The mysterious carriage was forgotten in the excitement of the following days, as Blackwood House became a hub of activity. Felicity's audience with Princess Sophia had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon, and preparations for expanding her charitable work consumed much of her time.Sarah proved invaluable in organizing the correspondence and managing the flood of offers from society ladies wanting to contribute to what was already being called "Lady Blackwood's Project" in fashionable drawing rooms."Mrs. Whitmore—the respectable one, not the doctor's wife—has offered to donate funds for housing," Sarah reported during their morning meeting in the study. "And the Duchess of Marlborough suggests we use one of her properties in Bloomsbury as headquarters.""It's almost too much," Felicity said, overwhelmed by the generosity pouring in from unexpected sources. "Three weeks ago these women were barely civil to me, and now they're offering substantial resources.""Royal approval changes everything," Sarah observed with a smile. "Though if I may say so, my lady, it's your genuine passion for helping others that's really won them over. People can sense when compassion is real versus merely fashionable."A knock at the door interrupted their planning session. Mrs. Hartwell entered with an expression that immediately set Felicity's instincts on alert."My lady, there's a gentleman here requesting an urgent audience with you. He says it concerns... a matter of some delicacy regarding your family."Felicity's stomach clenched with apprehension. "My family? But my father is dead, and Lady Margaret would certainly not send a gentleman to call on me.""He gave his name as Mr. Thomas Ashworth, my lady. He claims to be your half-brother."The world seemed to tilt slightly. Half-brother? Her father had never mentioned having any other children besides Felicity and Vivienne."Show him in," Felicity said, her voice steadier than she felt. "And Sarah, would you mind staying? I may need a witness to whatever is about to happen."The man who entered the study was perhaps thirty years old, with dark hair and eyes that bore an uncomfortable resemblance to her late father's. He was well-dressed but not fashionably so, giving the impression of comfortable means rather than wealth."Lady Blackwood," he said with a bow that was correct but stiff. "Thank you for seeing me. I realize this must come as quite a shock.""That would be an understatement, Mr. Ashworth," Felicity replied, gesturing for him to sit. "You claim to be my father's son?""His illegitimate son, to be precise," Thomas said with a bitter smile. "Born to his mistress before he married your mother. He supported us financially but never acknowledged me publicly—couldn't risk the scandal, you understand."Felicity studied the man before her, seeing traces of her father in his features but also differences that suggested another bloodline. "Why come forward now? My father has been dead for over two years.""Because," Thomas said, leaning forward earnestly, "I've learned that your new husband has been systematically destroying what remains of our father's business interests. And I thought you should know why."The mention of Adrian sent warning bells ringing in Felicity's mind. "What do you mean?""Lord Blackwood has been buying up debts, calling in loans, blocking trade agreements—all targeting businesses that were once associated with Thomas Ashworth." Thomas pulled papers from his coat pocket. "I have evidence of at least a dozen such instances. He's been waging a campaign of financial warfare against our father's legacy."Felicity felt her chest tighten, though whether with anger or hurt she couldn't immediately determine. She knew, of course, about Adrian's revenge against her father and his partners. But to hear it laid out so starkly, to see documentary evidence of the systematic destruction..."Why tell me this?" she asked carefully."Because I thought you deserved to know the truth about the man you married," Thomas said, his voice softening with what seemed like genuine concern. "Lady Blackwood—Felicity, if I may—you seem like a kind, intelligent woman who's been caught up in something that has nothing to do with you. I thought you should understand that your husband's interest in our family wasn't romantic—it was revenge.""I already know about my husband's motivations," Felicity said quietly. "He was quite honest with me about his reasons for seeking a marriage alliance with the Ashworth family."Thomas's eyes widened with surprise. "You know? And you still married him?""I married him because our families had already arranged the match, and I had little choice in the matter," Felicity replied, choosing her words carefully. She wasn't about to reveal the depth of her love for Adrian to this stranger, no matter his claims of kinship. "But I fail to see how this concerns you, Mr. Ashworth. If you are indeed my father's son, you would have no legal claim to his estate or business interests.""I'm not here seeking money," Thomas said, though something flickered in his eyes that made Felicity doubt the sincerity of the claim. "I'm here because I've discovered something about Lord Blackwood's father—something that might interest you to know."He pulled another document from his pocket, this one older and more worn. "Richard Blackwood, the late Earl, didn't just lose his business to your father and Marcus Whitmore. He was involved in something far more dangerous—espionage for the Crown."Felicity felt her breath catch. Espionage? Adrian had never mentioned anything about his father being involved in government intelligence work."You're lying," she said, but her voice lacked conviction."I wish I were," Thomas replied, sliding the document across the desk. "These are correspondence between Richard Blackwood and certain members of the Foreign Office. He was gathering intelligence on French sympathizers during the war—including some very prominent members of London society."Felicity picked up the letters with