Page 51 of A Marriage for the Marquess

“Why don’t you come back to Glenraven Hall with me?” he asked, glancing at the letter without really reading it.

Juliet’s eyes met Duncan’s, a depth of understanding passing between them. “You care for him deeply, perhaps as much as I do. That’s precisely why I cannot do what you ask. If I return now, questions about why we married will linger and cast a shadow over us. He might not think so now, but he is a proud man, a very proud man. Should the slightest doubt that we married for anything less than affection creep into our relationship, it could change us, perhaps, into very different people. I don’t want that, and neither do you.”

Duncan nodded thoughtfully, still holding the letter loosely. A slight furrow appeared on his brow as his gaze flickered back to the page in his hand. “You know him better than I thought. You’re correct.” She stood next to him. “I love him. I realize that more now that we are apart. Nothing would make me happier than to return to Ewan. To earn that right, I must take back what is rightfully my brother’s honor and our family’s good name.”

He returned the letter to the table, his momentary curiosity replaced with a warm smile. “You are not a starling. Lass, you’re a wee warrior,” he said with a smile.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“That is acompliment coming from you. Others just call me stubborn.” Juliet’s gaze was unwavering as she faced Duncan in the dim light. “I must go to The Gilded Lily.” The playfulness was gone from her voice.

“Absolutely not.” Duncan countered his Scottish temper flaring. “A gambling den is no place for a lady.”

“That’s not what Lady Ashfield believes.” Juliet stepped closer, her stubbornness shining through. “We had a lovely conversation at Lady Gladstone’s. She mentioned how she enjoys the company of the other ladies in the drawing room while their husbands play. On occasion, she visits the card room to offer her husband encouragement.” Juliet’s expression shifted. The levity drained away as she locked eyes with Duncan. “Bradley’s fate was sealed in that room, and I intend to discover how. That’s where the answers are.”

Duncan’s expression was a tumult of conflict, torn between his loyalty to Ewan and the earnest desperation in Juliet’s plea. “Lass, it’s not just about walking into a viper’s nest. It’s about what Ewan would think—”

She interrupted him, her voice rising with a passion that echoed through the summerhouse walls. “Ewan would want the truth as well! He would leave no stone unturned if our roles were reversed.” Juliet closed the distance between them. “Help me, Duncan. Help me for my brother’s memory and for the peace of Ewan’s family. Come with me to The Gilded Lily.”

Duncan’s resistance crumbled with her plea. His loyalty to Ewan and his family had always been unwavering, but Juliet’s determination was infectious. He knew he couldn’t let her face this alone.

He conceded with a heavy sigh, “Very well. I will accompany you to The Gilded Lily. But we do this carefully, with every precaution.”

A wave of relief washed over her, her gratitude apparent. “You mustn’t tell Ewan. He cannot know.”

Duncan exhaled deeply. “You have my word. I will not speak of your plans or whereabouts to him.”

“Thank you, Duncan. We go this evening.”

“That soon? I understand. The anticipation must be unbearable. We’ll wait until evening; the game you seek doesn’t start until later. Meanwhile, let’s examine your brother’s diary. We need to be thoroughly prepared.”

She handed him the diary with a grateful smile.

Juliet and Duncan studied Bradley’s diary. She turned the pages and found a mosaic of thoughts, fears, and cryptic notes that seemed to dance just beyond comprehension.

Duncan’s hand suddenly pressed against the page, halting Juliet’s fingers mid-turn. “Hold on,” he said, his voice low.

“Have you found something?” Juliet leaned in, her eyes scanning the entry. “It’s about a chess game. Bradley was an avid player.” She gestured toward the mantle where the black king stood. “I’ve been imploring that piece for answers all day.”

Duncan’s finger traced the lines of text. “Here, he mentions ‘Viper’ and a particular opening move.” His eyes widened as he read on. “The King’s Gambit,” he murmured, a spark of realization in his voice. “Sebastian was obsessed with that strategy. He claimed it was the mark of a superior mind.”

Juliet met Duncan’s gaze, a shiver of apprehension coursing through her. “Are you sure? That it’s a signature of Sebastian’s?”

Duncan nodded firmly. “Aye, I’m certain. It was a point of pride for him.” He leaned back, contemplating the diary before shifting his gaze to Juliet. “Your brother’s diary—It’s not merely suggesting Viper is a chess enthusiast. It’s implicating Sebastian directly.”

Juliet’s fingers lingered on the page, her thoughts racing. “There must be more to uncover,” she murmured and began to examine the pages with renewed purpose. “Here is an entry, the day before he died.”

February 20, 1820…The air was filled with the Shadow fragrance of citrus and spice that clung to the room like a whisper. It mingled with the thicker scent of tobacco and secrets tonight. The usual suspects gathered, their faces shadowed, their whispers just as veiled. Fray was there, his cuffs more tattered than his fortune, yet he carried himself with an air of undeserved nobility. Eclipse sat opposite, the dimming light in his eyes reflecting the state of his coffers.

But it was the clandestine exchange I witnessed that has set my mind racing. They spoke in hushed tones, a language of nods and knowing glances. Fray passed a note to Eclipse, who pocketed it with a surreptitious smile. What pact have they forged in the darkness of this den?

I cannot shake the feeling that this meeting was but a piece in a larger game, one that threatens to ensnare us all. I must tread carefully, for the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.

Duncan’s amusement faded as he absorbed Bradley’s account. “Riddles indeed, but each one could be a piece of this puzzle,” he said, his tone turning serious. “This meeting… itcould be trivial, or it could be the key to understanding the whole scheme.”

Juliet’s expression mirrored Duncan’s concern. “We can’t ignore any clue, no matter how small. Bradley was meticulous. He wouldn’t have recorded it if this information wasn’t important.”

Juliet nodded, more determined than ever. “Let’s start with what we know. We’ll map out Bradley’s movements, cross-reference them with these entries, and see where they lead us.”

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