Anette sat on the straw mattress as she watched Octavia attempt to remove a nail from the window. They had both taken turns but the only things they had to show for their work were bloody fingers. The rusty nails weren’t budging.
Octavia let out a sigh as she wiped the blood off her fingers onto her pink gown. “This is hopeless.”
“I agree,” Anette said, leaning the back of her head against the wall. “It has been hours and I fear that Roswell and Caleb won’t ever find us.”
“They are looking for us; I am sure of that,” Octavia responded as she sat down next to her friend. “We just have to keep trying to find a way to escape.”
Anette decided it would be for the best if she kept her wayward thoughts to herself. They had little chance of escaping this room since they couldn’t open the window. And they couldn’t leave by way of the door because they would be caught the moment they set foot in the hall. It was hopeless to think they could get out of here on their own.
Which meant they had to wait and hope that Roswell and Caleb would find them in time. But how would they know where they were?
Octavia shifted her position to face Anette. “Do you really think our brothers are spies?”
“I don’t know, but it would explain where Caleb always disappears to,” Anette said. “I never quite believed he spent all of his time at White’s.”
“It would be rather remarkable since spying is considered distasteful, especially for a gentleman.”
“I always thought that was ridiculous since spying is a necessary evil,” Anette said. “I have read many books on spies and I find them to be fascinating. I just don’t think I could handle all the lying that goes along with it.”
“Neither could I. I would be caught on my first assignment because I would forget to lie.”
Anette smiled. “You are clever. I have no doubt you would be a wonderful spy.”
“As would you.”
“Then it is decided. We both shall be spies.”
Octavia’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I could spy on Gunter’s and alert you when they introduce a new ice flavor.”
“I don’t think that is how spying works,” Anette joked. “Besides, Gunter’s sends out announcements for such momentous occasions.”
“I do believe I will leave the spying to my brother. What about you?”
Anette shrugged. “I think it might be fun to be a spy.”
“Fun?” Octavia asked. “I daresay that you are doing it wrong if you are having fun. It should be more dangerous than anything. Regardless, Roswell and Caleb would never let us be spies. They are far too protective of us.”
“That they are,” Anette agreed.
Octavia gave her a curious look. “Do you think Roswell being a spy is the reason why you two never ended up together?”
“Roswell and I are just friends,” Anette said, repeating the same lie that she always told.
“We both know that isn’t true. I see the way you two look at one another. If you weren’t such a dear friend, I would find it revolting.”
Anette decided to be honest with her friend. “Roswell kissed me when we were under the mistletoe last Christmas. I thought it meant something to him but I was wrong.”
“Of course it meant something!” Octavia asserted. “My brother cares greatly for you. It is obvious to everyone but you.”
“He may care for me but that is a far cry from being in love.”
Realization dawned on Octavia’s face. “You love Roswell, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter if I do or not, he will never love me in return,” Anette said. “Ever since the kiss, he has tried to avoid me at every opportunity.”
“You mustn’t give up.”
“There is nothing to hold on to,” Anette remarked. “Roswell has made it clear that he doesn’t want to be with me.”
