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Swallowing hard, Laurel took his arm and they approached the sanctuary of the church. Opening the door, she saw the pews were full.

Lady Katherine, seated next to the handsome Lord Thomas Winchester, gave her an encouraging smile and a nod of approval. Behind them, two of Laurel’s dearest friends, sisters Lady Lydia and Lady Susan Forrester, daughters of the Earl of Suffington, were seated. Lady Lydia gave her a small wave.

Laurel took a bit of comfort knowing her friends were here to support her. Even if she wished to be anywhere but here.

The organ music started, and bridesmaid Cassie began the long walk down the aisle.

The guests all stood as Laurel and Richard paused in the arched doorway. Looking past Cassie to the altar, Laurel saw her groom waiting for her.

Moving her gaze to the crucifix over the altar, she said a silent prayer to be saved from this fate.

In response, there was a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder.

Before she and her escort could take a step forward, they were surrounded by a cluster of uniformed constables.

"Richard Bernard," the leader of the group said in a voice which boomed from the marble walls of the sanctuary.

"You are under arrest for thirteen counts of financial fraud and crimes against the crown. "

Meanwhile, on the other side of town.

The Griffin Club

Born to His Grace Edward Clutter, the Duke of Maitland and his wife, the Duchess of Maitland, nee Lady Edna Horsely, a son, Lord Peter Clutter, Viscount Whitseck, on the 15th of April.

Seated in a deep leather chair near a long bank of windows at London’s most exclusive gentlemen’s club, Lord Julian Ashford, Earl of Strathmore, read the brief newspaper announcement and felt again the shuddering humiliation of having been dumped by the aforementioned Lady Edna Horsely.

Admittedly, he had not spoken of his aspirations toward the comely daughter of a neighbor to his grandfather's estate, Hazelden. He’d had every intention of doing so.

In fact, he had been so distracted with nerves over his plan to first speak with Lady Edna, affirming his great affection for her and asking for her hand in marriage, followed by the far more daunting task of speaking to her father and asking his permission to wed his firstborn daughter, that he had been careless in his activities at the mine.

That carelessness resulted in devastation of such severity that at times he wished for death.

Taking a deep breath and an even deeper swallow of brandy, Julian fought off the memories and by the sheer force of his will, returned his thoughts to the present moment.

Next to him, rain pelted the windows, and he glanced out at the downpour drenching the streets of London. A flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder followed, making him glad to be inside rather than out in the storm.

He flipped to the financial pages, but the paper was ripped from his hands before he had a chance to read the latest prices for copper and sales forecasts for the summer.

"What the blazes..." he said, glaring upward at the newspaper thief.

"Ah, I heard a report of Cyclops being in town. Lock up the women and children." Maxwell Darlington, Baron of Darlington, took up the paper and sat down across from Julian.

Caught off guard by the sudden disappearance of his newspaper, Julian forgot his composure for a moment and his fingers instinctively touched the patch covering his worthless left eye. Would that the surgeon had simply cut it from his head rather than leaving him with the useless orb.

Just as quickly, he lowered his hand. "Good afternoon, Darlington. I have not seen you the entire month I have been in town. Where have you been?"

Maxwell’s hair was a bit damp but otherwise, his appearance was pristine and no one would know he’d just been out in a beastly rainstorm.

"Ah, I was on a junket with my sisters in Bath and now I have returned and made myself available to you, though I find it hard to believe you would expect to see anyone," his friend replied glibly.

"I am pleased my loss of an eye brings you such enjoyment. Heaven forbid you run out of material for your clever banter." Julian adjusted the cuffs of his coat.

Darlington paused. "My apologies, Ashford. But you have simply been so glum about the whole thing, I thought I might try to add some levity. It was a poor choice on my part."

Julian sighed. "I am not one to feel sorry for myself, but being maimed," he gestured toward the patch-covered eye, "has humbled me more than I ever realized was possible."

"That bloody mine. And yet, you cannot help yourself, can you? You have been back down there, working like a dog." His gaze went to Ashford's hands. "And you have the calluses to prove it."

"Since I have no intention of running my hands, callused or otherwise, over your soft body, I do not see how it is any concern of yours."

Darlington chuckled. "There's the spirit. I have missed your charm. Such as it ever was."

Julian reached over to the side table and retrieved his drink, raising it to his lips and savoring the burn as it went down his throat. He set the empty glass back in its place before addressing his friend.

"I have missed you as well, Darlington. It is difficult for me to feel social when I am certain all anyone notices is this damn patch."

"Well, when it is the most interesting thing about you, what choice do they have? But if you were to engage your bright smile and buried wit, they might quickly forget."

"How about you wear this thing around town for a day and see if your wit and charm can compensate for it, since you are so convinced?" Julian lifted the patch, though not so far as to reveal the scarred flesh and useless eye beneath, and then lowered it.

His companion’s gaze went wide and he drew back slightly, causing Julian to rethink his actions.

"I apologize," he said. "I ought to be grateful to be alive after the explosion. 'Tis not your fault and I ought not to take my frustrations out on you."

"I apologize as well," Darlington said. "I tend to use humor in awkward situations and it is not always the best choice."

The two men shook hands and Julian relaxed in the warmth of their long-time friendship as Darlington signaled a waiter for a drink.

"So, what brings you to London? It must be important if you have left your one true love, the copper mine. I was most surprised to receive your letter indicating your arrival in our bustling city and I am sorry for the fun we have missed due to my absence. I am sure we will make up for it quickly."

Not for the first time, Julian questioned his own wisdom in making this trek. A fool’s errand, he felt certain, and yet, here he was. "I need a favor," he said.

Darlington crossed his arms and studied Julian. "Well, this ought to be interesting. I've never known you to seek help from anyone, no matter how much you needed it."

The statement was not wrong, but that did not make it any less annoying to have it pointed out.

"What can I do for you, my friend?" Darlington asked.

"I am in urgent need of a wife."