Page 25 of A Marriage for the Marquess (Barrington’s Brigade #1)
April 23, 1820 Late Afternoon
T he drawing room fell still, like the silence following a sudden thunderclap. The grandfather clock ticking a solitary sound amidst the quiet.
Lord Aurington’s chuckle, still warm with humor, softened into a smile of realization as he stared at Juliet for several heartbeats. “Bradley’s sister, is it? He was a fine young man, full of life, not one to… well, it’s a tragedy indeed. The lad was always so guarded about his private life, a stark contrast to his… let’s say, more exuberant social endeavors. We all felt for the lad’s untimely passing.” He let out a deep breath and glanced at Juliet. “We are, indeed, sorry for your loss.”
Ewan met his father’s gaze with a solemn nod, drawing strength from Juliet beside him. “Father, the circumstances surrounding Bradley’s death are complex, with hidden truths yet to be uncovered. Juliet and her family have been through a great ordeal since his passing,” his voice carrying a gravity that matched the seriousness of his words. “Our marriage is a mutual decision, borne out of necessity and understanding, protecting her family and ensuring our safety.”
Lord and Lady Aurington exchanged a glance, as the revelation of a marriage of convenience settled over them. Lady Aurington’s hand found her husband’s, their fingers intertwining in a wordless gesture of solidarity.
Lady Aurington nodded, her eyes softening as she looked at Juliet. “My dear, life presents us with many challenges, and we must face them as best we can. If your marriage brings stability and happiness to you both, then you shall have our blessing.” She glanced at her husband with a knowing look in her eyes. “Love blooms in many ways, but often the most enduring love is that which grows from friendship.”
“Such arrangements as yours are not unheard of,” Lord Aurington finally said. “It is not for us to judge. You, indeed, have our blessing.”
Comforted by his parent’s support, he noted the subtle shift in Juliet’s stand as the tension appeared to drain from her shoulders. His parents’ acceptance was not just a formality. They genuinely welcomed Juliet into the Aurington family, and for that, he and Juliet were grateful.
Juliet had allowed him to assist her with her cloak. However, when Ewan reached out to take the forgotten basket out of Juliet’s hands, she drew it back firmly and gently pushed his hand away. In the process, a note slipped out and fluttered to the floor.
“No, Ewan. It is one of the reasons why I am here.” She fished out a small, worn box. “This contains what was in Bradley’s possession when we found him.”
Juliet opened the box and revealed the items. On top was the single playing card, the ace of hearts.
Lord Aurington’s hand shot out, plucking the card from the box with a sudden sharp intake of breath.
Ewan’s attention was drawn to a fine leather glove with a distinctive monogram under the card. He removed the glove and at once saw that it bore the initials ‘S.M.’ intricately stitched over a small, embroidered raven, a symbol that Sebastian had made his own. He stared at it for several long heartbeats.
“Juliet,” he glanced at her, a crease forming between his brows. “Where was this glove found?”
Juliet’s eyes met Ewan’s with a flicker of sorrow as she recounted the grim discovery. “It was under Bradley.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Mr. Wilcox found the leather glove pressed into the earth beneath him, in the garden where he…” Juliet took a deep, steadying breath, lifting her chin with a resilience that belied the turmoil within. “We must find the truth behind this, for Bradley’s sake and our own,” she declared, her resolve firming like steel.
Ewan stepped closer, gently cupping her cheek in a comforting caress. “And we shall.” His touch conveyed the support and solidarity that words alone could not.
With a lingering touch to Juliet’s cheek, Ewan’s expression hardened as he turned his attention to the glove in his other hand. The scent of woodsy cologne wafted from the leather, igniting a spark of recognition. “This belongs to Sebastian Morgrave.” His disbelief quickly turned to understanding. “The raven, his chosen emblem, it’s all too fitting. He thinks himself wise when he is really dark, cunning, and ominous.”
Lord Aurington looked up, he glanced at Barrington then his gaze met Ewan’s. “Sebastian’s glove, in Bradley’s possession? The raven, the Order of Shadows. And this card…” He flipped it over. “Order of Shadows. What game is this?”
Ewan’s mind raced as he pieced together the implications. “A game that ended in tragedy.”
Juliet’s breath hitched, her mind reeling with the implications. “Sebastian Morgrave?” she echoed, her voice barely audible. “Then… then the marriage settlement he claims to have…”
Ewan swung her around. “What marriage settlement?” The room went quiet.
“Ewan,” she paused, her breath coming in spurts as she tried to put the pieces in place. “Sebastian Morgrave came to me with a marriage settlement, claiming my mother sanctioned it.” Her eyes, wide with the gravity of her realization, sought his. “He walked into my drawing room as if it was his. He spoke of my brother’s gaming. But when his words echoed the very threats from the note I received, I had Mr. Wilcox show him out. It was then I knew I had to come to you and bring these,” she gestured to her brother’s effects.
Lord Aurington’s eyes widened, a realization dawning. “Sebastian, at the gambling table, was laying claim to Juliet’s hand… It’s a calculated move.”
