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Lady Victoria Wright

I followed Mr. Clarence into my brother’s club—King’s. I’m not sure how he knew I was arriving, but Mr. Clarence was already waiting when our carriage slowed to a halt before the building.

My maid Lily was with me. She must have sent word ahead.

At the beginning of the season, the day after Father and I had arrived in London, she’d confessed that my brother had somehow arranged for her to be hired as my lady’s maid.

He’d wanted to ensure I had someone close to me who would keep me safe.

I hadn’t heard from Rexford in years—Father had made certain of that—but Lily had told me that he’d promised he would always be available if I needed assistance. And that morning, Lily had known I needed Rexford’s help.

Thank heavens Father was busy today. The entire staff kept careful watch over me, and I wondered if that was because Father worried that I, too, might escape. But while Rexford had the means to live independently, I was wholly dependent on my father.

When I’d woken that morning, dread had shrouded me like a cloud.

My entire world was coming to an end. Father had informed me that he’d made arrangements for my betrothal to the Marquess of Heddington, which meant that at the end of the season, I would be the prisoner of another old and, if rumors were to be believed, cruel man.

But after a short conversation with Lily, I had a glimmer of hope.

She’d helped me dress, and I’d informed the staff that I would be going to Bond Street in search of new gloves I simply must have for tonight’s ball.

While Father’s carriage waited outside the shop, Lily had escorted me out the back door into another waiting carriage.

I hadn’t asked how she’d managed that feat.

I didn’t really care. All I needed to know was that the carriage would take me to my brother, who would somehow arrange for my freedom.

My smile was shaky as I greeted Mr. Clarence and followed him into the club. At one time, he’d been my father’s steward, but he’d left with Rexford and was now helping my brother manage King’s.

I was overwhelmed by the enormity of my actions and didn’t take in the appearance of the club.

He took me through what I assumed was a servant’s hallway and up a set of stairs.

When we emerged into what was clearly the billiard room, I was relieved to see that the room was nearly empty.

The walls were a deep-green color with mahogany wood accents.

Four billiard tables occupied the room, one in each corner, but at this hour, only one group of men was playing.

I kept my gaze averted and followed Mr. Clarence to a second set of stairs.

Some instinct made me turn to look at the three men in the far corner of the room who laughed among themselves.

I knew without being told that they were Legends.

Only my brother’s closest friends would be here when the club was closed to the public.

Rexford and his friends were known far and wide as the Legendary Lords of the ton.

Knowing that Rexford was my brother, many young women tried to befriend me, hoping I could share some juicy tidbit of gossip.

While I couldn’t offer any stories, I’d certainly heard my fair share of rumors from others since arriving in town.

One of the men turned, and I recognized the appraisal in his eyes when he spotted me.

He was very pleasing to the eye, and I could imagine many women falling all over themselves to gain his attention.

He possessed classically handsome features and fair hair.

Even from this distance, I could tell that he knew the effect he had on women.

I turned away and started up the stairs.

But some invisible force had me glancing over my shoulder.

My gaze collided with one of the other two men, and I froze.

Nothing existed but the tall, dark-haired man.

For some reason, my heart began to race.

That hadn’t happened when Father told me I would be marrying Lord Heddington, who had long been a personal friend of his.

Nor had it happened when my father arranged for his doctor to examine me yesterday evening to ensure I still possessed my maidenhead.

The situation had been horrifying, but I wasn’t surprised. Father had always treated me as nothing more than a shiny piece of fluff to trot out before others. I doubt he considered me a person who possessed emotions. Heaven knows he’d made it his life’s mission to eradicate any sign of willfulness.

Thankfully, the doctor’s examination had been quick and perfunctory.

Lily had been present, of course, standing by my shoulder and watching the man like a hawk to ensure he didn’t take any unseemly liberties.

I’d simply closed my eyes and pretended I was somewhere else.

A lifetime under Father’s tutelage had taught me never to reveal a sign of weakness.

But something about the way this stranger looked at me made me feel as though he was seeing into my very soul. It unnerved me.

The spell was broken when Mr. Clarence murmured, “He’s waiting.”

I turned away with reluctance and followed him up the stairs to my brother’s study. Mr. Clarence opened the door after knocking once, and I preceded him into the room.

Rexford rose from his seat behind the desk.

I hadn’t seen him since he’d escaped Father’s control five years ago.

I’d been thirteen years old then to his twenty-three.

He was no longer the surly young man he’d been back then.

An undeniable air of confidence surrounded him.

Rexford opened his arms, and I hurried to embrace him.

As he pulled me into his chest, I breathed in his scent.

He was the owner of King’s and the undisputed head of the Legendary Lords. I’d heard so much gossip about him in the short time I’d been in London. Many thought him wicked, but he was still my brother, and his actions proved that he still cared about me.

He released me and stared down at me. “I’d hoped never to see you here.”

Emotion clogged my throat, and I had to force it back. “But you’re not surprised.”

