Leopold.
Urgency pounded through her. She had to get to him.
She started for the open door, when suddenly Gerald stepped in front of her.
“It’s not safe, miss.”
She blinked surprise as her heart jolted. He startled her. She hadn’t seen him. She wasn’t even sure where he’d come from. She stared up at him, then looked back at the door. The claw marks were evident.
“What happened here?”
“All I can say, miss, is that a beast tried to get inside last night.”
“Last night.”
Her mind pounded with unanswered questions. Why would Leopold try to get inside the manor? He wasn’t a threat to her. In the instances she saw him in beast form, he protected her.
Unless…unless there was another threat. She clutched the book tighter in her arms, suddenly worried about Leopold. She knew he was there last night when Lord Vincent left.
His haughty words rang back to her.
That beast is a menace, and I will see its end.
A shadow fell across the open casement, catching her eye. She glanced up to see Lord Vincent stepping through the destruction, a look of smug satisfaction on his face. Instantly, she knew he was responsible for something. Dread washed through her, making her stomach cramp.
“What did you do?” It took everything in her not to shout at the man.
His surprised gaze flickered to her. “What do you mean?”
“I see it in your eyes, Lord Vincent. The triumph. You came back last night, didn’t you?” Accusing him was farfetched. It was nothing more than a guess, but she saw the gratification in his eyes.
“And a good thing I did, too.” He ignored her as he glanced at the butler there. “The threat has been eradicated.”
“What does that mean?” Her heart thudded like a war drum, sending terror pumping through her. Bile rose to the back of her throat. All she thought about was Leopold.
Lord Vincent’s cold eyes turned back to her. “It means the beast will no longer threaten you or this manor.”
Her knees nearly buckled. “He was no threat to me or us.”
Emotion clotted her throat. Hot tears burned the backs of her eyes. Shehadto get out of this house. She had to find Leopold. She had to know if he was all right.
But judging by the delight oozing from the nobleman, she wasn’t sure.
“That’s not what I saw last night. And so, I returned and took care of the beast.”
Unable to stop herself, she emitted a strangled gasp. Gerald placed a concerned hand on her elbow as he moved to stand next to her. She was grateful for his strength. But Lord Vincent’s eyes narrowed to suspicious slits.
“Do you care for this beast, Miss Bella? Is that it?” He moved closer, closing the distance between them. Stifling her. Making her shrink back with his disdainful expression.
“I-I—”
But she didn’t finish her answer as Emmaline bounded down the steps. She halted at the foot of the stairs, her eyes wide as she took in the situation. The destroyed front door. Lord Vincent standing over her, threatening her. And Gerald holding her elbow as though to keep her upright.
“Ah, Miss Emmaline. Please escort the lady to her chambers and see that she remains there until this situation,” he waved to the door, “can be properly handled.”
Emmaline nodded as she stepped toward Bella, reaching for her. Fury ignited through her as she shrugged off the girl and the butler. She rounded her ire on Lord Vincent.
“Who are you to give my maid orders? And my butler? Who are you to walk into this house as if you are the lord of the manor? Who areyouto seek justice for some infraction that has never even occurred?”
