Page 79

Felix

The men gathered back in Felix’s study, Felix and Sam at the head of the circle, leaning against Felix’s desk. Side by side. Partners.

Felix’s heart fluttered in the hopeful breeze that had taken up in his chest. He could admit to himself now, he hadn’t explored any alternatives to the solution he’d come up with.

He had latched onto the safest path, the most direct one.

All that mattered to him was trying to allow Sam to have the life he deserved.

The one his family had ripped from him all those years ago.

He deserved the titles, the wealth, the family.

Happiness. The man had lived in hiding for over two decades.

Hell, he bloody deserved to live out in the light without fear.

But the journey to that path wasn’t Felix’s choice to make. He could assist; he could provide guidance and suggestions. But Sam was correct. Felix needed to listen, to allow others to contribute, especially when it involved them. Trust.

“So, we have fugitive status,” Rutledge stepped in, the parliamentarian emerging in full force. “We have the scandal of Dalreoch’s past conviction. We have Dalreoch and Bentley’s relationship. One thing at a time. Most important is obtaining a royal pardon.”

Sam shook his head. “Already handled. My late brother, the one who just passed, secured a pardon for me. His…apology of sorts for what my family had done to me.”

Ryker made a disparaging scoff. “Like that washes the blood off his hands. His own brother. ”

“It doesn’t,” Kozington cut in. “But it sure does make our work a damn sight easier. Now, Bentley has already put into motion smoothing the path of Dalreoch’s return.

Rumors and the past will surface, but to be frank, it was so long ago, I don’t see why we can’t cast your family as the true villains.

Especially if word of your brother securing the pardon…

conveniently finds its way into circulation.

That, in itself, is practically an admission of guilt on the family’s behalf. ”

Rutledge nodded while he paced the length of the back of the study.

“Kozington is exactly correct. You have the association of many powerful peers who vouch for your reputation. We can make it clear that anyone who decides to speak against you will face all of us.” He paused and scanned the room.

“That’s two dukes, two marquesses, and two earls. ”

“Don’t forget the dowager,” Dunmore added. “She’ll take one look at Dalreoch and champion him as if he were her own. It’s like looking at Ironcrest ten years from now, just without the ugly scar.”

Ironcrest grunted his agreement. “Grandmother loves men who are a seemingly lost cause. And the ton is deathly afraid of her.”

“As are we,” Dunmore added.

“Touche,” Ironcrest murmured.

“Even so,” Felix said, stepping forward, all attention landing on him.

“Things most likely will become…messy. We all know rumors can do irreparable damage. We can combat them, yes, but they’re still out in the world for everyone to hear.

” He glanced at Sam nervously. “Which was why I had come up with a list of marriage prospects for Dalreoch.”

“Unless…” Ryker said, his eyes gleaming with something dark and hungry. “Anyone who dares speak against Dalreoch finds themselves…” He rolled his neck with deliberate slowness, lips pursed in mock contemplation. “…embroiled in far nastier allegations. The kind that ruins lives. Ends them.”

Sam leaned close to Felix and whispered, “I’m fifteen stone and six-foot-four, and that right there is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.”

Ryker’s lips curled. “Why, thank you, Dalreoch. One doesn’t become King of the Underworld without a little blood on his hands.

” His tone turned cold, deadly serious. “I mean it. I have eyes and ears in every drawing room, every alley, every club, and whorehouse. If I so much as catch a whisper. The source will be…eliminated.”

“ Metaphorically ,” Felix said sternly, arching a warning brow.

Ryker rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes—metaphorically. Honestly, you lot take away all my fun.”

But even as Ryker’s declaration had spurred a bout of nerves—because it was impossible to know what the man would or wouldn’t do—it also surrounded Felix with a soft comfort. Ryker was a powerful man, a man feared, and Felix and Sam had him in their corner.

Ryker’s infamous reputation as a cutthroat was a large reason Felix had recruited Ryker as a third partner in The Harborage .

He had wanted to create safe spaces for men like him, ones that wouldn’t be subject to raids like the one he’d fallen victim to.

Ryker oversaw every one of those spaces for The Harborage .

There had only been one raid in that time.

And every single individual had been whisked away to safety, tucked out of reach before the law could sink its teeth in.

Rutledge stepped forward, bringing the meeting back on course. “All right. Royal pardon handled. Gossips will face our wrath if they surface. We paint Dalreoch’s family as the villains if needed.” His brown gaze met Felix’s. “That leaves your and Dalreoch’s relationship.”

Sam rubbed his hands together next to Felix. “That’s the tricky part. Before, as his valet, it was easy to hide. Two peers always under scrutiny? Especially one with a mysterious past, one that comes with a sodomy conviction…”

“We simply need to create reasons for you two to be seen together,” one of the Kozington twins said. “Shared interests in Parliament, for example. It’s only natural you’ll be in one another’s company if that were the case.”

“It already works in your favor that your relationship with Devonford has been made known, dating back to your days at Eton. With him married to Bentley’s sister, there’s another connection right there,” Lord Kozington added.

“This is madness,” Felix said in disbelief, his thoughts reeling. They were making it sound so…possible. His lungs stuttered. God, could this actually work? “What we’re planning, it’s just not done.”

Koz cocked an eyebrow, his hazel gaze boring into Felix’s.

“That you know of. The world loves to focus on the dramatic and the terrible. It is only ever the bad that is documented. We know firsthand from the molly houses The Harborage runs, from the highly frequented cruising grounds, from the number of men we’ve assisted, that there are so many others out there like us.

