“You should have known,” Fredrick pressed.
“Pray tell, how would I know?” Harred asked.
Octavia rose from the settee and stepped between them. “I think it would do us all some good if we sat down and had a cup of tea.”
“Tea won’t solve this problem,” Fredrick said, his eyes narrowing on Harred. “We need to find out who is trying to kill Harred before either one of us gets hurt again.”
Placing a hand on her brother’s chest, Octavia advised, “Itmight be best if you stop glaring at Lord Kendal and try to have a productive conversation.”
Fredrick frowned as he took a step back. “My apologies, but I do not like the thought of you being in harm’s way,” he told his sister. “You could have died.”
“But I didn’t,” Octavia responded. “And playing the blame game will help no one in this situation. We should be trying to help Lord Kendal, not threatening him.”
“I haven’t threatened him yet,” Fredrick said.
“Good, let’s skip that step, shall we?” Octavia asked. “Take a seat and I will pour you a cup of tea.”
Fredrick did as his sister requested and let out a groan as he sat down onto the settee.
Octavia turned her attention towards Harred. “My lord, will you not take a seat as well?” she asked.
Harred knew there was no way that he could refuse Octavia’s request without appearing rude. He dropped down on the proffered chair without complaint.
Once they were all situated in their seats, Octavia leaned forward and poured three cups of tea. She handed them both one before collecting her cup.
Harred looked down at his cup and had no interest in taking a sip. But he didn’t dare refuse Octavia’s offering. By the look on Fredrick’s face, he felt the same way.
Octavia took a long sip before lowering her cup to her lap. “Now, let’s have a right proper discussion. Shall we?” she asked.
Leaning forward, Fredrick placed his full teacup onto the tray, earning a look of disapproval from his sister. “Who wants you dead, Kendal?”
“I cannot truly think of one person.”
Fredrick considered him for a moment before asking, “Who would benefit the most from your death?”
There was only one person who would benefit from his death, but he didn’t dare believe that William would becapable of murder. His brother wouldn’t have tried to kill him.
“You have an idea, don’t you?” Fredrick pressed.
Harred tightened his hold on his teacup. “It would be my brother, William, but he wouldn’t have done such a thing. He couldn’t have,” he said. “My brother may be jealous of me, but he claims that he is richer than me now that he is married.”
“But you have the title, and everything that is entailed,” Octavia pointed out.
“No, you have it all wrong,” Harred defended. “My brother has never tried to hurt me before. I do believe murder would be a drastic step for him.”
Octavia gave him a questioning look. “Haven’t you been fighting with Lord William as of late?”
“Yes, but nothing that is out of the ordinary,” Harred replied. “William only seems to care about himself. It has been that way since we were children.”
Fredrick abruptly rose. “I need to speak to Lord William.”
“Why?” Harred asked. “I am telling you that William would not have done such a thing. Yes, William is a pain, and is self-absorbed, but he is no murderer.”
“Let me be the judge of that,” Fredrick responded. “I will just ask him a few questions.”
Rising, Harred suggested, “Perhaps it would be best if we contacted the constable.”
“No,” Octavia and Fredrick said in unison.