Only For His Lady: The Theodosia Sword, #1

Prologue

Fall 1809

London, England

Following the very public humiliation of Richard Rayne, her eldest brother, Lady Theodosia Rayne found there was no greater agony than witnessing a family member’s tangible heartbreak.

Theodosia hovered at the edge of the Billiards Room. The door slightly cracked, she inched it open, and peered inside. She searched for a glimpse of Richard, heir to the earldom.

A bleating snore pierced the quiet and she ducked her head all the way inside, and found him.

Oh, Richard. Those two words emerged on a whispery sigh of regret.

Her brother lay sprawled on the leather button sofa with one arm draped over his face, while his other hung loosely over the side. The muscles of her stomach tightened as she took in this man who was more of a stranger than a brother. Ever the romantic, grinning, carefree brother, he’d lost his heart, to Miss Candace Roberts. In the grandest romantic gesture, he’d gone down on a knee in the middle of Hyde Park to offer for her—only to be rebuffed before all Society. In the end, the lady had chosen another. Theodosia balled her hands into tight fists.

Nay. Not just any other.

Seething fury burned to life as fresh now as when she’d read of Lady Candace’s treachery in the gossip columns. The young woman had rejected Richard and given herself, instead, to Charles Renshaw. Of the same Renshaws who’d stolen the ancient heirloom from Theodosia’s family years earlier and left the Raynes cursed.

Now another theft had been committed…her brother’s heart.

With a vicious hatred spreading like a conflagration inside, Theodosia quietly cursed the Renshaws and all who loved them.

Richard emitted another shuddery snore, forcing her attention to him, once more. His face marred with several days’ growth, his jacket discarded, and his remaining garments wrinkled, he had the look of a man who’d lived in the bottom of a bottle since he’d had his offer rebuffed. Which by the glimpses she’d had of him these weeks and the stories written in the papers, was, in fact, just what he’d done.

I cannot stand to see him like this…

Theodosia pushed the door all the way open and stepped inside. Suddenly, a hand snaked around her wrist. That unexpected hold had wrung a gasp from her and she spun around.

Aidan, the youngest of her brothers, stood before her, a hard glint in his eyes. Do not, he ordered her.

But—

Leave him. That quiet command raised a frown on her lips. Yes, Aidan was older than her one and twenty years, but not by more than two years. Even with that, there had always been a cocksure arrogance to him where he’d challenged her at every turn.

He cannot remain in this room, she said quietly while Richard slumbered on noisily from the sofa.

He doesn’t remain in this room, Aidan corrected in hushed tones.

Theodosia pursed her mouth. No, he doesn’t, she concurred. He visits his wicked clubs and gaming hells and—

It has been but a month, Aidan put in.

But a month. A month of Richard drinking himself into a stupor and slurring his words and stumbling around.

Theodosia cast another look over at Richard’s frame. Even in sleep, the sharp planes of his face were wreathed in agony and despair.

Nothing you say or do will erase his hurt, Aidan said, following her unspoken thoughts. He doesn’t require your lecture, or your friendship. So leave him be, he ordered.

They remained locked in a silent battle. And glaring into his dark brown eyes, she resented him for being right, in this moment. There was nothing she could say or do that would undo Richard’s pain. His heart had been broken by a woman who’d never deserved him and Theodosia had no words with which to help him put that shattered organ back together.

The truth of that realization stabbed like a dagger being plunged into her chest. When you loved your family, you loved deeply. Their joy was your joy. And their hurt became your own. Her throat worked painfully as she drew the door closed behind them.

Theodosia stalked off.

It is their bloody fault, Aidan gritted out, as he easily fell into step beside her.

She didn’t pretend to misunderstand whom he spoke of. Yes, she seethed. Their age-old hatred of the Renshaws went back well beyond the sale of the Theodosia Gladius, a coveted heirloom their families had fought for. A prized gladius unlike all others for its sheer size and power. An heirloom so special, Theodosia herself had been named for it.

Where the Raynes’ investments had failed and they’d found themselves with depleting coffers, the Renshaws had thrived, flourished, and become the epitome of success and power.

But this crime…stealing Richard’s love…this was beyond the pale. The depth of treachery and ugly that had defied mere wealth.

A sound of frustration escaped Theodosia and she threw her hands up. There has to be something we can do to help Rich—

A sharp cry went up. An eerie call of desperation that froze them in their tracks. Shivers raced up Theodosia’s spine and a numbing chill went through her.

