have come straight here, if they could scent me.” Ursella glared at the creature. “He made me rub my hands and my neck and even my dress with a weed.”

“It is a plant called neem, and its primary property is the masking of scent. Well, we shall simply wait until the household has exhausted every option and arrives here. Should either of us come to harm, then this creature’s challenge is well and truly lost.”

“He is called Hallbjorn.” It swung its head around to glare and growl at the child. “I know what he has done.”

“Do you? You are clever.” How fortunate she had such practice maintaining a cool facade; Beatrice fought the urge to grab the child and run. “I am curious how you fell into his hands?”

Ursella had the grace to look chagrined. “We went up to bed, but I wanted to find a very special flower for you and Uncle Artie. He brought me here and made me sit and listen to him.” She scowled, unafraid, and rolled her eyes.

“Oh, how dreadful.” Beatrice marveled at the child’s composure and vowed to do it honor by matching it with her own. “The whole night long you were made to listen?”

“It was, and I was.” Ursella pouted. “He said the silliest things. About how we were not a proper sleuth and never will be, as my uncle has no second or third or anything. That my uncle was weak as my grandfather is weak and he would fall in a fight. I know this is not so as Uncle Artie does not wish to encourage such old-fashioned behavior as challenging. And he knows if I come to harm it will go the worse for him, and not only at my uncle’s hands but my aunt’s and my mum’s and my papa’s. He is a coward.”

The creature had snarled throughout Ursella’s speech, and Beatrice chose simply to speak louder over the din. “I have never met anyone as strong as your uncle,” she said.

“He is strong,” Ursella agreed, “but he is also stubborn.”

“I must claim that fault amongst my own.” Beatrice sighed. “I do like to think I am only stubborn when my heart is at risk.”

“That is very like Bernadette,” Ursella said. “She does take everything to heart.”

“Your papa told me about how important the heart is to your sleuth.”

“Our sleuth,” the child corrected her. “Versipellesneed thesentio, no matter their clan.”

“Am I correct in thinking, therefore,” and they continued to discuss this as if chatting across a tea table despite the vocal rage of the creature, “without thesentio, there is no claim?”

“Yes, Aunt Beezy,” Ursella said. “It is well that Uncle Artie waited to open it up again until it was the proper time to do so.”

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