Marriage Trouble

Once outside the manor, he took a deep breath of the crisp morning air. The sun casting a pale glow over the city. The cobblestone streets were still wet with dew, and the distant sounds of the awakening city were a stark contrast to the quiet solitude of the manor.

Aldwyn hailed a carriage, the driver's eyes widening slightly at the sight of the enigmatic figure. He paid the driver ten lexus and watched it disappear into the man's grubby hand. The horse snorted and the carriage set off with a jerk, the wheels rattling over the stones. As they drove through the deserted streets, the town began to stir, the shutters of stores and windows creaking open to reveal sleepy eyes and yawning mouths.

The journey was indeed brief, and soon the carriage pulled up before a grand estate, its high walls shrouded in ivy and its wrought-iron gates looming like the bars of a gilded cage. The house itself was a bastion of opulence, with its gleaming windows reflecting the nascent sun and its red-tiled roof piercing the early-morning fog like a crown of jewels.

„And I only get five hundred Lexus..." Aldwyn complained mentally.

The door to the estate swung open before Aldwyn could even knock, revealing a man with a furrowed brow and a stiff posture, dressed in the finery of a lord's steward. "Can I help you?" the man inquired, his voice tight with anxiety.

"I am Aldwyn," he replied, his tone cold and professional. "Here to see Sir Henry Snall. The reason i'm here is, because of his issue with his wife."

The steward's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded, beckoning Aldwyn to follow him. They passed through a grand foyer with a gleaming marble floor and an elaborate chandelier that cast a soft, flickering light across the walls. The air was heavy with the scent of roses and the faint scent of parchment and ink from nearby studies.

Sir Henry Snall waited in a dimly lit library, surrounded by books. His eyes, sunken with lack of sleep, searched Aldwyn's face for any trace of pity or judgment. Instead, they found only cold determination.

Sir Henry was a man in his mid-forties, his hair a fading brown that clung to his scalp in a desperate attempt at youth. His cheeks were hollow, and his clothes, though expensive, hung loosely on his frame, hinting at a man who had lost his appetite for the finer things in life. His attire was impeccable, a deep blue frock coat with brass buttons over a crisp white shirt and a crimson waistcoat, all tailored to perfection. A silver pocket watch, a family heirloom, ticked ominously in his pocket, a constant reminder of the time slipping away from him.

„It doesn't require any special insight to see that he is really depressed..." Aldwyn observed.

The steward left them alone, closing the heavy oak door with a click that seemed to echo through the hushed library.

"Please," Sir Henry said, gesturing to a plush armchair. His voice was a whisper of its former authority. "Tell me you can help me..."

Aldwyn sat, his gaze unwavering. "I will try my best. But first I need some answers... First of all, can you tell me who you are and what you do for living?"

The reason Aldwyn asked this question was not necessarily, because of the case, but rather to learn more about Sir Henry. However, his work or his personality may also be a reason why this situation developed.

Sir Henry's eyes searched the floor. "I am a merchant," he said, his voice barely audible. "I deal in... rare goods, mostly. Nothing that would concern you, I assure you."

Aldwyn leaned back, his gaze never leaving the man's face. "And your wife?" he prompted, his voice a low murmur.

Sir Henry's eyes snapped up, a spark of anger flickering in their depths. "Lady Verdie," he said, his voice tight with emotion. "She is... was... everything to me. We were married for ten years, and she never gave me any reason to doubt her loyalty. Until now."

He took a deep, shaky breath, his hands trembling slightly. "She spends her days managing the household, seeing to our guests' needs, and... other matters." His voice trailed off, and he looked away, unable to meet Aldwyn's gaze. "In her free time, she paints. Watercolors mostly, of the garden and the flowers. It's... it's a gentle pastime."

"But something has changed," Aldwyn pressed, his voice as soft as a whisper in the hushed library. "What happened that makes you suspect her?"

Sir Henry's eyes searched the room as if the shadows themselves held the answers he so desperately sought. "It's... it's hard to explain," he stuttered, his hands fidgeting with the edge of his waistcoat. "I've found letters, secret meetings... things that don't add up."

He took a deep, ragged breath and reached into a drawer, pulling out a stack of crumpled paper. "These," he said, sliding them across the table towards Aldwyn. "These are the letters. They're from her, to someone else."

Aldwyn's eyes narrowed as he picked up the letters, his gaze flickering over the delicate script. The paper was scented with jasmine, and the handwriting was elegant. He read through the words, his expression unchanging, but his mind racing.

„I hope this letter reaches you in a good mood. I've been thinking a lot lately and wanted to share some thoughts with you. Unfortunately, I'm not doing this in person, but sometimes it's hard to find the right words.

„Over the last few months, I've often wondered if we sometimes move in different directions. Routine has always given us security, but sometimes I feel like... I need something new and exciting in my life, something to help me feel right again. Maybe it's just a way of finding myself.

„I have made a few new relationships that really help me to feel myself again. They are refreshing and inspiring, and they bring an energy to my life that I sometimes miss so much. I wanted you to know this to prevent any misunderstandings.

„It's not that I'm not happy with my normal life, quite the opposite! It's important to me and I appreciate everything I've achieved. But I can't deny, that I desire some change, new experiences and the opportunity to see something from a different side.

„I hope that we can continue to talk about these feelings in an open conversation. V."

After Aldwyn finished the reading, he placed the letters on the table and thought about the possibilities.

„This letter doesn't really prove, that she cheated on him... There are many possibilities to consider. The best thing would be to follow her for a while or look for more clues..." He thought to himself.

"Where is your wife at this moment?" Aldwyn's voice was sharp, cutting through the silence of the library.

Sir Henry's shoulders slumped further. "She's with her family," he said, his words a heavy weight in the room. "Her mother is unwell, and she insisted on staying with her."

Aldwyn nodded, his expression unreadable. "I need the address," he said, his voice firm and unyielding.

Sir Henry's hand trembled as he scribbled down the information on a piece of paper and pushed it across the table. "Her mother's estate is in the countryside," he said, his eyes pleading. "Please, be discreet. I don't want to cause her any undue distress."

Aldwyn took the note, tucking it into his cloak. "I will handle this with the utmost care," he assured the man, his voice a calm contrast to the turmoil in the room.

....