Leo Pearce twirled his glass of port and leaned back into the cushy armchair at White's Gentleman's club. Once he had gotten comfortable, he glanced back at his companions. Will Graham, otherwise known as the prominent Lord Trotten, was giving Leo that same exasperated expression that he had all throughout their time at Oxford.

"Why do you both have to be so goddamn serious all the time, eh?"

It was good to know that some things never changed.

"For crying out loud, Leo," Will shot back. "We are trying to decide whether or not Theo should announce to the entire country that the heir to the throne is his child."

Will glanced to the side, and Leo's gaze followed to see Theo sitting in the corner brooding, his massive arms crossed over his chest. At that moment, Leo could see why so many people were hesitant around Theodore Shepard, the Duke of Kingfield.

"Effectively making her a bastard," Theo added lowly. "You know this, Farrington." Theo always liked to use Leo's title when he was trying to make a point.

It generally worked.

Leo could not help but flinch a little at the word bastard, especially when thinking about the small doe-eyed child who was barely more than a year old. After considering the predicament, Leo pointed out, "She wouldn't really be a bastard. You married the queen—Tory's mother. You are the prince consort."

Theo rolled his eyes. "Some will still label her a bastard since she was conceived out of wedlock. The entire country thinks she is Prince George's daughter." He hesitated and then added, "And you know Addie hates when you call our daughter Tory."

Leo shrugged. "The queen will manage. Tory likes it."

"Victoria is a baby. Of course she likes it," Theo argued, despite the slight amused twitch of his lips. "She smiles and laughs at everything."

Leo nudged Will in the side. "Everything except when Uncle Will holds her. Isn't that right?"

Will looked unamused, ignoring the comment. "We are getting rather far from the point."

"Fine," Leo relented with a sigh. "Remind me of the options."

"One," Will said, "Theo continues under the guise that Victoria is not his child and that she was conceived during the time that Addie was married to Prince George...before his death."

"And little Tory is not a bastard, but everyone believes her to have that ill-tempered Prince George blood in her veins?" Leo surmised.

Both men nodded.

"Option two," Theo said, "I announce that she is my daughter, conceived before George and Addie's wedding. Potentially labeling Addie as a woman of loose morals and my daughter as a bastard. But the truth is there, and Victoria will grow up knowing that I loved her and claimed her as my own. My daughter will be my daughter to the world."

Leo scoffed. "I rather think the choice has been made for you."

Theo tilted his head back and forth, seeming to know what Leo was going to say. But he said it anyway. "Obviously option one!" Leo cried.

Neither man replied.

"What does Addie think? Since it is her reputation that is at stake," Leo prompted.

"She wants the truth," Theo said simply.

Shaking his head, Leo gripped the glass in his hands tighter before taking a drink. "Why risk the truth and put your daughter and wife in such positions?"

"Because of love." Theo's words came out softly, and Will nodded.

His two friends had this look of serenity upon their faces that was simply unknown to Leo. It was an expression he was sure he had never worn before and reckoned he never would.

"Oh dear god," Leo muttered. "Look at the two of you. You are besotted fools." He shook his head again, looking away at the various scenes in the club—men arguing over a dice game, swindling money beneath the table, throwing back drinks as though the liquor would solve their losses.

"Might I remind you," Will said, drawing Leo's attention again. "That you encouraged me to marry my wife despite whatever else."

Leo thought about that. "Because it was logical to do so. All I am saying is that there needs to be a balance of love and logic."

A deep sigh released through Will's lips before he turned to the sulking man in the corner. "Theo, I believe it is time we find Leo his own woman."

Leo chuckled. "You mean I cannot share yours? They're both so—"

"Do not finish that sentence, Farrington," Theo grounded out, leaning forward instantly.

Leo smirked. He rather enjoyed riling the other man from time to time. Despite his wife being the Queen of England, Theo still protected her as though she actually needed it. He did the same with Will's wife, Emilia. Because, well, she was Theo's sister.

Poor Will.

"Fine," Leo declared, throwing his hands back in mock defeat.

"You could have any woman you wanted, Leo," Will said, crossing his legs leisurely.

Theo nodded, agreeing. "So why do you not have one?"

A scowl formed on Leo's face. "Have you not princely things to do?" He waved a hand, shooing at Theo. "Meetings to attend, laws to discuss, anything of that sort?"

"Addie has that covered, I am quite certain," Theo said with a slight smile. Leo knew he was not particularly politically inclined; that undoubtedly was not why he had married the queen.

"Actually," Will drawled, running his fingers through the dark, wavy hair, which was the exact opposite of Leo's stick-straight blonde strands. "Addie is with Emilia and Scarlett today. They are...well, they are doing something. I am sure of that." He frowned as though trying to remember.

Leo automatically sat up a little straighter at the mention of Scarlett, and quite unfortunately, the other two men noticed. Will chuckled, and the smile on Theo's lips grew wider.

"I do believe we have just solved our problem. What do you think, Trotten?" Theo said, giving a mischievous glance at Will, his green eyes bright.

Damn them both to hell.

"No, you have not," Leo cut in. "Scarlett refuses to go anywhere near me. Years. I've been trying for years to get her in my bed, but I lost the wager for her affections long ago."

Leo's subconscious had him turning his head toward the betting book that lay open at the back of the club. He quite literally lost the wager for Scarlett's affections, having placed a bet that he would be the next one to win over the mysterious, alluring widow that was Lady Humphries. Or to those that knew her well, Scarlett.

When Leo turned back toward his companions, they were both rolling their eyes into the back of their heads. Leo wondered if there was even anything to see back there.

"Perhaps stop trying to get into her bed and start trying to find a way into her heart," Will advised after his eyes had made it back toward his front.

"Her heart?" Leo asked, taken aback. "Who says I wish to do that?"

Theo and Will gave him identical, knowing looks.

"I do not wish to do that," Leo grumbled. He was not looking for love or even anything close to affection. He rather viewed it as an affliction. Scarlett was simply the woman that every man wished to have, and Leo was included in that number.

"No one tried harder than you to win that bet, Leo. Clearly, you wanted something," Will said.

"To win, obviously," Leo grumbled.

"But you do not need money, Leo," Theo pointed out, chuckling.

"Well, it matters not," Leo said with a sigh. "Lord Eades won the bet when Scarlett became his mistress. And that was over a year ago now."

"And their relationship is long past, too," Will said. "Scarlett is a free woman right now."

Leo glanced at the betting book before replying slowly. "So you are saying I should place a new wager."

"No," Will said quickly. "No, that isn't what I meant."

"Isn't it?" Leo asked, raising a brow. He started to get up, but then Theo's large hand landed on his shoulder, pushing him back into his seat.

"That is a terrible idea, Farrington," Theo said with a glare.

Leo knew the position of his friends—with their loving wives and children and happy, family homes. But that was not Leo in the least. He was a flirt, some might say even a rogue, and Leo rather liked it that way. And it wasn't Scarlett either. She had already been married; Leo doubted she was looking to remarry. From what he knew, Lord Humphries had done little to prove the use of a husband.

So although Leo allowed his friend to push him back into his chair, he could not keep the idea from worming its way into the back of his mind.

Over the last year, Leo had gotten closer to Scarlett through their mutual friends. They'd both championed Addie as the rightful Queen of England and had helped Will escape from blackmail under the previous ruler, King Ernest. Leo now knew Scarlett better than most men in the ton ever would. She was witty and cunning, but softer than people might believe. Her attractive features—the raven hair, high-cheekbones, sparkling green eyes—were only half her beauty.

So now...in the endless challenge that was Lady Humphries, Leo wagered he could finally win.