Page 30 of Pretending to Love a Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

F arther down the hall, out of earshot of Alston and Amelia, Graham stopped Dr. Bradley. “Tell me the truth.”

Dr. Bradley ran a handkerchief over his sweating brow. “I don’t know what to tell you. He is still at grave risk. He is a mystery. A medical anomaly.”

“How can you not know?” Graham bit out.

“Medicine is, and likely always will be, an ever-changing entity. We know things we didn’t know last year. But there is still so much we don’t know.”

“And the clotting?”

“The clotting is just a guess, my lord. Will the clot hold? Will the injured veins heal enough not to need the clot? I’m telling you this isn’t my area.”

“All right. I understand, Dr. Bradley. Do what you can without revealing who he is until we absolutely need to.”

Dr. Bradley nodded. “I’ll go to the college now.”

Graham shook his hand. “Thank you.”

He took a moment to bury his cold fear before returning to the room. A footman was setting the table with eggs and bacon, all of Alston’s favorites. Cook was a marvel, preparing everything so quickly. They filled plates and sat beside Alston as he took small bites of his eggs.

“Apparently, you’re a medical anomaly. Maybe you’ll end up in a book,” Graham quipped.

Alston chewed thoughtfully. “Will they have to draw me naked?”

Amelia smiled behind her fork.

“Women of the ton will take a sudden interest in medicine,” Graham said.

Alston smiled, setting his plate on his lap. “So, what’s the plan for today? Any engagements?”

Graham couldn’t help but notice how he and Amelia both froze ever so briefly at the word engagement . He’d been doing all he could these last few hours to not think constantly about their time together this morning. But he only had to look at her and he could taste her, smell her, and recall the feel of her on his lips. He pushed his eggs around the plate to keep himself from staring hungrily at her.

“None that I wish to attend,” Amelia said. “I want to go to the Den.”

Alston blinked at her. “Absolutely not.”

“Ladies do attend,” she rebutted.

“Yes, but not you.”

“Why not me?”

“Because you’d love it. It’s seedy and loud. Filled with vile talk, crude behavior, incredibly high stakes card games, as well as...” He frowned at her. “How do you even know about the Den?”

Amelia looked to Graham, then back to her brother. “You remember what we told you earlier, don’t you?”

His frown deepened. “Vaguely?”

“What do you remember?” Graham asked.

He pressed his lips together. “Remind me.”

“Mrs. Dove-Lyon has a bride in mind for you, and your absence at her gaming tables has been noticed,” Graham said.

“Do you know Mr. Tristan Chase?” Amelia cut in.

“Yes,” Alston answered. “Well, I remember who he is, but I don’t know him personally.”

“He’s come around looking for you,” Graham stated.

Alston stiffened. “He isn’t the type I want around. He’s a ghost in the shadows.”

“I agree,” Graham affirmed. “He came here last night after the ball, and he warned us that you hadn’t hired any horses to go north.”

“Why does he think I went north?”

Amelia chewed her lip. “I may have told him earlier.”

“When would you have spoken with a man like him?” Alston asked angrily.

“I was taking my morning walk at the park close by. Where we always take our walks.”

“And he just happened to be there, to stumble upon you?” He turned to Graham. “I thought you were looking after her. Where were you when this was happening?” Alston demanded.

Graham folded his arms. “With you. I didn’t know she’d gone, because it is Amelia, and she does what she pleases whenever she pleases, which you’ve encouraged.”

Alston glowered at his friend. “I asked you to take care of her.”

Amelia stepped in. “He has been. It was my error, and I went straight to him to tell him. It’s my fault I was there alone, Sam. Not his. He’s not my nursemaid, and I am not a child.”

Alston huffed in annoyance.

“Do not distress yourself,” Amelia pressed.

“He isn’t a gentleman. I know that much,” Alston said.

“He isn’t a threat to Amelia,” Graham said. “He’s a threat to our secret. Though I don’t know what he’d do with it. What can he do? Mrs. Dove-Lyon keeps many secrets. What does she care if you are ill?”

“Secrets are leverage, no matter how little,” Alston said. “If she knows the truth, she’ll use it against me. Somehow.”

“I want to meet her,” Amelia said. “Perhaps if she knew a little of our circumstances she’d soften.”

“You want to tell her the truth willingly?” Graham asked in disbelief.

“No? I don’t know. You know her better than I do.”

“Stay away from the Den, Amelia,” Alston ordered. “Don’t get entangled in her schemes.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

Alston glared at her. “I hope you mean that.”

“Of course I do.”