Page 60 of Ladybird

Chapter 14

“Luke, come out here right now. I need to talk to you.” Hunter stood in the door of the stables, calling out his young nephew.

Regina was with him, fingering the brooch, feeling it in her heart that the boy couldn’t possibly be the thief they hunted.

“What is it, Hunter?” Luke walked out with the cat in his arms and Fred right behind him.

“Alone,” said Hunter in a commanding voice. “Give the cat to Fred and follow me.”

“But we were just going to⁠—”

“Now!” shouted Hunter, taking the cat from him and pushing her into Fred’s arms. Then he grabbed Luke by the back of the tunic and yanked him toward him.

“Hunter, mayhap you don’t need to be so rough,” suggested Regina, seeing this was already not going well.

“You’re hurting me,” cried Luke, even though Regina could see that the boy was only acting.

“We can talk in the mews,” said Regina. “I’ll ask Cassian and Roger to step out. That will give us some privacy.”

“Good idea,” said Hunter, following her with the boy still in his grip.

“Lady Regina. Lord Hunter,” said Roger when they walked into the mews. “Did you find Lightning yet?”

“It’s just Hunter without the Lord,” Hunter corrected him.“And no, we haven’t found the missing bird yet.”

“Roger, can you and Cassian please step out for a minute? We’d like a little privacy,” Regina told him.

“Of course. Cassian. Cassian!” Roger yelled to the older man who slowly turned around. “Let’s go,” said Roger, waving his arm. Cassian eyed them up curiously, but followed Roger out of the mews.

“Let go of me.” Luke struggled against Hunter’s hold.

“We need to talk,” said Hunter.

“About what?”

“I found a crossbow in the trunk in our chamber. I also found this.” Hunter held out his hand and Regina gave him the brooch. He held it up and Luke’s disposition suddenly changed. The boy looked to the ground and kicked at the straw rushes on the floor. “Did you steal these things, Luke?” asked Hunter. “I want the truth, so don’t even think of lying.”

“Nay. I didn’t steal them.” Luke couldn’t look at Hunter and Regina realized the boy was not telling the truth. Or at least not the whole truth.

“I don’t believe you,” snapped Hunter.

“Hunter, please.” Regina took back the brooch from him. “This brooch was missing before you and Luke ever came to the castle. He couldn’t have stolen it.”

“True, but why has it suddenly appeared in a trunk in our chamber?” asked Hunter.

“I was just holding it for someone,” explained Luke.

“Holding it? Holding a stolen item? Who the hell for?” Hunter demanded to know.

Luke looked down and kicked at the floor again. “I don’t want to tell you.”

“Then why don’t you start by telling me where you got the crossbow, the boots and while you’re at it, the cat, too. After all, it is odd that you told me you wanted those things and as soon as we got here you suddenly had them.” Hunter was not happy with the boy and Regina couldn’t blame him. Still, she could see he was scaring the boy and that Luke would only end up rebelling if Hunter didn’t pull back.

“Let me try,” she said softly, resting her hand on Hunter’s arm.

“Be my guest.” Hunter turned away and crossed his arms.

“Luke, sit down,” said Regina, sitting on a wooden bench and patting the seat next to her.