Chapter One
Epping Forest
Essex, England
Every bump inthe road elicited a wince from Lexington Bradford Capel, Earl of Essex, reminding him of his humiliating situation. The rains had left rutted roads, but the forest canopy thrived and had begun its autumnal change from green to brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange. As a man who thrived on outdoor activities, what might have given Lex profound satisfaction left him unsettled, and the magnificent seasonal transformation of leaves was lost on him. He was feeling as dour as a man of privilege could possibly feel. He was on his way to London to find a wife, preferably one with a hefty dowry. He had little to offer except his name, title, and property, which needed an infusion of cash. Marquess Basil du Priest, his best friend, had assured him that his encumbrances would not present a problem. This was not the life he had envisioned for himself, but it was the life he must adjust to and learn to accommodate.
Mansford House, the seat of his earldom, was threatened by insolvency due to his profligate father’s infernal weakness for the cards. Lex’s father, the previous earl, had lost a great deal of money, money he could ill afford to lose. Years of indulging this evil passion had leftthe earldom in dire circumstances.
Lex, burdened by a profound sense of duty, blamed himself for the family estate’s financial ruin. He should have taken a greater interest in the estate and the earldom’s holdings and finances. He’d been away at Cambridge when things really began to fall apart, but his father had kept him in the dark, and he had no inkling of how dire things really were. His father had somehow managed to keep things afloat, and upon graduation, Lex began his tenure in the House of Lords, spending most of his time in London. The only things he’d paid any mind to were politics, wine, and women, but to be truthful, mostly women. His personal interests often clashed with his duty, creating a constant internal struggle.
When his father died and he opened the account books, the horrible truth was revealed—the earldom was insolvent. Lex found himself with only one course of action: finding a wealthy bride. He wasn’t the least bit interested in getting married, but his duty lay with his beloved sister and mother, both dependent on him.
He blamed himself for the pickle he was in. Of course, self-condemnation did nothing to alleviate the rage and shame coursing through his veins.I have no one to blame but myself. But I will turn this around. I have to.
His sister Tess’s future must be secured with a proper dowry, and his mother must live out her days comfortably. With his father recently deceased, Lex was now the Earl of Essex. Having come into his own, he was now master of his fate. However, a title without a financial backbone meant little. Yes, he was the master of his fate, but now he was also the master of a sinking ship.
After his father’s death, the grim reality of the affairs of the estate hit him like a lightning strike, a sobering and consequential rude awakening that, most nights, stole his sleep. Like an army of vultures, the creditors emerged, ready to attack. It was on Lex’s shoulders to right the ship. Hence his reason for traveling to London was to meetthe infamous Mrs. Dove-Lyon.
Basil, who accompanied him on the journey, had told him that the indomitable Lyon’s Den doyenne ran a side business as a matchmaker. It was a difficult pill for him to swallow, but Lex needed to find a bride with deep pockets. According to Basil, many a love match had resulted from the Black Widow of Whitehall’s machinations. It was the last thing he wanted to do, for he did not want to rush into a marriage for the sake of money. But what choice did he have? He did not have the fortune to court a woman because he chose to. And love? Forget that. Love was off the table.
Not that he put much stock in it. His mother and father had been in love when they married, and that didn’t stop the creditors from nipping at his heels.
According to Basil, Mrs. Dove-Lyon was an expert at matching a wealthy fallen dove with a financially strapped, titled gentleman who could refurbish her reputation simply by marrying her. To dream of more would be delusionary. To share his life and love with a woman who reflected his hopes and interests was not to be. Besides, even if he was wealthy, attendingtonballs in search of a bride was not a pastime he favored. He was more at home among his hounds, horses, and books. These days most of his time was spent tending to his estate matters, which were far more important to him than courting frivolous young debutantes.
“My dear Lexington, your company today is less than what might be hoped for. What in God’s name has you in such a huff? I am baffled by the frown on your face.” Basil removed a perfumed handkerchief from his pocket and held it to his nose.
“Forgive me, Basil, but my worries have gotten the better of me.”
