“Perhaps she changed her mind.”
Anne shook her head. “Not like her.”
“Well,” Sophy said, straightening her shoulders, “we had best get on with it. It will be dawn soon. I understand this sort of thing is always done at dawn.” She started toward the mist-bound curricle.
The lone figure in the curricle stirred as Sophy approached. Charlotte Featherstone, dressed in a handsome black riding habit, stepped down. Although the courtesan was veiled, Sophy could see her hair had been carefully coiffed for the occasion and that Charlotte was wearing a pair of dazzling pearl earrings. One glance at the other woman’s fashionable attire made Sophy feel gauche. It was obvious the Grand Featherstone knew all there was to know about style. She even dressed perfectly for a duel at dawn.
Anne went forward to secure the curricle horse.
“Do you know, madam,” Charlotte said, lifting her veil to smile coolly at Sophy, “I do not believe any man is worth the discomfort of rising at such an early hour.”
“Then why did you bother?” Sophy retorted. Feeling challenged, she, too, lifted her veil.
“I am not sure,” Charlotte admitted. “But it is not because of the Earl of Ravenwood, charming though he was to me at one time. Perhaps it is the novelty of the whole thing.”
“I can well imagine that after your rather adventurous career, novelties are now few and far between.”
Charlotte’s eyes fixed steadily on Sophy’s face. Her voice lost much of its mocking quality and grew serious. “I can assure you that having a Countess find me an opponent worthy of an honorable challenge is, indeed, a rare event. One might say a unique event. You must realize, of course, that no woman from your level of Society has ever spoken to me, let alone accorded me such respect.”
Sophy’s head tilted slightly as she studied her opponent. “You may be assured that I have great respect for you, Miss Featherstone. I have read your Memoirs and I think I can guess something of what it must have cost you to rise to your present position.”
“Can you really?” Charlotte murmured. “How very imaginative of you.”
Sophy flushed, momentarily embarrassed at the thought of how naive she must seem to this sophisticated woman of the world. “Forgive me,” she apologized quietly, “I am certain that I cannot begin to understand what you have been through in your life. But that does not mean I cannot respect the fact that you have made your own way in the world and have done so on your own terms.”
“I see. And because of this boundless respect you hold for me, you propose to put a bullet through my heart this morning?”
Sophy’s mouth tightened. “I can understand why you chose to write the Memoirs. I can even understand your offering past lovers the opportunity to buy their way out of print. But when you selected my husband as your next victim, you went too far. I will not have those love letters in print for all the world to see and mock.”
“It would have been far simpler to pay me off, madam, than to go to all this trouble.”
“I cannot do that. Paying blackmail is a wretched, dishonorable recourse. I will not stoop to it. We will settle this matter between us here this morning and that will be the end of it.”
“Will it? What makes you think that, assuming I am fortunate enough to survive, I will not go ahead and print whatever I wish?”
“You have accepted my challenge. By meeting me this way, you have agreed to settle the issues between us with pistols.”
“You think I will abide by that agreement? You think this will be the end of the matter, regardless of the outcome of this duel?”
“You would not have bothered to show up this morning had you not intended to end things here.”
Charlotte inclined her head. “You are quite right. That is the way this silly male code of honor works, is it not? We settle everything here with pistols.”
“Yes. Then it will be over.”
Charlotte shook her head in wry amusement. “Poor Ravenwood. I wonder if he has any notion yet of the sort of wife he has obtained for himself. You must be coming as quite a shock to him after Elizabeth.”
“We are not here to discuss my husband or his previous wife,” Sophy said through her teeth. The dawn air was cold but she was suddenly aware that she was perspiring. Her nerves were stretched to the breaking point. She wanted to get this business over and done.
“No, we are here because your sense of honor demands satisfaction and because you think I share your concept of honor. An interesting proposition. I wonder, do you comprehend that this definition of honor we are employing this morning is a man’s definition?”
“There does not appear to be any other definition of honor that commands respect,” Sophy said.
Charlotte’s eyes gleamed. “I see,” she said softly. “And you would have Ravenwood’s respect, if nothing else, is that it, madam?”
“I believe we have discussed this matter sufficiently,” Sophy said.
“Respect is all well and good, madam,” Charlotte continued thoughtfully, “but I would advise you not to waste much time in an effort to get Ravenwood to love you. Everyone knows that after his experience with Elizabeth he will never risk love again. And, in any event, I must take leave to tell you that just as no man’s honor is worth rising at this hour, no man’s love is worth taking any great risk over, either.”
“We are not dealing with a man’s honor or a man’s love here,” Sophy stated coldly.
“No, I can see that. The issues involved are your honor and your love.” Charlotte smiled slightly. “I can accept that those are not trifling matters. They might, indeed, be worth a little blood.”
“Shall we get on with it, then?” Fear surged through Sophy as she turned to Anne who was hovering nearby with the case of dueling pistols. “We are ready. There is no point waiting any longer.”
Anne looked from Sophy to Charlotte. “I have made some inquiries into the business of settling arguments in this fashion. There are certain steps we must go through before I load the pistols. First, it is my duty to tell you that there is an honorable alternative to going through with the challenge. I ask that you both consider it.”
