Basil who had stood and quickly rounded the table at Hammond’s first provocation, grabbed Lex just as he was about to launch himself at the insulting man.
“Mr. Hammond, please cease your incendiary provocations,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said. “Enough has been said already. I suggest resolving this outside, adhering to Civil Society’s rules, naturally.” She turned to whisper to Titan, who nodded and left in answer to the wily doyenne’s bidding.
“Titan and the lads will be setting up a boxing ring in the courtyard,” the matchmaker said. “And there will be seating so that we may all watch comfortably from a safe distance. And if anyone would like to place a wager, Bottom here will see to your needs.”
Torches lit thenight, and a breeze whispered through the leaves of an old oak tree as the guests took their seats in front of a roped-off square in the courtyard. Winnie sat next to Mrs. Dove-Lyon and pulled her shawl tightly around her, shivering.
The other guests were chatting and smiling, occasionally looking at her and then at the boxing ring in anticipation. Mrs. Dove-Lyon patted Winnie’s knee, but her reassurance brought no comfort. She was not happy about this. While she was grateful that Lex wanted to defend her honor, she did not want to be the center of attention. Because she knew the gossip would spread.
How long before word of this reached her grandmother’s ears? Grandmama would not be amused, and it would shade her perception of Lex.
Although her grandmother wished her to be married off as soon as possible, Winnie could not imagine that she would be pleased to accept a man with a string of debt tied to his estate. If what Hammond had revealed was true, Lex had unsavory skeletons in his closet.Is he a rogue with a long line of broken hearts in his past?Was he interested in hersolely for her money?
She couldn’t allow Hammond’s words to get under her skin. He was a vile man, and she knew that he’d lied and cheated his way to amassing a fortune.
She would put her trust in Lex, who’d captivated her from the moment she met him. Or rather, from the moment she’d robbed him. And there was alsothatconundrum. How would she ever be able to tell the man that she’d developed strong feelings for that she was the Lace Bandit?
The two men reemerged dressed in loose-fitting trousers, their torsos bare. Winnie felt the color rise to her cheeks. She could tell that Lex was fit but had no idea how perfectly he embodied masculinity. His physique, defined by muscles that flexed with his graceful movement, was powerful, and she shivered as she remembered what those big hands had made her feel a short while ago.
With a worried glance, Winnie forced herself to look at Hammond. He was of a similar height but far heavier and stockier in his torso. His extra weight might give him an advantage over Lex.
Lex and Hammond entered the ring, and before Titan, who would officiate, could even begin to state the rules of the match, Hammond charged like a bull and knocked Lex off his feet.
A gasp echoed around the group, and Winnie’s hand flew to her mouth.
But Lex bounced back to his feet, grinning, appearing not the least bit discomfited by the low blow before the match had even begun.
“I’m glad you’ve come with serious intent,” he said. “At least I won’t have to chase you around the ring, you cowardly prig.”
Hammond grunted. “We will soon see who the better man is.” He pranced around Lex as if dancing an Irish jig at a village fair, his fists raised in what resembled a parody of a fighter’s stance, jutting his chin out determinedly.
Lex stood calmly, merely rocking on the balls of his feet. Winniecould see the intense focus in his eyes, and in that moment, she realized that he was not merely concentrating; he was strategizing.
Hammond swung first and missed making contact, which caused the spectators to groan. It was a near miss and would undoubtedly have done damage. Winnie covered her eyes, her stomach clenching in a knot. She could not bear the thought of Lex’s handsome face being bloodied.
Hammond moved in again with a wide swing, and this time made contact. The loud impact of his fist on Lex’s cheekbone was excruciating to hear. A cut opened, and droplets of blood dripped down Lex’s cheek. The crowd roared in excitement.
Lex wiped his cheek with the back of his hand and shook his head, clearing his vision.
“Bravo, Hammond, first blood,” someone shouted from the crowd.
Hammond laughed, perhaps sensing an imminent victory, and moved in to deliver another blow.
But he was unprepared for Lex’s block and then a walloping left hook that sounded like it might have cracked his jaw.
Hammond teetered back, then regained his balance and roared, charging again, and would have knocked out a lesser man. At the last moment, he lifted his foot and was about to kick Lex. But Lex danced away a second before, and Hammond, given how fast he was going, tripped and fell to the ground, landing with a resounding thud.
Titan counted to ten and then raised Lex’s hand as the victor. Shouts and cheers echoed around them, and Lex, who had his back to Hammond, didn’t see him make a move.
“Look out!” Winnie shouted. Lex turned, but not fast enough to avoid the brutal kick to his shin. Lex stumbled and was dragged down by Hammond, who got in a few punches to his gut.
“You bastard,” Lex cursed as he rolled away, leaped to his feet, and then dragged Hammond up and delivered a bone-crunching hit to hisface, sending him flying back several feet, where he landed sprawled on his back.
Then everyone shouted at once as Titan raised Lex’s hand again and once more declared him the winner. Titan shook Lex’s hand. “Well, done, my lord.”
Lex nodded and thanked him, then turned to Basil, who’d run up to congratulate him. Meanwhile, Titan’s footmen dragged Hammond away.
Basil raised Lex’s arm in victory. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your winner!” The crowd erupted in applause and shouts of congratulations. Winnie stood and was about to go to Lex’s side when the voluptuous ladies, Beatrice Weatherby and Lavinia Rayford, who’d been seated on either side of Lex at dinner, rushed up to kiss him on both cheeks and threw their arms around him.
