Page 14 of A Lyon’s Promise (The Lyon’s Den)

“Your intended will arrive shortly to sign his portion of your marriage contract. Do you wish Mr. King to see you bent over the chamber pot? And before you ask, yes, I do have more than one hidden behind the painted screen for women with weak constitutions.”

That comment grabbed Lucretia’s attention. “Weak?”

Mrs. Dove-Lyon nodded, and Lucretia wondered if the heavy lace veil she wore allowed her a clear view of those around her.

“You would be surprised how many young women are convinced they want a powerful husband with a strong mind and constitution—that is, until they meet them for the first time.” The proprietress chuckled.

“You wouldn’t be the first to cast up her accounts behind closed doors. ”

Lucretia may not have been convinced that Gavin would willingly seek out the Black Widow of Whitehall for help finding a wife—and could only imagine his reaction when he found out he’d won her hand.

She may have questioned the events that had led to tonight, but Lucretia was no coward.

She abruptly stood, hands clenched into fists at her sides—ignoring the ache in the hand that had broken Johnstone’s nose—and declared, “I will not cast up my accounts, and I am not afraid to marry Gavin King!”

“Well then,” a familiar, deep voice rumbled. “I have changed my mind and will not lambast Mrs. Dove-Lyon for her choice of challenges this evening.” Gavin inclined his head to Mrs. Dove-Lyon and strode over to where Lucretia stood. “The buttermilk, soured wine, and oysters were worth it.”

She had not realized her hands were now limp at her sides until Gavin lifted her bruised hand and brought it to his lips.

Bracing for the pain she expected when he pressed his lips to the back of her hand, she was shocked when he paused to turn her hand over, brushing his lips to the inside of her wrist. Her heart fluttered as her traitorous body went to battle with her mind to cease any and all further questions, with the exception of two: did he truly need a wife? Was this his way of watching over her?

“I’m delighted that you did not need to return to Bow Street, given the unacceptable situation that transpired,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon remarked.

“It is quite rare to have one of the ladies seeking my help threatened while in my establishment. I am relieved that Mr. King was there to prevent your being abducted, Lady Montfort.” With a slight incline of her head, she continued, “You have my gratitude, Mr. King.”

“I would never have let Lady Montfort be kidnapped, Mrs. Dove-Lyon, and am most grateful to Snug and Titan, who were there to lend a hand at a crucial moment.”

“I understand that Captain Coventry and two of your men were at the ready, expecting something of this nature to happen.”

Lucretia found her voice, remembering meeting the men once before. “Mr. Jackson and Mr. Thompson.”

Gavin’s lips twitched. Was he fighting to keep a straight face?

“I do believe, Lady Montfort, that Coventry, Jackson, and Thompson are all in awe of your right cross. Breaking that blackguard’s nose enabled us to swiftly put an end to what could have been an unnecessarily long and drawn-out confrontation. ”

“I was not about to be abducted from the Lyon’s Den.” Lucretia felt her face heat as her temper flared. “I came tonight to meet the man Mrs. Dove-Lyon hand-selected for me to marry.”

King had to hold back the anger building inside of him. Why had Lucretia not come to him first? Surely she must have known that he would have protected her! Tonight’s aborted abduction was proof that the lady needed a keeper, someone to watch over her. It galled him that she had not sought him out.

The faint scent of lily of the valley drew him closer to Lucretia. “What if Ainsley or Wayne had bested me? Would you have married someone you did not know?”

“How do you know whether or not I am acquainted with Ainsley or Wayne?” she demanded.

He wrestled with his anger until he was fully in control. “I have eyes and ears throughout the city in places I would venture to wager you have never been to—nor heard of.”

Lucretia’s eyes narrowed. When she glared at him, King realized he had underestimated the woman.

There was far more fire inside of her than he’d anticipated.

He needed to settle the ugly rumors and wagers surrounding her, and restore her reputation.

With the duke’s offer, he would uncover Montfort’s crooked solicitors’ plans to defraud her and steal her inheritance.

Leaving only one issue he had to conquer before he could woo her into his arms and his bed—he had to get past her prickly exterior without extinguishing the flames he sensed burned inside of the feisty, beautiful woman silently challenging him.

He was awed yet again by her courage—not more than a handful of his men dared to question him.

He was pleased with the flexibility of her mind, especially the way it circled a problem before striking out with a demand for answers.

And he was utterly charmed by the swift execution of her wicked right cross.

Then there were her full lips and fuller hips.

He’d best get a hold of himself, and treat their meeting as if they were on Bow Street in one of the interrogation rooms.

“I beg your pardon for forestalling our meeting, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I was allowing Lady Montfort time to say what is on her mind.” Turning to stare at Lucretia’s lovely countenance, he allowed himself half a moment to indulge his prurient thoughts, to ponder the texture and flavor of her neck beneath her left ear…

Her delicate scent beckoned him a step closer.

