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Moreland

D espite my distracted state, I managed to win the game. It was an easy feat since Fairfax was terrible at billiards. He was much better at cards, which meant we traded winnings back and forth. That was fine with me. I was there for the comradery, not to bankrupt my friends.

Clarence joined us shortly after the game finished. Rexford’s sister wasn’t with him.

“His Lordship requests your presence upstairs.”

The three of us must have presented a comical sight, the way we stood there for a few moments just staring at one another. Clearly, no one had a guess about what was happening.

“Are Clifton and Greyson coming?”

“I believe they’re in one of the back rooms. I’m on my way to inform them now.” Clarence inclined his head, then turned to do just that.

The Earls of Clifton and Greyson were the other Legendary members. We numbered six in total: Rexford, me, Fairfax, Kendrick, Clifton, and Greyson. If he wanted to speak to all of us, that made it a formal meeting.

What could be so important about Rexford’s sister that demanded a meeting of the Legends? Perhaps it was just a coincidence.

Fairfax nudged me with his shoulder. “Are you worried that you won’t be taking more of my money today? Or are you still thinking about a certain woman?”

“Remember that you’re talking about Rexford’s sister,” Kendrick said.

Fairfax’s grin sobered. We all knew that she would be off limits.

As we made our way upstairs, I couldn’t suppress my anticipation at the thought of seeing her again. I didn’t even know her name. Fairfax knocked, and we entered at Rexford’s acknowledgment.

I scanned the room, but his sister wasn’t there.

Of course not. Why would she need to meet with us?

Still, she hadn’t departed the same way she’d arrived.

So she’d either left via the back entrance, or she was in one of Rexford’s rooms. The entire top floor was devoted to Rexford’s study and his private chambers. King’s was his club, after all.

Rexford didn’t speak, but he did move to the sideboard to pour a measure of brandy for us. Six glasses were already laid out.

Clifton and Greyson entered then. Their raised brows and the way they studied us clearly indicated that they, too, had no idea why the meeting had been called. And since they hadn’t seen Clarence arrive with Rexford’s sister, they were completely in the dark.

We each took a glass from the sideboard and moved to our usual armchairs.

“This is unexpected,” Greyson said. “Did something happen that I should be aware of?”

Rexford drained his glass in one swallow and, with exaggerated care, set it on the low table around which the chairs were gathered.

I met Fairfax’s gaze. The air in the room had developed an electrical charge, and I couldn’t help thinking that something momentous was about to happen.

Scanning the others, I could tell they felt it too.

“I’ve had a visit from my sister, who turned eighteen just before the start of the season.”

“I’m shocked Sherbourne allowed her out of his sight,” Clifton said.

Rexford folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. “He didn’t, but a few members in his household are loyal to me. One of them helped Victoria escape my father’s clutches.”

Victoria. The beauty had a name, and damn if it didn’t make her even more intriguing.

“The duke will be displeased,” Clifton continued. “I assume this has to do with his plans for marrying her off?”

Rexford nodded. “She was told last night that he’s arranged to marry her off to Heddington. The wedding is supposed to take place at the end of the season.”

“Fuck.” I drained my glass.

“Indeed,” Rexford said.

Kendrick leaned forward. “Your father can’t know of his reputation. Surely he wouldn’t want his daughter to marry someone with such proclivities.”

Fairfax nodded. “And what about that business with his wife supposedly jumping to her death because she was grief-stricken about not bearing children.”

“You underestimate my father,” Rexford said. “All he cares about is power and money, and Heddington has both. He would have no qualms about using Victoria to cement his friendship with the man.”

Fairfax grunted softly in dismay. “I knew your father was unscrupulous but I didn’t think he was evil.”

“Is she hiding in your rooms?” Fear slid through my veins at the thought. “Surely your father will come here when he discovers her absence. Since she’s not yet of age, he’ll have the right to remove her from the premises.”

Rexford’s focus narrowed on me. He had the same eyes as his sister, but hers were spaced more widely.

I hadn’t realized it when she’d ensnared me in the depths of her gaze earlier, but Rexford’s were the same unnatural blue.

I wondered if they’d inherited that trait from their mother, who by all accounts had been a beauty.

Having seen Victoria, even if only for a moment, I could certainly believe it.

The thought of the Marquess of Heddington touching her had me clenching my fists, and I had to force myself to relax.

“Sherbourne will send his men here, yes. They’ll try to forcibly remove her.”

“So, she’s not here,” Clifton said.

“She’ll be leaving shortly.”

I felt a measure of relief. The idea that someone could give their daughter to a man like Heddington was unfathomable.

“But I won’t be able to hide her forever. She is still three years from her age of majority. Until she turns twenty-one, if my father finds her, he’ll be within his rights to force her to marry whomever he chooses. No one could stop him.”

“You’ll hide her away in the country?” That made sense to me. Soon, she would be in a carriage, transported far from London by some of Rexford’s men. His most trusted, I hoped, because if Rexford had men in his father’s employ, I wouldn’t be surprised if the reverse was also true.