trembling hands, recognizing the Blackwood family seal even as she struggled to comprehend the implications. The correspondence was brief but damning, discussing coded messages, secret meetings, and the need for absolute discretion."If this is true," she said slowly, "then why did my father and Marcus Whitmore betray him? Why destroy a man who was serving the Crown?""That's the question, isn't it?" Thomas's smile was grim. "I believe they discovered what he was doing and decided he was too dangerous to their own interests. Whatever those interests were.""What interests?" Felicity demanded. "What are you implying?"Before Thomas could answer, the study door burst open and Adrian strode in, his expression thunderous."What the hell is going on here?" he demanded, his gray eyes blazing with fury as he took in the scene—Felicity holding the old correspondence, Thomas sitting across from her with his damning documents spread across the desk."Lord Blackwood," Thomas said, rising with a mocking bow. "How convenient. I was just telling your wife about your father's... extracurricular activities."Adrian's hands clenched into fists at his sides, and Felicity could see him struggling to maintain his composure. "Get out of my house. Now.""Adrian—" Felicity began, but he cut her off with a sharp gesture."Not now, Felicity. This man is a liar and a con artist who's been working with Victoria to destroy our marriage.""Victoria?" Felicity felt the pieces beginning to click into place. "The mysterious carriage outside Carlton House...""Was probably his," Adrian confirmed grimly. "He's been following us, gathering information, looking for vulnerabilities to exploit."Thomas's confident expression faltered slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about. I simply came here to warn Lady Blackwood about the man she married.""You came here," Adrian said, his voice deadly quiet, "because Victoria promised you money if you could drive a wedge between my wife and me. She's been funding your investigation into my family, feeding you half-truths and forged documents designed to make me look like a monster.""These documents are genuine!" Thomas protested. "Your father was a spy—""My father was many things," Adrian interrupted, "including a man who served his country with distinction. Yes, he worked with the Foreign Office during the war. It's hardly the scandal you're trying to make it seem."He turned to Felicity, his expression softening despite his obvious anger. "My love, I should have told you about my father's government work. I didn't because it's classified information that could still endanger living agents. But I never intended to deceive you about something so important."Felicity studied her husband's face, seeing truth there alongside the hurt that she had doubted him even momentarily. Then she looked at Thomas, noting the way his confidence had evaporated under Adrian's accusations, the guilt in his eyes when faced with direct confrontation."I think you should leave, Mr. Ashworth," she said quietly. "And if you truly are my father's son, I'm sorry for the circumstances of your birth. But that doesn't give you the right to interfere in my marriage based on lies and half-truths."Thomas's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "You're choosing him over your own family?""I'm choosing truth over manipulation," Felicity replied with quiet dignity. "And I'm choosing the man who's been honest with me—even when that honesty was painful—over a stranger who arrived with convenient accusations at a conveniently suspicious time."After Thomas left, escorted firmly to the door by their butler, Felicity and Adrian stood in the study surrounded by the scattered documents of attempted deception."I'm sorry," they both said simultaneously, then laughed despite the tension of the moment."You have nothing to apologize for," Adrian said, crossing the room to gather her into his arms. "I should have told you about my father's intelligence work. I should have trusted you with the full truth.""And I should have trusted you more completely," Felicity replied, her arms tightening around his waist. "I knew you were capable of revenge, but I also know you're capable of love. I should have remembered which one matters more."Adrian pulled back slightly to cup her face in his hands, his thumbs tracing the line of her cheekbones in the gesture that had become so familiar and beloved."Victoria is getting desperate," he said quietly. "First the scene at Blackwood Manor, then her visit before the Pemberton ball, and now this attempt to poison you against me. She won't stop until she's either won or been completely defeated.""Then we'll have to ensure it's the latter," Felicity said with fierce determination. "Because I'm not giving you up, Adrian Blackwood. Not for Victoria, not for mysterious half-brothers with convenient accusations, not for anyone."Adrian's kiss was passionate and claiming, full of relief and renewed determination. When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, his smile was predatory."Then it's time we stopped playing defense," he said. "Victoria wants a war? We'll give her one. But this time, we fight together as equal partners.""What did you have in mind?" Felicity asked, recognizing the dangerous gleam in his eyes."I think," Adrian said slowly, "that it's time London society learned the full truth about Lady Victoria Ashford and her schemes. And I think my clever, compassionate, now-royally-endorsed wife is exactly the person to ensure that truth comes to light."As they began planning their counteroffensive, Felicity felt a thrill of excitement mixed with apprehension. The game was escalating, but she was no longer the frightened country girl who had arrived in London weeks ago.She was Lady Blackwood, with royal patronage, society connections, and a husband who loved her enough to trust her with his darkest secrets.Victoria had chosen the wrong couple to threaten.And she was about to discover exactly how dangerous that mistake had been.
