Marcus traveled in his carriage to Whitehall. The headquarters of the War Department was an imposing structure. When one needed a document on a given subject within its ranks, one went here. He stared up at the building as he climbed out of the carriage and up the stairs.
“What can I help you with, Your Grace?” a bass voice to his right said, hiding behind a curtain.
“I need to see the papers Lady Minerva Hatfield gave this department three years ago.”
“Your Grace, I will be right back with those documents,” said the male voice.
Marcus stood waiting for what seemed to be an eternity. He looked around in interest. Always wary of his surroundings, nothing escaped his gaze. He noted the offices lining the hallway where which he stood.
“Your Grace, here are the documents,” said a man who seemed twice as large as himself. This man had the look of danger. His dark hair was pulled back in a queue, and his clothes were immaculate. His dark eyes took in everything around him. This was no clerk or secretary. “I sure hope you know how to decode this.”
“I have that in hand, sir,” Marcus said.
“Good!” said the man, one brow raised. “So, you have found the missing link. Bring both girls in when you can or when Lady Juliana is up to the task.”
The response caught him off guard and Marcus heard himself blurt out, “How do you know the twins?”
The man gave him a smug look. “Do you not know who I am? By the confused look in your eyes, I must assume you don’t. I am the Leader. That’s all you need to know for now.”
The man wasn’t older than Marcus’s mother. Dazed, Marcus walked down the stairs, called for his carriage, and made the journey home.
Several days later, Marcus called for another meeting of the Rakes at White’s, making sure that he booked a private room to have the meeting in. He needed to be far enough away from his fiancée and her sister to communicate any coherent thoughts. The meeting was to be held at the customary hour of six.
He felt in drastic need of male companionship, as there were too many women currently residing at his residence. Three women in the same house were making him lose his mind. The twins would go off to wherever they went during the day to twin chat about whatever twins chatted about. His mother had Lady Anne visit every day. The woman practically lived in his home.
He needed time with Juliana, as well. However, with all of the commotion revolving around Minerva, that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. He looked at his watch and deemed it a good time to head toward his club. Since no one seemed to care if he was staying or going, he called for his carriage and went on his way.
Marcus got there to see that his friends had been waiting for him.
“So, Marcus, what did you find out?” asked Aaron as he perched on the edge of his chair, elbows digging into his knees.
“I retrieved the documents and inadvertently met the man we know as the Leader.”
“You saw him? What did he look like? Did you recognize him?” asked Jacob.
“Yes, I saw him. He wants to see Juliana and Minerva as soon as possible. Something about their parents or some such. No, I did not recognize the man. He was smartly dressed in fine cloth. He has to be part of the gentry, at the very least.”
“We were the same way, my friend. At least there are two of us who aren’t going to be leg-shackled soon. Oh, and Aaron is out, too, since he has an arranged marriage looming in his not-so-distant future.”
“We all have to do so, eventually. Duty and all. What we do for the titles we inherited from our patriarchs, the duty of taking care of our tenants and the land that they occupy, and the duty we have to the Crown. We are the Rakes of the Crown; we protect this country and keep silent about the assignments we do for that country. We are the reason why England is the way it is.,” said Jacob as he poured each man a snifter of finely aged Scotch.
“Here’s to the end of this mystery and onto the next one,” added Aaron as he raised his glass.
The meeting regarding what to do about Juliana and Minerva started shakily, as each man proposed a different idea. None of the ideas truly protected the girls. Jacob finally mentioned moving them to the country, maybe to Dunsbury Abbey or Blackridge Hall. The idea held some merit. It would be easier to keep track of the girls and make sure they were constantly being chaperoned by a footman or one of the three Rakes.
The men agreed on the plan, along with bringing the duchess and Lady Anne with them for the girls’ chaperones. This excursion would have to wait a couple of days because of the meeting with the Leader Marcus was relieved to get Juliana and Minerva away from town. Too many distractions. Too many people intending to kill them. Too many traitors playing a traitorous game that could pull them in if they didn’t leave soon.
