“Lord Yardley.”

Sebastian’s voice was low, his expression grim. Yardley, who was now coming out of White’s in a rather slow, stumbling way, turned around to look at him, narrowing his eyes in the early morning gloom.

“Yes?” Lord Yardley mumbled, trying to focus on Sebastian’s features. “Who’s there?”

“It does not matter,” Sebastian muttered, thinking that it was fortunate that Lord Yardley did not seem to recognize him, despite the number of occasions they had met. Evidently, it had been worth waiting around until the man left the gentlemen’s club. Sebastian had thought to speak with him inside the club once he’d caught sight of him, but the man was continually surrounded by other gentlemen and was caught up in his cards and his drinks. Should Sebastian have made any accusations amongst a crowd, he would have been ridiculed. And so, he changed his plan and thought perhaps he would have better luck catching Yardley alone outside White’s. Unfortunately, the man had stayed until the early hours of the morning, so it was just as well the summer nights were warm and not particularly dreary, otherwise Sebastian might have found it rather onerous. “I need to speak to you.”

Lord Yardley let out a long sigh, leaning heavily against the side of the building. “What is it?”

Sebastian gritted his teeth, trying to keep his temper down. He had seen the way Lord Yardley had been trying to ingratiate himself with the Lady Polly and her mother, and he was growing more than a little frustrated with how well the man was succeeding. Seeing no other way forward, he had thought to speak to Lord Yardley alone, in an attempt to warn him away from the lady in question and to make him aware that his scheme was well known to Sebastian. Perhaps it would, at the very least, keep the man from taking advantage of Polly in order to win his repulsive bet.

“Lord Yardley, I am aware of your intentions toward Lady Polly Harrington and the wager you’ve made with your friends,” he began, as the man began to smile lazily. “You must desist and leave the lady alone.”

Lord Yardley snorted. “I hardly think so.”

“You are not to touch her,” Sebastian continued, heatedly. “She is not for you, Yardley. Your bet is off.”

Pushing himself away from the wall, Lord Yardley tried to stand without swaying, and, for the most part, managed somewhat successfully. “My bet and my behavior have nothing to do with you, whoever you might be.”

“They are when they concern someone I care about,” Sebastian bit out, determined to keep a rein on his temper. “Your treatment of young ladies is utterly despicable and not what is expected of a gentleman. It has been brought to the attention of the authorities, Yardley, and if you would like to keep your reputation from being further besmirched, this must end now.”

Sebastian saw Yardley making movements in the gloom. “Step into the light, so I can your face,” he said, but when Sebastian didn’t respond he continued, his steps sloppy.

“You say you care for the lady, do you?” he said slowly, his eyes narrowing even farther. “What a shame she has eyes for only me. I do not even believe that she has any thoughts of you, whoever you are. You mean nothing to her. She has fallen under my spell, as it were – and I intend to keep it that way for I will be making a substantial amount of money from it.” He sniggered, mirth beginning to spill out over his features. “And no matter what you say, I shall not be ceasing in my attentions to Lady Polly. My standing as a gentleman depends on it. I am actually rather proud of my reputation as it is and must ensure I continue to uphold it.”

Sebastian’s hand shot out, and he grabbed Lord Yardley’s collar, fury pouring through his veins and sending heat into his face. “You are to leave her alone, Yardley, or it will be all the worse for you.”

Lord Yardley, however, did not look particularly afraid and certainly did not acknowledge Sebastian’s threat with any real concern. “Is that so?” he whispered, as Sebastian hauled him even closer, his free hand slowly curling into a fist. “Then explain to me what it is you intend to do about it?”

The words died in Sebastian’s throat. The truth was, he could do nothing to separate Lady Polly and Lord Yardley, especially when Polly would not listen to him. He had hoped that Yardley would react to the knowledge that his bet was known to more than his friends, but apparently he had misjudged the man. He had more of an ego than Sebastian had first thought. It seemed he was not about to be put off from his plan simply because Sebastian was aware of it.

“Lady Polly will know all,” Sebastian replied, firmly. “I will tell her of your plans, of your bet and your intentions. She will not stand for it and neither will her parents.”

“That means she’d have to believe you first,” Lord Yardley hissed. “And have no doubt I’ll do whatever I need to in order to protect my name.”

“It’s not a name that’s worth protecting,” Sebastian exclaimed, shaking Lord Yardley for a moment. “Debasing young ladies of the ton — it’s despicable.”

