Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

“Well, well, well… look what the cat dragged in,” the Marquess of Gaverton’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he strolled into the dimly lit tavern, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“If it isn’t the Duke of Ravenshire, once again gracing us with his esteemed presence.”

Wilhelm remained seated at a secluded corner table as the tavern’s shadows danced around him. He slowly twirled his glass of brandy as a smirk formed on his lips, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, Lord Gaverton, right on time,” he drawled, his voice low and steady in the quiet tavern. “I had expected you to be stirring up mischief among the Ton, Kenneth. I am surprised that you remembered to attend our meeting.”

Kenneth chuckled and pulled up a chair opposite Wilhelm. “Mischief? Me?” He put a hand over his heart in mock surprise, his eyes sparkling. “Never.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“That being said, I am a bit disappointed that you did not invite me to your wedding. I do enjoy a good spectacle, especially when it involves a reluctant bride and a brooding duke.”

Wilhelm’s expression immediately hardened. “The wedding was a private affair,” he stated in a clipped voice. “It was a matter of necessity, not a public display.”

Kenneth raised his hands in mock surrender. “Oh, lighten up, Ravenshire,” he chided, his grin widening. “Just a bit of friendly ribbing. Though I am intrigued. What is the story behind this sudden union? Is it true what they say about the new Duchess? Is she truly cursed?”

Wilhelm’s jaw clenched as his patience quickly wore thin. “The Duchess is none of your concern, Gaverton,” he retorted, his voice a low growl. “And I would advise you to refrain from spreading idle gossip.”

Kenneth’s grin faltered and was replaced by a look of understanding. “Ah, yes,” he murmured, leaning back in his chair. “Of course. Business as always, Your Grace.”

Wilhelm nodded curtly. “Indeed,” he muttered, regaining his composure. “Now, shall we discuss the matter at hand?”

Kenneth’s expression turned serious. “By all means,” he agreed, his voice suddenly calm and focused. “I trust that you have received word that your acquisition is proceeding smoothly?”

“I have you to confirm that, do I not?” Wilhelm’s eyes snapped up, fixing on Kenneth as he poured himself a drink.

“The Ton is in total disarray. Beaumont is a shadow of his former self, and the others are scrambling to protect their interests.” Kenneth tilted his head to the side and offered a subtle smirk as he raised his glass to his lips.

“As they should be,” Wilhelm remarked as his thoughts drifted beyond the tavern’s walls to a point in the distance.

Kenneth slammed his glass down on the table “You certainly made a grand entrance the other night. The rumors are spreading like wildfire.”

Wilhelm’s smile widened. “Excellent,” he hummed, leaning back in his chair. “Let them spread. The more fear they harbor, the easier they will bend.”

“You are correct as always, my friend.” Kenneth chuckled as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “Though I must confess, I was surprised by your boldness. To confront Beaumont so publicly… it was a risky move on your part.”

Wilhelm let out a low, menacing snicker that cut through the quiet hum of the tavern. “Risk is merely a stepping stone to success,” he replied, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. “And I assure you, this is only the beginning.”

“I have no doubt,” Kenneth replied, an amused glint in his eyes. “But do enlighten me. How did Beaumont react to the news? When you confronted him, that is.”

Wilhelm’s smile widened. “He was predictably outraged,” he recounted, his eyes narrowing as he relished the vivid memory. “He was trembling. Turned all red with fury. Could not string two words together… It was quite a spectacle.”

Kenneth chuckled, the sound rich and smooth. “That is precisely why the Ton is now in a frenzy.” He leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. “And the others?” His gaze sharpened. “What did they do?”

“They simply stared with their mouths agape like mindless apes,” Wilhelm sneered, his gaze fixed on the dancing candlelight. “They watched the scene unfold with bated breaths. I sent a clear message to all of them—that I am back.”

Kenneth nodded in satisfaction. “Excellent,” he purred, leaning back in his chair. “The seeds of doubt have finally been sown. At this point, we simply need to nurture them and watch them grow into full-blown disarray and mayhem.”

Wilhelm’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he smiled to himself. “Indeed,” he agreed, turning back to his business partner. “Have you secured what we discussed during our last meeting?”

He paused, taking another sip of his brandy. The warmth spread through his veins, easing the stress that had tightly knotted his neck and shoulders.

So much depended on Kenneth. Wilhelm’s mind raced at the urgency of the situation before him.

Kenneth was the key to success. He had to play his cards with precision and calculate each word and every gesture to the point of perfection. One wrong move, one slip-up, and it could all fall apart.

Wilhelm looked at his companion and analyzed how he casually leaned back in his chair and gave him the slightest of smiles.

No mistakes.

This time, everything had to go as planned. There could be no room for doubt or error, and no opportunity for the others to turn the tables on them.

Kenneth could be unpredictable, but he was clever. And cleverness was an asset if it was used properly.

“I have recently acquired some most excellent fertilizer,” Kenneth said, his voice brightening once more, “and our, ahem, subject of interest has already provided us with so much to work with.”

“Pray, do tell.” Wilhelm steepled his fingers as he rested his elbows on the table, fixing him with a steady gaze. “I trust you have been diligent in your inquiries?”

Kenneth’s grin returned, along with the glint in his eyes. “Of course,” he assured, moving closer to Wilhelm. “I have recently employed a rather resourceful individual. He is a master of discretion with a nose for unearthing closely kept secrets.”

Wilhelm leaned forward. “And what has this resourceful individual uncovered?” he asked eagerly as he tapped his fingertips on the table in anticipation.

“Something that I believe will greatly interest you, my dear Ravenshire,” he replied, his voice dropping once again to a conspiratorial whisper as he moved even closer to Wilhelm. “It seems Lord Harrington has a very particular type of weakness.”

