His Convenient Match

His Convenient Match: A Regency Romance Lost Fortunes, Found Love (Book 6) Rose Pearson Contents His Convenient Match Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Epilogue My Dear Reader A Sneak Peek of A Viscount’s Stolen Fortune Prologue Chapter 1 Join my Mailing List His Convenient Match Prologue “Thomas.” It had been years since someone had called him by his given name. The only person he could ever recall doing so was his mother. Thomas frowned, his eyes still tightly closed. Is she here? That would make very little sense. Why would his mother be in London? As far as he knew, she was quite contented back at his estate, having no desire to come to the London Season this year. “Mother?” Thomas tried to speak, tried to say his mother’s name, but could not seem to do so. His lips felt bruised and his mind was uncooperative. He simply could not fathom where he was, caught somewhere between dreams and awakening, unable to comprehend what this strange reality could be. “I think he might be close to death.” A man’s voice came from very far away and Thomas’ heart immediately began to pound furiously. Who was it that was near to dying? Was it one of his friends - and if so, which one? Something was pressed against his forehead, and Thomas tried to lift a hand to it, but his arm and hand simply would not move. It was extremely disconcerting, being in a body where one could hear and feel a good many things but could not respond in any clear way… and without having a clear reason as to why it was so. “We should find someone.” There was a heavy tone to the second man’s voice – and at that point, Thomas realized that he recognized neither of the men’s voices. “Something’s wrong with this fellow and I don’t know what to do to help ‘im.” Slowly, Thomas came to the realization that these two people were talking about him. He was the one they believed to be near death. A sudden panic sent his heart into a furious rhythm, and his breathing grew quicker, but still, his eyes would not open. “Did you see that?” There was a slight nudge of excitement in the first man’s voice. “Something happened, I think… I think he can hear us.” “You’ll be all right, fella!” The second man’s voice grew suddenly loud as though he was afraid that Thomas would not hear him if he spoke in a lower tone. “You maybe just had too much of the good stuff. Your head’s not quite right.” Still, Thomas tried to speak, but words would not come. Violently demanding that his eyes open, he worked with all of his might to lift the lids and let him see, but nothing changed. A groan of frustration pushed up from his throat, escaping from between his lips, and both men watching him let out a loud exclamation. “You’re coming back,” one of them cried, his hand pushing Thomas’ shoulder. “You’re coming back to yourself. You maybe need a few more minutes.” “It’ll probably take some time, but you’re getting there,” said the second. “Don’t know what would have happened to you if you’d been left here lying by yourself. Don’t you have any friends? People round this part are always with their friends. Safer that way.” Despite the questions, Thomas could not answer them, his frustration growing - combined with a small flicker of fear that he would never be able to open his eyes or speak a single word again. “I’ll stay with you,” the second man continued, perhaps able to see the agonized expression he was sure now spread itself across his face, or mayhap guessing at all of the fear which was currently in his thoughts. “We won’t go and leave you. However long it takes, we’ll stay.” “We’re just hopeful for a coin or two for the trouble,” the second man continued, a slight chuckle in his voice. “Don’t you worry now. You’ll come back to yourself soon enough. You just need to wait.” “Gentlemen?” A voice – a different voice, quieter, softer, and altogether more feminine, reached Thomas’ ears. “Oh, thank goodness you have found him!” Something soft and warm pressed to his cheek, a gentle breath running across his skin. “I will take care of you.” “You know this gentleman?” One of the original men sounded a little disappointed, but as Thomas tried to speak, the new voice came again. “Yes, I do. His carriage is waiting. Please, help me take him. I will pay you handsomely for the trouble.” The pain in Thomas’ head grew as the two men came to shift him bodily. He tried not to give in to the encroaching darkness – but it was much too difficult. The pain of being moved seemed to send fresh agonies to his head and, after a moment, he welcomed the darkness. It was all he had. * * * “And that is when I awoke. Lord Wiltsham’s arrival brought me here thereafter.” Thomas shifted in his seat and spread out his hands, settling his arms on his knees as he sat forward. Every movement was considered and careful as if proving to himself that he was, in fact, able to move freely rather than being forced to lie flat out on the cold stone floor. Taking a breath, Thomas looked around the room. “I have no recollection of anything other than that.” Every face in the room was solemn, each of them contemplating the reality of what had happened, and realizing slowly just how much this was to change their futures. “We have all been tricked; all taken in.” Lord Stoneleigh, white-faced and in pain, grimaced. “It is no coincidence that we all lost some significant amount of coin last evening.”