Lord Yardley sneered, his eyes dark. “I’ll call you out as a jealous fool if you so much as dare suggest that I’d do anything to dear Lady Polly,” he whispered, making Sebastian realize that he was being outplayed. “What passes between me and the chit is none of your business, sir.”

Sebastian, despite being shorter was much stronger than Yardley’s tall, slim frame. He slammed Yardley hard against the wall, his anger burning right through him. There was truth in what Lord Yardley was saying, something which Sebastian had not taken into consideration. If he made any attempt to publicly decry Lord Yardley with no evidence to back up his assertion, then he was in real danger of having his own credibility questioned – and possibly his life threatened in a duel. But, if he waited any longer, then Lady Polly could easily be enticed away by Lord Yardley’s words.

If that happened, then Yardley would do just as he had done before with other young ladies of the ton – threaten to reveal all unless they kept quiet. Polly would be too ashamed to tell anyone, and Yardley would win his bet and continue to be the conniving, cruel rogue he was.

Sebastian knew what it was like to be one who had their feelings for another used against them, and in addition to protecting Polly’s virtue, he wanted to keep her from knowing the same pain.

“I’d let me go, if I were you,” Lord Yardley continued, a note of danger in his voice as one used to issuing orders. “Step aside, before I call for the footmen.”

Sebastian had no other choice but to do as the man said, shoving him back before turning on his heel and striding away. Lord Yardley’s laughter chased him down the street, reminding him of just how little he had managed to achieve. He had not prevented Yardley from pursuing Lady Polly and, even though he would speak to the lady and her mother again, he could not be assured that he would succeed in convincing them of anything. After all, Yardley was doing a wonderful job of showing just how gentlemanly he could be, convincing her that he was both dedicated and apparently filled with regret over his previous behavior.

The only thing he could do was to continue watching Lord Yardley and Lady Polly’s interactions, hoping that he might catch the moment when Lord Yardley would try and take her someplace quiet, although Sebastian was quite sure Yardley would ensure that at least one of his friends saw him do so. How else was he to win the bet?

Muttering darkly to himself, his face burning with frustration, Sebastian hurried farther down the street, cursing the rain that began to fall on his head. Everything seemed to be against him.

His thoughts turned back to Polly, recalling how her eyes sparkled and her mouth always seemed to be curved into such a beautiful smile that he could not help but be captivated. It had been a long time since he had felt such a way, a long time since he had been caught up with such a lady.

His mind cast back to the last time he had found himself holding such affection. It had been some years ago now but still, the ache remained. Patricia Gladstone, the woman he had loved, had been the reason he had found such a lack of desire to return to society. She had turned out to be just the same as the rest of them — worse, actually — although he had not seen it at the time. They were all so false, so filled with pretension and posturing that their true selves were never truly revealed – often not even to their spouses. He had thought he had known Patricia through and through, only to realize that she felt nothing for him.

Her words had crumbled to dust, her promises blown away in the wind. Everything he had said and felt and pledged had been true, whereas her words had been nothing more than lies. Even now, that cut deeply. And yet, somehow, Lady Polly Harrington, though unaware of it, was finding a way into his heart, slowly mending the pain that he had filled it with for such a long time. He did not want to allow her there, did not want to let himself feel, but it was as though his heart had already claimed her as his own.

“You are being quite foolish,” he muttered to himself, trying to stop himself from thinking of Polly, trying to prevent his mind from tumbling with thoughts of her. He was older than her by eight years, and besides that, too staid for the likes of her.

She was brightness and light, twirling through life with all the exuberance of youth. If anyone was to be her husband, it would be a man who enjoyed the sights and sounds of London just as she did. He would not do. Coming to London was a trial, being in society nothing more than an endurance. What he wanted, more than anything, was simply to return home and enjoy his quiet country existence. What kind of life was that for a young lady such as Polly?

Besides that, she seemed to want nothing to do with him, particularly after his words against Lord Yardley.

He shook his head to himself, turning up his collar against the rain. It did not matter what he thought of Lady Polly, for she did not so much as notice him. The only thing he could do was to continue to look out for her, as a friend of her sister’s. At the very least, Lord Yardley did not know his name and, hopefully, in his befuddled state, would not be able to recognize Sebastian should they meet again.

Other than that, he had failed entirely.