Both Christopher and Frances stood up immediately.
“What is it? You must tell us at once.”
“Your Grace,” he said, handing the letter to Christopher, “I found it in the Dowager Duchess’s study, just as you suspected. It seems she had tucked it away without much thought.”
Christopher took the letter, his hands trembling slightly as he unfolded it. Frances moved to his side, reading over his shoulder as he smoothed out the paper.
The letter was written in a hurried, scrawling hand, the words almost frantic in their urgency.
Christopher read aloud, his voice steady but strained.
To the Dowager Duchess,
There is danger surrounding your grandsons. Beware of the man who seeks them, for he has sinister intentions. Protect them, or else they may be lost forever. He watches and waits, and soon he will strike. Do not take this lightly.
A concerned observer.
What did that even mean? Frances did not know what to make of it immediately, and it seemed that Christopher was of the same opinion. They read the letter again, together.
Frances’ heart pounded as she listened to it again, her mind racing with the implications.
“It’s vague,” she murmured, “but it’s clear enough that someone knew there was a threat. Someone was watching.”
Christopher’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. “Why didn’t she take this seriously? The intent here is obvious. Why didn’t she warn us?”
Frances placed a comforting hand on his arm. “We can’t change her actions, but we can use this. The letter mentions someone watching and waiting. Maybe someone in town saw something. We need to question everyone who might have been near the park or the estate.”
Christopher nodded, his resolve hardening. “We’ll do that.”
It wasn’t much, but it was a start. They had a direction, a lead to follow.
They were still poring over the letter when the doors to the drawing room burst open. It was Sally, the maid. She looked like she was on the verge of a breakdown, her face pale and tear-streaked.
“I cannot hold it in anymore. I must tell you everything that I know.”
CHAPTER21
“Sally?” Frances sat up quickly, concern etched on her features. “What’s wrong?”
Sally hesitated on the threshold, her hands wringing the fabric of her apron. “I can’t… I will never forgive myself,” she stammered out, her voice breaking. “I know what happened to the twins.”
Christopher sat up abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. “What do you mean?” he demanded, his voice tight with barely controlled anger. “Where are they?”
Sally took a shaky breath, her eyes filled with remorse. “The Dowager Duchess… she took them,” she confessed, her words tumbling out in a rush. “She wanted to take them away to force you to have an heir of your own. She sent me here to keep an eye on the children and ensure they were raised according to her standards.”
Frances gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. “What?”
Christopher’s expression darkened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He rose to his feet, his fists clenched at his sides.
“Where are they?” he asked again, his voice low and menacing.
Sally took a step back, fear flashing in her eyes, but she forced herself to continue. “She took them to an old estate she owns, far from here. She plans to send them away to an orphanage soon. For my silence, she paid me a hefty sum. But now that I see how much all of this is impacting you, I couldn’t let her do it. Not after seeing how much you both care for them.”
Christopher’s breath came in ragged gasps, his rage barely contained. He took a step towards her, his voice trembling with fury. “You knew all along and did nothing?”
Sally flinched, her tears flowing freely now. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I thought I was doing the right thing, keeping an eye on them for the Dowager Duchess. But then I saw how happy they were here, how much you love them. I couldn’t stand by and let her take them away.”
Christopher was so full of anger that he was turning red in the face. Frances knew she had to de-escalate the situation, as blinding rage was not the answer.. It would only make matters worse than they already were.