Moments later, a wrenching sob filtered down the hallway, springing Theodosia into movement. Heart pumping, she sprinted down the corridor and skidded to a stop outside her father’s office. With fingers that shook, Theodosia tossed the door open, and her stomach lurched.

Oh, God.

Her mother, wrapped in her father’s arms, wept with such force her slender figure shook. No, she cried, pounding at her husband’s chest.

And Theodosia knew.

Not because the words had been uttered. But rather, because of the despair that poured from her parents’ trembling frames.

He is dead…

Her legs weakened under her and she dimly registered Aidan capturing her at the waist. Luke, she whispered, managing nothing more than that one name. Her elder brother in the King’s Army. Her protector. The honorable man who’d vowed to slay the monsters in her nightmares when she’d been a girl afraid of the shadows. He’d then pledged to defeat Boney and all his forces.

What is it? Aidan, his voice usually exuding confidence and strength, broke.

Their parents, faces ravaged with tears of grief looked up, as one. The desolateness in their empty stares raised gooseflesh on Theodosia’s skin.

It is your brother.

She’d been expecting it. Knew it. And yet, even so…the air left her on a swift exhale. The weight of despair brought her eyes closed. No.

He is gone missing. Their father’s voice emerged threadbare. From the fields of Talavera.

Mother fell in a heap on the floor, landing hard on her knees. Face buried in her hands, she dissolved into a keening wail that sent tears spilling down Theodosia’s cheeks.

How wrong she’d been earlier. There proved a far greater despair than bearing witness to Richard’s heartbreak. This gripping, aching agony, no words could heal, that came with this news of Lucas.

And just like that, the threads of a once beautiful fabric, came undone, so all that remained were the frayed and ruined pieces of the Rayne family.

We are cursed.

Chapter One

London, England

Spring 1810

Not at all, honorable, I’ll say. Not at all.

Lady Theodosia Rayne knew Herbert, the Viscount Fennimore, quite meant those words. He’d uttered them eleven times, and that was only since she’d climbed inside his and his sister’s carriage. Their families were long-standing friends. In fact, the only friends they’d known since the string of scandals had struck.

That blasted sword.

Sneaking into a man’s ball, uninvited, he mumbled under his breath. Not at all honorable.

Twelve times. I’ll not overstay my welcome. She leaned over and patted the top of his hand. Theodosia was not so self-absorbed that she’d not feel some string of guilt for forcing the oft-nervous viscount to assist in this, her latest, but most worthwhile, scheme. But sometimes, there were things far more important that merited those dishonorable acts.

You already have overstayed your welcome, he mumbled. Dishonorable sneaking into a man’s masquerade all to steal another man’s property.

Thirteen.

Apparently his sister, Miss Carol Cresswall, Theodosia’s only true friend in the world, had also tired of the dishonorable charges being leveled. Oh, do hush, Herbie. She kicked him hard in the shins.

He grunted. You shouldn’t go about kicking a person. Not at all—

I swear if you say dishonorable, honorable, or any variation in between, then I will do more than kick you.

Herbie clamped his lips tight, indicating he’d been well on his way to fourteen.

Carol gave a flounce of her curls. Theo is merely retrieving something that belongs to her family.

The something in question was the great Theodosia sword. Legend held that ancient weapon was cursed and would bring great fortune to the holder. Yet, Theodosia knew enough of her own family’s history to know that Antonia Varyshkova had ultimately found the sword to open one to love and happiness. She squared her jaw. And through the hasty sale from a vile, if prosperous, shipping magnate, that good fortune had been transferred to the Duke of Devlin and his horrid kin. No, Theodosia’s family had been robbed of the artifact. They’d known their share of the toil and bad luck that went with that legend. I promise, Herbie, I shall retrieve the weapon and be on my way. The Duke of Devlin shall never even know I’ve entered his hallowed home.

He gave her a skeptical look. Still not the very least honor—oomph. Carol buried the tip of her boot in his shin once more.

Theo gave her friend a smile, a way of showing she truly appreciated her support. She did. And with the Raynes’ luck, these years, she’d take any and all support she could get.

All I am saying—

I do not care what you are saying, Carol, the viscount’s younger by two years sister, snapped.

As brother and sister launched into a squabble about the word honor, and Theo’s actions, and a pairing of that word dishonor that resulted in further grunts from Herbie, Theodosia turned her attention to the window. She tugged back the curtain and peered out into the passing, dark, London streets, her masked visage reflected back in the crystal panel.

The rub of it was…she did see the merit of Herbie’s argument. It wasn’t honorable, even if it was common, to enter someone’s ball without an