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KILMARNOCK ABBEY, EDINBURGH - APRIL 14, 1817

XANDER

Tom was on the floor, his back resting against the settee and legs spread with little Ewan propped between them, luxuriating in the evening firelight. The boy had developed a recent proclivity for putting every. single. thing. in his mouth. The only possible reprieve was if something appropriate was already in his mouth. Tom had the most patience for balancing perfectly still and holding the rattle at the precise angle until Ewan tired of it and cried for Sorcha. But with frequent feedings, we tried to allow her to sleep as long and as often as our son would allow.

“It seems the rain is clearing up,” Tom whispered, his head resting against my knee as I peered down at them from the settee. “We should try to take him for a little walk tomorrow, if it’s not too chilly.

I hummed, giving in to the temptation presented by his dark curls. They were, as always, impossibly soft.

A sharp knock at the door startled all three of us and Ewan broke away from his rattle with an annoyed cry. Tom pulled him into his arms, rocking and shushing the boy.

As the closest person not currently occupied with a babe, I went to discover the source of the disturbance.

I found a man outside holding his horse’s reins. “I’ve an express for Alexander Hasket.”

“I am him.” I handed him a few coins from the purse we kept by the door for such unlikely occurrences. He traded me for the folded parchment. “Would you like to come in and warm up?”

“Nae, I’ll rest at the inn.” Task dispensed with, he mounted his horse and set off again.

Part of me was surprised I hadn’t had one or two of these before now, given my sister’s proclivity for mischief, but I couldn’t help the jolt when I recognized the familiar handwriting.

Not Davina, not Mr. Summers, but the delicate flourishes of Celine.

“Who was it?” Tom called from the drawing room.

“Express from London—Cee.”

“Damn,” he said, then stepped into the hall with a still fussing Ewan in his arms. “Open it.”

My hands were trembling when I peeled apart the paste. Tom sidled behind me to peer over my shoulder, reading along.

Dearest Xander,

It pains me to write this, though I should begin by saying that I have no reason to suspect that she is in very great danger.

Will returned to his offices this morning to find a note on his desk from Mr. Summers. Apparently, your sister has concocted some sort of scheme and kidnapped Mr. Summers in service of it. He did not know the particulars at the time of his abduction, but he did indicate that it may be of some duration.

I am devastated to say that his letter was dated a full two days past.

Your mother has gone to Bath to take the waters for her health, and I will take pains to conceal the truth from her as long as possible.

Since I wrote the prior missive, Will now has reason to suspect their destination and this letter’s are one and the same. He traced her steps as far as the distillery, and the ladies there indicated that she had set off in one of their unused carriages with an employee of theirs who was eager to return to family in Edinburgh.

I will write as soon as I learn more, but I pray their arrival may precede this letter.

Do try not to fret, Xander. Mr. Summers will not allow her to find too much mischief.

All my love,

Celine

“Damn,” I muttered. “Would you still love me if I committed sororicide?”

“Yes, but I should be very put out about it.” Tom broke off upon seeing Murray. “Oh, good. Would you be so kind as to fetch a bottle of whiskey? We’ll need the entire thing. No glasses necessary.”

“Right away, sir.”

“Tom,” I whispered, feeling a little lost as worry settled into my bones, counteracting some of the fury.

“Davina is fine. She is impossibly resourceful, and Kit is there to protect her and temper her worst notions.”

“If he had any ability to temper her worst notions, she wouldn’t have kidnapped the man in the first place.”

“He’s never let any harm fall to her before.”

“True, true. She’ll be fine. They were traveling in a carriage, not on horseback. They’ll be here by tomorrow, or the day after at the latest.”

“You’re right. Everything will be well. It’s Davina and Kit. It’s not as though he would allow anything untoward to happen.”

The End.