Early morning. Before the sun could pierce the horizon, Blackthorn Manor was swallowed by a dense, oppressive fog.
Caius was in high spirits. After a brisk morning jog around the estate, he returned to the manor, skillfully flirting with the young maids as he passed. He left them flushed and stuttering before settling down to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.
Last night had gone exactly as he’d anticipated. Given Silas’s obsessive watch over Selena, the butler wasn't going to let the "private outing" slide.
As soon as Caius had heard Selena’s bedroom door click shut last night, he’d messaged Marco and Elena to evacuate. He’d orchestrated the entire setup—leaving the address for the family to claim their balance was the only breadcrumb, and it was a controlled one.
Marco and Elena had moved
