Page 42 (1/2)

Chapter One

Twenty-five years ago

Lloyd Fellows’ small fists beat into the dirty face of the older boy, bloodying the mouth that had taunted him Your mum’s a whore, your dad was a scabby old man, and you’re a bastard, a bastard

Now the older boy was howling, his teeth on the pave down his face Everyone knew not to taunt Lloyd of the hot teht them to respect his fists

Besides, his dad wasn’t a scabby old man His dad was a duke When Lloyd had been very little, he’d been sure his father would coolden coach and take him away from the squalid streets of London to his palace in Scotland There Lloyd would have all the toys he wanted, horses, and brothers to play with His dad had other sons, histhey had

Years passed, and no golden coach ca-class London Wiser now, Lloyd knew the duke was never co

Until today Today, he’d learned, because Lloydthat happened in this part of town, his father’s ducal coach would be passing along High Holborn to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, where he would be visiting solicitors Why the duke would visit the solicitors, Lloyd had no idea, nor did he care

His plan was to stop the coach by any means possible, present himself to his father, and tell the man he needed to take care of Lloyd and his mum Simple as that

The duke had never sent ed he’d fathered Lloyd Fellows Felloasn’t even his true na to be o Lloyd’s otten her with child, and then left her The duke had never spoken to or looked at theain

Today, Lloyd would change that He’d put on the clothes he wore to church whenever his h Holborn

Except the little oik, Toin his taunts Lloyd could have thrown theht friends, and rocks When the stones had started flying, Lloyd had grabbed Toht had commenced

Now Lloyd was bloody and filthy, his best shirt torn Hisout

Lloyd delivered one final blow, leaving To in his usual swift stride toward High Holborn

He barelythe grabs of the irritated men he pushed aside

There was the coach, tall and polished, pulled by ray horses As it came closer, Lloyd watched the burly coach that the coachman could scatter all his plans if he wasn’t careful