What makes you so certain there aren’t other peers living happily, quietly together? ”

That sank into Felix, like an anchor of realization dropped upon him.

If they only focused on the persecution, on the punishment of those convicted of sodomy, then of course all anyone would see was the horrors of being a sodomite.

But that wasn’t the life the vast majority of others like them lived.

That was what should be focused on: the joy, not the prejudice; the allies, not the condemners.

“I don’t see why anyone would question if you develop a close friendship,” Dunmore interjected. “Half the ton knows Ironcrest and I used to share women, and they never blinked twice.”

Rutledge stared incredulously at his friend. “You do realize everyone whispered about that. You two are notorious.”

Dunmore waved that away. “Yes, but what came from it? Nothing. That’s my point.

I guarantee Lady Camoys will be more than happy to spread rumors of Dalreoch’s prowess if asked.

She’s best friends with Bentley’s sister.

And we all know the Bentley family’s reputation is spotless.

Can you imagine someone making that accusation toward Bentley? They’d be made a laughingstock.”

“And we’d be the first to laugh at them,” Ironcrest added.

Felix nodded dazedly. Sam inched closer, thigh to thigh, hip to hip, shoulder to shoulder, offering silent support.

“I’ll be under a watchful eye for a while,” Sam said, eyes not leaving Felix’s. “I’ll—we’ll—have to be extremely careful with how we execute this.” I won’t risk your safety, your reputation.

Sam didn’t need to say the words. Felix knew the man staring down at him would always put him first. He pressed his lips tight, as if he could hold back the tide of emotions threatening to spill over.

It had been a very long time since Felix had come before anyone, not even just first. As the head of his family, he stood alone.

There was no one to put Felix first. He was the last stop. Until Sam.

“All you need is the next big scandal, and this will all blow over,” Lord Kozington said.

“Society is like a school of piranhas, feeding on gossip, but as soon as the next juicy tidbit shows itself, they speed off to devour that one. Doesn’t anyone remember the scandal surrounding Rutledge and his wife?

Does anyone give a bloody damn about that any longer?

Their dinner parties are the most sought-after events. ”

“Exclusivity does tend to have that effect,” Rutledge murmured.

Ironcrest grunted in agreement. “And society nearly lost their heads when I married my—”

“I’m sorry I’m late!” Felicity came barreling into the study out of breath. She glanced around the room, smiling at the gentlemen who all bowed deferentially to the Duchess. Her gaze locked on Sam’s, and Felix frowned. She nodded, her smile widening. And now Felix was even more confused.

A patter of footsteps sounded, and then a petite woman with ice-blue eyes and wheat-blonde hair appeared. A nervous rosy smile split her softly rounded face.

Lady Rosalind Yardley.

Sam instantly stepped away from Felix and up to the Countess. He bowed over her hand. “Thank you so much for coming, Lady Yardley.” He straightened. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your agreement to assist us.”

And once again, Felix found himself parroting, “What is going on here?”

Lady Yardley eyed the room nervously. Felicity stepped up to the woman, linking their arms together, and Sam stepped up to her other side. The woman relaxed slightly.

“I put a request to Lady Yardley,” Sam said to the room. “Her previous marriage was one of convenience. She was granted protection,” he murmured cryptically. “And in exchange, the Earl of Yardley was able to live safely with his partner without scrutiny.”

“His male partner,” the young woman said quietly.

Yes, Felix knew it had been because she’d been with child, from what his mother had told him.

At the mere age of sixteen. The Earl had saved her from a terrible fate, and in return was able to secure his line without the physical need to produce an heir.

Felix had mentioned his concerns to Sam, that his mother wanted him to consider marrying Lady Yardley…

But he still couldn’t determine what the aim was here for the life of him.

“As I had mentioned earlier,” Sam said. “Things may get unpleasant . We don’t know what is going to surface, we don’t know how long it will take for Society to find some other poor soul to feast upon. Bentley’s good name is not to be touched.” He looked at Lady Yardley.

She turned to Felix. “I would like to propose a courtship between us, Lord Bentley. One of an indeterminate length, but one that will end on agreeable terms at some point in the future.”

Felix blinked stupidly. She’d act as his cover. His stomach swooped. The perfect cover. But why would she agree to this?

The young woman—hell, younger even than Felix’s own sister—fidgeted with her skirts but held Felix’s gaze.

“I had come to London in search of a husband. But it has become apparent”—her gaze skittered uneasily over the men in the room, and she swallowed—“I am not ready for that yet. I should be very glad for the deterrent a courtship would afford me against unwanted suitors.”

“Little love…” Ryker started softly, eyes sharp and assessing as they ran over Lady Yardley.

Apprehension gripped Felix at what was going to come out of the man’s mouth. The poor woman was nervous enough. But Ryker’s next words were the last thing Felix would have ever expected.

“If any unwanted suitors give you trouble, you just let us know. We do not take what you are offering lightly. You have our protection. They won’t ever bother you again. Understood?”

The woman’s blue eyes welled slightly, and she nodded. “Thank you…?”

“Mr. Ryker Drake.”

“Thank you, Mr. Drake.”

“Protection for you both,” Sam confirmed.

It was brilliant. Everything that had been discussed in this room had sounded promising. But so much relied on defending themselves when things came to light. This—this was the offense Felix had spoken to Sam about.

Felix stepped up to the young, petite countess. He gently took her hand and bowed over it. “I would consider it the greatest privilege to be granted the opportunity to court you.”

He caught Sam’s gaze, Sam’s lips tugging up in a hopeful half-smile.

Felix felt it, too, that hopefulness.

Christ, they were really going to make this happen.