Sophy frowned. “What alternative?”
“You, Lady Ravenwood, have issued the challenge. If, however, Miss Featherstone will apologize for the actions that precipitated your challenge, the matter will be at an end without a shot being fired.”
Sophy blinked. “This whole thing can be ended with a simple apology?”
“I must stress that it is an honorable alternative for both of you.” Anne looked at Charlotte Featherstone.
“How fascinating,” Charlotte murmured. “Just think, we can both get out of this without getting any blood stains on our clothing. But I am not at all certain I feel compelled to apologize.”
“It is up to you, of course,” Sophy said stiffly.
“Well, it is rather early for such violent sport, don’t you think? And I am a firm believer in taking the sensible course when it is available.” Charlotte smiled slowly at Sophy. “You are quite certain your honor would be satisfied if I simply apologized?”
“You would have to promise to leave the love letters out of print,” Sophy reminded her hurriedly. Before Charlotte could respond, hoofbeats sounded in the fog.
“It must be Jane,” Anne said in a very relieved tone. “I knew she would come. We must wait for her. She is one of the seconds.”
Sophy glanced around just as a big gray horse materialized out of the mist that clung to the trees. The animal thundered toward them at full gallop, looking like an apparition as it churned through the low fog. A ghost horse, Sophy thought fleetingly, and it carried the devil himself.
“Julian,” she whispered.
“Somehow this does not surprise me,” Charlotte remarked. “Our little drama grows more amusing by the moment.”
“What’s he doing with Jane’s horse?” Anne demanded angrily.
The big gray was brought to a shuddering halt in front of the thre
e women. Julian’s glittering eyes went first to Sophy and then to Charlotte and Anne. He saw the box of pistols in her hand.
“What the devil is going on here?”
Sophy refused to give into a sudden, fierce desire to flee. “You are interrupting a private matter, my lord.”
Julian looked at her as if she had lost her mind. He swung down from the horse and tossed the reins to Anne who automatically caught them in her free hand.
“A private matter, madam? How dare you call it such?” Julian’s face was a mask of controlled fury. “You are my wife. What the hell is this all about?”
“Isn’t it obvious, Ravenwood?” Of the three women present, it was clear only Charlotte was not feeling particularly intimidated. Her fine eyes were more cynically amused than ever. “Your wife has called me out on a point of honor.” She waved a hand at the pistol case. “As you can see, we were just about to settle matters in the traditional, honorable, masculine way.”
“I don’t believe any of this.” Julian swung around to stare at Sophy. “You called Charlotte out? You challenged her to a duel?”
Sophy nodded once, refusing to speak.
“Why, for God’s sake?”
Charlotte smiled grimly. “Surely you can guess the answer to that question, Ravenwood.”
Julian took a step toward her. “Bloody hell. You sent her one of your goddamned blackmail threats, didn’t you?”
“I do not look upon them as blackmail threats,” Charlotte said calmly. “I see them as mere business opportunities. Your wife, however, chose to view my little offer in a different light. She feels it would be dishonorable to pay me off, you see. On the other hand, she cannot bear to see your name in my memoirs. So she took what she felt was the only alternative left to an honorable woman. She challenged me to pistols for two at dawn.”
“Pistols at dawn,” Julian repeated as if he still could not believe the evidence of his own eyes. He took another step toward Charlotte. “Get out of here. Leave at once. Go back to town and say nothing of any of this. If I hear one word of gossip concerning this day’s events I will see to it that you never get the little cottage in Bath you used to talk about. I will make certain you lose the lease on your town house. I will bring so much pressure to bear on your creditors that they will hound you out of the city. Do you understand me, Charlotte?”
“Julian, you go too far,” Sophy interrupted angrily.
Charlotte drew herself up, but most of the cool mockery had disappeared from her expression. She did not look fearful, merely resigned. “I understand you, Ravenwood. You were always quite good at making yourself very clear.”
“One word of any of this and I will find a way to ruin all you have worked for, Charlotte, I swear it. You know I can do it.”
“There is no need to issue threats, Ravenwood. As it happens, I have no intention of gossiping about any of this.” She turned to Sophy. “It was a personal matter of honor between your wife and myself. It does not concern anyone else.”
“I quite agree,” Sophy said firmly.
“I would have you know, madam,” Charlotte said softly, “that as far as I am concerned, it is finished, even though no pistols were fired. You need have no fear of what will appear in the Memoirs.”
Sophy took a deep breath. “Thank you.”
Charlotte smiled slightly and gave Sophy a small, graceful bow. “No, madam, it is I who should thank you. I have had a most entertaining time of it. My world is filled with men of your class who talk about honor a great deal. But their understanding of the subject is very limited. Those same men cannot be bothered to behave honorably toward a female or anyone else weaker than themselves. It is a great pleasure to meet at last someone who does comprehend the meaning of the word. It comes as no great surprise to discover that this remarkably intelligent someone is a woman. Adieu.”
“Good-bye,” Sophy said, returning the small bow with equal grace.
Charlotte stepped lightly into the curricle, took up the reins and gave the horse the signal. The small vehicle vanished into the mist.
