Earl of Baxter (Lords of Scandal 8)

“I’m the Duke of Decadence. Debauchery is what I do. Gaming, women, drink, and any other delights.” His lip curled. “The club will be the final nail in father’s coffin.”

Ahh. “Now that I understand. I swear I became a success just to tell father that he was wrong about me.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Well, that and to have the means to find Clar—”

Bash’s eyes widened. “She means that much?”

“You both do. You two are the reason I am alive.” He scrubbed his scalp. “And I need to see her again. I have to convince her I’m not the wolf.”

Bash shook his head. “You really are off your game. Normally, you’re the best negotiator I know. But if you were trying to convince her you are kind or gentle, you couldn’t have picked a worse method.”

He dropped his head into his hands. “The truth hurts. What do I do now?”

Bash shrugged. “You’re asking me? What do I know about it?”

“You decided to find me. Give me a new life. How do I do that for her?” Mason leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

Scratching his chin, Bash frowned. “Give her a career. That’s what I wanted to do for you. Or, since she’s a woman, marry her. Or offer to marry her. You’d be providing the ultimate protection.”

His teeth clinked together. If only that were the solution. “After the stunt I just pulled…”

“Fine. Career then. She wants to start an orphanage. Help her with that.”

Mason’s eyes widened. Normally he was the brother who figured out what people wanted and then made an offer they couldn’t refuse. But today, Bash had been the expert negotiator. “You’ve been taking notes.”

Bash grinned. “My little brother taught me well.” He nodded toward his carriage. “But don’t make the offer today. Let’s be respectful of their family.” Then he grimaced. “Which means no jumping in their carriage.”

Mason sighed. Bash had a point there. If he wanted Clarissa to trust him, he couldn’t go around acting like a wild man. And he’d use any excuse to be part of her life, but he couldn’t help but hope, if she learned to trust him, she might allow him to offer even more. Like her hand in marriage.

Goldthwaite’s carriage stopped and the door snapped open as Goldthwaite climbed out.

“We’re leaving,” Bash called. “Though I’ll have you know you’re one of the few men to refuse a duke as a guest.”

Logan gave Bash a dead stare. “I’ll take my chances.” And then he handed out his bride.

Mason’s breath caught as Goldthwaite reached in again, helping Clarissa out as well.

She looked so beautiful standing in her red velvet dress, snow dancing behind her. Marry her? It was a damned fine idea.

Only, there was little chance she’d say yes after today.

But then again, he was the Earl of Baxter. And in the end, he knew how to negotiate a deal.

Clarissa rose from bed the next morning, sure she had dark circles under her eyes. She’d barely slept. Peeking from beneath her pillow were the three blackmail letters she’d received. The first had just been veiled threats but the last had demanded one thousand pounds in order to keep her theft a secret. She didn’t have any money of her own and whoever had sent that letter wanted the payment by the end of the year. Which was in less than a week.

She didn’t know what to do and she couldn’t allow the Earl of Baxter to distract her now. She had to focus on her future. On the children and on Penny. Her past couldn’t hurt them.

But it all made her so tired. A look in the mirror confirmed her suspicion. She looked like she’d barely slept a wink. With a sigh, she began to dress.

Though Logan had provided a maid for her, Clarissa had never had one in her entire life and wasn’t entirely certain how to use the woman.

Clarissa opened the wardrobe and pulled out a pale blue wool gown that Logan had recently given to her. He’d provided wardrobes for all of them. She ran her hand down the fabric. She supposed there had to be a few good men in the world, if Penny’s husband was any indication.

But the likelihood of her meeting one seemed impossible, especially for her. The priest who’d run the orphanage had just been cruel. That was easy enough to avoid. But her father had been insidious. Not only had he spent all of the family?

??s money, but he’d managed to convince Clarissa to sign over the small amount her mother had left for her. He’d sworn he was helping them. Maybe he’d really believed it.

But in the end, he’d squandered their finances and he’d made Clarissa participate in her own undoing. She’d had no money, no future, and no way to change that. Except, of course, by breaking the law.

It made her sick to even think about it. And that was why she’d never trust a man again. Or herself. That was the more important detail.