Page 85 of Laird of Flint
“Aye. The opium that morn? ’Twas no accident. He was tryin’ to kill ye.”
“How do you know that?”
“He admitted as much.”
“Why would he—”
“Ye know what I think?” she said, gesturing with a second piece of cheese. “I think he’s part o’ your monastery thefts.”
Hew stopped chewing. His head was spinning. He already suspected the physician, simply because of his access to the monastery.
She took another nibble. “He was tryin’ to get rid o’ ye, because he knows ye’re investigatin’ the thefts.”
He swallowed the cheese. “You said two men?”
“Aye. I didn’t recognize the voice o’ the second.”
But it appeared she’d been right. Thereweretwo thieves.
She continued. “He was upset that Peris had tried to kill ye. He said ’twould draw too much attention.”
“Attention?”
“Aye. He said ye were too important and…” She trailed off.
“And?”
She answered in a rushed mumble. “And that my father had designs on ye for his heir.” But before Hew could begin to enjoy that heartwarming fantasy, she added, “He was also afraid ’twould draw the attention o’ Father James.”
“Father James?”
“Aye. He said the father was already suspicious about your presence at Kildunan.”
He’d felt that. Father James’s eyes missed nothing, and his mind seemed as keen as his gaze. If the father learned what Hew was investigating, it wouldn’t be long before the king found out.
“So,” she said, her eyes gleaming with intrigue, “what are we to do?”
“Weare to do naught.” This had become too close for comfort. “Iwill look into matters more deeply.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Ye’re bedridden.”
“I’m not bedridden.” Indeed, after he shook off the last of his sweating, shivering need for opium, he intended to get up and around and make himself useful.
“Ye need someone on the outside. Someone with unlimited access. Someone who can dig up more information. Someone,” she said, raising her brows meaningfully, “they’ll never suspect.”
He hesitated. He hated to admit it, but she was right about that. Nobody would question Carenza’s motives or suspect she was assisting him. Not only was she a woman. She was the laird’s irreproachable daughter. Itwouldhelp to have her poking her nose into things.
“Ye know I’m right,” she added.
“What about the monastery?” he challenged her. “The second thief has to come from there, aye? They’re not about to let a woman within the walls of Kildunan to question all the monks.”
“The second thief doesn’t have to come from the monastery. Peris has access. He goes there all the time. The second man could be the one who stashes or sells the valuables.”
Hew narrowed his gaze. “Which one said Father James was growing suspicious—Peris or the other man?”
“The other man.”
“Right. So he’s the one with the knowledge o’ what happens at Kildunan.”