“I’m looking for volunteers,” Rexford said.

“I’ll help her escape. And make sure she’s safely hidden.” I hadn’t realized I would offer until the statement was out of my mouth, but I hated the idea of Rexford’s sister being forced to marry Heddington. If I could help her escape, then I knew she would be safe.

“You haven’t heard what I have in mind.”

“You’re asking for volunteers to help her escape London. We’ve all heard stories about Heddington. I’m sure everyone here would do the same.”

There was a strange look on Rexford’s face.

A tense silence filled the room, then Fairfax spoke. “What else could you have in mind?”

Rexford steepled his fingers at his waist, his gaze settling on each of us in turn. “The only way to keep her safe, to make sure she is no longer of use to my father, is to ruin her.”

Silence settled over us, and I imagined the others were as shocked as I was. Was Rexford saying that he wanted one of us to compromise, then discard, his sister?

Fairfax cleared his throat. “I will gladly sacrifice myself for the cause.” I punched his shoulder, and he released a soft grunt. “What? He asked for volunteers.”

Rexford looked at me. “Are you still eager to help, Moreland?”

Rexford knew me well enough to know that I would always come to the aid of a friend.

But the matter concerning his sister was more than a little unsettling.

It would make me the target of a very powerful duke, who would do anything in his power to destroy me.

Despite my certainty that the situation would become far more complicated than the simple solution Rexford presented, I couldn’t stand the idea of anyone else going near his sister.

I nodded. “I am at your service.”

Rexford’s gaze remained on me. “If the rest of you could give us a few minutes.”

The other men rose to their feet. No one spoke, but each one in turn squeezed my shoulder, communicating their unspoken support, before filing out of the room.

Rexford’s eyes remained on me the entire time. When the door closed, he finally spoke. “You don’t have to do this. If you have any doubts, I’ll understand.”

Even if I were so inclined, I wouldn’t change my mind. I owed Rexford—all the Legends, really—everything. He knew that, and I respected the fact that he didn’t want to force me.

But what he didn’t know was that something intangible had taken place downstairs when his sister and I had locked gazes.

I wasn’t foolish enough to believe in destiny, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to take care of her.

The fact that she was Rexford’s sister—and that he clearly cared for her—would give me the excuse I needed to offer her my protection.

“I’m sure. But what exactly do you have in mind? And more importantly, how does your sister feel about this?”

He nodded. “I’m impressed that you care.”

I couldn’t help but bristle. Of course I cared. I may enjoy bed sport, and I never slept with the same woman more than once, but I didn’t force my attention on anyone who didn’t want it. They came to my bed willingly.

“How do you see this ruination playing out?” I couldn’t imagine that Rexford was giving me free rein to bed his sister. Then what would happen? Would I be expected to tell everyone about it?

“Victoria has agreed to become your mistress. You’ll set her up in a house—I already have the perfect property. And of course, you’ll need to visit her on occasion.”

“Of course.” Somehow, I kept my tone even, but my palms started to sweat.

I’d never kept a mistress. Kendrick’s current predicament with his mistress was proof that such a situation was the perfect breeding ground for unwelcome complications.

But the thought of spending time with the beautiful young woman who’d ensnared me so easily with just a look had me more than willing to jump in with both feet.

Hopefully a few conversations with Rexford’s sister would be enough to curb whatever foolish fantasies I had already envisioned. I normally spent time with women who were my age or older. I would be thirty in two years’ time. What would I even have to say to a debutant?

Rexford continued as though he hadn’t noticed that my thoughts were in turmoil. “I’ll ensure that the rumors reach my father’s ears soon enough. He’ll blame me, of course, for daring to introduce his prized possession to one of my degenerate companions.”

“Of course. And your father will be livid when he realizes that your sister has been ruined by a lowly baron.”

Rexford’s grin revealed more than a hint of satisfaction. “I look forward to that conversation when he finally decides to face me.”

I snorted. If Sherbourne thought Rexford could be cowed by a verbal dressing down, he clearly didn’t know his son.

“Do you think that will be enough to keep her safe?”

Rexford examined me for what felt like an eternity. It took everything I possessed to keep from squirming in my seat.

“I don’t need to know details about what happens between you two. As long as it’s consensual, it’s not my concern.”

I nodded. There was no point in denying I wanted to bed his sister. I would do everything in my power to keep that from happening, but I wasn’t foolish enough to promise that it wouldn’t. “So what happens now?”

“She’s waiting in my sitting room. I thought the two of you should speak first. If you are still in agreement afterward, I’ll have a carriage take you to the house where you’ll be keeping her.

” He grinned. “It’s near my father’s house in Mayfair—one of my properties on Grosvenor Square, close enough to drive Sherbourne crazy. ”

A frisson of unease snaked down my spine. “Will she be safe there?”

“I’ll staff the house with trusted servants.”

I’d known Rexford since our schoolboy days in Eton. He’d always been resourceful, yet it still amazed me that he could pull together such a scheme so quickly.

We stood, and I followed him from his study. With every step, and despite my better judgment, anticipation surged through my veins.