Madam:
I must speak with you at once about a matter of grave urgency. Please do not tell anyone about this note and above all do not inform your husband that you are to meet with me. A life is at stake.
Yrs,
Lady B.
A cold chill swept through Olympia. She leaped to her feet and ran to the door.
Chapter 19
“Are you certain of this information?” Olympia asked. She sat tensely on the blue and gilt sofa, shocked by what Demetria had just told her. Shocked, but not terribly surprised.
“I have many sources of rumors. I have checked and double-checked all of them.” Anguish and fear haunted Demetria’s beautiful eyes. “There can be no doubt. Chillhurst has engaged to meet my brother in a duel.”
“Dear heaven,” Olympia whispered. “I was afraid of this.”
“You have no cause to be afraid, damn you.” Demetria whirled away from the window where she had been gazing out into the garden. “I am the one who is terrified. Your husband means to kill my brother.”
“Demetria, calm yourself.” Constance poured tea from a silver pot and helped herself to sugar. It was obvious she was as much at home in Demetria’s drawing room as she would have been in her own. “There is nothing to be gained from panic.”
“That is easy for you to say, Constance. It is not your brother who is about to die.”
“I am aware of that.” Constance glanced meaningfully at Olympia. “But all is not yet lost. I believe Lady Chillhurst is as alarmed by the situation as you are. She will want to help us.”
“If what you say is true, then we must find a way to stop the duel,” Olympia said. She rallied herself and tried to think in a logical fashion.
“How can we stop it?” Demetria fluttered restlessly from one window to another, a wild, exotic bird trapped in a luxurious cage. “I was not able to establish the day or the place or even the time of the affair. Such things are kept closely guarded secrets by those involved.”
“I may be able to discover those particulars.” Olympia got to her feet and began to pace the other side of the room. Her brain was reeling with the implications of what she had just heard.
Jared was about to risk his life in a duel. And it was all her fault.
“You think you can discover the date, time, and place of the duel when I, with all my sources, have failed?” Demetria demanded.
“It should not be difficult,” Olympia said soothingly. “My husband is a man of very precise habits.”
“Yes, he is, is he not?” Demetria snapped. “Rather like one of those clockwork toys in Winslow’s Mechanical Museum.”
“That is not true,” Olympia said coldly. “But he believes in the value of a well-planned day. If he has made a dawn appointment I suspect it will be noted in his appointment journal along with all the rest of his engagements.”
“Good God.” Constance’s eyes widened. “She’s quite right, Demetria. We all know that Chillhurst is a great believer in habit and routine. It would be just like him to write down the particulars of the duel.”
Demetria looked at Olympia. “Can you find a way to inspect his appointment journal?”
“Very likely. But that is not the chief obstacle we face.” Olympia concentrated fiercely. “The real problem is finding a way to halt the duel.”
“I suppose that we could notify the authorities,” Constance said slowly. “Dueling is illegal, after all. But such an action might result in the arrest of Gifford and Chillhurst. At the very least it would cause an enormous scandal.”
“Dear God,” Demetria breathed. “Beaumont would be furious if there is a scandal of that proportion in the family. He would very likely cut Gifford off without a penny.”
Olympia drummed her fingers on the arm of the sofa. “And Chillhurst will certainly not thank me if I get him arrested. We must think of another way to stop this nonsense. Have you tried to talk Gifford out of the affair?”
“Of course I have tried.” The skirts of Demetria’s blue and white morning gown swished furiously as she strode to another window. “He will not even admit that he has planned a duel, let alone listen to me when I tell him that Chillhurst will very likely put a bullet in his heart.”
“My husband will certainly not deliberately attempt to kill your brother,” Olympia said brusquely. “He will only try to defend himself. I am far more concerned that your brother will kill Chillhurst.”
“My brother is no match for your husband,” Demetria whispered. “I am told that victory on the duelling field generally goes to the man who possesses the coolest head and the steadiest hand. It is cold blood, not hot, that wins out. And Chillhurst is nothing if not coldblooded.”
“That is untrue,” Olympia said tightly.
“I know Chillhurst well and I assure you he would not break into a sweat were he to dine in hell with the devil himself,” Demetria flung back. “But Gifford will not see that. He is actually looking forward to the event.” She closed her eyes briefly. “He says he wants a chance to avenge my honor. He has never forgiven Chillhurst for what happened three years ago.”