Julian watched Charlotte leave and then he turned around to pin Anne with a grim glare. He took the pistol box from her hand. “Who are you, boy?”
Anne coughed and pulled her cap down lower over her eyes. She rubbed the back of her hand across her nose and snuffled. “The lady wanted a horse and carriage brought round early this mornin’, sir. I borrowed my father’s nag and thought I’d make a bit on the side if you know what I mean.”
“I will give you a very large bit on the side if you will guarantee to keep your mouth closed about what happened here this morning. But if I hear of this I will see to it that your father loses the horse and the carriage and anything else he owns. Furthermore, he will know that it is your fault he has lost everything. Do you comprehend me, boy?”
“Uh, yes, m’lord. Very clearly m’lord.”
“Very well. You will drive my wife home in the carriage. I will be right behind you. When we reach the house you will pick up a woman who will be waiting there and you will escort her wherever she wishes to go. Then you will disappear from my sight forever.”
“Yes sir.”
“Now, Julian,” Sophy began earnestly, “there is no need to threaten everyone in sight.”
Julian cut her off with a frozen look. “Not one word out of you, madam. I do not yet trust myself to be able to speak to you about this with any semblance of calm.” He walked over to the carriage and opened the door. “Get in.”
She got into the carriage without another word. Her veiled hat slipped down over one ear as she did so. When she was seated, Julian leaned into the carriage to adjust the hat with an annoyed movement of his hand. Then he thrust the pistol case onto Sophy’s lap. Without a word he removed himself from the carriage and slammed the door.
It was undoubtedly the longest ride of her life, Sophy decided as she sat sunk in gloom in the swaying carriage. Julian was beyond outrage. He was coldly, dangerously furious. She could only hope that Anne and Jane were spared the worst of it.
The household had just begun to stir when Anne halted the carriage at the front door. Jane, still wearing her black veil, was waiting anxiously in the library when Julian strode through the door with Sophy in tow. Jane glanced quickly at her friend.
“You are all right?” she demanded in a whisper.
“I am fine, as you can see. Everyone is all right, in fact. Matters would have been even better, however, if you had not felt obliged to intervene.”
“I am sorry, Sophy, but I could not allow—”
“That will be enough,” Julian interrupted as Guppy, hastily adjusting his jacket, emerged from the door behind the stairs. He looked perplexed at the sight of Sophy in breeches.
“Is all in order, my lord?”
“Certain plans that were made for this morning have been canceled unexpectedly, Guppy, but you may rest assured that I have everything under control.”
“Of course, my lord,” Guppy said with grand dignity.
It would be worth his job to say a word about this dawn’s bizarre hall scene and Guppy knew it. It was obvious the master was in one of his dangerous, quiet rages. It was, however, equally obvious that Lord Ravenwood was in command of the situation. With a quick, worried glance at Sophy, Guppy discreetly disappeared into the kitchens.
Julian turned to confront Jane.
“I do not know who you are, madam, and I assume from your veil that you do not wish to make your identity known. But whoever you are, please be aware that I shall be eternally indebted to you. You appear to be the only one who showed any common sense in this entire affair.”
“I am known for my common sense, my lord,” Jane said sadly. “Indeed, I fear many of my friends find me quite dull because of it.”
“If your friends had any sense, themselves, they would cherish you for that quality. Good day, madam. There is a boy with a closed carriage outside who will escort you home. Your horse is tied to the carriage. Do you wish additional
company? I can send one of the footmen along with you.”
“No. The carriage and lad will be sufficient.” Jane glanced in confusion at Sophy who shrugged faintly. “Thank you, my lord. I do hope this is the end of the entire affair.”
“You may rest assured it mostly certainly is. And I hope I can rely upon you not to breathe a word of the matter.”
“You may depend upon it, my lord.”
Julian walked her to the door and saw her into the small carriage. Then he stalked back up the steps and into the hall. The huge door closed very softly behind him. He stood looking at Sophy for a long moment.
Sophy held her breath, waiting for the stroke of doom.
“Go upstairs and change your clothing, madam. You have played enough at men’s games today. We will discuss this matter at ten in the library.”
“There is nothing to discuss, my lord,” she said swiftly. “You already know everything.”
Julian’s emerald eyes were brilliant with his anger and another emotion that Sophy realized with a start was relief. “You are wrong, madam. There is a great deal to discuss. If you are not down here promptly at ten, I shall come to fetch you.”
ELEVEN
“Perhaps,” said Julian with an icy calm that was impressive under the circumstances, “you will be good enough to explain this entire matter from the beginning.”
The words shattered the ominous silence that had gripped the library since Sophy had cautiously walked through the door a few minutes earlier. Julian had sat, unmoving, behind his massive desk, studying her with his customary inscrutable expression for a long while before choosing to begin what would no doubt be a most unpleasant interview.
Sophy took a deep breath and lifted her chin. “You already know the essentials of the situation.”
“I know you must have received one of Featherstone’s blackmail notes. I would very much appreciate it if you would be so good as to explain why you did not immediately turn it over to me.”
“She approached me, not you, with her threat. I considered it a matter of honor to respond.”