Chapter 37: Unraveling Shadows
Eloise sat in the quiet, sun-drenched drawing room of Lady Danbury's house, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she recounted her distressing encounter with Sebastian to Violet and Lord Marcus Anderson. The atmosphere was thick with concern, each word Eloise spoke seeming to deepen the unease in the room.
"Sebastian seems to be harboring a deep vendetta against the lords and ladies of the ton," Eloise explained, her voice tinged with disbelief and worry. "His demeanor... it was as if he's been utterly consumed by this grudge."
Violet, ever the pragmatist, responded with a furrowed brow. "This goes beyond mere business rivalry or social grievances. We need to understand the root of this for Sebastian's sake," she declared, her maternal instincts roused not just for her own child, but for the troubled man who had once been as dear as a son to her.
Lord Anderson nodded in agreement, his face set in a grim line. "I will reach out to Richard Ryder, the Home Secretary. He should have access to Sebastian's military records. Perhaps there's something there that can shed light on this drastic change."
A couple of days later, Eloise and Marcus found themselves in the austere office of Lord Ryder, a room that bore the weight of countless state secrets and political decisions. Lord Ryder, a stern man known for his no-nonsense approach, greeted them with a nod, his eyes briefly flickering with surprise at Eloise's presence.
"I must warn you, Miss Bridgerton," Lord Ryder began, his tone grave, "the details of Captain Foxworth's military service are not... pleasant. They might even be considered unsuitable for a lady's ears."
Eloise met his gaze steadily, her determination unwavering. "I appreciate your concern, Lord Ryder, but I am here to understand the truth, no matter how harsh it may be."
Acknowledging her resolve with a slight incline of his head, Lord Ryder proceeded to divulge the contents of Sebastian's military file. "Captain Foxworth executed two of his superiors—Colonel Harrington and Captain Dixon. Both men were beheaded, an act that led to Sebastian being slated for court-martial."
Eloise gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in horror, while Marcus leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Why would he commit such an act? Was there any justification provided?"
"The records from that period are... sparse," Lord Ryder admitted. "But it occurred following a particularly brutal engagement in Kingston, Ontario. The official report merely notes that the executions were conducted in the aftermath, without further explanation. However, Sebastian was never court-martialed. The Queen intervened, much to the chagrin of the high command."
Marcus, puzzled, pressed further. "What could have possibly justified such intervention from the Queen herself?"
Lord Ryder shrugged slightly, a gesture that conveyed the opacity of political and royal machinations. "It's not for us to know all the reasons. What is clear, though, is that following this incident, Captain Foxworth took command of his regiment and began operating with a level of independence that was highly unusual. While his methods were unorthodox, even harsh, they were undeniably effective. He garnered the respect of the Prime Minister and, apparently, continued favor from the Queen."
The gravity of this information hung heavily in the air. Eloise felt a mix of horror and sadness at the thought of the gentle, intelligent man she had known being capable of such violence. Yet, she also sensed that there was more to the story—pieces of the puzzle that were still missing.
"Lord Ryder," Marcus inquired, "is there anyone who might shed more light on this? Someone who was there?"
"There is one person," Lord Ryder conceded after a moment's hesitation. "Lieutenant Martin Hayes, he was Sebastian's second-in-command at the time. If anyone knows the full story, it would be him."
Eloise nodded, her resolve hardening. "We must speak with him, then."
Lord Ryder offered them the necessary details to find Lieutenant Hayes, cautioning them once more about delving into such dark waters. As Eloise and Marcus left his office, the corridors of power echoing with the soft thud of their steps, Eloise felt a cold determination settle over her.
As they prepared for their next steps, the weight of the looming confrontation with Lieutenant Hayes—and potentially with Sebastian's darker past—loomed large. Yet Eloise knew that understanding the truth was the only way to possibly bring back the man they had lost to the shadows of war.