Chapter 496: The Portraits

Chapter 495: The Portraits

Lyria’s POV

Content Warning: This Chapter contains references to sexual abuse of minors, forced pregnancy, exploitation by people in positions of power, and the death of a child. These subjects are discussed but not depicted graphically.

Lucian shook his head, though the faint amusement lingering upon his countenance suggested he found the exchange diverting.

Duke Valenridge likewise wore a small smile. He glanced about the cavern before addressing the company once more, and whatever humour had briefly softened his expression soon gave way to gravity.

"This was the safest place in which I could contrive to gather you all. Hardly a soul ventures here at this hour."

His explanation put an end to Duke Thorncrest’s light teasing.

Duke Valenridge turned towards him.

"Do you recall the day upon which we took our stroll, and the matter that then troubled you?"

"I do," Duke Thorncrest replied, with a measured nod.

Duke Valenridge then indicated Robin, who had remained a little apart behind him.

Only then did I observe the bundle of papers Robin carried. They had been carefully ordered within a file, the edges of the parchments visible where they had not been wholly secured.

Duke Valenridge motioned for him to distribute the documents among us.

"I am in possession of information concerning that matter," he said.

Robin moved among us quietly, placing a parchment in each hand. I accepted the one he offered and examined it, my brow furrowing as I studied the sheet before me.

It was covered with diagrams and annotations—Baron Redwick had told that was what they were— as well.

"How did you obtain this information with such rapidity?" Lucian inquired.

Duke Valenridge turned towards him, one eyebrow rising.

"Did you truly just put that question to me?"

Lucian released a quiet sigh and shook his head, appearing rather as though he regretted having spoken.

"I command considerable reach," Lucian said. "Yet there are occasions upon which I begin to suspect that yours exceeds my own."

Duke Valenridge offered him a smile that disclosed very little.

I glanced between the two gentlemen before returning my attention to the parchment. Whatever contest of influence they chose to pursue, I possessed neither the patience nor the inclination to join it.

"While you c-converse about r-reach," I said, "could you p-perhaps explain w-what these p-parchments are meant to r-reveal?"

Duke Valenridge indicated the papers we held.

"Examine the portraits, Your Highness."

I complied, studying the first, then the second, and thereafter the remainder placed before me. With each successive likeness my frown deepened.

The faces were unfamiliar, yet there was something in them that I recognised. It was not any single feature, but rather a resemblance that persisted throughout the collection—the shape of the eyes, the line of the jaw, the expression with which each subject regarded the painter.

"Th-they look f-familiar," I murmured at length.

"That," Duke Valenridge replied, "is precisely the difficulty."

He permitted us a moment to examine the parchments before he continued.

"Duke Thorncrest first directed my attention to the matter. He observed that a great many of the inhabitants of Gallowshill bear an extraordinary resemblance to certain persons of the nobility. And so I resolved to seek information regarding the matter."

"I had commenced my own inquiries," Lucian added. "Though I had not yet obtained anything conclusive."

"Then explain it c-clearly," I said, raising my gaze from the parchment. "I d-do not wish to rush to c-conclusions merely because the likenesses are s-striking."

"Your conclusions would be correct," Duke Valenridge said, "if you suspect that Gallowshill serves as a repository for those whom the powerful would prefer to forget."

The words settled upon us with a weight that the gentle sound of the water could not lighten.

I looked down at the portraits once more.

A repository. I did not wish to credit it, yet the evidence inclined strongly towards such a conclusion.

Duke Valenridge’s expression grew more solemn.

"Surely you must have wondered concerning Ursula," he said to me.

Duke Thorncrest’s head turned sharply towards him.

"Have a care," he warned in a low voice. "What if some person is nearby?"

Duke Valenridge did not appear greatly troubled by the possibility.

"There is no one. Those who make use of this place by night do not ordinarily gather at this hour. Moreover, I have men stationed without who will apprise me should any approach."

He paused, and then added with a quiet laugh,

"It ought to be noted, however, that one of them is Tommy—hence my suggestion that we conclude this business with all reasonable promptness. Tommy is not someone upon whom I should care to place excessive reliance when vigilance is required."

Robin gave a soft chuckle at that.

"I have Isaac keeping watch as well," Lucian announced.

I took care not to betray my surprise. I had not observed Isaac throughout our walk here, until this moment I had been wholly unaware that the man stood on guard.

"Then I appear to be the only one among us who has brought no one to keep watch," Duke Thorncrest remarked with a light laugh.

A brief silence followed as Duke Valenridge regarded him steadily.

"Is that so?" he inquired at length.

The two gentlemen continued to look upon one another, and even Lucian glanced between them, a faint frown upon his brow.

Duke Valenridge eventually smiled and returned to the matter at hand, as though no undercurrent of tension had passed between himself and Duke Thorncrest.

He turned towards me once more.

"Surely you must have wondered how a woman such as Ursula came to have a grandchild of Obadiah’s years."

I nodded slowly.

The thought had crossed my mind before, though I had not pursued it. Ursula appeared far too young to be a grandmother, and yet she had spoken of Obadiah as her grandchild without the least apparent hesitation.

"Ursula was brought to childbed when she was but fourteen years of age," Duke Valenridge said. "She was compelled to do so."

For a moment I could only stare at him.

The words were plain enough, yet my mind seemed reluctant to accept their full import. Fourteen was scarcely an age at which a girl ought to have been expected to comprehend the weight of the world, still less to endure such a fate at the hands of another.

At fourteen I had been within the palace—subjected to ill-usage, yes, yet not to this degree.

Duke Valenridge continued, his voice measured and even.

"There is a file concerning her circumstances..."