“No.” He trailed a finger along my cheek. “You’re a young woman now. You were only thirteen years of age the last time I saw you.”

“Thank you for sending Lily to me,” I said. “If not for her…” I tried not to think about the unspeakable future that had lain ahead for me this morning.

Rexford shook his head. “That was all Clarence’s doing. As Father’s steward, Clarence was intimately acquainted with his habits. He explained to me that we needed at least one member on Father’s staff who could stay by your side and offer assistance if the need arose.”

I turned to thank the older man but realized Rexford and I were alone. I would have to thank him later.

Rexford led me to a set of leather armchairs placed around a small table.

Six chairs for the six Legends. I found myself wondering at the many discussions that must have taken place among them in this space.

Perhaps they planned out how best to shock society—or how to build my brother’s club into the one place in all of London that men were clamoring to join.

He waited for me to sit before settling into a chair next to me. “Tell me what happened.”

“You don’t know?” Somehow, that surprised me.

He shook his head. “Lily was there to protect you, not to act as a spy. She and Clarence meet periodically so we can ensure you’re well.

I know they’ve discussed how best to help you escape Father’s control should the need arise.

But it’s not as though she relays everything you think or do.

” He reached out to squeeze my hand before dropping it again.

“I was afraid Father had poisoned you against me. That I would be the last person you’d come to even if you were in desperate need of help. ”

He wasn’t wrong. “Father tried,” I said.

“He told me all manner of awful things about how you’d abandoned us and no longer cared about us.

But you were always kind to me, even though you were so much older.

And that last night before you left, you told me that I could always come to you.

I refused to believe you’d changed so much. ”

“You remembered. I hated leaving you there.” His voice was low, soft.

I wondered if anyone besides me had ever seen this side of him.

I nodded. “I did. But fear not, Father was never cruel to me. I don’t think he considers me a real person. I was a doll he liked to show off on occasion. But he was never mean.”

“What happened?” He tilted his head.

“He wants me to marry Lord Heddington.”

Rexford swore, and I couldn’t hold back my amused smile. I agreed wholeheartedly.

“The man is as old as Father and far more lecherous.”

Something in my brother’s tone sent a shiver of dread down my spine. I knew that men could be cruel to women, but the thought of being bound in marriage to someone like that horrified me. I didn’t want to think about what it would be like to bear that man’s children.

“What happens now? Do you spirit me away? I don’t want to marry Heddington, but we both know Father would never allow me to go against his wishes.”

Rexford leaned back in his chair and looked off into the distance, his arms crossed. I could almost hear him thinking, going through scenarios as he tried to figure out how best to help me.

“I am more than willing to leave. I could hide in a village and pretend to be a young widow. Or perhaps we can say that my husband is in the military and serving on the continent.”

Rexford shook his head. “You would hate that.”

I shrugged. “It wouldn’t be horrible. Certainly not that different from being hidden away in Father’s house most of the time. He only trotted me out on occasion.”

“You’re out in society this year.”

“Yes, that was the occasion. And many men were interested in courting me. I wasn’t drawn to anyone in particular, but for Father to choose Heddington without even an ounce of consideration for what I wanted…” I sighed. “I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was.”

“It benefits him most,” Rexford said. “The marquess is a powerful man. He’s wealthy and has a voice in parliament that many listen to. And we both know Father’s sole purpose in life is to be the most powerful man in England. He chooses his allies with great care.”

“And has no qualms about sacrificing his daughter.”

“Or his son,” Rexford added. “But I got away, and now you have as well.”

“Father won’t be happy when he returns home and discovers I’m not there. Do you think he’ll come here?”

Rexford smiled. “Oh, he’ll definitely pay me a visit, but not right away. When he arrives, you’ll already be hidden.”

The gleam in his eyes told me he’d settled on a course of action. I placed a hand on his arm. “Where am I going?”

He rested his hand over mind. “Be honest with me, Victoria. Do you merely want to hide from Father? He’ll search all of England until he finds you. But you might be able to convince him to give up on his plans altogether.”

I’d come here thinking that perhaps my brother could hide me. I’d never considered another option. If I could make him abandon his plans to marry me to Heddington, I wanted to do it.

“Is that possible? I can’t imagine anything that would make him change his mind.”

Rexford took careful stock of me as he spoke. “He would abandon you altogether if you were ruined.”

My mouth dropped open. “Ruined?” Yesterday’s humiliating examination had illustrated just how much Father valued my purity. “Father would be livid.”

“Yes.” Rexford’s grin held an edge of cruel satisfaction.

I had to admit that I could understand the emotion. Father didn’t care for either of us. He only cared about what we could do for him. We were extensions of his almighty power. He’d lost control over his heir, which had caused him to tighten his grip on me.

But if I was ruined… My thoughts went immediately to the broad-shouldered, dark-haired man downstairs who’d caught my attention.

“What do I need to do?”