Ch#155
Macauliffe proved to be far more guarded than his reputation suggested. Ivan had been relentless with his warnings, painting everyone from the East as a potential threat, yet Billy remained unconvinced. Billy viewed life like a game of strategy; he was the sort of man who delighted in promoting a humble pawn to the rank of Queen, and he was certain he could orchestrate a similar transformation here.
He had spent the last several days lecturing anyone within earshot about the nature of human bias. According to Billy, people were inherently shallow. He argued that clothing served as a definitive marker of status. In his view, even the most high-born individual would be dismissed as a commoner if they dressed the part, regardless of their natural grace. While physical beauty played a role, he insisted that a simple change of wardrobe was the ultimate tool for deception.
Breaking off his lecture, Billy shifted his eyes toward the corner of the room and inquired if the process was finally complete.
A maid told him to look away. Though the Woodpecker estate employed a full staff, they were rarely seen in the main halls. The Duke’s solitary lifestyle meant they had little to do, so the opportunity to actually practice their craft had energized them. They stood at their stations like soldiers, obsessing over every detail of Adi’s appearance.
The only frustration for the styling team was the length of Adi’s hair. It wasn’t quite long enough for the elaborate styles they envisioned, so they opted to sweep it upward and pin it securely to hide the shorter locks. Once the hair was set, they picked out jewelry to complement the style, then selected a gown that matched the gems—a backwards approach to dressing, but necessary under the circumstances.
When Billy pointed out that the Duke was already waiting, one of the maids snapped at him to be patient. Adi, meanwhile, remained a silent participant in her own transformation, having no say in the matter.
The air in Woodpecker had grown slightly crisper as the humidity broke, though the sun still beat down with a fierce intensity. Yuls had chosen to wait in a garden nestled deep within a thicket of trees. A lone table occupied a small clearing that looked as though it had been intentionally left vacant of foliage for this very purpose.
Dimitri and Gavin stood like sentries behind the seated Duke. Above them, the branches were heavy with a staggering number of birds; calling it a flock felt like an understatement. Billy led the way as Adi approached the clearing, with the train of maids following in her wake.
The birds seemed to watch their arrival with a singular, unsettling focus, as if they were verifying the identity of the newcomer.
Dimitri stepped forward to assist Adi with her chair. She sat down with a visible lack of grace, clearly unfamiliar with the social choreography of having someone seat her. Once she was settled, the staff retreated to a distance that ensured privacy while Dimitri remained nearby to serve them.
Dimitri suggested she try to smile, noting that a pleasant expression would make her appear more mysterious as he poured the tea.
The plan centered on the certainty that Macauliffe would eventually seek Adi out. Since they couldn’t predict the timing, Billy had argued that she should simply inhabit the role of the Duke’s betrothed around the clock. He believed that shedding her armor for a gown would make her appear more approachable and less like a threat, lowering Macauliffe’s guard.
Adi, however, hadn’t been willing to go completely defenseless. She had insisted on having various weapons hidden within the layers of the dress. Yuls had backed her up, agreeing that the added security was wise. Consequently, the elegant silk concealed a lethal arsenal, which the maids had worked tirelessly to mask.
Adi asked if a smile was truly all that was required. She was worried about the specifics of the encounter—what if the Viscount tried to take her hand or grew aggressive? Yuls had reassured her that Macauliffe wouldn’t be so bold at the start. He explained that the man would first attempt to gauge her character and confirm his own theories before making a move.
Yuls took a sip of his tea. He had long since stopped the practice of consuming toxins, as his constitution had reached its limit. Still, he seemed restless, occasionally rubbing the back of his neck or stretching his shoulders to ease some internal tension.
Adi suggested that if the man was waiting for proof of her disloyalty to the Duke, she might as well just give him what he wanted. Yuls shook his head, explaining that it needed to feel genuine. She had to play the part of a cunning political player.
Dimitri interrupted to mention that she bore a striking resemblance to Count Grimaldi, particularly when she let herself smile. It was a comparison she had heard many times before. In the past, she had lacked the will to argue, and now she realized that people would see what they wanted to see regardless of what she said.
