Lady Adelaide walked through the alleyway between the square where she lived and the road beyond it. She had just parted ways with Lady Francesca, and insisted on being permitted to walk the short distance back to her house by herself. It was a moment of independence that she reveled in, with no chaperone to accompany her every move—no constantly watchful eye upon her. Her mother would have chided her if she had ever discovered this little rebellion she liked to indulge in, but Adelaide did not plan on her ever finding out.

She had gone into Belgravia with Lady Francesca in the hopes of distracting her mind away from thoughts of Jasper. It had worked for a short time, but it seemed she could not shake him from her mind. Ever since starting the letters, where her newfound emotions had poured out onto the page, he was always there. In her dreams and in her waking contemplation, she could not rid herself of these new feelings. Now, they were starting to make her wonder if she had made a grave mistake all these years in not seeking a courtship with him.

Might we have been happy? Might he have made me happier than any other man could? I adore him, I can share my secrets with him, I can jest with him like no other, and nobody has ever made me laugh with such vigor. I care for him, from the bottom of my soul. Is that enough? she pondered. Only, there is more to it than simple caring. I…I believe that I may love him, and that is more than enough. The trouble is, I fear I am too late. His heart belongs to Miss Green, not to me. I had my chance and I did not take it. I did not see it, and now I must accept what I have and be grateful. The Duke of Bradford shall have to be my consolation. Lord have mercy on my soul, for I fear he may take me to places I have no desire to go.

Halfway down the alleyway, she paused abruptly. With her mind racing, she had not been watching where she was going. Now, she began to question her judgment in walking alone. The sun had yet to set, but it would soon fall below the horizon. In its last dying rays, dark shadows were cast across the alley. Although, they were not nearly dark enough to hide the figure who stood in the entrance.

Panic bristled through her veins as she continued on her course. Surely, no man would dare to accost her, not in an area such as this? The gentleman had his back turned to her, but he seemed to be waiting for something. With his collar turned high to the cold, she could not make out his face. And yet, there was something familiar about him.

Steeling herself, she made to move past him. Her skirt rustled, alerting the man to her presence. As he turned, she pressed back against the alley wall, holding her breath as she looked upon the face of Lord Rowntree.

“Lady Adelaide,” he said softly. “I hope I have not startled you?”

“No… well, perhaps a little.”

He dipped his head in a bow. “Might I ask about the whereabouts of your chaperone? A young lady such as yourself should not be walking alone at such an hour, especially not in the shadows of an alley such as this.”

“I left my acquaintance and her chaperone at the top of this path,” she replied sheepishly. “I did not think company would be necessary on such a short journey. I live but a few houses along the street from here.”

He nodded. “I am aware, Lady Adelaide. Indeed, I was awaiting your return.”

She frowned in surprise. “My return, Lord Rowntree?”

“Yes, I noticed your departure earlier. I had hoped to speak with you sooner, but I did not wish to interrupt your excursion. And so, I decided that I would wait until the carriage brought you back, so that I might steal a word with you.”

“I do not understand, Lord Rowntree—why should you wish to speak with me?” she asked nervously. She knew the gentleman had sought advice from her father, regarding certain speculations in the spice trade, but she did not know that he was acquainted with the family and their home. Indeed, all she knew about him was what her father had told her, that night at the Assembly Rooms.

He sighed. “You are in grave danger, Lady Adelaide.”

She gulped. “From you? Do you wish to cause me harm?”

“No, not in the slightest,” he replied, with a note of sadness. “I believe you to be the sweetest, most remarkable young lady I have ever seen in my life. I should never wish harm upon you. That is why I have come here with a warning.”

“I do not even know you, Lord Rowntree. Do you think it appropriate to speak with me in the shadows like this, if you think so highly of me?” Fear made her speak more boldly. She knew of Lord Rowntree’s sinister reputation and she did not like the way his bulky figure seemed to corner her.

He shook his head. “I do not. I would have preferred to speak with you in the comfort of your home, where you might have felt more secure. However, this appears to be the situation we have found ourselves in, and I must take this opportunity whilst I have it. You see, I believe that…someone may be watching your home. In this instance, this unorthodox privacy is perhaps preferable.”

“I do not understand.”

“You have no need to fear me, Lady Adelaide. I shall never see harm come to you, if I can help it,” he insisted. “That is why I have come. I have heard of your engagement to the Duke of Bradford, and I must urge you to reconsider. I would offer myself as a suitable replacement, though I see now that such an idea would seem abhorrent to you. Still, I cannot deny that I find you utterly enchanting.”

“You say that I should not fear you, My Lord, yet you are scaring me.” Her heart hammered in her chest.

“I am sorry for that. I ought to get to the matter at hand,” he said, his voice tinged with regret. “You must think of me as a friend, not a foe. You see, there are secrets being kept, and they concern you. I am closer to your family than you may think, and I have, indeed, endeavored to assist as much as possible.”

“You are close to my family?”

He nodded. “As I say, there are secrets being kept from you. I do not know how much you understand about these particular secrets, though it seems you are extremely intuitive. Your marriage to the Duke of Bradford is to be a fortuitous one, is it not? You hope to secure your future, and that of your family, in case anything should happen? I am correct in assuming that, yes?”

