Threads Of Fate

A Duke's Revenge

"Well, let's get back to business," Edward announced with renewed energy, the morning sun streaming through the ornate windows of Attenborough Manor, casting a warm glow over the room. After a modest breakfast of porridge and fresh fruit, they lounged on the grand, yet faded, sofas that once boasted opulence. Anya observed her brother, curious about his sudden shift in demeanor; he had been uncharacteristically quiet for days. As he pulled a worn diary from his shirt pocket, its leather cover well-loved, she leaned forward, intrigued, while he arranged himself into a circle facing them.

With an earnest expression, Edward began to read aloud, the names cascading like a list of characters from a long-lost story. "Lord Yohanne Littesburg. Lord Jeffrey Hastings. Lord Richard Bolton. Lord Kelvin Boskettel. Lord Ivane Harrington. Lord Lance Barton. Lord Bud Higglebottom. Lord Trevor Billington."

Anya raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly, curiosity piqued. "Were they the Duke's business partners?" she inquired, her voice a mix of intrigue and uncertainty.

"Yes, indeed," Edward replied, a nod affirming his focus. "I've shortlisted the plausible L.H. and L.B., but I seem to have hit quite a significant snag on L.A."

Zenith interjected, exasperation lacing her tone. "But that is only if we assume L stands for 'Lord.' If, in fact, it stands for something entirely different, we would be grasping at straws."

Anthony, deep in thought, raised a finger to illustrate his point. "That may be true, but one of the names on Edward's list is likely to be Rosaline's—Elizabeth's father. Edward, Anya, are you aware if any of these individuals have a daughter named Elizabeth?"

"Yes, of course!" Anya exclaimed, her enthusiasm bubbling to the surface. "The problem is, out of these eight men, at least five have daughters named Elizabeth. They seem to have an abundance of heirs, but we aren't definitively sure that Rosaline is the same as Elizabeth."

Zenith bit her lip, her gaze fixed on Anya as she considered their options. "But that's all we can work with for now. We have to make that assumption. Two, if you count the Lord one."

"Well," Anthony said, a thoughtful frown momentarily creasing his brow, "we could always check to see if any of their daughters are missing." He then lazily gestured toward Edward and Anya, curiosity evident in his eyes. "Have you two noticed anything? You must know these people, at least somewhat, right?"

Edward's brow furrowed as he reviewed the lengthy lists before him. "Among the names we've gathered, L.B. includes Lord Bolton, Lord Boskettle, Lord Barton, Lord Bud, if we consider their first names, and finally, Lord Billington," he clarified, his voice steady yet contemplative. "Out of these lords, with the exception of Lord Bolton and Lord Bud, the remaining three—Lord Boskettle, Lord Barton, and Lord Billington—each have daughters named Elizabeth. To narrow our search even further, I should mention that I've seen all but Lord Billington's daughter at a recent ball."

Anya interjected, her tone sharp with clarity, "Actually, I recall seeing her at the Duke's ball—the one to celebrate our upcoming wedding," she pointed out, drawing the conversation back to its starting point.

Zenith shifted in her seat, a look of slight disappointment crossing her features. "That was a letdown," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "Let's move on to the next initials, LH."

Edward rubbed his neck sheepishly, as if pushing aside his hesitations. "Actually, there was one more name on that L.H. list," he said quietly, pausing for dramatic effect. "Lord William, Duke of Hamilton," he finally revealed, casting a cautious glance at Anthony, whose expression morphed from confusion to fury.

Anthony's eyes darkened with suppressed rage as he turned to Edward, his jaw clenched tightly. "That old man is involved in this, isn't he?" he snapped, his voice low and menacing. "How deeply tied is he to all of this?"