They concluded that a smile was her best defense against difficult questions.
The only variable was Macauliffe’s timing. Ivan had tried to track the man’s movements, but the Viscount was too paranoid to let anyone get close. To bypass this, they had recruited a young, unassuming servant boy to act as a mole. The boy was motivated by a desperate need to survive and reported every detail for the price of a single copper.
The latest intelligence suggested that Macauliffe was watching her closely and would likely strike when she appeared to be alone.
Today was the day they would test that theory. They had manufactured a reason for her to be in the garden—a brief tryst with the Duke—after which Yuls would depart for his duties. Adi would then dismiss her attendants, leaving herself exposed.
They had no way of knowing how the Viscount would react, but Ivan had insisted on additional surveillance. He knew Macauliffe would be able to spot any human guards hiding in the brush.
Yuls leaned against the delicate table, his large frame looking almost comical against the small piece of furniture. He smiled warmly as he mentioned that witches were known to be friends of animals. Gavin, watching from the periphery, seemed to notice something in the distance, but Adi kept her gaze fixed forward.
When Adi asked if there was an actual pact between witches and beasts, Yuls laughed. He explained that while there was no formal agreement, animals simply tended to follow the whims of those with witch-blood. It was a trait he shared, which was why he never kept pets. He found the psychic noise of their thoughts and feelings to be overwhelming.
He recalled that as a child, animals were more willing to do him favors, though things were different now. He then asked if she had any affinity for creatures herself.
Adi admitted a fondness for horses but confessed she had little experience with anything else. She noted that small animals made her nervous; they seemed so fragile that she feared she might accidentally crush them.
Yuls joked that sleeping next to a horse would be a difficult feat, but Adi pointed out that stable hands did it regularly. Yuls reminded her that she wasn’t a stable hand. He began to wonder what kind of horse would suit her—perhaps something spirited and intelligent—but his thoughts were cut short when Dimitri announced Macauliffe’s arrival.
Yuls looked toward the path. The young servant was there, looking proud of himself for leading the target to the garden. With a quiet scoff, Yuls stood up to prepare for the performance. He expressed a wish that they had more time, but the plan had to proceed. Dimitri and Gavin gave his clothes a final adjustment.
Before leaving, Yuls stepped toward Adi, who met his eyes steadily. He told her to simply follow the flow of the conversation and thanked her for her help. Then, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. He started to reach for her hair but pulled back, remembering how much work the maids had put into the style.
He called her his love and wished her luck before turning to leave with his entourage. Adi watched them go, then began a silent countdown. She needed to wait long enough to seem natural—not too fast, but not too slow.
After three minutes, she waved the maids away. Silence fell over the garden, save for the rustle of the leaves. She closed her eyes to listen for Macauliffe, but the sound of the wind only served to mask his approach.
The Viscount eventually spoke her name, his voice tinged with surprise. He had initially dismissed her as nothing more than a beautiful soldier, but the revelation that she was Grimaldi’s daughter—and the one who had poisoned the Duke—had changed everything. He was baffled by how she had managed to turn someone as loyal as Bert Dean to her cause.
He noted that they had met before and expressed his shock at seeing her in such a prestigious position. When he asked if the Duke was aware of her true nature, Adi played dumb, claiming she didn’t follow his meaning.
Macauliffe wondered aloud what she had done to earn the Duke’s trust. He speculated that she might have used her beauty to manipulate him, noting that kings throughout history were suckers for a pretty face. He mentioned again how much she looked like the Countess.
Adi remained stone-faced until he finished. Then, she flashed a sharp, knowing smile that seemed to mock his very presence. Without a word, she stood up. The Viscount instinctively recoiled.
Despite knowing she was a knight, he seemed startled by her height as she loomed over him. She told him that regardless of his goals, she wished him luck. Her voice was cold, making it clear that the sentiment was anything but sincere.
She turned and walked away, leaving him to stare after her in the silence of the garden.