3rd person pov
"Stop the carriage here" the voice came barely above a whisper yet the coachman nodded and stopped the carriage.
A man covering his face with his handkerchief came out from a carriage that did not have any flag or symbol. He looked around like a thief and when he was sure that no one was around only then did he move forward.
His steps were hasty as he walked towards the darkest palace of the empire. Instead of walking to the main entrance, the man walked behind the palace towards a wall and then pressed the night lamp. The lever turned and a secret passage opened.
He again looked around and when he was sure there was no one, he entered the passage and then closed the door. Walking in, he looked at the man who was sitting on a leather chair in the darkest area of the hall.
The hall had nothing but a leather chair, an office table and some papers. The old man did not turn when he heard the footsteps.
"Why did it take you so much time, Alcantra?" asked the old man and the man who had hid his face with a handkerchief finally removed it.
"Do you know how difficult the plan was, Wiltshire? What if things haven't gone the way you have predicted?" asked the man grumbling but the man just chuckled.
"Then you are not a fool to execute my plan. You would have just presented your business plan and would have come back. Now do not be angry, we are almost there." said marques Wiltshire with a laugh, his eyes were filled with malicious glint.
"Marianne was there just as you have predicted, and her brother left just as i entered as you have predicted. But I still didn't understand, how do you know that lord James was going out and Marianne would come there?" asked Alcantra, wiping the sweat from his face and then sitting on the other side of the table.
"Because they still did not know but they are just the pawn of a game. They think they are smart just because they are winning from Isabella. Ha! They did not know that she is also just a pawn. Soon they all will be trapped from where they would not be able to come out their whole life.`` The man has an evil smile on his face.
As if he was not talking about killing others and trapping his own daughter that was left. He was looking eccentric but Alcantra did not care. All he cared about was the business. He had decided clearly that if the Monique would accept his offer then he would not support this sick marquees.
But if she rejected then he would have no choice but to listen to him as the marquees were ready to invest gold in his dreams.
"I have done my deal. As you wanted i mixed the medicine in the drink monique was having before i went there. And I made sure that she did not get a single sip until I was there.
I have even seen her daughter walking towards the office when I was leaving. The whole process was so risky, yet I have done it. Now it is time to complete your part of the deal" said earl Alcantra, though he was trying to sound strong, his voice was still weak.
"Of course, a promise is a promise." said the man with a chuckle. Then he opened the cupboard and took out some papers from it. He gave them a look and then threw it towards earl Alcantra.
Alcantra gritted his teeth at the insult but took the papers anyway. He opened them and read them carefully. Once he was sure everything was right, he nodded and stood up.
"Alcantra, do not do anything that will make them suspicious. Cassius will come to you soon. Or maybe even James. But you have to act like you did not know a thing. You just went there to talk about business. Monique was not interested so after exchanging pleasantries you left.
Even if someone asks have you seen Marianne coming there or talking, deny clearly. What happened to their family has nothing to do with you, and if they are trying to drag you they are using their powers as a tyrant.`` Each word of marquees Wiltshire was like a threat to earl Alcantra who visibly gulped and then nodded and left with hurried footsteps. Once marquees Wiltshire was sure that the man was gone. He laughed hard.
"Do you think that he would not get caught?" came the voice from the other side.
"If he will, it has nothing to do with us, just that bitch would be saved again." spat marquess Wiltshire in anger.
"Well, she is a stunning bitch at least, if she needs help I will gladly help her, in exchange she has to be my paramour." commented Philip shrugging his shoulders.
"And you think Isabella would let it happen?" asked marquees Wiltshire tilting his head. Though he was talking about his own daughter's future, there was one humor in his eyes.
"Who cares, it is not like I am going to marry her. She offered herself to me and I did not say 'no' to the ladies. After all, I am a gentleman" laughed Philip, and so as marquees Wiltshire.
"She had to be the widow of Cassius anyway, so that she can have the right over all the dukedom. Then I will marry her to one of my pawns later. But for now, I want you to go to the Essendson palace and subtly, without being noticed at all, create a doubt in everyone's mind.
After all, Marianne was alone in the room with Monique when monique felt unconscious and spilled blood. Who else can give her poison except her own daughter who was habitual of having power and was getting irritated by her mother's continuous interference in her life and lack of freedom." the both laughed again.