“Harrington?” Wilhelm raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side as he waited for his companion to elaborate.

“Mmm. The impeccable Lord Harrington.” Kenneth closed his eyes, savoring the moment. “You know, the same Harrington who…”

He let the words hang in the air, gauging Wilhelm’s reaction.

“Who attacked my supply carts? I know who Harrington is,” Wilhelm said, his fingers now drumming rapidly on the table as he impatiently pulled in his chair with his free hand. “Get to the point. What do you have?”

“It seems that our esteemed Lord Harrington has a penchant for discreet liaisons.”

“Discreet liaisons?” Wilhelm echoed as a slow, calculated smile transformed his face. “This sounds promising.”

Kenneth leaned back in his chair with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “It most certainly is,” he purred, taking a slow sip of his brandy. “It seems that our dear Lord Harrington has a certain fondness for the fairer sex. Outside the confines of marriage, of course.” He lowered his glass on the table, looking straight at Wilhelm.

“A fondness for women, you say?” Wilhelm mused, his mind already racing with possibilities. “This could prove quite useful.”

Kenneth nodded, his grin widening. “Yes, our esteemed Lord Harrington has been keeping a mistress.” He paused, letting the implications of his words sink in. “A barmaid, no less.”

Wilhelm’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “A barmaid?” He snickered. “How unconventional.”

“Quite so.” Kenneth chuckled. “It seems that Lord Harrington has a taste for the base and unusual. And I am utterly delighted to report that there is more.”

Wilhelm curled his fingers around his glass, his eyes never leaving Kenneth’s as he waited for his full report with barely concealed anticipation.

“More?” he murmured, his voice tinged with restrained excitement.

Kenneth nodded, grinning. “It seems this liaison has borne fruit, so to speak.”

“Harrington has sired an illegitimate child with the barmaid?” Wilhelm asked, taking a slow sip of his drink, the rich scent of the liquor filling his nostrils as he continued to study Kenneth’s expression.

Kenneth nodded and slammed his fist on the table with gusto. “With the barmaid,” he snorted, before he let out a loud, sharp laugh and slapped his thighs.

Wilhelm leaned back in his chair, his face alight with a genuine smile and his eyes sparkling with amusement as he shook his head in disbelief at Lord Harrington’s stupidity.

An illegitimate child. A secret heir. This was a weapon he could wield, a formidable instrument that he could employ to destroy Harrington’s carefully constructed image.

“This is excellent news, Gaverton. Well done, old chap,” he said. “Priceless information, indeed. We shall dispatch him with haste.”

Kenneth nodded, his expression turning serious. “But we must tread carefully. Harrington is a powerful man with many allies. We cannot afford to make a single mistake.”

Wilhelm shrugged “I am well aware of the risks, Gaverton,” he assured him, his voice a low growl. “But I will not back down. Harrington and his ilk have taken far too much from me for far too long. It is time for them to pay.”

He paused, his mind racing with possibilities.

“We need a plan,” he muttered pensively, his eyes narrowing as he sorted through their options. “A strategy that will expose Harrington’s indiscretions and bring him to his knees.”

Several moments later, Kenneth bolted upright, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “I have an idea,” he began. “One that will not only ruin Harrington but also elevate your standing in Society.”

“Full of surprises today, are you not?” Wilhelm chuckled and raised an eyebrow, lightly tapping his glass on the table. “Tell me more.”

Kenneth’s grin widened. “It is high time for a grand ball, Ravenshire,” he declared. “An occasion that will quickly become the talk of the Ton. You will, of course, participate in its execution.”

Wilhelm frowned quizzically and rested his chin on his palm. “A ball?” he repeated, skeptical but still intrigued. “And how will this ball bring about Harrington’s downfall?”

“Harrington must see you back in the game, so to speak,” Kenneth explained. “He must see that you are back, and he is not safe either.”

Wilhelm’s ruthless smile returned. “Indeed. After I make my appearance, we shall need to be meticulous in our preparation,” he stated, his eyes narrowing in thought. “I shall carefully orchestrate each and every detail to ensure Harrington’s demise.”

Kenneth’s grin widened. “Leave that to me. You go to your ball,” he assured, his voice filled with confidence. “I shall take care of the other details.”

“Excellent,” Wilhelm murmured, his eyes glinting with cold satisfaction. “I do not doubt that you will, as always, exceed my highest expectations. You have done well, Kenneth.”

Kenneth blinked in surprise, his eyebrows rising comically towards his hairline. “Did you just compliment me?” he asked, astonished. “Well, well, well. Ravenshire, marriage seems to have softened you.”

A flash of annoyance crossed Wilhelm’s face, and he pressed his lips together into a thin line.

“Do not mistake credit for flattery,” he said coldly, his eyes narrowing. “I merely acknowledged your competence.”

Kenneth chuckled. “Competence?” he repeated in an amused tone as he shook his head and smiled. “I believe the word you are searching for is brilliance. Not to mention you called me by my Christian name.”

Wilhelm’s jaw clenched, his patience wearing dangerously thin. “I shall not indulge your self-aggrandizement, Gaverton,” he stated, his voice clipped as he emphasized the Marquess’ title.

Kenneth raised his hands in mock surrender. “Very well, very well,” he conceded, his grin widening. “No need to get your breeches in a twist. I am merely jesting.”

Wilhelm’s hard gaze softened slightly. “Careful,” he warned, regaining his composure.

“Now, tell me, what do you propose we do with this information?” Kenneth asked.

Wilhelm paused, taking a sip of his brandy. The smooth liquid burned its way down his throat, a welcome warmth that spread through his entire body.

“Oh, don’t you worry, Gaverton,” he said. “We shall have plenty of uses for it.”