Page 36 of A Spinster's Guide to Landing a Lyon

Crossed between curiosity and panic, Benedict dashed down the front steps onto the gravel to stand next to Arabella.

“She’s coming!” The man on horseback shouted, desperate. Out of breath. He threw himself off of his horse and landed in a clump on the ground.

“Who’s coming?” Amelia asked.

“Who are you?” Arabella’s question, though voiced, was lost in the chaos.

“Damien,” Benedict dropped to his knees to assist his friend. “What are you talking about?”

“She’s coming,” he repeated on shallow breaths. “Benedict.” His friend gripped his shoulder tightly. A warning. “I tried.” He gasped for breath. “To stop her.”

“Just breathe, Damien.” But his friend only shook his head.

“You have less than an hour before she arrives.”

“What? Here?” Incredulity had never taken over his voice so triumphantly.

“Yes. She knows. About the Lyon’s Den.” Damien’s breath was returning, thus lengthening his sentences. “I don’t know how she found out, but she knows.”

It should have been impossible, but somehow she knew. He could only think of the one connection. “Her brothers.”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop her.”

“No one can,” he murmured.

“What’s going on Benedict?”

For the first time in the last few minutes he realized that the two sisters had been privy to their exchange. Though, undoubtedly, they still knew nothing.

“Who’s coming?” Amelia’s eyes were wide with concern and her hand had a tight grip on her forearm.

This wasn’t how he had intended to tell his future wife about his past secrets. About the dark cloud that had been hanging over his head for far too long. The dark clouds that had only recently dispersed.

Since meeting Amelia, he had finally given himself over to the sun again. But now he had to face this. There was no other way.

And it wasn’t going to be easy. It was never easy withher. Susannah. He shuddered at the mere thought of her.

“Benedict, I’m worried.”

Yes. She had every right to be worried. This was the worst thing that could happen to them both right now.

He watched as Amelia shifted on her feet. Concern sketched on her face. “Who’s coming?”

Much as it pained him, he had to tell her the truth.

“My ex-wife.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dear Lady Amelia,

The greatest joys in life often sprout from the deepest pains.

Yours truly,

Mrs. Dove-Lyon

The collective gasp could have been heard through England. Perhaps even onto the continent. In fact, Amelia wasn’t convinced that a large vessel halfway across the Atlantic wouldn’t have heard it.