Episode 16

Later that same night, the mansion of the Count of Devonshire was shrouded in silence. The servants had retired, leaving only a few candles lit in the hallways. The Count, seated in his study, was reviewing an account book by the light of a lantern. His expression was composed, but his eyes betrayed a deep sense of weariness. In the shadows of the corridor, Scorpio moved stealthily. He knew what he was seeking—the documents that Tabitha had discovered. Approaching the study door, he paused, listening intently to the sound of pages being turned. With a slight smile, he gently pushed the door open, the wood creaking softly. The Count looked up, frowning as he saw the dark figure of Scorpio in the doorway.

“Who are you?” he asked, slowly rising from his chair. His voice was firm, but there was a hint of disbelief.

Scorpio took a few steps forward, revealing his face under the flickering light of the lantern. “Someone who should not have been underestimated, My Lord. I’m here only to take something that belongs to me.”

The Count paled slightly but maintained his composure. He recognized the man. Rumors about him had been circulating for some time in the highest circles, and now he understood that the danger had always been right before him. “How dare you profane my house?” the Count roared, rising from his chair.

Scorpio displayed a cold, calculating smile. “Your house? Oh, My Lord, it will soon be no longer yours.” With that, he drew a gleaming dagger from his waist. “Please, don’t make this harder.”

The Count didn’t step back. In a swift movement, he grasped a heavy fire poker and advanced. Despite his advanced age, he fought with vigor, attempting to disarm his opponent. However, the disparity in age, strength, and skill was evident.

“You’re more resilient than I expected, My Lord,” Scorpio mocked, dodging a blow. “But not enough.”

With a swift movement, he disarmed the Count, tossing the poker aside. Before the Count could react, he pushed him into a table, toppling it over along with everything on it. Bottles and crystal glasses tumbled to the ground, shattering. The Count, now defenseless, gazed directly into the eyes of his assailant.

“You can kill me, but you won’t win.” he said, his voice firm.

Scorpio tilted his head, almost in a gesture of respect. “We’ll see.” With a single blow, he drove the dagger into the Count’s chest. The old man gasped, his hand trying to reach for the weapon as he fell to the ground. Without remorse, Scorpio wiped the blade with a handkerchief, his eyes focused on the weapon as he cleaned it of blood. He silently made his way to the door, intending to head to Tabitha’s room, but then he heard rapid footsteps on the stairs.

Amelie was still awake, and the sound of movement made her get up from the chair in the sitting room, where she had been reading a book, deciding to check if the Count needed anything. Frustrated, Scorpio stopped halfway. He heard her footsteps approaching, and instinct made him turn back, fleeing without hesitation through the library window. Outside, he could still hear Amelie’s scream when she entered the study and found the Count’s body. The news spread quickly, gaining momentum and reaching London before noon. Tabitha, who was in the city, received the news while she was still recovering from the violent confrontation with Eddington. The news came as an unexpected blow. When the servant brought her the letter informing her, she froze, her hands trembling so much that the letter fell to the floor.

“My grandfather… dead?” She murmured, her voice shaking. Tabitha closed her eyes for a moment, trying to contain the pain that seemed to crush her. “I need to go to Ipswich.” she said. “I need to say goodbye to him.”

The funeral was a discreet but solemn affair. The small church in Ipswich was filled with friends and acquaintances of the Count, all coming to pay their respects to a man who had been not only a pillar of society but also a protector of the community. Tabitha remained strong by the coffin, her eyes red but dry. Ethan stood at the back, watching her, but he knew that this moment was hers. After the funeral, the family lawyer conducted the reading of the will at the mansion, now marked by the weight of the tragedy. In the study where the Count had lost his life, the lawyer opened the will before Tabitha and the few others present.

“To my granddaughter, Tabitha De Lyons, I leave all my estates, fortune, and titles. May she use them with wisdom and strength to continue our family’s legacy.” Tabitha took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the words. She was now one of the most powerful women in London, but the price had been too high. Ethan approached her after the reading and embraced her.

“Tabitha, I’m so sorry for your loss. But now, more than ever, you have to be strong.”

She nodded and turned to him with determined eyes. “Scorpio has taken everything from me, Ethan. And I won’t rest until he pays for it.”

***

The morning after the Count of Devonshire’s funeral, Ethan woke with a sense of urgency. The murder of Tabitha’s grandfather was not just a family tragedy; there was more to it. The memory of her face, devastated by grief, made his heart ache, but it also made him more determined than ever. He wouldn’t allow this crime to go unpunished. He found Tabitha in the sitting room, dressed in mourning and holding a letter in her hands. Her eyes were rimmed with red from crying, and upon seeing him, she looked up.