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“You said you wanted to show this to Kensington first, but you didn’t show it to him yet, did you?” Her gaze was narrowed, calculating.
Lavinia threw a side-eyed glance toward Sebastian before answering. “You are the first person aside from the both of us to hold it in your hands.”
“Good.” Caroline stood resolutely. “Please, wait here.”
She walked out the door, leaving Sebastian and Lavinia to exchange confused gazes.
Caroline came back a moment later and handed Lavinia a few envelopes, all addressed by Dane.
“What is this?” Lavinia shuffled the envelopes in her hands.
“Look at the handwriting. Especially the letter E. It’s uncanny.”
Sebastian shifted closer to Lavinia and took a few envelopes to compare the handwriting. “I suppose it is similar, but… What are you saying?”
“I am saying that this is Kensington’s writing.” Caroline nodded for emphasis before sitting down across from them.
“Do not be ridiculous.” Lavinia didn’t even want to contemplate the possibility. It was ridiculous. “Why would he ever do that?”
“Because… listen, this will be very hard for you to believe, but I spent months trying to figure it out. My uncle was always wary of Kensington. He did business with him, and he was mistrustful of him. When he arranged a marriage for me with Kensington, I was shocked. Until it all made sense.”
“What made sense? Nothing is making sense.”
Sebastian squeezed Lavinia’s waist to keep her panic from rising.
Caroline licked her lips. “My uncle was also blackmailed and threatened with similar letters. All with the same handwriting, all going back for years. When he got ill, he became paranoid and obsessed with keeping me safe. And what is the safest way to ensure the blackmailer never targets me? To marry me to him.”
“Why would that make sense?” Lavinia looked at Sebastian in confusion.
“The blackmailer would never destroy his own family,” he supplied. “Or reputation.”
“Or perhaps Kensington wanted my wealth. And blackmailed my uncle to get it. But Uncle realized exactly what Roth is saying. It was better to marry me to the devil himself than have the devil go after me once my uncle died.”
“I don’t believe this.” Lavinia stood and started pacing.
“I understand your reluctance. But I’ve checked Kensington’s finances—”
Lavinia rounded on Caroline. “Kensington’s title was always well off.”
Caroline shook her head. “He became a duke at fifteen. He had the title, but he didn’t have the wealth. His father gambled it all away. Kensington was not well off at the time of the inheritance. And not for a few years after. How did he become so rich and influential in only a few years, Lavinia? Things do not add up.”
“This is ridiculous. He has been helping me my entire life. Why would he want to harm me now?”
“Perhaps he was helping you and other people and was being altruistic so that nobody would suspect him. Or perhaps he was helping you to get out of the situations he put you in. Or perhaps he was helping you so he would have enough information about you that could potentially harm you in a way that would aid him in the long run. Or—”
“Please, stop.” Lavinia raised her hand. “That is too many ors. None of it proves anything!”
Caroline nodded. “And that is why I agreed to marry him. To find the proof.”
“With all due respect, Caroline,” Sebastian intervened. “Isn’t it more plausible that the leader of theShadowssecret society is the one doing this and not the most influential duke in England?”
Caroline straightened and took a fortifying breath. “No. Because I know who the leader of the Shadows is.”