Olympia exhaled deeply. “Your brother is a very emotional man. As is everyone else involved in this blasted affair.”
“In addition to avenging my honor,” Demetria went on grimly, “I believe he feels he will be doing you a very great favor if he lodges a bullet in your husband, madam.”
“Your brother’s emotions tend to rule his head, do they not?” Olympia shot Demetria a considering look. “A family trait, no doubt.”
Demetria gave her a sharp glance. “Gifford told me that you know that he and I are Edward Yorke’s greatgrandchildren.”
“Yes.”
Constance arched her finely plucked brows. “It was very clever of you to reason that out, Lady Chillhurst.”
“Thank you,” Olympia muttered. “But to return to our problem, I would suggest that I first ascertain the particulars of the duel. Once I have done that, I must determine a way to keep Chillhurst from attending the affair.”
“Even if you can manage such a feat, what good will it do?” Constance asked quietly. “Chillhurst and Gifford will merely schedule another dawn meeting.”
“If we can prevent the first meeting, which has clearly been arranged in the heat of anger,” Olympia said slowly, “it will purchase us some time in which Gifford and Chillhurst can calm themselves. We must take advantage of that time.”
Demetria wrung her hands. “What do you mean?”
“You must talk to Gifford and I shall undertake to reason with Chillhurst.”
“It will not work.” Demetria bit her lip in despair. “Gifford believes Chillhurst to be a coward because he would not accept the challenge that my brother issued three years ago. But I know the true reason why Chillhurst would not meet him and it had nothing at all to do with cowardice.”
Olympia smiled wistfully. “I am well aware of that.”
Constance and Demetria looked at each other and then they gazed thoughtfully at Olympia.
“You are?” Demetria asked delicately.
“Of course.” Olympia looked down at her untouched tea. “It is quite obvious that the reason Chillhurst refused to meet your brother was because of his concern for you.”
“For me?” Demetria was nonplussed.
Constance gave Olympia a strange smile over the rim of her teacup. “Are you quite certain of that, Lady Chillhurst?”
“Yes,” Olympia said. “It’s clear that Chillhurst refused to meet with Gifford because he knew how much Demetria cared for her brother. My husband had no wish to cause her the anguish that a duel would create.”
“Bah. He cared nothing for me,” Demetria muttered. “Chillhurst approached marriage with me as he would any other business arrangement. You obviously know nothing of the truth.”
“I disagree,” Olympia said. “I have thought about the matter a great deal and have come to some conclusions.”
Demetria swung around again. “Let me expl
ain something to you, madam. The reason Chillhurst did not accept Gifford’s challenge three years ago was because he was afraid that the true facts of the scandal might emerge and he would be humiliated.”
“I assume that you are referring to the rumor that he found you with your lover?” Olympia asked.
A small, brittle hush descended on the drawing room.
Constance finally set down her teacup. “I see you have heard the old tale that circulated for a while after the engagement was broken.”
“Yes, I have heard it.” Olympia said. “It was not merely a rumor, was it? It was the truth.”
“Yes,” Demetria admitted softly. “But I told everyone, including Gifford, that the reason Chillhurst called off the engagement was because he discovered that I had no inheritance. We have all, Chillhurst included, stuck by that story.”
“It was in everyone’s best interests to do so,” Constance murmured. “The truth would have done a great deal of damage to all concerned.”
Demetria slanted Olympia a sidelong glance. “Gifford considers Chillhurst a coward not only because he refused his challenge but also because Chillhurst never called out my lover.”
“Well, he could hardly do that, could he?” Olympia said calmly. “A gentleman cannot challenge a lady to a duel at dawn.”
Constance and Demetria gazed at her wordlessly. It was Constance who recovered first.
“So you know that, too, do you?” Her eyes gleamed with wry amusement. “Did Chillhurst tell you? I must admit I am surprised that he would confide the truth to you. It is difficult enough for a man to discover his intended with another man. It is even more awkward for him to discover her with another woman.”
“Chillhurst told me nothing about it,” Olympia said. “He is a gentleman. He would never gossip about a woman to whom he had once been engaged.”
Constance frowned. “I did not think he would tell anyone the truth. But how, then, did you learn that I was the woman he found with Demetria that day?”
