Lost in the Lyon’s Garden (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

Prologue

“I do not believe I have ever known such good company,” Justin Hartley said as he raised his glass to toast all about the table.

Like Hartley, Lord Benjamin Thompson had never thought to be sitting with these men as they gathered to celebrate Hartley’s promotion to the British embassy in India.

Hartley was Lord Macdonald Duncan’s assistant and would be sorely missed by all in Duncan’s division of the Home Office, including Benjamin.

Thompson likely had more in common with Hartley than he had with the rest of the men enjoying a meal together and a turn at the gaming tables at the popular Lyon’s Den gaming hell.

Both he and Hartley had not been formed for the aristocracy.

Their fathers were both clergymen and younger sons, never meant to inherit.

Where they differed was Hartley’s parents were both still alive, and Duncan’s assistant had never been targeted by relations wishing to claim the various peerages meant for Lord Duncan’s “sons.”

Duncan and his wife, Lady Elsbeth, while she was still alive, had taken in three young members of the aristocracy who were in danger of meeting an early death, if not for Duncan’s protection and his patronage.

Her ladyship had convinced her husband they should take in, first, Lord Richard Orson, the eldest of the young lords sitting about the table.

Lady Elsbeth had heard of both Richard’s plight and the boy’s keen interest in the stars, something the pair had shared, and she had convinced her husband that his lordship must save the boy and teach him how to survive on his own, minus the well-known depravity displayed by both of Orson’s parents up until their deaths.

Next came Lord Aaran Graham, a child who had been abandoned by everyone the boy had ever known.

All thought Graham was illegitimate, but, somehow, and no one ever knew the “why” or the “wherefore” of how it occurred, Duncan had proven Lord Ian Graham and a young woman of what the English might call the “gentry” had married “over the anvil,” so to speak.

Witnesses willing to swear to Aaran’s legitimacy had been brought forward, and no one in Scotland ever questioned Lord Macdonald Duncan, as he was one of the most powerful lords in his home country and in the United Kingdom’s Parliament.

The last of those Lady Elsbeth saved arrived before she lost her own life in a final attempt to present Duncan an heir to the earldom.

Neither Lady Elsbeth nor the child survived the difficult delivery, and Duncan accepted the fact he would have no heir to the earldom.

He could not conceive taking another woman to his bed as his wife.

That third child that Lady Elsbeth brought under her husband’s care was Lord Navan Beaufort, an Irish earl, who also held an English barony.

Beaufort’s uncle had slaughtered all of Navan’s family before Duncan and a band of English soldiers could arrive.

Nowadays, along with all of Duncan’s sons, Beaufort was a representative of Ireland as part of the United Kingdom.

After Lady Elsbeth’s death, the British government convinced Duncan to save the Marksman’s earldom, Duncan’s nearest neighbor in Derbyshire, and train each of his adoptive sons as agents for the Crown, conducting secret investigations and quashing turmoil.

Over the years, they all assumed Lord Alexander Dutton would join Duncan’s family by marrying Lady Theodora Duncan, his lordship’s daughter, though none of them said so, for Marksman had his reasons not to speak his proposal.

Benjamin thought, “Then it comes to me. The last of Duncan’s sons.

” He was only a bit like the other four young lords, though he would gladly go to war for any of them.

It was just that his upbringing was heavily based in religion and service to the community.

And in forgiveness. “Moreover, I have a strong desire to know all there is to know about how to heal a person, not just with religion, but also with medicine.” Lord Macdonald Duncan had not denied Benjamin’s desire to learn more than many would ever know of the human body.

After university, Benjamin had gone off to Edinburgh to study for two years before claiming the Thompson earldom.

“We will know a depth of emptiness, Hartley,” Lord Graham declared with a smile, bringing Benjamin back to the moment, “but I imagine Duncan will miss you the most. It will take another decade before Duncan can say, ‘Where is…’ and your replacement will not only anticipate Duncan’s needs but know where the piece of paper can be found. ”

“Here, here!” Benjamin joined the others in a raised toast to Hartley.

Hartley, as he was likely to do, declared good naturedly, “It is part of my master plan to rule the United Kingdom someday, for no one will know in which file I hid the country’s secrets.”

