Walter managed a nod before he strode to his horse, and a moment later, they were racing back to Sea Haven. Handing the reins to a groomsman, they made their way to the front steps right as Gideon Abbott came striding through the door, looking grim as he hurried to join them.
“I have news,” Gideon said once he reached Walter’s side.
“The children?” Walter rasped.
“I believe they’re unharmed, for now, but we need to speak about this inside, just in case.”
“In case what?”
“Someone is watching” was all Gideon said before he headed for the front door, Walter and Gwendolyn following a step behind.
It was not a reassuring sight when Gwendolyn entered the library and discovered Ethel and Matilda huddled together on a settee, both ladies in tears, a sign that something was terribly amiss.
“Ethel received a note about fifteen minutes ago, right before I arrived,” Gideon began as Gwendolyn took a seat between Ethel and Matilda, taking hold of their hands.
“A note?” Walter repeated.
“A ransom note.” Gideon picked up a piece of paper from a table and handed it to Walter. “They want a hundred thousand dollars, delivered at midnight to an abandoned boat that sits on the beach not far from Spouting Rock.”
Walter glanced over the note and lifted his head. “Whoever wrote this said the children won’t be harmed as long as the ransom is paid and we don’t contact the police.” He caught Gwendolyn’s eye. “It’s fortunate we didn’t go to the police first instead of returning here after we found Bert and the pony cart.”
“You found the pony and cart?” Ethel whispered.
“Not far from the Cliff Walk,” Walter said. “Priscilla’s doll was left behind. That’s when we knew something was wrong. We decided to return here and send the police a message, asking them to join us at Sea Haven to begin an investigation.”
“It is fortunate you returned to Sea Haven,” Gideon said. “I’ve been involved with a few similar cases, back when I worked for the government. Bringing in the police is something we’ll only consider after we discuss options. I’m only sorry I wasn’t here when the note arrived because I may have been able to get some useful information from the boy who delivered it.”
Walter frowned. “Why are you here?”
“I ran across Tillie Wickham and Russell Damrosch on the far end of Bellevue. After they explained the children were missing, I came directly to Sea Haven, but again, I arrived after the note was delivered. I’ll try to track down the boy who delivered it at some point today, after we decide on a plan.”
“The only plan is to pay the ransom,” Walter said. “I’ll visit my bank immediately and withdraw the funds.”
“But before you do that, we’re going to need to call off the search for the children,” Gideon said, taking a seat beside Walter. “Since we know they’ve been kidnapped, it won’t benefit the situation if a society member stumbles on wherever it is the children are being held.”
“How are we to call off the search?” Ethel asked. “It seems as if society has rallied around the idea of locating the children. If we tell them the truth, word will spread like wildfire. I can’t believe the kidnappers would be happy to learn everyone knows what they’ve done. They might take their frustrations out on the children.”
“They might indeed,” Matilda agreed before she dabbed fresh tears from her cheeks with a handkerchief.
“Perhaps we should station footmen at the end of the drive,” Gwendolyn said, sitting forward. “They could tell everyone who checks in that the children were found, but that they’re now spending private time with Ethel and Matilda, trying to make amends for scaring their grandmothers half to death.”
She turned to Walter. “That explanation would also allow you to travel to your bank without arousing suspicion, because everyone will think the children are safe and you’re merely going about your usual business.”
“Frank and I can stand at the end of the drive,” Catriona said, stepping into the room, her hair windswept. “But did I hear correctly? The children aren’t lost but have been kidnapped?”
Gwendolyn nodded. “A ransom has been demanded. Walter will be leaving soon to visit his bank to withdraw funds. They’ve demanded it be delivered at midnight, and we can pray the kidnappers will honor their promise to release the children after the ransom’s been paid—which will hopefully see the children returned to Sea Haven not long after that, if they’re being held in Newport.”
Catriona moved across the room and took a seat across from Gwendolyn. “Since the easiest way to gain access to Newport is by sea, I would bet they are being held close by. I doubt whoever kidnapped them would want to chance trying to smuggle them onto a ferry or private boat, not when the children have a reputation of being capable of causing loud ruckuses on a whim.”
“An excellent point,” Gwendolyn said. “And because Newport is relatively small, places where someone could stash three children without being noticed are limited. The question of the hour remains where that place is, and how many people are involved with the kidnapping.”
“I would think at least two,” Gideon said as he began pacing around the room. “One to stay with the children and one to retrieve the ransom.”
“Makes sense,” Gwendolyn said. “It also makes sense that there’s a reason they chose Spouting Rock as the drop-off point.” She got up from the settee and moved to the window, looking out for a second before she turned to Walter. “Are there any vacant houses near Spouting Rock?”
“There’s a rental agent located on Bellevue I could ask,” Walter said. “He supplies agents in New York City with available rentals, as well as listings of cottages for sale.”
“That’s the type of service I used when I decided to come here,” Catriona said. “I was given two available options. The cottage I decided to rent was really the only viable one because it’s on a well-traveled street.”
“Was the other one more remote?” Gideon asked.
“It was. A cottage called . . . Low Tide.” Catriona tapped a finger against her chin. “I don’t recall where it was located, only that the agent knew there were no other houses nearby.”
“I know where Low Tide is,” Walter said. “It’s owned by the Charles Perry family. They never gained admittance into Newport society, but they’ve been unable to sell Low Tide because of its location and the pond that abuts their property is known to attract insects. It’s not far from Bailey’s Beach—or Spouting Rock, for that matter.”
“Then I’ll have a look around there, but not until dark,” Gideon said.
Walter frowned. “Why look around? I intend to pay the ransom.”
“Kidnappings can get messy, so I’m going to stake out Low Tide to see if there’s any unusual activity transpiring,” Gideon said.
“You’ll be doing that as I drop off the ransom?”
“I’ll go well before midnight, but again, not until dark. I’ll need to get the lay of the land and hopefully discern whether the children are being held there.”