Richard stood, fuming, for a moment, the time dragging on slowly around him as he tried to process everything. Eventually, he sighed, mentally and physically deflating. He had no army to back him up here. He was not a coward - far from it - but neither was he stupid; he knew he could not win a fight against an unknown, unseen enemy on his own. And shouting at a girl seemed a poor substitute to doing anything productive.
"I am a Royal Duke," Richard said, resigned. "I reserve the right to ransom. Perhaps you will direct me to this 'Management' so that the necessary preparations may be put in place." Edward would not like having to bail him out of an awkward situation, but neither did he think that Edward would leave him here to rot once ransom demands were made. George would have probably left him where he was until the situation looked more favourable for him, but Edward was far more moral, thank goodness.