“You are most impertinent in your questions, My Lord,” she shot back, though something in his words piqued her curiosity. What secrets was he talking about? If they involved him, they could only be bad. She tried to think of what they could be, but her worried mind would not cooperate.

“If there were time for propriety, I would not have sought to speak to you in this manner,” he said solemnly. “Now, I ask again, you are hoping to protect your family by marrying the Duke of Bradford, are you not?”

She paused for a moment, before nodding. “As any daughter must, especially when they are the only child.”

“That is most admirable of you, Lady Adelaide, and proves your impeccable character. Indeed, it is as I suspected. However, you must not marry the Duke. Might I make an offer to you, instead? Not of marriage, but of security?” He smiled warmly.

“What do you mean?”

“I will take care of yourself and your mother, if anything should ever happen to your father. I will not ask for your hand in marriage, though I would ask that you permit me to speak with you on occasion. Perhaps, you may thaw towards me, in time. If not, there shall be no expectation. I wish only to help you, for you have captivated me, heart and soul. I may never be able to call you my wife, but I will not see a demon like the Duke of Bradford make you his. He would ruin you, in a thousand different ways.”

She shook her head vehemently. “I do not comprehend, Lord Rowntree. Why would you offer such a thing? There can be no benefit to you, for I cannot marry in return for kind deeds. I will not. Indeed, I am no longer certain that I can marry for security, either.” The words spilled out unbidden, prompting her cheeks to burn with embarrassment. She had not intended to be so candid, and yet the feelings had bubbled over regardless.

He arched an eyebrow. “You are no longer certain of your engagement to the Duke?”

“I…” Before she could answer, a shadow stretched across the entrance to the alleyway. Reuben himself stood there, highlighted by the bronze glow of the setting sun.

I pray you did not hear that, she thought frantically. I pray you did not hear me say that. With Jasper’s heart already captured by another, you are my only hope for a secure future. I did not mean what I said. For my mother’s sake, I did not mean it.

“What is all this?” Reuben spat, glowering at Lord Rowntree. “You have lowered yourself to such an extent that you have taken to frightening young ladies in darkened alleyways? Lady Adelaide, are you well? Has this brute harmed you in any way?”

“He has not, Your Grace,” she whimpered. It did not seem as though he had heard her previous words. And yet, Reuben was notoriously hard to read.

“Good, then you ought to return home,” he said firmly. “You should not be walking alone. When we are wed, I shall insist upon it. I know you enjoy the freedom, but it is neither safe nor appropriate.”

She nodded. “I am sorry, Your Grace. I did not expect to run into anyone on such a short journey. I never do.”

“No, but I cannot always be here to protect you,” he replied. “Have I not shown you how easily you may be accosted in such places as this, when you choose to wander by yourself?” A glitter of amusement shone in his dark eyes. Adelaide blushed, remembering the last time she had found herself with company in this alley. He had crept up behind her and taken her by surprise. Now, however, she was not sure who she feared more—Lord Rowntree or the Duke himself.

“You did, Your Grace.”

“Well then, I hope I do not have to endure a repeat of this unfortunate situation. Not unless I am the one doing the accosting,” he said, with a wry grin. “Now, return to your home, as I have asked. I would not have you witness what is to come.”

Adelaide stared at Lord Rowntree. “What is to come?”

Reuben smirked. “It is not for a young lady’s ears.”

“Promise me you will not hurt Lord Rowntree,” she urged. “I do not believe he meant me any harm. Indeed, I think his intentions were good. He wished to tell me something, that is all. Please, Your Grace, do not hurt him.”

“He wished to tell you something, did he?” Reuben turned his attention to Lord Rowntree. “And what, pray tell, did he wish to impart? I am eager to know.”

Lord Rowntree looked terrified. “Nothing, Your Grace. I had intended to wait for her father, to discuss… the business agreement that you and I talked about. I happened upon her, and sought to warn her against walking alone. That is all.”

He glanced at Adelaide. “Is that true?”

“I… I do not know,” she murmured.

“I despise liars,” Reuben remarked, casting the bulk of his venom upon Lord Rowntree. “Do not seek to bring my future wife into your deceit. Now, Lady Adelaide, please return to your home. I will not ask you again.”

Helpless to do anything but obey, Adelaide pressed her hand against Reuben’s forearm, in a gesture of affection, before moving out of the alleyway. She did not want to go. She did not want to leave Lord Rowntree to whatever Reuben might do, no matter what her personal feelings towards Lord Rowntree were. And yet, she could not stop Reuben. She did not have the power to stand in his way.

She had barely walked ten paces before she heard the first dull impact of a punch. A groan pierced the air, followed by a second sickening thud. Covering her ears with her hands, she ran towards home, cursing the day she had met Reuben and agreed to his courtship.

For now, she doubted everything. Secrets surrounded her, and they ran deep. There was something she didn’t know—she could feel it now, though she owed the revelation to Lord Rowntree. And yet, she wasn’t sure how to discover the facts. Where could she even begin?

The darkest secret, however, was Reuben himself. He had revealed the truth of his character to her, peeling back the layers to expose the real monster beneath. The one everyone had warned her about. The one who had done all those dark and troublesome things. The one who had whispers of illicit behavior and deceit about him, that she had chosen to ignore.

She had made a deal with the devil, and there would be no breaking that contract now.