Reuben waited upstairs at the Red Lion Inn, on the main street of deepest Holborn. He paced the floor of the bedchamber, feeling like the cat who had got the cream. It had been many weeks since he had indulged himself, and everything that had happened with Adelaide had left him in the mood for a dose of selfish pleasure.

He picked up the letter he had received from Miss Green, and read it over again, savoring every tantalizing sentence:

Dear Duke,

Our last conversation has led me to think of nothing but you. I know you are to be married to Lady Adelaide, but I hoped I might be able to persuade you to seek desire elsewhere, prior to your wedding. I have little to lose, and I thought I might be able to entice you into taking a mistress. As you plan to wed Lady Adelaide against her will, perhaps such a thing would provide comfort to you. I am a willing participant, if you will have me?

If you desire me as I desire you, I would ask that you meet me in the Lion Suite of the Red Lion Inn on Holborn High Road at one o’clock on Thursday afternoon. I shall be waiting. If you do not come, I will understand, though I hope that you do.

Fondest regards,

Miss. L. Green

She was an ordinary sort of beauty, but there was charm and simplicity in that. Plus, he could not deny that he was eager to feel the warm touch of a woman, whilst he waited for his marriage to Adelaide. Even if she were to discover what had happened, he knew it would not dissuade Adelaide from marrying him. She had no choice. It was the perfect scenario. He could do as he pleased and have the lady of his dreams as his wife. It could not have worked out better if he had planned it himself.

At ten minutes past one on the mantel-clock, there was a knock at the door of the bedchamber. Reuben walked over to it and opened the door wide, revealing Miss Green beyond. She smiled up at him with shy eyes, a flirtatious expression upon her pretty features. Yes, you shall do rather nicely.

“Did anyone see you?” Reuben asked.

She shook her head. “They did not.”

“Excellent.” He reached for her hand and pulled her into the room. Before she even had a chance to pause, his lips were upon hers. He held her close.

“Your Grace, I had not expected you to be so forward,” she giggled, pushing away with a nervous look on her face. “I have been burned by gentlemen of your ilk before.”

“I am starved of affection, Miss Green,” he replied, pulling her back in for a kiss. “Truly, I was starting to wonder if you would arrive. You have kept me waiting long enough.”

She smiled. “There was much for me to think about.”

He enveloped her, knowing he had all the time in the world as he leaned in to kiss her again. The Autumn glow shone down through the window, illuminating them as they sought comfort in one another’s arms.

Sitting on the edge of the bed a moment later, Reuben stroked her blonde hair and tucked a strand behind her ear. She seemed slightly on-edge, but that was to be expected. Many ladies feared and desired him. In truth, his effect on young ladies excited him and repelled him in equal measure. He knew she was only there in order to seek the security he had promised her, but sometimes bargains had to be struck to get something in return. She would more than pay the price by the time the afternoon came to a close. Besides, the cost of a child was a small sum compared to a marriage. From now on, once he had what he wanted, she would be beholden to him. That notion made the entire scenario all the more pleasurable.

“I confess, I had not thought you to be as bold as you were in your letter to me,” he said, as he toyed with the fabric of her sleeve.

She looked up in surprise. “My letter, Your Grace?”

“Yes, the one you sent to me.”

She giggled nervously. “I sent no letter to you, Your Grace. It was you who sent a letter to me, inviting me here to make a proposal of marriage. I must admit, it was not an easy decision to make, though I trust in your word.”

He snorted. “A proposal of marriage? What an outlandish thought!” He paused, a frown pinching his brows together. “Wait… so you did not send a letter to me?”

“No, Your Grace.”

He sat up in bed, his heart hammering. “You are certain?”

“I am, Your Grace.” Her expression morphed into a mask of concern. “Is something the matter?”

“I do not yet know.”

At that moment, there came a knock at the door. Miss Green leapt to her feet as it burst open. Adelaide, Jasper, Ephraim, Lord Rowntree, and two other gentlemen stood in the hallway beyond. Realization dawned as they stepped into the room. He had been set up. They had sought their revenge upon him, and now there was little he could do to defend himself.

“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Ephraim spoke first. “I hope we are not disturbing anything?”

Adelaide hurried to Leah’s side, leading her away from the confrontation. They stood on the periphery, Leah’s face a picture of confusion. Reuben understood what was happening—he had been fooled into agreeing to this, and Miss Green’s protection was no doubt a part of the bargain. He did not know if she was actively involved, and he found he did not care. For he had been duped, regardless.

“What do you think you are doing?” Reuben growled.

“Seeking recompense for your threats and your blackmail,” Ephraim replied. “My daughter and Lord Gillet have explained everything to me—how you sought to extort me. Lord Rowntree is simply here for a slice of his own revenge, as it would appear you implemented a spy in his ranks. Not only that, but you almost beat him half to death. A man cannot let such things go unpunished.”

Reuben scowled at Lord Rowntree, whose face still bore the deep, black-and-blue bruises of the severe thrashing that Reuben had exacted upon him. Indeed, he was almost unrecognizable; his lip split, his eyes swollen, his nose broken at an unsettling angle. You cowardly wretch.

