“Garr, I didn’t know you were coming,” he remarked.
Garrett leaned against the pine desk, his arms crossed. “I keep my actions to myself, unlike my brother,” Garrett grumbled. Reddington sent the door closing, approaching the desk.
“I’m sure it’s just natural for you,” Reddington said. “I’ve been keeping Lady Barlow company, and brought my own doctor to assist her father.” He took a seat in front of Papa’s desk, crossing his legs. His gaze landed back on Garrett. “All is good here.”
His voice was calm, collected, while Garrett’s body tensed, his hand turning into a fist.
“So I see,” Garrett gritted out.
“Did you just arrive?” Reddington asked.
Garrett crossed his arms. “You sure have a lot of questions, don’t you, William?”
Reddington held up his hands in silent surrender. “I’m sorry. I was just making conversation with my cousin.”
“We aren’t cousins,” Garrett bit out. “And I really don’t understand why you are here.”
“Ava and I are friends. Of course I would come when she needed it.”
Garrett tsked. “You’ve been friends for, what, a week?”
Reddington sank deeper into the chair. “I believe congratulations are in order, Cranfield. I wish you the best.”
“In regard to what?”
“Your engagement to Lady Chitwood.”
Garrett huffed. “There is no engagement.”
Reddington’s brows knitted. “Oh,” he replied. “Has she realized how much of an ass you are and called it off?” He let out a soft chuckle.
Garrett stared at him. “There was never anything to call off because I was never engaged to her.”
Reddington shifted in his chair and looked at me, scratching the side of his face. Pulling out a white envelope, he handed it to Cranfield.
“I received this from one of the footman at my lodging. I was confused as to why it’d come to me, since I didn’t know you were coming. It is from Lady Chitwood.”
Snatching it from Reddington’s hand, Garrett ripped the seal, quickly reading it. His jaw twitched while his face began to turn red.
“This is getting ridiculous. I’ll be back.” Without another word, he left the room.
“I’m sorry, Ava, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Reddington expressed, remorse in his voice. The air lacked the substance I was craving moments ago; Garrett took it with him.
That was it?
“No need to apologize,” I croaked, forcing a grin. “I didn’t know he was arriving.”
Reddington chuckled. “Sounds like Cranfield. He is an unpredictable fellow.”
I nodded, experiencing it for myself.
“He never liked me for some reason.” Reddington paused for a moment, rubbing his jaw. “I wish I knew what I may have done so I could fix it. But he looks at me like he wants to strangle me half the time, so I keep my mouth shut.” He leaned in closer. “I must confess, he intimidates me.”
I sent him another weak grin. “I’ll keep your secret.”
He smiled. “Thank you. I came to talk to you about something…and I really don’t want to.”
“Oh?” I asked. “What is it?”
“I’ve been sending reports to George, on your behalf, updating him on Lord Barlow’s progress. George has asked me when you were going to be coming back to the castle.” My stomach turned. It was the last place I wanted to go. “I’ve been trying to buy us some time. I know that I am being forward and maybe assuming, but you seem happier here. You smile more, laugh more. Your element is here. I don’t want to be the one who asks you to…to leave.”
“Since we are confessing things to each other,” I replied. “I hate being there.”
He frowned. “It is quite stressful there at times, isn’t it? I was going to suggest for Lady Evelyn to accompany you this time.”
I clapped my hands. “That is a marvelous idea!”
Reddington smiled. “Then, Femme Fatale willing, this whole rebel ordeal will be over soon. Then you can come back home.”
“You act as though you’ve known me for years.”
He chortled. “I feel like I have.” He uncrossed his legs. “I’ll be sad to see you go, though.”
“Nonsense,” I interjected. “We still have to discuss ideas for your business. And we have strategies to come up with. You aren’t rid of me yet.”
“I’m very happy to hear it. I’ve become accustomed to you.”
“And I you,” I replied truthfully.
“I hope that by Cranfield being here, you weren’t...upset.”
I looked at him, surprised he would think that. Or was it written all over my face? “Why would you say that?”
Reddington looked down at his lap. “I don’t normally listen to gossip. In fact, I loathe it. But there is word going around that you may find Lord Cranfield to be more than a friend.”
“That’s all it is; gossip.”
Reddington didn’t push the subject; he just nodded and spouted off updates on his business. We carried on our conversation, like Cranfield hadn’t come in here and destroyed my sanity...again.
∞∞∞
Papa and I had a merry dinner together with no guests. It helped keep my mind from returning back into his study earlier today. My body felt empty with Garrett’s absence and I found myself listening for a knock at the door all day.
“Why are you picking at your dessert, dear?” Papa asked me, chewing on the raisin-spiced cake Mrs. Reynolds made.
“I don’t want to go back,” I confessed, keeping my eyes on my plate. “I’m being watched. Everything I do and say is being sent around to the gossip mills.”
Papa raised a brow. “And what is it that you’re doing?”
I sat back in my chair. Being ravished by Lord Cranfield, sneaking out of the castle. “Trying to not run into Her Majesty is the main goal.”
He chuckled. “I’ve been thinking,” he began, forking another bite of cake, “about your future. I think it’s time to end this charade of the royal family protecting you from something they can’t even protect themselves from.”
I looked up from my plate, intrigued. I exhaled, having wanted to hear those words for years. “What do you mean?” I narrowed my eyes. “Do you have a band of secret men too, Papa?”
He shook his head. “Too much work, my dear. We need to come up with Plan B.” I placed my fork down, giving him my full attention. He’d never spoken about his obvious restlessness with the royal family before; I must be rubbing off on him. “I will allow the royal family to assist once more and prove me wrong. But I’ve requested His Majesty, himself, report to me weekly of the steps being taken to assure your safety. This does not include you being held like a prisoner within the walls. You are to live a reasonable, normal residence there. I entrust that Lord Cranfield will continue to use his men to put in place a plan that will be most fitting. In the meantime, my Plan B will be on standby, to take action if needed. “
“Are you going to inform me on this ‘Plan B’?” I probed patiently.
Papa placed down his utensils, his face lighting up, pleased with himself. “If the royal family fails to protect you or any of themselves, you will leave the castle. They have less than four months to make this madness with these assassins disappear and dealt with. I will not have you living this way for another year, I won’t stand for it. We will leave Bampshire and disappear.”
My eyebrows snap together. “Leave Bampshire?” I repeat, fidgeting with my fingers. “Where would we go?”
“I’ve been speaking with Mr. Torres, and—”
“But, Papa, he works for Cranfield.”
“Not anymore. I heard about your talk with him, and I had my own. We discussed a new contract and secrecy. The man is more than willing to serve our family without reporting to anyone. He answers to you and me now. We’ve spoken about secluded places; villages where the people don’t ask numerous questions or care when new people reside. I’ve decided on Idenlen.”
“Where is that?”