“Do not say so with such conviction,” Orson warned with a laugh, “or you might be visiting the Tower of London with a permanent room set aside just for you.”

Benjamin leaned back in his chair and sighed under his breath.

He had been granted a second chance when Duncan had come to Kent to claim him.

When both his father and his Uncle Louis, the previous earl, had been killed in what could only be termed a “suspicious accident,” Duncan had swept in, set guardians in place to oversee the earldom until Benjamin became of age, as well as securing a house in the village for Benjamin’s mother, until he was permitted to claim the earldom before the House of Lords.

What Benjamin regretted most was that after attending school in Edinburgh, he now possessed the skills to save both his uncle’s life and that of his father.

As they stood as one to make their way across the gentlemen’s dining room, he sighed again, feeling quite warm and mellow from the drinks he had consumed. At length, they reached the entrance and the exit specifically set aside for men. Women had a separate portal on the side of the Lyon’s Den.

“You still have some three weeks before your departure,” Duncan said, “and much to accomplish before then.”

“Yes, sir,” Hartley said and stood stiffer, as if at attention, as with the military.

“But not tonight,” Beaufort leaned in to say in a conspiratorial manner. “Tonight, Hartley may choose one of Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s ladies, if he likes. I will pay the necessary fees.”

Benjamin knew he frowned, but, unlike his brothers who thought little to nothing of society’s baser needs, Benjamin did not approve of the idea of establishing a business on the purchase of a sex partner. Neither would his father nor likely Hartley’s father.

Hartley denied Beaufort’s suggestion. “I will choose my own bed tonight.”

“Exactly,” Benjamin thought. “Hartley’s parents would understand their son’s occasional late hours and even Hartley’s use of violence to save British citizens, but never that of paying a woman for sexual favors.

” Vicars would likely also disapprove of their party dining under the roof of the infamous Lyon’s Den.

Benjamin’s own father would highly disapprove, though his Uncle Louis may have had a different opinion.

Benjamin, in truth, barely recalled the previous Earl Thompson.

Benjamin was again dragged from his musings by a greeting from the Widow of Whitehall, herself, Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon. “Good evening, my lords. I hope each of you enjoyed your meal,” she said politely as they bowed to her, as would any true gentleman, despite her place in society.

Duncan declared, “Our Mr. Hartley has earned an important posting in the British embassy in India. Though we will be sore to lose him.”

“Did you each permit Mr. Hartley to win a few rounds at the table so he might ‘enjoy’ the pleasures of India?” the woman asked boldly.

It was quite unnerving to speak to someone whose facial expressions were hidden by a veil, but Benjamin said, “Hartley must have the ability to read through the back of each card, for he won more than he should have.”

“Very good, Mr. Hartley,” the woman said with what sounded of a smile.

She nodded a farewell to each of them, but said, “If you have a moment, Lord Duncan, could we speak briefly?”

Benjamin jovially said, “Perhaps a lady of the ton wishes a proposal from your lips.”

Mrs. Dove-Lyon appeared to ignore Benjamin’s jest. Meanwhile, as he always did on such a subject, Duncan said in empathic tones, “Not likely. I have known my one great love.” Duncan nodded to them. “Claim your coaches. I will be close behind.”

Orson and Marksman walked off together, chatting about the weather in the northern shires and how their crops were doing.

Beaufort offered to see Hartley home safely.

Therefore, Benjamin performed in the most logical manner.

“As my coach is smaller than Graham’s, I will leave mine for you, Duncan.

Do you mind seeing me to Cheapside, Aaran? ”

“Not at all,” Graham assured.

As they left the gaming hell, they were still talking over each other. “Good evening, Titan,” Benjamin had said as they walked out into the chilly night air.

“Good evening, my lords,” the former soldier responded.

“I am leaving my carriage for Lord Duncan, who is speaking with your mistress. It is further along Cleveland Row. Might you have someone see his lordship safely to the coach?”

“Absolutely, my lord. We often perform such services,” Titan assured.

“Duncan will not approve of your caution,” Graham warned Benjamin.

“I am too old for him to take a switch to my legs,” Benjamin said with a chuckle.

“Lady Elsbeth’s silence when she disapproved of our actions,” Graham said softly, “was worse than any punishment Duncan could conceive.”