Juliet’s fingers brushed Ewan’s arm. “How is Bradley, my family, caught in this web? What can I do to shield them?”
Ewan covered her hand with his own, a silent pledge of unity. “Together, we’ll guard them. This I promise you.”
Ewan turned to the others. “We must act quickly. Sebastian’s ambitions are far-reaching, but this,” he held up the glove, “may be the key to stopping him.”
Lord Aurington, still holding the ace of hearts, raised it for all to see. “This card—it’s a taunt. If Sebastian were playing a shadow quest, there would be four aces of hearts. We have the one by my bed, the one in the vault, and now the one that Bradley carried. There’s one more. We need to find what he is planning for his end game.”
The room fell into a contemplative silence, each person considering the implications. Barrington broke the quiet, his tone thoughtful. “Perhaps it’s not about preventing the marriage but creating chaos within the family. Disrupting the line of inheritance, perhaps?”
Ewan’s expression darkened, a storm brewing in his gaze. “It’s all connected, isn’t it? Sebastian’s been weaving a web around the family this entire time.”
“That’s impossible,” Juliet pulled on his arm. “We only truly began to know each other a fortnight ago. There must be a deeper reason. He knows of your inheritance and your need to marry, but he knows nothing of our marriage.”
“I find it more than coincidence that of the five men at a weekly card game, three are deceased or injured.” Aurington nodded at Barrington, who had been quiet.
“Who else was at the table besides Quinto, Bradley, and Father?” Ewan asked.
“When Quinto and I played, only Ashfield and Morgrave,” his father answered.
“It is something that has bothered me as well.” Barrington rose and went to the cellaret. He returned to a round of sherry for everyone.
Lord Aurington moved forward on his chair. “It took me a while to realize it, but every man at the table has something Morgrave wants.”
“What could Ashfield give him? He has funds, but nothing overly substantial. He certainly doesn’t have property.” Ewan said.
“Lady Ashfield,” Juliet said. “Lady Ashfield introduced Morgrave to me at Lady Gladstone’s party. She and her family are well-connected. Thank goodness she pulled him away from me and brought him to meet someone else.”
“Enrico Quinto was an excellent horseman with connections at various racetracks. I suspect Sebastian wanted him to guarantee the winners at select horseraces.” Barrington sipped his sherry.
Lord Aurington looked up, his gaze meeting Ewan’s. “After I learned of Hayward’s death, I received the ace of hearts in the post from Quinto’s widow. It’s a matter of timing. Enrico, Bradley, then my accident happened on my way to see her. There are lingering questions about Bradley’s final days… about the game that took everything from him.
“After the game, he came to see me. He was sure that Sebastian was cheating. He told me how he called him out, but Sebastian just laughed at him. He said Sebastian wanted him to sign vowels for money he hadn’t lost. He refused and left.”
“That’s impossible.” Juliet began to seethe. “I’m being hounded with demands to pay Bradley’s vowels.”
A hush descended upon the room, every whisper and rustle ceased as if in collective anticipation. Ewan’s jaw set firmly, his decision to uncover the truth burning fiercely. “This is why Barrington called me back from Paris, to get to the bottom of this. I wish I had returned sooner. I may have been able to prevent some of Sebastian’s plans from succeeding.”
“Have you found it strange that you never received the letters Hughes sent to you, but you received my pouch?” Barrington put his glass down and took a seat. “Aurington, how did you communicate with Ewan while he was gone? How did you send the messages?”
“I gave them to my estate manager, Robert Fletcher, to handle.”
Ewan shot out of his seat. “Fletcher told me Sebastian has been helping him with matters recently.” Curses dropped out of his mouth. “He could have sabotaged the messages. No wonder he was surprised when he first saw me.”
“What would he gain by doing that?” Juliet turned to Glenraven.
“The inheritance documents state that the heir must be married by his thirtieth birthday or forfeit to the next in line. While Sebastian is a distant cousin, he is the next male in line.”
“Sebastian? I had no idea.” Juliet’s mouth dropped. “Then, his game to be introduced to the ton , his need for wealth all revolves around his intention of becoming the next Marquess of Glenraven.”
“No, my dear,” Lady Aurington interrupted. “The next Duke of Aurington.”
“I think Juliet may be correct.” Aurington drummed his fingers on the table. “Morgrave needed money to keep up with the game, someone who could introduce him to wealthy targets, and someone who would ensure he won every horserace.”
“Are you saying he targeted my brother for his money?” Juliet asked, aghast.
“Yes,” Aurington looked at Ewan and was breathing hard. “But he also wanted the property your family owns on Chapel Street and Lowndes Place.” He glanced at Ewan and waited for him to respond.
“Why that’s…Do you mean the property behind Aurington Hall?” Sebastian’s intent dawned on Ewan. “Sebastian wanted to own the Fairmont Property adjacent to Aurington Hall ever since he was a boy. He would brag about how one day it would all be his.”
Lord Aurington, still holding the ace of hearts, raised it for all to see. “This card… it’s a taunt, using my mark as if it was already his.”
