Page 45 of A Marriage for the Marquess

“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. Thereare 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 theton, his need for wealth allrevolves 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.

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