"What do you mean you can't find Seraphine?" William questioned, his voice barely controlled as he stared at his mother.
Duchess Arabella's expression was hard as stone. "I mean exactly what the letter says. Someone has taken your sister and is using her as leverage to force you out of the competition."
William read the ransom note again, his hands clenching around the paper hard enough to crumple it.
"We need to send search parties. Now. Every direction, every village, every—"
"And risk them killing her the moment they realize we're not complying?" His mother's voice was sharp. "These people clearly planned this carefully. They knew about the noble gathering and knew about Seraphine's habit, this isn't a random Kidnapping, William."
"So what? We just do nothing? Let them dictate terms?"
