Page 30 of To Steal a Lyon’s Heart (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #85)

S am had a peculiar sensation in his head.

A weightlessness, like he’d taken too much laudanum, or like that time he’d tried opium.

An interesting experience, but not one he cared to repeat after he saw the outcome of those who’d become slaves to it.

He didn’t need to chase bliss. His life was already happy as it was.

Now, for the first time since he’d woken up in that bloody bed, he had hope.

Daisy’s scent hung around him like the heavy floral notes of spring, and he was drunk on her. He knew what he wanted, and he’d do anything to keep her. He didn’t care what it took. He wasn’t going to lose this. He refused.

Petrov appeared in the doorway as Sam tugged on fresh breeches.

“My lord?”

“Is Miss Blakewood still out there, or did she run away?”

“She ran away.”

Sam nodded. He knew there was a chance she’d sprint at the first chance.

She wasn’t accustomed to bending rules or breaking them.

And here he’d seduced her, proposed to her, and planned to lob a cannon ball of a scandal into her life all in one afternoon.

She’d come back. Once she’d had a moment to process it all.

Becoming a Clark meant accepting chaos as a way of life. Amelia would help her acclimate.

“Sir? Are you ready for the rest of your things?”

“Yes, leave extra room on the right side. Daisy will be joining me after we marry.”

Petrov blinked and then stumbled back into the door.

Sam laughed. “Did I shock you?”

Petrov clutched his chest. “Marriage? You’re marrying Miss Blakewood?”

“Shhh. I haven’t told Amelia or Blakewood, Blakewood being the one who will charge through walls if I don’t explain it to him in the right manner.”

“What manner is that, my lord?” Petrov righted himself and shook off his surprise. A smile followed.

“With affection and care. Responsibly and gently.”

“Congratulations, my lord. But what of the contract?”

“One catastrophe at a time, Petrov. Keep this news to yourself for now. I can’t let Mr. Chase discover Miss Blakewood’s and my plan to marry until I’m ready to present myself at the Den and pray I can come up with something more enticing than me for the widow to sacrifice on her matchmaking alter.”

“I understand.”

Sam finished dressing and stepped out of the way so Petrov could finish his work. He resumed sitting by the hearth, and a scullery maid came and lit a cheerful fire. It wasn’t long before Amelia and Blakewood came to investigate his transition.

Amelia stood silently for a moment, taking in the room. “It smells like him.”

“I hope it never stops,” Sam said.

“You both wear the same eau de cologne, when you chose to wear it,” she said, emotion thickening her voice. Sam watched Blakewood warily as he took in the bookshelf and its contents.

“Your father liked geography?” Blakewood asked.

“Once we were older, he wanted to travel,” Sam said. “To take us beyond England and see the wider world.”

Amelia drifted over to the bed and ran her hand over the cream embroidered coverlet. “I remember when I tried to sleep with him the night of that terrifying thunderstorm, and Nanny Petra threw a tantrum. Papa threatened to turn her out her on the spot if she wouldn’t relent.”

“You remember that?”

“I remember everything about him. He was my first defender—before you or Graham. He taught me what a man and father should be.”

She and Blakewood locked eyes. Sam had to look away.

It was a deeply personal moment happening between them.

He’d be a little disgusted if it weren’t for the events of the afternoon softening his own heart.

Soon he’d have a wife, and they’d have silent communications like that.

He could already look at Daisy and guess what she was thinking.

The sooner he could love her openly, the freer they would both be.

Blakewood might not believe him at first, but then he’d see how much Sam loved her, and how he hadn’t been ready for marriage until this moment, until Daisy came into his life and conquered his heart.

In truth, he’d be lucky if he escaped with only a busted lip and a black eye. But he’d take it. For Daisy.

Sam cleared his throat. There was no use waiting. It would only weigh on Daisy’s conscience the longer they delayed. And he’d rather Daisy not see her brother become violent, so he’d do this part without her.

