“How dare you—”
“No, how dare you?” Lucien’s voice carried across the now-silent room. “You knew my father was in his cups, knew he couldn’t think clearly, yet you encouraged him to keep playing. How many other men have you ruined this way? How many families have suffered because you exploit their loved ones’ afflictions?”
“If you’re trying to provoke me into calling you out—”
“I’m trying to provoke you into showing a shred of human decency.” Lucien won another trick. “Though I suspect that’s beyond your capabilities.”
The final hand came down to a single card. Lucien played his last trump, and Lockwood’s face went white.
“Impossible,” the baron breathed. “You couldn’t have—”
“I believe those vowels are mine.” Lucien held out his hand, his expression unyielding.
For a moment, he thought Lockwood might refuse. But the baron’s reputation would suffer more damage from denying a gambling debt than from losing to a recently returned peer. With trembling fingers, Lockwood handed over the stack of papers.
Lucien stood, tucking the vowels into his coat pocket. “Trust me, you won’t see my father at these tables again.” He placed his hands on the table directly across from Lockwood. “But if you do, I advise you to refuse to play against him or there will be consequences.”
“Are you barring me from playing with your father?” Lockwood’s voice dripped with venom.
“No. I’m informing you that if you ever approach him again—here or anywhere else—I will ensure society knows exactly what kind of man you are. Try finding a wife or open doors within society with that reputation hanging over your head.” Lucien’s smile was cold. “I may have lost my memories, but I’ve gainedsomething else: the ability to recognize predators wearing gentlemen’s clothes.”
He turned to his father, who stared at him with a mixture of shame and awe. “Come, Father. Let’s go home.”
The earl stumbled to his feet, leaning heavily on Tarquin’s arm. As they made their way toward the exit, Lockwood called out, “This isn’t over, Furoe.”
Lucien didn’t bother turning around. “Yes, it is. Because next time, I won’t be so gentlemanly in expressing my displeasure.”
Outside, the cool night air helped clear his father’s head somewhat. The earl sagged against the carriage door; his face lined with misery.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “So sorry. I thought…if I could just win enough…fix what I’ve done to our family…”
“Gambling more won’t fix anything.” Lucien’s voice gentled slightly. “The damage is done, Father. Now we must focus on rebuilding.”
“How can you even look at me?” The earl’s voice cracked. “I’ve ruined everything. Your sisters’ futures, the estate, your mother’s legacy…”
“Yes, you have.” Lucien helped his father into the carriage, then climbed in after him. “But I’m here now. And I won’t let you destroy what little we have left.”
Tarquin joined them, signaling the driver to move. As the carriage rolled through London’s darkened streets, Lucien studied his father’s broken figure. The anger that had sustained him inside Crockford’s faded, leaving only a bone-deep weariness.
“Tomorrow,” he said quietly, “we will discuss terms. You’ll sign over control of all accounts to me. No more gambling, no more drinking yourself into oblivion. If you truly want to honor Mother’s memory, you’ll help me salvage what remains of ourfamily’s legacy. And perhaps a trip to our country estate will help.”
The earl nodded miserably. “Whatever you say, my boy. Whatever you say.”
Lucien leaned back, the vowels heavy in his pocket. One crisis averted, but how many more awaited? How much damage had been done in those five years while he’d lived his simple life in Ireland? And how much of it could he truly repair?
Tarquin caught his eye and gave a slight nod of approval. At least he had allies in this strange new world he’d been thrust into. It felt strange to have to rely on Courtney’s brother. He would need these strangers in the battles to come.
“Be careful. You made an enemy tonight. Lockwood is a nasty piece of work.”
“I had little choice,” he replied. As with most things in his life, there was no choice.
As London’s grand houses gave way to the familiar stretch leading to Danvers House, Lucien found himself thinking of Courtney. If he married her immediately, this could all go away.
What would she make of this evening’s display? Would she recognize anything of the man she’d loved in his cold confrontation with Lockwood? Would Tarquin approve of the match? He had nothing to offer her.
Lucien didn’t know. But he was beginning to understand that he couldn’t simply step back into his old life. He would have to forge a new path, combining the strength he’d found in Ireland with the responsibilities he’d inherited here.
And perhaps that was the real legacy of Ava’s deception—not just what was lost, but what he’d gained. The ability to have experience in two worlds.
