Lady Genevieve returned the embrace with strength that belied her elegant appearance. "Six months," she said quietly. "You promised six months. Not a day longer, or I'm sending your father to retrieve you."
"Six months," Jack confirmed. "I'll be back before you notice I'm gone."
"Liar," Genevieve said fondly, releasing him. "But I appreciate the sentiment."
Octavia stepped forward next. "I distributed the gold as you requested. The staff was thrilled. You've earned loyalty that money can't buy, brother."
"I know," Jack replied. "Keep the business running smoothly while I'm gone. And if any nobles try to undercut our pricing or spread rumors about product quality..."
"I'll handle it," Octavia interrupted with a slight smile. "This isn't my first negotiation with overly ambitious merchants. They'll learn quickly that the Kaiser family doesn't tolerate market manipulation."
