Episode 14

The fog hovered over the Thames, enveloping the anchored ships in a gray, chilly shroud. Amidst them, a weathered ship stood out, its British flag fluttering faintly in the breeze.

Ethan Devereux descended the gangplank with resolute steps, despite his evident exhaustion. His clothes were torn in places, dirty and disheveled, but his posture was impeccable, conveying the determination of a man who had endured and returned from hell. He summoned a carriage and promptly provided his address. When the carriage halted in front of his residence, the butler, Thomas, opened the door before Ethan could even touch the knocker. Upon seeing him, the older man froze, his eyes wide with shock and relief.

“My Lord... you're alive! Praise be to God! We were so worried,” he said, his voice choked with emotion.

Ethan attempted to smile, but the fatigue was evident. “It’s good to be back, Thomas. I’ll need a bath, clean clothes, and a meal. After that, there’s much to be done. “

Thomas bowed hastily and started to give orders to the servants. “Yes, My Lord, immediately. And... it is an indescribable joy to have you back.”

Ethan climbed the stairs with firm steps, but he felt the weight of what lay ahead. In the bath, as the warm water washed away the salt, dirt, and blood, his mind was fixated on one thing: Tabitha. After preparing himself, Ethan headed to the Ministry. As soon as he entered, the murmur of conversations stopped, and all eyes turned to him. It was as if they had seen a ghost.

“Lord Devereux,” said a younger officer, hesitantly approaching. “We thought that...“

“That I was dead,’ Ethan finished, a tense smile on his face. ‘It seems I underestimated my own luck. Now, take me to the Minister.”

The officer nodded and led Ethan down a quiet corridor to a large meeting room. The Minister of Foreign Affairs looked up from the desk full of papers, surprised to see him.

“Devereux!” he exclaimed, rising. “By all the gods, you’ve returned! What happened to you?”

Ethan sat in the chair across from him, maintaining a firm posture. “A long story, My Lord, but the short version is simple: I was captured, taken aboard a ship as a prisoner, and with the help of other officers, we managed to escape and return. However, the problem is larger than we had anticipated.”

The Minister gestured for him to continue.

“Scorpio is operating on British soil, Ethan said. “My capture was planned, and I suspect he is coordinating movements that go beyond espionage. He has allies within England.”

The Minister sighed, suddenly seeming to age. “We know. We have information that he’s moving in influential circles, preparing the ground for something big. We believe the Duke of Eddington may be involved.” he hesitated and ran a hand over his face, clearly disturbed. “And there’s something else...” he began cautiously. “During your absence, it came to our attention that he proposed to Tabitha De Lyons, and she accepted.”

The impact of the news hit Ethan like a punch to the stomach. “What?” He asked, his voice full of disbelief.

The minister nodded slowly. “He’s a man who, as far as we know, possesses a considerable fortune and important contacts. But there’s something about him...”

Ethan felt the blood run cold. The name Eddington was not unfamiliar. Though the Duke had maintained an impeccable reputation in society, Ethan had never been able to trust him, and something in his history always seemed off.

“It’s Scorpio, isn’t it?” Ethan asked, his voice low but intense.

The Minister simply nodded. “We cannot confirm it, but the coincidences are disturbing. And now that you’re back, it’s necessary that you resume your mission, Devereux. We need proof against Eddington so we can dismantle the network of spies he’s created.”

Ethan stood up abruptly, his eyes burning with rage and determination. “If that’s true, Tabitha is in danger. I cannot continue my mission while she’s at the mercy of that man.”

The Minister tried to protest. “Devereux, understand that your priority is...”

“Tabitha is the priority, “Ethan cut in firmly. “If Eddington is Scorpio, he’s using her to establish himself. No one would suspect that a peer of the realm—whether poor or rich, married to the Countess of Devonshire, one of the greatest fortunes in Britain—is the head of a spy network and a cruel assassin. And that is part of the mission. But above all, she’s the woman I love.“

Without waiting for a reply, Ethan left the Minister’s office, driven by a fierce urgency. The carriage took him out of London, and as the wheels echoed along the winding road, his mind buzzed with conflicting thoughts. With each kilometer that brought him closer to Ipswich, the weight on his chest grew. The image of her smiling at another man, especially Eddington, gnawed at his soul. But what made him clench his fists until his knuckles turned white was the thought that she was being deceived. Eddington was not just an unwanted suitor—he was a predator.

When the carriage finally stopped in front of the Count of Devonshire’s mansion, the atmosphere was somber. The property, usually vibrant and full of movement, was strangely quiet. The sound of Ethan’s footsteps on the stairs echoed louder than it should as he approached the front door. He knocked, and minutes later, the butler opened the door, his expression of shock evident.