“Amelia, I need to speak with Blakewood alone.”

Amelia whipped to him, her gaze searching his face. “I know that tone. I know that look,” she said.

“Bloody hell,” he rubbed a hand over his face.

“What?” Blakewood asked.

“He’s going to confess something. What did you do?”

Sam sighed. “Both of you sit—not there.” He stopped Blakewood before he sat in the chair where he and Daisy had been. That was her chair now. She could reupholster it in something more feminine than brown.

“At the table,” Sam clarified. The master suite had a large bay window overlooking the small garden in the back. There wasn’t much to see but some flower beds, a large tree, and hedges for privacy.

Blakewood and Amelia sat beside each other in the only two chairs. This was a table meant for the earl and countess to have breakfast together, or dinner, in their room. Sam sat on the edge of the bed, then stood.

Amelia was already scowling. “I suspect I won’t like this.”

“You’d be wrong. I think you’ll love this,” Sam said.

Blakewood folded his arms. “I have appointments, you know.”

“What appointments?” Sam asked, momentarily distracted.

“My own. I still have my properties and investments to manage and a house to buy for Amelia and myself.”

“You’re leaving?” Sam asked. “Why?”

“We can’t stay here. You’ll need privacy once you marry, and we don’t know who this woman is yet or whether I can tolerate her,” Amelia said sullenly.

“You’ll adore her,” Sam said. He folded his arms.

“I—” Amelia frowned at him. “What?”

“I don’t know how to say this except to offer a secondary proposal.” Sam kneeled before Blakewood.

Blakewood rolled his eyes.

“Blakewood, you have been a steadfast friend for four years. I didn’t think we had much to get on about, being so different in manner and age, but you changed me for the better. You taught me things I should have learned from a father. You are like a brother to me. Older brother. So very old.”

Amelia snorted and Blakewood threw her a glare.

“What is your point?” Blakewood asked.

Sam sobered, his heart pounding so hard he got a little dizzy, but he held Blakewood’s stare.

He really thought he’d have something profound to say.

To prove he wasn’t marrying Daisy as some half-cocked idea.

But nothing came to him. There was only one thing he could say—perhaps the most important thing to tell the brother of the woman he wanted to marry.

“I fell in love with her.”

Blakewood unfolded his arms, his lips twitched as he studied Sam, piecing the meaning together. His face transformed into a mask of anger.

“With who—” Amelia began, then covered her mouth with a gasp.

“You know I wouldn’t feel this way for just anyone. I mean this. I love her, and I want to marry her.”

“ Get up ,” Blakewood snarled.

Sam winced as he got to his feet, and his rib reminded him he was already broken. A pummeling from Blakewood was going to hurt worse than his broken rib.

“Wait!” Amelia got up and came between them, her back to Blakewood. “Explain yourself.”

“What is there to explain? The moment she walked into my room and—”

“It’s not real,” Blakewood spat. “This is just some desperate attempt to break the bargain we made to save his life.” Amelia put a hand to Blakewood’s chest, but she kept her gaze fixed on Sam.

“I’d have to agree with him, brother. This seems rash. After all you’ve been through—”

“Exactly,” Sam said. “After all I’ve been through, it was Daisy who brought the light back into my life. Daisy who made me smile, laugh, and it’s Daisy who holds my heart. I know she’s betrothed to bloody Cliffton.”

“He’s not that bad,” Blakewood argued.

“He is,” Sam said. “His mother is even worse.”

“We met her at the park,” Amelia said.

“Then you already know how unhappy she’ll be if she marries him.”

Blakewood ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

“It’s only recently she’s been discontented with him.

I assumed it was because of his prolonged absence.

For most of her life she has wanted to marry him.

She may be meek, but she’s been adamant that I not interfere and I respect her wishes.

But she still knows she can come to me for anything. ”

“Did you propose to her? Amelia asked. “Does she know how you feel?”

“Yes,” Sam admitted.

