An Honorable Love (The Gentlemen’s Gamble #6)

Prologue

When faced with certain death, people’s true nature often showed itself, with perhaps a dash of desperation added to the mix. Which was how Leonard came to be watching a veritable farce play out before him.

“I am done with this life of adventure,” Thomas Denby shouted, his red hair matted to the back of his head. “I swear it, on my life, I shall marry the first woman I see when we dock.”

“If we dock,” Leonard grumbled.

The lantern shifted, causing an eerie light to creep about the cramped cabin.

It was Leonard, Rowan, and Ambrose’s sleeping quarters, but the lot of them decided if they were going to die, at least they would die together.

Now the room, which already had an unpleasant odor, was overcrowded, stuffy, and even more unappealing than before.

Not to mention the raging storm outside making even the simple act of sitting difficult.

Several times, Leonard had to push his hands against the bed to keep his place.

“When we dock,” Thomas continued, the man’s mannerisms practically maniacal, “I will be the first of any of you louts to marry.”

Leonard held in a scoff. He had no desire to marry. But if this little wager kept his friends distracted, then he would agree for their sake.

The walls of their packet ship groaned under the weight of the storm, and Leonard eyed the wooden planks, as if his gaze could force them to withstand the force.

“Fine chance of that,” he goaded his friend, peeling his eyes from the worrisome walls and looking back at Thomas.

“I swear on my life, you will not be the first. Last, perhaps.”

Another wave thrashed their boat, and Rowan slammed back into his bunk. Leonard watched his friend in the spot beside him, and for a moment, his worry overcame his frustration.

“And if I am—” Thomas paused as a particularly dangerous wave rocked them all to the side. “I shall pay forfeit. One hundred pounds to each of you! And you can pay me one hundred pounds when you are last.”

Leonard hardly spoke a word amongst the chaos that ensued. It was likely that Leonard would either die tonight on this very ship, or he would end up taking his brother’s place as heir. In which case, six hundred pounds would not be so hard to come by.

The dark thought should have made Leonard feel guilty. But how could it when the sentiment had been driven into his mind since he was only ten years old?

Leonard tried to sit up, but when he did, another wave hit their ship and threw him into the wall.

One by one his friends agreed to the wager—Rowan, Charles, Tristan, Ambrose, and Andrew.

There was a desperation to cling to life propelling their words.

Though, Leonard was quite certain none of them would ever have need to marry.

For it would take a miracle for them to make it out of this.