Page 16 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)

" Y e gettin' tired yet?" Theo's opponent snarled with a distinct brogue that gave away his Scottish descent. "I saw ye beat me friend and I'm here for yer blood."

He didn't respond but dodged the man's heavy handed blows as best he could so his mask wouldn't come off. Even if the fighters and the organizers of the events knew his identity, he didn't need the members of the ton present to know what he did instead of sip watery lemonade and flirt.

The fight was a major even with a larger than usual guest list of patrons to gather more money, as well as spark more interested patrons in the club and while Theo would have refused, he had had a particularly vexing week of trying to comprehend his need to corrupt Cecilia and merely visiting his mistress wouldn't have been enough to work off the energy thrumming in his blood.

The man used his temporary distraction to land a blow in his gut and another to his jaw and the crowd went wild. He heard the distinct sound of bets being placed and cheers from blood thirsty men even though his head swam with the dizzying effect of the blow he had just taken.

Damn, he thought.

The man's hits showed he wanted blood but Theo would be damned if he gave in so easily to the bastard. He blocked a few more blows even though he was slower than he usually was.

"Ye ready to give up yet, me laird?" the man sneered. "This is no place for ye."

"Do you intend to fight with your mouth?" Theo asked gritting his teeth against the pain.

"Ye are no coward," the man said with a smile. “'Tis good. I will enjoy yer defeat."

Theo landed a blow to the man's jaw and midriff but the man seemed unfazed and moved to retaliate. He was a more skilled fighter than most he had experienced and fought in such an erratic pattern it was hard to see any weaknesses or openings.

He had hoped to use the man's need to claim revenge for his friend but the man had his mind settled even when he was angry. A most dangerous foe indeed. Theo had fought men of less skill in these rings and it seemed he had grown complacent with his wins so far.

Still, he bit down the urge to fight as freely as he usually did. The whole purpose of the fights was to entertain, even if there would ultimately be a winner. A fact the man didn't seem all too aware of.

He was vaguely aware of William being in the crowd and that kept his thoughts drifting to the audience trying to see if he could spot him. The stubborn man had insisted on being present for all of his fights and while he wanted to refuse, the man had been insistent.

"If anything should befall you, do you believe any of those men would return you kindly to your home?" he had asked. "They would rob your dying body, if they don't end you themselves."

His concern was touching but not necessary.

It wasn't as though he didn't know that he was in danger in these parts of London but since he had begun the fights, he had yet to sustain an injury that had him requiring assistance to return home.

While they respected him for his skill, he knew they were still wary of him being a nobleman, and worse still a rich one.

Another blow to his side and then his head had him seeing white with a loud ringing in his ears and he bit back a curse. It seemed William's warning had done naught but exposed him to a turn of bad fate. Never had he been so badly hurt by blows.

His mask felt oppressive as sweat made the fabric stick to his skin. He struggled to take in breaths and keep on his feet.

Damn it.

He did not like to lose but this fight looked like one he would win only after he truly moved past his inhibitions and seeing the man's triumphant sneer tempted him to move past.

"Ye fight like an Englishman, " the man sneered. “'Tis a wonder how ye beat Tamhas. Are ye this weak when ye take yer women too or does yer money keep them too satisfied to complain?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Theo teased. "Perhaps you might like to become one of them."

"Ye pompous bastard," he snarled. "I will end ye where ye stand."

Theo laughed but the man sent a low kick towards his groin which he managed to dodge. That was a dirty move even if they were fighting with no rules and he decided then he had had enough of playing at this fight.

He felt his vision turn red as the man's dishonorable behavior pushed him beyond his self-enforced limits and didn't bother to gauge his blows but the man seemed a good match for him.

Soon, the man dropped to his knees, unable to withstand the onslaught of blows directed at him and tried weakly to protect his head.

He was a bigger man with more power behind his blows but Theo didn't just have strength but speed and he used that to his advantage.

Soon he felt himself being pulled off the man and when his vision cleared, he saw the man's face as he was sprawled on the ground. It was a bloody mess with a likely broken nose. They had to drag him out of the ring and he lifted his head with a grin.

His head swam as he was declared the winner and his vision doubled but he let out a roar which caused cries roar through the room. He was heady with his win but his side throbbed terribly.

Hands moved to support him as he swayed and he allowed himself the support till he was safely behind the changing room.

"Christ, man. Do you have a death wish?" William groaned, untying the mask on his face.

"I do not," he said with a grin.

His face and jaw felt numb with the number of blows he had taken and now that the blood lust had worn off, he felt pain from the number of blows he had taken.

"You look like hell," William noted, wrinkling his nose.

"I feel like it too," Theo groaned, unable to think up a witty retort. "Shite, I need something strong."

"I have already sent for a bottle of whisky."

"You have my thanks."

Theo shut his eyes, lifting his head to lean against the wall so some of the nausea he felt would pass but he sensed his friend's gaze and knew the man wanted to say more even with his eyes closed.