“You cannot threaten me,” Reuben retorted sourly. “I am untouchable.”

“It would appear that is no longer the case,” Ephraim replied. “You see, Lord Rowntree has gathered enough evidence to see you hanged. He has spoken with the Marquess of Taunton’s wife, and she is willing to talk. If you do not comply with our terms, she will go to the highest authorities in the court to see it happen. It is the same with the Baroness of Nantwich. You left her bereft and alone, and she desires due vengeance for that.”

A tremor of uncertainty passed through him. “And if I agree to your terms?”

“Those secrets of yours shall remain buried.”

“What terms did you have in mind?”

Ephraim smiled. “We are not unreasonable. In return for your cessation of any blackmail attempts, and your promise to break the engagement with my daughter, I shall pay you due recompense. You will also swear to leave us alone.”

Adelaide nodded. “Miss Green will also be recompensed for her troubles, by you. You will offer her a sum, to take care of any problems that may arise from this unfortunate situation. A fall in reputation, for example.”

“Rest assured that Lord Rowntree has several acquaintances waiting downstairs, who will vouch for your presence here, as well as these two gentlemen,” Jasper added. “A scandal will ensue, if you do not obey. I doubt you can risk another one of those, Your Grace.”

Reuben remained silent for a long while, his gaze drifting between the individuals in the room. He could not believe that he had allowed himself to be put in such a compromising position. All his life, he had been careful, yet arrogance had led him to be careless. He had been so certain of his ability to blackmail Ephraim that he had not expected him to retaliate.

And you, my love… I hate to admit it, but I admire you all the more for this, he thought, turning to Adelaide. I had not expected you to show such deceitful behavior. Indeed, I believe you and I would be far more evenly matched than even I had previously believed. You sly vixen.

“I must add that you will be required to keep my family’s secrets,” Ephraim continued. “If word reaches anyone of my part in Lord Rowntree’s tasks, I shall inform the Marquess and Baron’s wives and they shall go to court with the knowledge they possess. Do you understand?”

Reuben smiled coldly. “Oh, you have made your stance perfectly clear.”

“And what is to be your response?”

“I must accept your terms.” He hated the words as they came out.

“We are glad to hear that, Duke,” Ephraim replied.

“It would seem that I underestimated you, Lord Rowntree,” Reuben said, turning his attention to the bruised gentleman. “I had not expected you to switch sides in order to see me fall. I must doff my cap to you, for you have impressed me. Indeed, all of you have impressed me. I would never have thought a single one of you capable of this.”

Across the room, Miss Green huddled against the wall with tears streaming down her face. She looked as horrified as he did, though she had more to fear. If any of this were to come out, she would be entirely ruined. And yet, he did not have the heart to do that to her. He had made a promise, and he intended to keep it, even if he had not tasted the forbidden fruit. Besides, it would be a hollow sort of victory, to render her destitute. There would be no joy in it.

“I shall see to it that Miss Green is well taken care of, though you cannot expect marriage from me,” he said. “You are woefully unsuitable for such things. Instead, I shall find myself a stupid, simple creature who will become a stupid, simple wife. You shall receive your sum, Miss Green, and any protection you may require if a child is born.”

Miss Green whimpered. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

He could not bring himself to look at her any longer. Any power and grace she might have had dissipated along with her tears. All he could do was look at Adelaide, who glowered in his direction with such vehemence that it almost stunned him. For the first time, he wished he had not endeavored to blackmail her father. Perhaps, then, he might have truly acquired the one thing he desired… her.

Now, all of that was lost to him. He had made his bed, and he had to lie in it. Indeed, he was already lying in it. The control had been snatched from his grasp, and he loathed the notion.

“I will obey,” he said. “I will leave your family be, and I shall break the engagement between Lady Adelaide and myself. I will not breathe a word of what I know, and I will take what recompense you may offer. You have my word.”

“Gratitude, Duke,” Ephraim replied.

“As for you, Lady Adelaide, I am sorry for this,” he said softly. “I had not realized the depth of my feeling towards you until this very moment. I might have had everything in the palm of my hand, had I not sought to take more. That shall be my deepest regret.”

Adelaide’s expression became confused. “Let this be a lesson to you,” she said, after a moment’s pause. “Lord Rowntree instructed me on what I ought to say in that letter, to bring you to this room and to your ruin. It seems he knew you far better than I ever did.”

“It has been a hard schooling,” he replied.

“We shall leave you now,” Ephraim declared. “There are gentlemen below who will escort you back to your home. They will watch you, to ensure you do not break your promise.”

“Very well.”

Ephraim dipped his head. “Good day to you, Duke.”

With that, the gentlemen and the ladies left the room, with the exception of Jasper.

“I suppose you shall marry her now?” Reuben asked.

Jasper smiled. “Your loss is my gain.”

“Then you are a fortunate man indeed.”

How he wished he might have Jasper’s place, but it was too late for that now. He could not take back what he had done.