Page 86 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
“Here?” Cornelius was surprised. It was unlike Kenneth to make an unscheduled social call to his home.The woman must have run off.Cornelius smiled brightly. “By all means, see him in then. I shall meet him in the parlor.”
“Of course, my Lord.” The footman bowed and took his exit.
“Poor Kenneth.” Cornelius muttered as he descended his staircase.
He must have a broken heart. I shall console him, and he shall forget her entirely. Riphook's men should take care of her by the end of the day if she decided to return, and how could she not? She's got nowhere else to go.
Cornelius entered the parlor and saw Kenneth standing before a painting of the sea. He was surprised to notice pistol and shot hung over Kenneth's shoulder, and there was a dark fury in the lad's eyes.He truly is distraught. I must be careful with my words.
“Kenneth, dear boy.” Cornelius began, reaching out his arms to embrace his nephew.
“I am sorry to have disturbed you at this hour, Uncle, I am glad to find you still awake.”
“I hardly sleep, dear boy, not in my old age. You are no disturbance, but a welcome interruption of my monotony. What brings you to my door? I cannot help to notice you carry pistol and shot, and you seem rigidly upset.”
“Rigidly upset.” Kenneth laughed out heartily, then appeared to catch himself from devolving into hysteria. “I am Uncle, I am terribly upset.”
“Come, tell me of you troubles.” Cornelius beckoned for the two of them to sit.
“Leah has gone, vanished from the house, I know not what to do.” Kenneth let out, exhaling deeply.
“Oh, Kenneth,” Cornelius said softly.Excellent. Everything is going according to plan.“You are out looking for her?”
“Perhaps we might speak upstairs, in your study.” Kenneth said rather sharply.
His temper is ever so hot at the moment.
“Certainly, dear boy, whatever you like.” Cornelius changed the direction of his gesturing. “Let us take a drink there.”
“Indeed.” Kenneth waited for him to move first, and then began to follow him up the elegant staircase. “You have such fine art, Uncle.” Kenneth suddenly commented.
“You are most kind.” Cornelius replied, giving a slight bob of his head.
“How much do you think you spent, on this collection?” Kenneth asked.
“A fair amount.” Cornelius answered shortly. “Here we are.” and he pushed open the door to his study.
There were two people in the room. One of them sat casually atop his desk. At first this seemed so impossibly strange that it did not entirely register, and so Cornelius took that first step into the room. Then Kenneth's large frame appeared behind him, and latched the door shut.
“Hello Cornelius,” Leah sneered from atop the desk. “so good to see you again.”
“Why you–” Cornelius realized he had been had, but it was much too late, and he felt Kenneth's pistol lodge into the square of his back.
“Keep your voice down, Uncle.” Kenneth whispered into his ear. “This is a residential neighborhood.”
“What is this?” Cornelius hissed. “What have you done, Kenneth?”
“I'm not so sure you want us to take that road, Uncle.” Kenneth snapped back. “Why don't you just take a seat.”
Cornelius took uneasy steps to his chair and sunk into it heavily. He faced Kenneth, Leah, and a hooded lad who stood beside the open window.I saw something after all out that window.
Cornelius shook his head, laughing.
“So, what happens now, Kenneth? Hmm? What are you going to do with whatever it is that you think you know, that forces you to behave in such an uncivilized manner?”
“What I think I know?” Kenneth had accepted his challenge. He needed to break Kenneth down, and he couldn't do that with Leah around. “How dare you? My kind and caring Uncle, all along the cause of all London's suffering, and trying to murder the woman that I love? You are sick! You are a monster!”
“I am hardly the cause of London's suffering.” Cornelius scoffed.Just like his father.“I merely turn a profit from it. Keep your voice down. This is, after all, a residential neighborhood.”