“Mark my words, Lex, the solutions to your dilemma will be found. Bess is a most delightful, though deliciously scandalous, proprietor of a gaming house in London that is worthy of the most discerning pleasure seekers and a favorite haunt of thebeau monde. Sheis wilier than a fox and will happily arrange a suitable marriage for you. As I told you, the women she matches are fallen roses anxious to regain respectability. Most are from good families and will be settled with large dowries. You will find your remedy and live comfortably for the rest of your days. A man like you is a knight in shining armor to these wilted flowers. You are their dream chance to make a good marriage.”
Basil dabbed at his nose. It was one of many effeminate gestures that he possessed, but Lex had learned not to be fooled by Basil’s softer side, as he was a gifted pugilist besides being a brilliant raconteur. Basil often displayed exaggerated affectations when he wanted to be droll or sarcastic or make a point. He was also quite a mimic, and had he not been born a marquess, Lex could have seen him on the stage.
Lex trusted Basil with his life, and the marquess’s friendship had kept him in good stead during his current travails. Their friendship was born from an unlikely bond. As boys, the two had suffered a year of bullying at boarding school. They found strength in each other and ended the badgering and abuse by joining the boxing club and developing their fighting skills. They sparred several times a week to this day and were both strong and fit. Under any circumstance, Lex could count on Basil to have his back, as he tended to lose his temper when confronted with arrogance and deceit.
“You know you did not have to accompany me on this trip to London,” Lex said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I would never leave my dearest friend’s future to chance. One can get into difficulties in these gaming dens, and, knowing your propensity to not let a slight pass, you may need my assistance. You can be sure of one thing—having a friend at your side is always best when entering uncharted waters. Besides, how could I let you tie yourself to a woman unworthy of your gifts and passions? You will need my good judgment to wade through the myriad skirts that will fling themselves upon you.”
The carriage hit another rut in the road, and Lex gritted his teeth. “I’ll tell you one thing I am sure will come to pass. The roads of our kingdom will all be macadam one day! And the sooner, the better. It is a blight on Civil Society not to address this easily dealt with problem. How I detest being jounced around until my innards are tied in knots.”
Basil chuckled. “Of this, I am sure you are right. One day, our kingdom will meet your exacting standards.”
“Whoa!” the driver yelled, and the carriage abruptly squealed to a stop, causing both Basil and Lexington to topple forward. The frightened horses whinnied cries of terror, and the carriage jostled from their rearing hooves that pawed the air.
“What in God’s name is going on?” Lex recovered himself and stuck his head out the window of the carriage. A lone masked rider held two pistols, one pointed at the driver, and one pointed at him.Bloody hell—of all the luck!“What in damnation are you about?”
“Exit the carriage with your hands up, and don’t try my patience,” the bandit ordered them in a raspy voice that hid its true tonality. “I know there are two of you. If you don’t want to see your driver shot through the heart, you will heed my words.”
“We’d best do as he says,” Lex grumbled. He and Basil exited the carriage with their hands in the air.
By the false pitch of the highwayman’s voice, Lex had thought they’d been waylaid by a young lad, but he was shocked to discover their assailant was a woman wearing a black lace mask. Though she was dressed like a man in trousers and a formfitting waistcoat, her feminine attributes were more than evident. No amount of clothing could hide her buxom hourglass figure. She sat astride a dappled gray steed, and the vixen was a vision of beauty that Lex could not help but admire. He’d heard rumors of a woman highwayman called the “Lace Bandit” but had believed them only to be the imaginings of overactive minds, a fictionalized character whose escapades spiced up dinner conversation during the dreary London season.
“I will relieve you of your coin, gentlemen.” She tossed an empty velvet sack at Lex’s feet. The carriage driver must have thought she was distracted, because he reached for a pistol beneath his seat. He thought wrong, and before he could take aim, the bandit fired off a shot, and the pistol flew from his hand. The burly coachman trembled like a leaf, pleading for his life.
“Stop your whimpering, man. I will not kill you, but I warn you not to make another foolhardy attempt at bravery. I advise you to keep your hands in the air. Next time, I will shoot you through the heart, and I would hate to send you to an early grave.” She returned her gaze to Lex and Basil. “Your coin, gentlemen. And no need to denude yourselves of your jewelry. I have no use for trinkets.”
“You really are an annoyance. Can you not find some other line of work?” Basil grumbled, removing a leather pouch from his jacket and dumping the contents into the sack Lex held open. Lex followed suit and added his sovereigns to the spoils.
