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Marco entered the ballroom at Castel Amante, his cousin's stunning home. He looked around the beautiful people, the ladies in their gorgeous gowns and the gentlemen in their fine clothes, dancing and talking and enjoying the ambiance of the ball.
He resisted the urge to nervously adjust his waistcoat. He always felt a little unsure of himself when interacting with theton.Here were the wealthy lords and ladies in the Prince Regent's closest inner circle. Marco was painfully aware that he was simply a mister, unlike his cousin, who had a powerful title and position.
He searched the sea of faces for him, and soon caught his eye. Giovanni was standing off to the side of the ballroom. He was in the company of a dark-eyed man Marco recognized as Giovanni’s great friend and brother-in-law, Silas Klane. Giovanni raised his glass and gestured for Marco to join them. He made his way across the room, dodging simpering misses and overly friendly gentlemen.
“So good to see you, Marco,” Giovanni said, slapping his cousin on the back and gesturing for a passing servant to bring him a glass of champagne.
“And you. I see you have finally allowed your wife to expand her guest list. This is far from the quiet gatherings we are used to,” Marco said as he looked around the crowded ballroom.
“Tell that to Silas!” Giovanni laughed, nudging his brother-in-law. “He is put out at the size of the party.”
“I do not know how you can stand to be around so many people at once,” Silas grumbled, sipping his brandy, and looking around with distaste. “And in your own home, no less.”
Silas was infamous for his dislike of large crowds. Since his wife was kidnapped many years ago, he had protected her diligently. He felt that this task was hindered by having so many people around. Aside from his gruffness now, Marco knew him to be excellent company. He often attended dinners at Castel Amante when Silas and his wife were in attendance. The man did much better in smaller groups.
"Well, no one is asking you to play host at Fallenbrook, now, are we?" Giovanni joked and then turned to Marco. "How is the rebuild progressing, Marco?"
“Well enough,” Marco said evasively. It had been a challenging year, but his plans were moving forward.
“I knew you would rally,” Giovanni said, squeezing his shoulder. Hei had been Marco’s biggest ally, offering constant support and encouragement as Marco decided what to do after the destruction of his factory.
He'd finally decided to rebuild. He had taken over the lease on a smaller property while constructing a new factory. That way, he could keep some of his employees at the new location to assist with the rebuild while others worked on production. He resented having to let some of themgo because he didn't have the resources to keep them busy. His workers had all been devoted, and they deserved better.
He mourned their loss but not so much as he grieved for Thomas. Not a day went by that he did not think of his old friend. He hired William soon after the funeral, and the boy had proven to be just as capable as his father. It took time for him to learn the business; he was still learning now, but was dedicated and hard-working. Marco could see that William sometimes became overwhelmed with the responsibility his father's death had thrust upon him, but he handled things well. He felt he might someday come to rely on the boy almost as much as he had Thomas.
Both William and Marco had been disheartened when they learned that the man they suspected of causing the explosion that killed Thomas and destroyed the factory had died. They had been making plans for his ruination, but the Duke of Fitzroy beat them to it. It rankled that he had died peacefully in his bed, while Thomas's body had been ravaged, and he expired in pain on the cold ground. Still, there was some divine justice that the man did not live for very long after the incident, but Marco still wished he could have gotten his revenge.
"And the saboteur has still not been apprehended?" Silas asked quietly. With Marco's permission, Giovanni had shared the truth about the fire. Silas had been instrumental in helping Marco find the skilled workers he needed to rebuild, and they felt he should know some of the truth before they asked for his assistance.
Yet Silas had been like a dog with a bone. He was not content to simply help with the factory; he wanted to find the man who committed the crime and see him punished. Even when Marco and Giovanni claimed they had no idea who it could be, Silas kept pushing, not liking to see an injustice go unanswered. He believed in getting revenge for any past wrongs and would not stop until he did.
“We found him, but he had already perished,” Marco said blandly, trying not to show his emotions on the subject. He did not want Silas or anyone else to see how much it still bothered him. It would have to be enough that the damned Duke was dead, and Marco was almost done rebuilding what the man had destroyed. Some days that was enough, and on others, Marco had to fight the dark rage that threatened to overtake him.
“Before you could enact revenge?” Silas asked with a frown.
“Sometimes it is revenge enough to outlive one's enemies,” Giovanni said with a quiet passion. He gave Silas an intense look that spoke volumes. Marco wondered how many enemies Silas had and if he had gotten revenge for all the wrongs done to him in the past. He imagined he did. Lucifer of London would not let anyone harm him without a swift retaliation. Marco wished he had brought the matter to Silas' attention when he first received the threatening note for hemight have been able to track down the perpetrator before he burned down the factory. Before Thomas was killed. He'd never know now, and Thomas would still be dead, so there was no point in going back in time.
“Is it?” Silas raised his eyebrows. “I did not take you for the kind of man who would happily accept that, Marco.”
“Perhaps I simply see the futility of pursuing a dead man and seek to live in peace,” Marco hedged. There was no point in revealing that getting revenge on the Duke still often consumed his thoughts. There was no point in it. Nothing could be done now. His hesitation to act had cost Thomas his life, and he would have to live with that.
“Of course, there is no point in going after a dead man. But what about his conspirators? After all, there had to have been more than one person involved in an arson plot that large,” Silas mused.
Marco stared at Silas and felt a strange wash of excitement flood him. Why hadn't he thought of that? Even if the Duke was ultimately responsible for the fire, he would not have carried out the plan himself. He would never have dirtied his own lily-white hands. He would have hired one or more persons to do the deed for him. And Marco could find those men and bring them to justice. He could have a form of revenge.
“What is the use of going after anyone if the man who ordered the arson is...” Giovanni frowned.
“Someone has to pay,” Silas interrupted and turned to Marco. "They dared to try to take away what was yours. They need to pay."
Marco could not agree more and felt the vehemence of his words. Silas Klane was obviously a man who protected what was his, and Marco understood the urge. Yet before he could voice his agreement, he caught sight of his cousin’s worried expression.
Marco knewhis cousin was worried about him. Giovani was concerned that Marco's rage would consume him and prevent him from moving on. He knew hewas heartbroken over Thomas' death and the destruction of his business, but he wanted himto move on. He believed they had been through far too much in their lives to allow anger to control them. But Marco needed his vengeance. It did consume him, and he refused to move forward until someone paid. He would not, however, tell his cousin. Giovanni had far too much good in his life at the moment to be involved in the darkness that surrounded him.
He smiled at his cousin and said, "Enough unpleasant talk. This is a party. How is your delightful wife? I am sure she is ever-patient to put up with you, Giovanni."
"I do not think my sister has even been accused of being patient," Silas barked with a laugh.
"Well, whatever patience she does possess has been sorely tested lately," Giovanni said with a tired but happy smile. "Neither of us expected twins."
