Chapter Forty Three - Hidden Motives

Amelia's concern deepened. "Has Alessandro noticed any of this?" James shook his head. "Mr. Alessandro has been... preoccupied. And Mr. Dante is very careful around him." As their conversation concluded, Amelia felt a mix of gratitude and unease. She was gathering valuable information, but the picture it painted was increasingly troubling. Over the next few days, Amelia continued her discreet meetings. She spoke with Sophia, a young maid who had been pressured by Dante to spy on Alessandro's comings and goings. Carlo, the groundskeeper, revealed that Dante had been making unusual demands about access to certain parts of the estate. With each conversation, Amelia carefully built a network of allies. She listened to their grievances, offered words of support, and subtly encouraged their loyalty to Alessandro. It was a delicate balance, but Amelia knew she needed their help if she was going to protect Alessandro and expose Dante's schemes. As the days passed, the atmosphere in the ma