Ewan pondered the pattern of the aces, finding it as puzzling as the complex chess move, the King’s Gambit—a daring ploy that risked everything for the promise of a greater victory. Just as in the gambit, where White offers a pawn to gain control, the shadow quest seemed to lure its players into a trap, sacrificing them one by one for a grander scheme.
“The final ace,” Ewan mused, “must be the key to the gambit, the piece that completes the attack. It’s hidden, yet pivotal, much like the move after the pawn sacrifice, leading to a fierce battle for dominance.”
Ewan saw the parallel—the last ace of hearts was not just another card. The last ace of hearts was the move that would expose the true orchestrator of this deadly game. And perhaps, it was hidden in plain sight, waiting for the right player to make the decisive move.
“Come, dear,” Lady Aurington rose and reached out to her husband. “We’ve imposed on Lord Barrington’s hospitality long enough. Besides, you no longer have the luxury of lingering as an invalid. You’re needed. It will be very interesting to see what Morgrave does when we announce and celebrate Ewan and Juliet’s marriage.”
“Mother,” Ewan glanced at Juliet and caught the flicker of panic in her gaze. “We cannot—”
Lady Aurington’s voice carried the finality of a gavel’s fall. “We shall make our stand at Aurington Hall come the first of May. Let’s see what Morgrave does.” Her gaze swept over Ewan, pride and challenge mingling in her eyes. “You, Ewan James Alasdair Glenraven, have never been one to avoid a battle. Do what you do best.”
With a nod of agreement, Lord Aurington stood, his smile broad and defiant. “I’m glad you’ve returned, Ewan.” A smile of quiet rebellion played on his lips. He extended his arm to Lady Aurington. “Come, dear. It’s time for us to go home.”
Before his departure, Lord Aurington handed Ewan a slender folio he had brought to Barrington’s home for safekeeping. “These pages do not hold all of our family’s history. But inside, you’ll find everything related to the gambling scheme and its entanglements with our name. It’s important that you add the new evidence we’ve uncovered. It may very well unravel Morgrave’s plot,” he glanced at Juliet, “and clear your wife’s family’s honor. And son, your mother didn’t tell you the entire truth when you arrived. While I argued otherwise, there were some who truly believed my life was in jeopardy—not from the accident itself, but from the person who orchestrated it,” With those parting words, Lord Aurington rejoined his wife.
Barrington and Ewan glanced through the folio. “Barrington.” Ewan’s voice betrayed a hint of trepidation, “I’ve found something.” He handed the man a stack of letters, their seals broken, the handwriting elegant but hurried. “These were among my father’s papers—correspondence with several known gamblers, including some we’ve suspected.”
Barrington’s eyes flicked across the page, absorbing the words that wove a narrative far more intricate than they had imagined. He met Ewan’s gaze, a silent question hanging between them.
Ewan continued, “It seems our suspicions barely scratched the surface. There’s a network, the Order of Shadows, and it’s entangled with not only our family’s legacy but others as well. This goes more deeply than I feared.”
Barrington glanced at Ewan. “There is a great deal going on here. I agree with your mother. The time has come to draw Morgrave out.” He stood and nodded to Juliet. “Congratulations, Lady Glenraven. I’m looking forward to the big birthday celebration. Please excuse me. Based on what I’ve seen here, I have matters to attend to.”
As the room emptied, Juliet felt the graveness of the situation. She turned to Ewan and hesitated a moment. “I’m not certain that announcing our marriage is the best course of action.”
Ewan, absorbed in his notes, barely glanced up. “It will be all right,” he assured her absentmindedly.
She picked up the monogrammed glove and put it in the box with the ace of hearts and Bradley’s other effects.
She bit her lip, her mind racing with potential consequences. “No. I disagree,” she shook her head. “Morgrave has gone too far to turn back now. He can almost taste victory, and it’s blinded him.”
Ewan was absorbed in a leather-bound folio, its contents strewn across the mahogany desk. The pages contained family records and confidential correspondence, each a step deeper into the maze of intrigue surrounding his family.
Juliet watched from the doorway, a pang of exclusion tightening in her chest as she observed Ewan’s unwavering dedication to the task.
Juliet quietly slipped away with both Mrs. Murthy’s cloak and basket. Her departure went unnoticed in the commotion of plans and strategies.
Hours later, Barrington re-entered the room and glanced around. “Where’s Juliet? I thought she’d be with you for tea. Have you lost your wife so soon?” he teased with a light chuckle.
The words hung in the air as Ewan’s gaze swept the room, the papers in his hand forgotten. A sense of unease settled over him and grew heavier as he noted the empty chair where her cloak and basket had been. “She was just here…” he murmured, the sinking feeling in his stomach intensifying. He glanced at his friend.
Barrington summoned his butler with a sense of urgency.
“Mr. Sanderson. Have you seen Lady Glenraven?”
“She left several hours ago. I inquired if she would like the carriage, but she said she preferred to walk.”
Ewan was already gathering his things, his heart racing with worry.