Ruth spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention. “May I get anyone a cup of tea?” she asked in a steady voice.
Octavia waved her hand in front of her. “No, thank you, and my brother doesn’t want one either.”
Fredrick’s lips twitched at his sister’s words. “Now you are refusing a cup of tea for me?”
“Did you want one?” Octavia asked.
“No, but that is hardly the point,” Fredrick replied. “I can speak for myself.”
Octavia grinned. “My apologies, Brother. I did not mean to take away your voice, especially since it is such a lovely, gruff voice.”
Harred chuckled.
“Do not encourage her,” Fredrick said, shifting his gaze to Harred. “Octavia is becoming more hoydenish with every passing day. Soon, she will start getting ideas and thinking…” He shuddered. “I cannot bear the thought of that.”
“It is far too late for that,” Octavia stated.
Ruth interjected, “I think it is praiseworthy for a woman to know her own mind. By doing so, she has more influence than she could ever imagine.”
The moment the words left her mouth, Ruth lowered her gaze and said, “I apologize. I had no right to say such a thing.”
“You have every right,” Octavia declared. “You must never apologize for having an opinion on a matter.”
Fredrick chimed in. “I may joke with my sister, but I do value her mind. What a boring existence if we can’t express what we are truly feeling.”
Ruth appeared genuinely surprised by Fredrick’s response, as if she hadn’t considered a gentleman could think that way. “Thank you,” she murmured. “You two are very kind.”
Harred clasped his hands together. “Now that you are here, and we established that neither of you wish for tea, shall we sit down and converse?”
“Before we do, I need to speak to you,” Fredrick informed him. “Privately, if you don’t mind.”
“We can speak in my study,” Harred replied.
Octavia approached the settee and said, “If you two don’t mind, I will stay with Ruth. We have much to discuss. Don’t we?”
Ruth smiled, looking at ease. “Yes, we do.”
As Harred followed Fredrick out of the drawing room, his friend asked, “How are you dealing with the events from last night?”
“Not well,” Harred admitted. “I know someone is going to great lengths to kill me, but I just don’t believe my brother is capable of such a thing.”
They stepped into the study and Fredrick closed the door before saying, “I was able to confirm that William visited a gambling hall before the carriage accident, but he had left with plenty of time to tamper with the phaeton.”
Harred dropped down onto the settee. “Would my brotherbe so cold-hearted to do such a thing?” he asked. “I know we have never been close, but I didn’t think he would wish to see me dead.”
“Just be cautious,” Fredrick said.
“And wait for him to try to kill me again?” Harred asked. “I think it would be best if I hired a Bow Street Runner to investigate my brother.”
Fredrick looked pleased by his admission. “I concur, which is why I have been in contact with someone who can help us.”
“Dare I ask who that is?”
“Lord Rushcliffe,” Fredrick said. “He used to work as a Bow Street Runner and he has agreed to take the case.”
Harred’s brow shot up. “Greydon used to be a Bow Street Runner?” he asked. The funny thing was that it didn’t surprise him as much as he thought it would. Greydon had always had secrets, even when they attended Eton together.
“I wouldn’t reveal that to just anyone so you must keep that in confidence,” Fredrick said with a sternness to his voice. “I do not think you want to upset Greydon by revealing his secret.”
