No Ordinary Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

Chapter One

The Lyon’s Den

Captain Gideon Tyler adjusted the patch over his right eye before continuing to peruse the gaming tables in the Lyon’s Den.

He swore he could still feel the scar that ran from the middle of his forehead down his right cheek throb, even after all these years.

He had been thankful he hadn’t lost his eye, but he felt an odd sense of comfort wearing the patch to hide the ragged scar over his face and eyelid.

And the headaches… they never went away no matter what remedies Dr. Thornberry and his sister-in-law Patience tried.

Gideon shook his head while watching a gentleman lift a glass holding a green drink to his lips and shuddered.

No. Not that table as he remembered the warning he had received from his friend Mr. Leopold Ford when he had partaken of absinthe during a game of chance.

Apparently Leopold had become so inebriated he didn’t even recall his brother, Lucius Ford, Earl of Blackthorn, pulling him from the game before he was put in his carriage to be sent home.

Unfortunately, here at the Lyon’s Den, there were still plenty of other tables that could have the same effect, especially if the Black Widow of Whitehall was planning a match between a gentleman and some unforeseen lady. It would indeed be unlucky for any lady to be paired with him.

He gave a snort of disgust. Who would want a wounded veteran as a husband who had lost his memory for almost two years after the war?

Yes… he was certainly safe from any of the games Mrs. Dove-Lyon may have for finding the gentlemen in the room a wife.

Knowing he was safe from the Black Widow’s shenanigans made him grin in satisfaction lifted at the corners of his mouth.

Feminine laughter from the upper balcony drew his attention to the ladies staring down into the main room.

Finely attired with jewels sparkling at their necks from the candlelight, these women of the ton were most likely on the hunt for new husbands.

The brief smile quickly fell from his lips as he was reminded that none of them would ever be marked for him…

a mere second son with no title. He gave a heavy sigh, feeling sorry for himself, something that he seemed to do a lot of lately.

He had already resigned himself to the fact that he might never marry, especially if he continued to carry the demons from his past inside his head.

Why could he never remember what happened on the battlefield after he had been hit on the head?

Such an injury had caused him to lose his memory for two long years!

He had been beside himself trying to recover even the smallest measure of his identity or where he belonged while still in France.

No wonder his family had all but given up on him.

It had been a miracle when something the nurse said seemed to click inside his head and everything about his life came back to him with the exception of what had caused his initial injury. That was still a mystery.

“Stop scowling, Gideon, or you’ll cause those frown marks to be permanently etched on your brow,” Valentine Pierce, Earl of Carrington, proclaimed with a laugh as he gave him a hearty pat on his back.

Gideon viewed the other gentlemen who came to stand beside Valentine.

Simon, Earl of Rockliffe and Orlando Barlingham, Marquess of Somerset were acquaintances of his brother Asher.

The last to join them was Leopold. But Gideon had always felt a common accord with Leopold since he, too, was a second son who had to make his own way in the world.

The titled gentlemen had recently begun to appear whenever or wherever Gideon showed up.

Gideon couldn’t miss the look that passed between the three titled men.

It was as though Asher, and Asher’s friends who weren’t yet settled with ladies of their own, were watching out for him for some unknown reason.

There was no need. He was perfectly capable of paying off his gambling debts at the Lyon’s Den and he knew when to fold a bad hand so as not to lose his inheritance.

There was no reason for these men to watch over him as though he were a child straight out of the schoolroom.

He was nine and twenty and an army veteran, after all.

He had seen more on the battlefield than he would wish anyone to have to endure.

At least that much he could remember from his time in the war with Napolean.

Gideon mentally shook himself out of his melancholy mood and plastered a grin on his face.

If these men were asked to watch over him, he wouldn’t give them any reason to report back to Asher.

“I was just pondering the women above and who they’ve set their cap on.

Luckily for me, I’m not even a glimmer in their mind as a potential husband,” he said with a forced laugh.

Leopold smirked. “You and I are in good company,” he said before he swept his gaze at the three men with a title. “Can’t say the same for the rest of you. You best watch out which tables you sit at or Mrs. Dove-Lyon will catch you in one of her marriage traps.”

Valentine pulled at the cravat at his neck as though the linen was suddenly too tight. “I had a close call recently. I have no intention to fall into her plans again.”

Simon chuckled. “Yes… that’s what we all say but here we are even though we know the risks we take gambling here.”

Orlando ran a hand through his blond hair. “We’d be safer at White’s but you must admit the Black Widow of Whitehall serves the best food and liquor in London, not to mention she provides every service we gentlemen might want.”

“Hence the lure of the Lyon’s Den,” Gideon added knowing full well the risk each person took when you gambled at Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s tables. “Well… what’s it to be, gentlemen? Shall we take our chances at the tables, or would you care to join me for a drink first?”

Leopold raised his empty glass. “I think I need further reinforcements before I take a gamble at the tables. Let’s head to the men’s lounge for another brandy.”

Valentine nodded. “We’ll see you later then. I’d rather keep my wits about me than have it clouded with too much liquor.”

Gideon understood perfectly well he needed a clear head if he planned to play tonight in the Lyon’s Den, but what harm could one drink have?

He gave a nod to the titled gentlemen who left to pursue the night’s entertainment while he and Leopold went to get drinks.

He had no doubt it might be a long night, and he could only hope his purse would be heavier after all his gambling efforts. Now he only needed a bit of good luck.