Chapter 14
Alexander sat behind his mahogany desk, reviewing correspondence that had arrived with the evening post, though his mind was still filled with memories of the previous night's passionate encounter with Catherine.
The taste of her kisses, the feel of her skin beneath his hands, the weight of the secrets he had finally shared—all of it made the mundane business of ducal responsibilities feel surreal.
A knock at the door interrupted his reverie.
"Come in," Alexander called, setting aside a letter from his banker.
Anthony entered, and Alexander knew at once that something had settled in him. There was none of the easy banter on his face tonight.
"Alex." Anthony closed the door behind him. "I have done my thinking. I am here. Whatever this is — I am with you."
Alexander rose, the relief moving through him before he could school it. He had not, until this moment, allowed himself to believe his cousin would come back.
"Sit. Please."
Anthony straightened in his chair, his casual demeanor replaced by focused intensity. "I am listening."
Alexander leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk before him. "I have a plan to expose the men involved in the illegal slave trade. Not just to gather evidence or document their crimes, but to bring them down completely."
Anthony was quiet for a long moment, processing this revelation. "But we have a business connected to all this," he said finally. "The diamond factory that Uncle purchased. If you expose the trade networks, our supply chains will be destroyed along with theirs."
Alexander's smile was grim but satisfied. "I am not naive enough to expose this conspiracy without taking care of our business interests first."
"What do you mean?"
"I plan to send Jack back to South Africa under a false identity, with our family seal and official documents. He will make contact with the local tribes and mining communities directly—the people who actually extract the diamonds from the earth."
Anthony's eyebrows rose. "Contact them directly? But the intermediary companies handle all that—"
"The British intermediary companies who exploit them," Alexander interrupted. "Jack will propose a fair trade deal. We will buy diamonds directly from the source, cutting out the corrupt middlemen entirely."
Understanding began to dawn on Anthony's face. "And then when the deal is secured..."
"Then I expose the illegal trade networks. The corrupt British companies will be destroyed, their supply lines severed, their reputations ruined." Alexander's smile turned predatory.
"And we will have a monopoly on ethically sourced diamonds, being the only major British company with a legitimate, direct trade relationship.
" Anthony leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from concern to admiration.
"Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. We get control of the entire market while they get the punishment they deserve. "
"Precisely."
"But Alex," Anthony's expression grew serious again, "if you expose them yourself—if you personally present this evidence—you will become public enemy number one overnight.
Every corrupt official, every dirty businessman, every man with something to hide will see you as a mortal threat.
Things will get very ugly, very quickly. "
Alexander's jaw tightened. "I know. That is the part of the plan I am still working to solve."
He paused, turning the pen over once between his fingers, and then he set it down.
"And to be honest, cousin, things have become a great deal more complicated than they were even a fortnight ago.
When I came home, my plan was simple — expose these men, and accept whatever it cost me personally.
I had nothing left to lose, or so I believed.
" His eyes met Anthony's. "I no longer have that luxury.
There is someone I will need to shield through all of this.
Someone whose name cannot be anywhere near mine until this is finished. "
Anthony's mouth curved, slow and knowing.
"Tell me, Alex — does this someone have a particular pair of blue eyes? The sort, perhaps, that could persuade a man to spill every secret he has ever kept?"
Alexander gave a short, surprised laugh — the first proper laugh of the evening. "I am quite certain you have already figured it out."
"Of course."
Anthony was quiet for several moments, his mind clearly working through the implications. "Your plan is masterful, cousin. But we must solve the problem of your personal safety — and hers — before we proceed with any exposure."
"I agree. Which is why I have already informed Jack of the first phase. He will be leaving in five days to secure the trade deal."
"Five days?" Anthony's voice carried a note of protest. "Alex, until the others are exposed and eliminated from the market, our profit margins will suffer considerably.
We will be paying fair wages to the miners while our competitors continue to exploit cheap labor.