Blakewood’s hard glare turned to a molten scowl. “Did you touch her?”

Sam wished he really didn’t have to answer that question. Blakewood should know better. Sam was certain he and Amelia had dallied before deciding they wanted to marry, and yet Sam had never asked. It was a moot point.

“Graham, don’t be a fool,” Amelia said. “Sam wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t wanted and happily received.”

Blakewood growled menacingly and tried to move around her. Amelia shoved at him.

“Let him, Lia. I can take it.”

Blakewood came at him, fists clenched at his sides. “She doesn’t know how to protect herself from men like you.”

“Like me? What sort of man am I? I inherited an earldom at twelve. I saw to the needs of my sister and protected her as completely as I could. Then I asked you to do the same when I couldn’t.

But I would never accuse you of seducing her.

Whatever happened, it happened because it was meant to.

I know Daisy. I’ve spent hours talking to her.

She is exactly as you say, and I have not and would never take advantage of that fact.

I have not taken her to bed, Blakewood. But I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t touched her.

Look at me. It’s impossible for any woman to keep their hands off me. ”

Amelia snorted, then covered her mouth. “You’re incorrigible,” she muttered.

Sam’s gaze never wavered from Blakewood. “Hit me if you must. It won’t change anything. The outcome will be the same.”

Blakewood took a breath. “You’ll marry her.”

“Yes.”

“As hastily as possible,” Amelia said. “We could go—”

“No.” Blakewood said. “She will have a proper wedding. She deserves it, as do my parents. There will be not a hint of scandal.”

Sam nodded. “Whatever she wants, she gets.”

“What about the contract?” Amelia asked in a panic. “Did you tell Daisy about it?”

“She knows.”

“And what do you intend to do?” Amelia asked.

“I haven’t figured that out yet. I wanted to speak to you first.”

Blakewood turned his back and returned to the table, glaring out the window but not at Sam. Sam exhaled with relief.

“This will be messy,” Amelia said.

“Life always is,” Sam muttered.

“No. It will be catastrophic.” Blakewood said.

“We’ll make not one enemy, but two—both very powerful women—and the scandal we’re trying to starve to death by staying out of public will return with a vengeance because not only did I seduce an unchaperoned woman under her dying brother’s nose, but now you have seduced your own unchaperoned woman. ”

“I’m prepared to weather the storm,” Sam said. “You don’t have to be involved.”

Amelia shook her head at him. “We’ll be with you. Always. Everything that happened to you after that accident is a result of our actions.”

“Fine.” Sam knew arguing was pointless. Besides, Amelia had her talents. “You can handle Lady Claystone. I’ll be the one to approach Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I don’t know what I’ll say yet, but...” He shrugged. “There must be something she wants more than me.”

“Do you have a plan?” Blakewood asked.

“No,” Sam admitted. “But I’ll think of something.

I’m not going to turn my back on love because of a damned contract.

I’ve touched death. I’ve lain awake at night and contemplated the reason I was spared.

I took a lot of things for granted; my youth, my strength, the promise of a future.

We aren’t owed those things. We have to claim them.

I won’t lose Daisy. So I will stop at nothing to break this bloody contract and marry the woman I love, just as you refused to give up on me, Amelia. ”

Amelia’s eyes welled up. “You deserve to have everything you want, brother. A marriage built of love, a family of your own, a lifetime of happiness. I want that for you.”

Blakewood took her into his arms. But it was Sam who needed to hold her. They’d shared a life for so long, but now they were truly going their separate ways.

“Lia,” he said as he approached.

She turned from Blakewood’s hold and threw her arms around him.

“Everything is going to change,” she cried. “It’s good but it’s also frightening.”

Sam patted her back. “Thank you. I don’t know if I’ve said it enough, but thank you for saving my life. Thank you for being my voice, my champion, and my anchor to this world. I would not be here without you.”

Amelia pulled back. “You’re welcome, brother. Try not to muck it up.”