Chapter 1
We heard that the Masked Rogue of London is fond of women with red hair. How scandalous! — excerpt from The Londoner.
Lady Natalie Reeves raised her eyes to the graying skies, and her eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. “The weather is especially changeful this week. Do you not think so, Hannah?”
When she did not get a response, she turned to find her cousin hurrying toward a puppet player’s stall, her dark curls bouncing behind her. Shaking her head whilst marveling at Hannah’s excitability, she began to walk along the Serpentine. She could follow Hannah and watch the puppets amongst the growing crowd but she would much rather walk in solitude, for there was a lot that occupied her thoughts.
At nine-and-twenty, she was unmarried and had no prospects, life in London was growing more difficult by the day, and society events had become a tedious and costly affair. She had come to Hyde Park at an unfashionable hour for some fresh air—not that London was ever in an abundance of it—but the sight of blushing young ladies in the company of charming gentlemen tightened her throat.
Natalie turned her eyes away from the discomposing sight, but then she thought she heard someone call her name. Her steps slowed, and she listened, unsure.
“Lady Natalie,” the voice said again, prompting her to turn around to see Miss Alexandra Gilmore, a pretty and famous daughter of Viscount Wenthorne, walking toward her. “How splendid to see you here. I almost did not recognize you, for we are hardly afforded the privilege of seeing you out of doors lately.” Her blue gaze traveled over Natalie, and the corners of her mouth tilted upward in condescension.
Alexandra was the sort of lady that poets wrote about. She represented prime English beauty with golden ringlets framing a well-proportioned face, bright blue eyes, and pale flawless skin that had never seen a freckle. Her appearance was quite the opposite of Natalie’s. She acknowledged Alexandra with a nod.
“Seeing you walking all alone,” Alexandra continued, “one would think England had no men left. Perhaps you would like to join us.” She pointed behind her at a tall gentleman who had his back to them and was speaking to another man. Natalie knew Alexandra only made that offer to show her that she commanded the attention of a gentleman of consequence. He turned very slightly but his face was shielded by his hat.
He was powerfully built, however, and his imposing height quite distinguished him. “No, I am happy walking by myself,” Natalie murmured, her unease growing. She had never been able to properly defend herself whenever her spinsterhood was confronted.
Alexandra never missed the opportunity to remind her that she was a spinster, and that she would likely remain so for the rest of her life. As harsh as the words were, they were true.
“As a matter of fact, I am with my cousin,” Natalie added in a late defensive attempt.
“Lord Clifford?” Alexandra asked, raising one elegant eyebrow.
“No, Miss Hannah Reeves,” she replied, pointing to her cousin at the puppet player’s stall.
“Oh, I was hoping it would be Lord Clifford. He, too, is rarely seen outside. Is he well?” Alexandra inclined her head as she continued her abasing examination of Natalie.
She clenched her teeth as she replied, “Yes, he is very well.”
“Well, Lady Natalie, I think you ought to spend time with other people. Miss Reeves will be married soon, and…” Alexandra allowed her voice to trail off as a grin spread across her face, certain that Natalie had captured her meaning.
Hannah will marry, and you will be left alone.She swallowed miserably. It was only a matter of time before she lost even more confidence. And once her cousin, George—who became the Earl of Clifford after her father’s passing—married, she would have no one. Lord help her if the new Lady Clifford wouldn’t be generous enough to allow her to continue to stay with them.
Unable to continue standing there and listening to Alexandra’s insults, Natalie turned to continue walking, but Alexandra placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. It would be inappropriate to brush the hand off and walk away, for the park was beginning to fill as the fashionable hour approached, and manners must be minded no matter what.
“Allow me to offer you some advice, Lady Natalie.” Alexandra leaned close to her. “Seek a little adventure while you can. I am sure there is a gentleman out there who would want you. Who knows…” she allowed a delicate shrug, “The Masked Rogue might find you…fascinating.”
Natalie’s eyes widened at that insult. The Masked Rogue of London was a man with a dark reputation. Society had tried for six years to unmask him to no avail. He lived in hopeless depravity, gambling and making merry nearly every night, and word was that he had ruined many a young lady over the years. News was published daily about him, and the paper that carried the most about him was The Londoner.
So, this is my worth in society’s eyes.Something to be toyed with by the Masked Rogue. Gravely wounded, she decided to leave immediately. Pulling her shoulder away so Alexandra’s hand fell, she began to turn, but then her eyes caught something that froze both her blood and faculties, whilst making her heart pound fiercely against her small ribs.
The gentleman accompanying Alexandra had just turned, and Natalie recognized him as Jasper Fitzhugh, the Duke of Amsthorne, and the man who ruined her reputation nine years ago. Knowledge of what had happened was not made public, thankfully, but it had made way for the events that led to her spinsterhood to occur.
His presence halted Alexandra’s condemnation but Natalie wanted the ground to open so she could hide. “Ladies,” he murmured with a slight tilt of his head. Alexandra placed her hand possessively in the crook of his elbow and smiled at Natalie before turning her fluttering lashes up at him.
An enraged shiver ran down her back, because Jasper looked at her as though he had never seen her before. In fact, he smiled cordially at her, then looked down at Alexandra, waiting for her to introduce him. When she did not, he proceeded to introduce himself, which was not done.
“I am the Duke of Amsthorne,” he said with a small smile. He was even more handsome than she remembered, and although she had seen him in ballrooms and gardens, she had not been this close to him since the night he stole her future and doomed her.
Grinding her teeth, she curtsied politely, offering him her hand and murmuring, “Lady Natalie Reeves.” She watched his eyes, hoping to see recognition flare in their blue depths but nothing happened. Either he was pretending to have no recollection of that night, or he truly did not remember her.
Natalie was unsure which pained her more. Young and naive, she had acted upon the feelings that had grown in her heart. She allowed Jasper to lead her away from the ballroom to a private place where he charmed and tried to kiss her. Her body was filled with flutters, and she closed her eyes, ready to be kissed and begin a new life with him. Then his friend Oliver Bargrave appeared from behind a sofa, laughing as he revealed that it was all a joke.
Oliver had dared Jasper to lure an innocent girl out of the ballroom, and he accepted and carried out the plan. For them, it was all a moment of amusement, but Natalie’s nightmares had begun that night. That simple jest brought on incidents that consumed her family’s fortune and threw them into heavy debt.
Now, Jasper bowed over her hand, strangely oblivious to her misfortune. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, My Lady.” Alexandra glared at her, but Natalie found no satisfaction at the moment. She struggled to understand how he could not remember her. “And allow me to apologize for Miss Gilmore’s behavior.”