We will be at a significant financial disadvantage. "
Alexander met his cousin's concerned gaze steadily. "I know. But I am willing to take that risk. The moral cost of continuing to profit from exploitation, even temporarily, is higher than any financial loss we might suffer."
Anthony studied his cousin's face, seeing the unwavering determination there. After a long moment, he nodded slowly. "If you are willing to absorb those losses, then I am with you completely. Though I still think we need to find a way to protect you when the time comes to present the evidence."
"We will," Alexander assured him. "Jack's mission is just the first step. Once we have our ethical supply chain secured, we will work on the problem of how to expose the corruption without painting a target on my back."
"What about allies? Surely there are other men of influence who would support justice over profit?"
Alexander thought of Lady Beatrice and her network of reform-minded individuals. "I am working on that as well. There are... connections being developed. People who understand that change is necessary."
Anthony's knowing smile suggested he suspected those connections might involve a certain young lady, but he was diplomatic enough not to press for details.
"And what specifically do you want of me, Alex? You did not call me here only to share the shape of things. You have work for me."
"I do." Alexander allowed himself a small smile. "Two things. First — the factory. I cannot oversee it and the rest of this at the same time, I want you in there. Books impeccable, staff treated honestly, the operation ready to shift seamlessly to Jack's line when the time comes."
"Done. And the second?"
"Harder. People do not trust me yet. The mysterious duke asking pointed questions — they do not invite me to the smaller rooms anymore.
You they will invite. You are a Harrington with no particular cause and a charming manner, and you are everywhere already.
I need you in those rooms. I need you to listen — not to push, not to ask.
Just to be there. And tell me what you hear. "
Anthony's grin came slow and a little fierce. "So I am to be your spy."
"You are to be my cousin who happens to be at the right dinners."
"Same thing. More elegantly phrased." He inclined his head. "I accept both posts."
"Very well. I will begin reviewing our financial reserves and preparing for the temporary reduction in profits. If we are doing this, we will do it properly."
"Thank you, Anthony. Your support means more than you know."
"We are family, Alex. And more than that, what you are planning... it is the right thing to do. Uncle Charles would be proud."
Alexander felt a tightness in his chest at the mention of his father. "I hope so. I hope that when this is all over, the Harrington name will stand for something more than just wealth and privilege."
"It will," Anthony said with conviction. "Justice, integrity, and the courage to do what is right regardless of the personal cost. That is a legacy worth fighting for."
Anthony stood up and went to the decanter and poured two glasses of brandy. "Well, in the meantime, you will need to wear your enigmatic Duke mask perfectly. We have a ball to attend."
Alexander looked up from the papers on his desk. "A ball?"
"One of the most powerful men in England is hosting it.
Everyone who matters will be there—politicians, industrialists, colonial investors.
It is the kind of event where fortunes are made and political alliances are forged.
" Anthony's expression grew more serious.
"The invitation arrived yesterday. The ball is being hosted by the Duke of Cornwall. "
Alexander's hands stilled on his papers. The Duke of Cornwall—a man whose name appeared on more of his incriminating documents than any other, whose shipping investments and colonial enterprises formed the backbone of the illegal trade networks Alexander was determined to destroy.
"The Duke of Cornwall," Alexander repeated slowly, his voice taking on a dangerous edge.
"The very same. The man who probably has more financial interests in the South African colonies than anyone else in the empire." Anthony studied his cousin's face, noting the way Alexander's jaw had tightened. "Alex, I can see what you are thinking, but—"
"This will be interesting," Alexander interrupted, his voice carrying a cold fury that made Anthony take a step back.
"When is this ball?"
"Next Saturday evening. And Alex—the Fairfax family always receives invitations to events of this magnitude."
Alexander felt his pulse quicken at the thought of seeing Catherine in the same room where he would have to pretend courtesy toward her father's restrictions and his own burning desire for justice. "Then I will need to be even more careful."
Alexander set the papers down. "It is too much for one evening, Anthony. Let us walk."
Anthony's eyebrows lifted. "In the middle of the night?"