He gave in to need and watched her eyes widen, allowing him a closer look into their soft brown depths.

There was a faint ring of light brown—nearly golden—surrounding her pupils. Surprising. Unique. Entrancing.

He cleared his throat. “Have you been to many gambling establishments or houses of ill repute in the bowels of our city, Lady Montfort?”

Had her eyes been a weapon, he’d have been skewered on the spot.

“How dare you suggest such a thing!”

King slowly smiled. “Your implication that you were acquainted with both Ainsley and Wayne led me to believe you also knew of their favorite haunts in the stews.”

Lucretia’s eyes darkened as she narrowed them, glaring at him.

There was a silent challenge in those eyes that dared him to laugh.

King was used to situations such as this, opponents trying to evade detection or apprehension—though not with the woman he planned to marry.

He relaxed his features into a neutral expression.

It left anyone attempting to guess what he was thinking wondering.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon was silent while he and Lucretia sparred with words.

When there was a lull in the conversation, she said, “I am expected in the ladies’ observation gallery in a quarter of an hour.

Please assist Lady Montfort onto the settee.

I know you will not sit down to discuss the contracts until she has taken a seat. ”

He gave a brief nod and acquiesced. “With your permission.” He offered his arm, relieved when Lucretia did not fight him.

King actually looked forward to a bit of a battle—and the ultimate conquest—that they would engage in once they were wed.

Though, please God, let it be short lived.

He sought an oasis of peace to return to every evening after meeting and dealing with the dregs of society at both the highest and lowest levels.

So much of Lucretia’s personality indicated that she could be what he needed.

But first he had to prove himself to her.

He needed to champion her, proving to the ton that she had been unfairly and wrongly accused.

Those salacious rumors were meant to cast aspersions against her character and destroy her reputation.

Then he would go after the larcenous solicitors who’d had control over her life for too long.

Bancroft and Sons would pay dearly for their crimes against her.

A voice echoed through his head, reminding him that had it not been for their deceit, he would not be on the verge of marrying this courageous, loyal, and lovely woman.

Mayhap with Coventry’s intercession between himself and the duke’s solicitors, an agreement satisfactory to all could be reached. But he was getting ahead of himself.

Lucretia sat with a grace that had a deep satisfaction surging through him.

King had an arousing and inappropriate thought: his bride-to-be would be just as graceful were she stark naked, about to sit on the edge of their bed.

A part of him, best not encouraged at the moment, reacted to the image.

King imagined falling into an ice-covered pond in January to cool his libido.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon walked over to the door, opened it, and had a brief conversation with Titan before closing it and returning to her desk. She lifted a document off the top of the middle stack and walked over to sit in the chair next to King’s, both of which faced the settee.

“Now then, you were both made aware of the contents of this contract, which you agreed to. This is an addendum to that contract. Lady Montfort, your addendum states that you acknowledge that you have met and accept the winner of tonight’s wager and challenges as the man worthy of your hand in marriage.

” Without waiting for a response, Bessie turned to King and said, “Mr. King, your addendum states that you willingly entered the challenges, and without cheating, or seeking to distract your opponents during the challenges, you were victorious. You have met and accepted the woman you earned the right to wed.”

Lucretia’s gaze softened, and the golden ring around her eyes seemed to glow brighter.

He let his guard down for a moment, letting his gaze settle on her face—particularly her full lips, until she unconsciously licked them.

If it was on purpose, she would learn the full measure of her effect on him once they were wed.

He hoped he would be able to comfortably sit down between now and then.

It would be damned inconvenient if he were in a constant state of arousal when in the same room as her.

“Lady Montfort?” Mrs. Dove-Lyon prompted her.

“Yes. I agree. Thank you for everything you have done for me, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I am beyond grateful. If there is ever anything I may do for you, you have but to ask.”

The widow accepted the offer with a nod. “And you, Mr. King?”

“I agree, and offer the same, including the men closest to me, should you ever have need of one or more of them.”

Again, the Black Widow accepted with a nod.

There was a brief silence while Lucretia signed her addendum, passed the quill to King, and waited for him to sign his.

A knock on the door broke the silence. Tea had arrived, and with it a chance to enjoy a conversation away from prying eyes, from interfering individuals who would think to steal away his bride.

In that moment, King accepted that his feelings toward Lady Lucretia Montfort were far more than friendly.

She had inserted herself into his life and wiggled beneath his skin like a sliver of wood, almost undetectable until pressed—and then it became noticeable.

Though unlike the sliver of wood, he would never try to remove her from his life.

He wanted her there. He needed her feelings to echo his… He wanted her to love him.