"What is it, Mayfield?" he probed. "You will put holes in my skull if you keep staring at me. Say what you will."

"I doubt you will like what I have to say or listen to me."

He already knew what the man wanted to say as they had had the conversation severally in the past since he had discovered Theo's secret hobby but the man was correct in deducing that he would not indeed like what he had to say or listen to him.

"I do not like this self-destructive habit of yours, Emerton," he complained with a sigh. "You can surely find more engaging hobbies to fill your time. This…"

"Is not a mere hobby, Mayfield," he reminded him. "I need this."

"Why?" William asked, visibly exasperated. "You cannot imagine how terrible you look right now. If any of the others were to see you like this…"

"And they won't."

"I have half a mind to tell them if it would make you see sense," William threatened again but the words had lost their bite as they both knew he would not be doing so. He sighed, running a hand down his face.

"What am I to do with you?" he groaned.

"Keep me alive long enough to enjoy all of life's pleasures."

"You will not be enjoying any pleasure for the time being," William pointed out. "You look like you have bruised your ribs. I would suggest you be on bed rest until further notice but I know you would do what you wish."

"You do not think very highly of me, Mayfield, and it wounds me to see you do not," he chided. "I will be seen to by my doctor and be well in no time. Can I trust you to explain my absences from our next few meetings to the others? Without letting them know I am injured of course."

"I will do my best. Thankfully, Gillingham is much too busy with his wife and the babe to visit and Blackmore will be glad to be rid of me."

"You know that isn't true. He cares for you even if he does not show it."

Theo scoffed even though he knew it to be true. Theirs was an odd friendship but one he wouldn't trade for anything else.

No doubt if Magnus ever came to know of this side of him, he would lecture him on the foolishness of such rashness while Edwin would ensure he wasn't let into any of the underground clubs he frequented.

The man had a network of connections that rivaled Theo's own and he used them to do his dark bidding.

"You fought well, Your Grace," a man said, coming into the changing room which caused Theo and William to stiffen. "My congratulations on winning the match and putting on a good show. It was most riveting."

They hadn't even heard him approach, which suggested training of some sort.

He studied the man: well-dressed but not ostentatiously so or he would be stabbed and robbed before he left the East End, yet his clothes spoke of wealth.

Tailored to highlight his narrow frame. He didn't look intimidating but warning bells went off in Theo's mind that this man was not one to be taken lightly.

He wasn't nobility or Theo would have recognized him, and with the knowing smile on his face, it seemed he knew him well. He could be a merchant but his accent was refined and spoke of good education, contradictory facts that stoked the headache he was already feeling.

"Who are you?" he asked, hating that he had to be the one making enquiries.

He hated being in situations that he hadn't ultimately calculated or discerned the end and this was one conversation he hadn't been expecting yet he wanted to end quickly.

The effects of the match were starting to take their toll on him and the throbbing in his side needed immediate attention.

"My name is Hector and I am a regular patron of this establishment," he answered. "I have seen many fights but none like yours. You were extraordinary to witness."

"What do you want?" Theo asked.

His effusive praise and attempt at flattery made unease swirl in his belly.

He had never been one for a barrage of compliments and even now, he could hardly hide his frown.

"I only came to acquaint myself with you," Hector answered with a smile. "I was told you were a prime talent and I can see such praise was not a false attempt at flattery. It is not every day one gets my attention."

Theo raised a brow at the man's confidence.

Surely he couldn't think that Theo, a duke, would need the attention of a mere commoner. The man, sensing his words had sparked ire, laughed softly.

"I see my words have caused offense," he stated with a smile. "Pardon me, Your Grace. I meant no insult."

He highly doubted that but he said nothing.

"You haven't told us your business, Hector," William said protectively, moving towards him.

"I am just very interested in the Duke of Emerton," Hector said with a smile. "Nobleman by day and boxer by night. That is a very interesting combination, is it not?"

"Certainly," Theo answered. "You seem to know much about me."

"Indeed I do."

"Then we are at an imbalance," he said rising to meet the man. "You know more about me than I do about you."

He stepped closer to the newcomer, ignoring how his body protested every move, just so he would wipe the smug grin on his face. But Hector, even though a head shorter than Theo, did not seem bothered in the least.

"Only because you are a most interesting man," Hector answered.

"You are changing the subject."

"Because tonight is not about me," Hector replied. "You will know about me in time."

"You seem very confident of that fact."

"I am. My intuition tells me that you and I will become very good friends and I have yet to be led astray. I believe you and I will be seeing more of each other very soon, Your Grace. Until then, I look forward to your future fights," he said with a smile and slipped out of the room.

Theo didn't like the sense of foreboding this man’s words brought. He sensed there was something underneath the charm Hector exuded, much like how he used charm to hide his true self.

He smiled to himself.

This was a most interesting turn of events.

If this man had set his sights on him, he would discover quickly that they were very much alike and he was no fool to be underestimated.