“Gentlemen, it’s time to go our separate ways. I told Juliana that I would be there later to talk with her about upcoming events. I need you both ready to head to Dunsbury Grange in two days’ time. Until then, communication is important,” said Marcus.
“We will see you in two days, Marcus.”
Juliana was sitting in the library, reading a favorite book when Marcus joined her. She had not had any alone time with him since her sister arrived. She missed the casual relationship they had shared. She missed his kisses and the caresses.
She felt as Marcus slid in next to her. She needed to be cradled in his arms. Maybe even a stolen kiss or two before they went up to their respective rooms for the night. She didn’t want to be alone in her bed when she could be warm in his.
Juliana was thinking the same thing as she cuddled into his warmth. Sitting there, just holding each other, was not proper, but they wanted it, needed it.
“My lady, I don’t think I can touch you without making advances upon your person,” Marcus said as he caressed her arm.
“I don’t mind, Marcus,” Juliana said. “Please don’t stop.”
“You don’t know what you are saying, my dear.”
“Yes, I do. You love me, don’t you?”
Juliana watched as Marcus took a moment to think. His actions were better than words, but she needed to hear them. She knew that he had feelings for her. He was protective of her; he showed her in any number of different ways every day how he felt for her. Yet, something about admitting those feelings out loud, made it seem so much more permanent—life-changing. It did not surprise her, though, when he broke the silence.
“I like you very much. I want you! I love everything about you. I’ve never known the feeling of being in love or if anyone has ever truly loved me until you.”
Juliana knew that he loved her. It was evident in his mannerisms. How he touched her, and how he was with her in general.
“I am sure that your mother loves you. Your father must have loved you, as well. And, I love you with all of my heart. I understand that you are a cynic and need time to think over what you feel for me.”
She was pulled closer to him. He lowered his head and kissed her possessively. She could feel every ounce of how he felt with that kiss. She couldn’t get enough of him. She lifted her arms to circle his neck, touching every inch of his chest on the way up. She felt him dislodging the pins from her hair. She wanted anything he could give her. She wanted to be able to show him the love she had for him.
“Marcus, don’t you think we should remove ourselves to the upstairs before you pull anymore pins from my hair?” asked Juliana in a husky tone.
“Are you sure about this, my love? Once I get you through the doors of my bedchamber, there is no getting out until morning. Do you understand the ramifications of what will happen? You will be mine, for as long as we live. We will get married tomorrow.”
“Oh, Marcus, really? I’ve been yours since the accident. I know what I am getting myself into. Please, just kiss me and take me to bed!”
Juliana squealed when Marcus picked her up, cradled in his arms, and practically ran up the stairs to his bedchamber. She glanced into his eyes and saw the lust, the passion, and love emanate from them. She shivered as she held onto him. She knew that he had wanted more from her. She blushed when she realized that they had stopped just outside of his chamber door and was staring down at her, watching as the blush traveled from her face down to her breasts.
She placed a kiss on his lips, though it was short, the passion simmered between them. She pulled away too soon. “Put me down, darling, so you can open the door.”
Marcus gently put her feet on the ground, yet kept an arm around her, which was perfect for her. She didn’t want to go a moment without feeling his hands on her. She felt herself get whisked into his rooms and the tugging of fabric, the loosening of the taps holding her gown up told her what was on his mind. She felt him place a kiss on the crook of her neck, she moaned. She needed him to hurry up. She glanced into his eyes, just as a feeling of dread hit her.
“Juliana, what is it?” asked Marcus out of concern.
“Something isn’t right. I can’t explain, Marcus. Something just isn’t right.”
Lady Anne had waited up for her son in his study. She normally waited until morning to have a chat with Jacob, but this time felt different. She noticed that someone had forced the lock at the side door. A burglar had gotten into the house. Something deep inside was telling her that that person was still in the house.
She sat down in one of the chairs. It was positioned in front of the warm fire that had been lit several hours before. She had left the door unlocked to the room, hoping that Jacob would notice the light from the fire.
She heard the door open, assumed it was Jacob, and turned around. She didn’t see the knife, let alone the man who wielded it. All she knew was the sharp pain of the dagger as it slit her throat—and the darkness that came momentarily after.