Reborn: The Duke's Obsession-Chapter 75 - Seventy Five

The private parlor of the quiet inn was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of tea and murmurs from the patrons. A single tray with a pot of tea and two cups sat on the table between Baroness Augusta and Duke Philip. The atmosphere was a careful construction of civility, masking the dangerous purpose of their meeting.

"Be honest with me, Your Grace," Augusta began, her voice a smooth, silken purr as she sat across from him. "You don’t truly wish happiness for this marriage, do you?"

Philip smiled, a cool, polite expression that didn’t reach his cold eyes. He took a slow sip of his tea. "Why wouldn’t I?" he replied, his voice equally smooth. "It is my dear brother’s wedding, after all. A cause for celebration for the entire Carson family."

Augusta’s own smile was knowing. "Of course. But I have been thinking, and I figured this arrangement wouldn’t be ideal, especially from your position as the head of the family."

Philip set his cup down, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "I don’t know what my brother, Eric, could have possibly done to displease you, Baroness. But since they are getting married, I do hope you will try to like him for your daughter’s sake." He relaxed back into his seat, turning her insinuation back on her. "And isn’t this a wonderful opportunity for the Ellington family? To get a rather good son-in-law, I should think."

"Even though the arrangement might be the contrary for you, Your Grace?" Augusta countered, refusing to be put on the defensive. " Even though it turns back to stab you in the back."

Philip sighed, his patience wearing thin. "What is it that you truly want to say, Baroness? Let us not waste the afternoon playing with words. Go straight to the point."

Augusta smiled. This was the opening she had been waiting for. She reached into her reticule and took out the folded, flimsy gossip pamphlet Mr. Prescott had given her. "Take a look at this," she said, dropping it on the table and pushing it to his side.

Philip picked up the pamphlet, his expression one of distaste, and read the sensationalized headline about his grandmother and Baron Edgar.

"My father-in-law, Baron Edgar, handed that much gold to the Dowager Duchess," Augusta explained, her voice low and sly. "If I can remember, it was ONE MILLION GOLD COINS." She mouthed each words slowly.

Philip looked up from the paper, his brow furrowed. "What is this nonsense?"

"Oh, it is the story that was to be whispered in every drawing room and tea shop in the kingdom but the Carsons didn’t allow it," Augusta replied. "It is the story of how my father-in-law, desperate to secure this match for his supposedly beloved granddaughter, got down on his knees and begged the Dowager Duchess to accept." She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a sly whisper. "According to my source, who was there, his exact words were, ’I will give back all the money I stole from you. Just please, let your grandson marry my granddaughter.’" She sat back, letting the scandalous words sink in, waiting to see his reaction.

Philip’s expression turned from confusion to disgust. "What?"

"And there’s more," Augusta continued, her timing perfect. She brought out the ledger Prescott gave her containing Baron Edgar’s transactions and investments and gave it to him. Philip took it, his movements now sharp and angry. He opened the book and scrolled through the pages, his eyes scanning the neat columns that detailed massive, untraceable investments.

"What is this?" he asked, his voice tight.

"It is a list of your future grandfather-in-law’s investments," Augusta replied calmly. "His very heavy, very secret investments in Lady Delia’s specialized dyes."

Philip slammed the ledger down on the table with a loud thud, his cool facade finally cracking. Fury flashed in his eyes. "So how does any of this concerns me?" he demanded.

Augusta smiled, happy to finally see the reaction she had been working so hard to provoke. "My father-in-law," she began, her voice taking on a thoughtful, careful tone, "spent a great deal of money to make this marriage happen. And he is not a man who spends money without expecting to gain so much more in return." She looked at him keenly " For him to spend one million gold coins and other amounts that’s not stated here, I wonder how much he’s planning to get."

She let the implication hang in the air for a moment. "And there is something much bigger to be gained from this marriage than just a simple union of two people."

"So, what is it?" Philip asked, his voice a low growl.

Augusta took another slow sip of her tea, her eyes watching him over the rim of the cup. "I don’t know for certain," she said, feigning ignorance. "But what is the one thing you value most? The one thing you have worked so hard to protect?" She paused. "Perhaps it is the Carson Textile Establishment?" She watched as his eyes narrowed, the seed of suspicion beginning to take root. "What if your new grandfather-in-law, this powerful and secretive investor, is working with your brother? What if their plan is not just to merge their businesses, but to take control of yours?"

Philip laughed, a harsh, humorless sound that held no joy. He stared at the ledger on the table, at the proof of a secret alliance he knew nothing about. Then, he stopped laughing, and his look became more serious, more dangerous. He was thinking about it. He was connecting the dots that Augusta had so skillfully laid out for him.

Eric’s sudden interest in the family business. His defiance at the council meeting. This secret, wealthy backer. It all started to form a dark, cohesive picture in his mind.

Augusta took another slow sip of tea, a small, triumphant smile on her lips. She had successfully planted the poison. Now, all she had to do was wait for it to spread.