It didn't take him long to locate her; she was a child and he tracked criminals for a living, so this was hardly the most sophisticated game of hide and seek he'd been involved in. He had not anticipated his work skills would ever come in handy when dealing with his daughter, but... well, honestly, he had expected his daughter to have grown up a little more by now. Perhaps this was what he got for taking such a hands-off approach to her upbringing. He'd have to ask Matilda what the governness was teaching her, if any degree of self-control hadn't made the list.

Without speaking, he pushed the owl cages in front of her aside and picked her up, hoisting her up high enough she was nearly thrown over his shoulder.