To The Traitor in My Bed - Chapter 27
Chapter 14. Deirdre’s Ingenious Plan
Ian Darnell was known to occasionally enjoy secret meetings with Lady Campbell, and Frederick was aware of it. What he didn’t expect was that the relationship, which began as an act of innocent interest, would unexpectedly ignite into something more.
However, Darnell was not the type of person to prioritize personal matters over his objectives. When he intentionally allowed himself to be arrested to get closer to his target, he had already made up his mind.
Both those around him and the Viscount himself assumed he had moved on.
Yet, for two whole years, the Viscount had secretly kept a portrait of Rosina, even bribing the jailer to do so.
Frederick had a confrontation with Blanc at the town house because of this.
After hearing of Rosina’s engagement right after his escape, Darnell was completely shaken and devastated. Blanc suggested that Darnell might ruin the plan and that he should be left out of it, but Frederick believed that the Viscount would be able to handle such a trial.
Had Darnell not been injured, he would have already sent his friend to Luska away. Based on past experience, work and alcohol were the best ways to forget the agony of love, and Luska had both of those in abundance.
Until an hour ago, Frederick had been wondering why his wife, who had previously seemed to loathe hearing Darnell’s name, had suddenly changed her mind.
“I thought you didn’t like the Viscount?”
“When I think about how he used you, yes, I do.”
Frederick felt sorry for the absurd misunderstanding that Darnell was enduring. It was not the Viscount who used him; it was him who had used the Viscount.
However, he quietly listened to his wife’s words.
“But if this is the last time, then I feel sorry for the Viscount…”
His wife was kind-hearted and compassionate. It was one of the things Frederick cherished most about her, but he couldn’t agree with her on this matter.
Bringing up Rosina’s name with Darnell right now would only backfire.
“Wouldn’t it be better for him to just forget her quickly?”
“But if I was Viscount Darnell, and I had to leave without ever seeing the person I loved, I would at least want to hear something about them.”
His wife had a vivid imagination.
But when it came to the mindset of a man in love, she clearly had little understanding. A man who has to leave his lover behind should never be given any kind of excuse or reason to dwell on them. A man blinded by love usually ends up doing something foolish.
“You’re so kind, Deirdre. But don’t concern yourself with Darnell anymore. I’ll make sure to get rid of him quickly. And you shouldn’t go out today.”
He made his final decision.
Deirdre looked disappointed. However, perhaps feeling that he was right, she reluctantly nodded.
* * *
“Fairchild is hosting a banquet?”
It was no surprise that someone with that much money would throw money around in various ways.
He had just returned to Rochepolie, and what did he do as soon as he arrived? Host a party.
Lysander Cottenham tossed the invitation, which had a golden border, into the fireplace.
The military police who had brought the invitation asked in confusion,
“Are you not going?”
“I’ll go.”
Lysander replied.
It wasn’t uncommon for nobles to invite the military polics who served their area and offer them hospitality in Antwerp.
This was, of course, a form of bribery, meant to turn a blind eye to illegal activities like tax evasion and extortion. If you were lucky, you could even receive a hefty amount of gold or gifts, making it no surprise that being a military police was considered a dream job among young people.
Of course, Lysander himself also received lavish treatment wherever he went.
Fairchild, however, was already rich enough not to need to bribe the military police, even without breaking the law. And yet, in the middle of winter, he was opening his vast mansion to host dozens of military police.
Truly, he wasn’t just eccentric—he was a complete fool.
“A bastard with nothing better to do.”
The military police cautiously suggested,
“Could it be that Lord Rochepolie heard about what happened at Edelweiss Heights and is doing this?”
“What’s the big deal about spending a few hours at the old woman’s house?”
Lysander scoffed. “Or maybe he wants us to start frequenting the Count’s residence instead of the old woman’s?”
Now, that would be something Lysander would welcome.
Fairchild hardly ever stayed at home, so the noble Countess likely spent more time alone than in Swinton. Lysander was particularly skilled at chatting with lonely women.
He had grown a little bored with the surveillance and patrols, as they weren’t yielding any results. Rosina hadn’t left the Landyke residence for days, while Countess Fairchild had been seen walking along the frozen Merilbon River, often accompanied by her large bodyguard.
“If you’re going to the banquet, shall I find you a tailor nearby?”
The banquets at Count Rochepolie’s residence were famous for their grandeur. The banquet would have invited not only the military police but also nobles from both Rochepolie and Landyke. It would be polite to dress properly, but Lysander, a military police officer, saw no need for that.
“Do I need to spend my own money to go to a rich person’s party? I’ll just go in my uniform.”
He’d go and drink and eat to his heart’s content until the Fairchild family’s foundation was shaken.
And flirt with the beautiful Countess.
Lysander was in a good mood.
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