A gasp came from behind Greydon. “Poor Octavia,” Enid said as she appeared by her husband. “You must save her.”
Greydon nodded before he addressed his wife. “I am sorry about dinner.”
Enid waved her hand in front of her. “Octavia is much more important,” she stated. “I shall go back and keep your father company.”
“Thank you, my love,” Greydon said as he kissed her on the cheek.
“Just promise me that you will return home to me,” Enid responded with a seriousness in her voice.
“Always,” Greydon promised. “You won’t be getting rid of me that easily.”
Enid gave him a playful shove. “Go and save my friend. But I should warn you that I won’t let your dessert go to waste.”
Harred shifted in his stance as he tried to quell the growing irritation inside of him. They had more important matters to discuss than dessert.
After Enid disappeared back into the room, Greydon gaveHarred a knowing look. “You need to go home and let us handle this.”
“Absolutely not!” Harred exclaimed. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”
“You are too emotional, and that could get you or Octavia killed,” Greydon said.
Harred put his hands out and asserted, “I am a part of this, whether you want me to be or not.”
Greydon exchanged a look with Fredrick before saying, “Very well, but you will do precisely what Fredrick and I tell you to do. Any variance could have dire consequences.”
“I can do that,” Harred agreed.
Gesturing towards a corridor, Greydon said, “We can speak freely in the study.”
No one spoke as they headed towards the study in the rear of the townhouse. Once they arrived, Greydon closed the door behind them and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Tell me everything,” Greydon ordered.
Harred opened his mouth, but Fredrick spoke first. “Octavia was riding with Lady William in a coach and someone intercepted it. They abducted Octavia at gunpoint and fled with her in another coach.”
“Was there a ransom note?” Greydon asked.
Fredrick slipped his hand into his jacket pocket and removed a piece of paper. “There is,” he confirmed as he handed it to Greydon.
Greydon read it before he asked, “Who delivered it?”
“A street urchin,” Fredrick replied.
Crumpling the note in his hand, Greydon said, “Whoever abducted Octavia is determined to kill Kendal.”
“That is what I concluded as well,” Fredrick remarked.
Greydon bobbed his head. “We need to come up with a plan to retrieve Octavia, without turning over Kendal.”
“How is that possible?” Harred asked.
With a smirk, Greydon replied, “Everything is possible with the right preparation.”
Harred ran a hand through his hair. “If it comes down to it, I will gladly trade myself for Octavia’s safe release.”
“I know, and that is what this person is hoping for,” Greydon said.
Fredrick turned towards Harred. “Do you think Lord William would go to such drastic lengths to see you dead?”