“It was not all that difficult to deduce.” Olympia lifted one shoulder in a small shrug. “I was told that you had accompanied Demetria to the Isle of Flame three years ago. It has been obvious to me from the first that you and Demetria enjoy a special friendship, just as my aunts did. I merely added the two facts together.”
“Your aunts.” Demetria’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
“Aunt Sophy was the one who was actually related to me by blood,” Olympia explained. “Her very good friend and companion was named Ida. I always thought of her as Aunt Ida because that is what I called her.”
“You knew these aunts well?” Constance asked with great interest.
“Very well. Aunt Sophy and Aunt Ida raised me from the age of ten when I was left, penniless, on their doorstep,” Olympia said. “They took me in when no one else in the family could be bothered. They were very good to me.”
“I see.” Constance glanced at Demetria. “Her ladyship is not quite the naive little country-bred girl that you had believed her to be, my dear.”
“So I see,” Demetria’s smile was rueful. “My apologies, madam. I comprehend that you are much more a woman of the world than I had at first believed.”
“That is precisely what I keep telling Chillhurst,” Olympia said.
The entry in Jared’s appointment book was stark and chilling. Olympia shielded the candle flame with one hand while she read the grave words.
Thurs. Morn. Five o’clock. Chalk Farm.
Olympia knew at once that Chalk Farm was to be the site of the duel. She closed the appointment book with a sense of dread and blew out the candle.
Thursday morning. Five o’clock.
She had one day in which to come up with a way to keep Jared from meeting Gifford. It was clear she would need help.
“Olympia?” Jared stirred as Olympia slipped back into bed. “Something wrong?”
“No. I just got up for a drink of water.”
“You’re very cold.” He gathered her close.
“There is a chill in the air tonight,” Olympia whispered.
“I’m certain that we shall find a way to keep each other warm.”
Jared’s mouth came down on hers, hot, fierce, and demanding. His hand flattened on her stomach. Olympia wrapped her arms very tightly around his hard, muscled body. She clung to him as if she could keep him safe by simply hanging on to him for dear life.
He called her his siren, she thought, but she would not allow him to dash himself against the rocks. She would find a way to rescue him.
“You want us to help you save my son?” Magnus gazed at Olympia in amazed confusion. Then he looked at the others who were gathered in the study in front of Olympia’s desk.
“I need your help, sir.” Olympia turned away from the Earl and fixed Thaddeus, Robert, Hugh, and Ethan with a determined expression. “You must all help me. My plan cannot succeed without your cooperation.”
“I’ll help you, Aunt Olympia,” Hugh said quickly.
“So will I,” Ethan echoed.
Robert straightened in his chair. “I say, you can certainly count on me, Aunt Olympia.”
“Excellent,” Olympia said.
“Hold on a moment.” Thaddeus wriggled his brows. “Who says the lad needs saving?”
“Thaddeus is right. My son can take care of himself.” Magnus grinned proudly. “Taught him how to use a pistol myself. Don’t agitate yourself over this little matter of a duel, my dear. Jared will come out the winner”.
“Aye, that he will.” Thaddeus laced his fingers across his belly. “Got a keen eye and a steady hand. Never seen a cooler head in a crisis. He’ll do just fine.”
Olympia was furious. “You do not seem to understand, sir. I do not want my husband to risk his neck in a stupid duel over my honor.”
Magnus scowled. “Nothing stupid about it. A lady’s honor is damned important, my dear. I, myself, had fought two or three duels over my wife’s honor by the time I was Jared’s age.”
“I will not allow it,” Olympia said, outraged at Magnus’s lack of concern.
“Doubt you can stop it.” Magnus stroked his jaw. “I must say, I’m surprised my son is showing such spirit. Looks like he’s got the Flamecrest fire, after all.”
“The lad is turning out to be a credit to the family,” Thaddeus said warmly. “You can be proud of him, Magnus.”
“Enough of this nonsense.” Olympia jumped to her feet and flattened her hands on top of her desk. “You, sir,” she said to Magnus, “have never understood your own son.” She turned to Thaddeus. “And you do not know him very well, either. You have both been content to take him for granted.”
Thaddeus’s whiskers twitched. “Now, see here … ”
“I do not want to hear any more talk about how you feared he lacked the family fire. The truth is, Chillhurst has more fire in him than you will ever know. But he has conquered that fire and kept it under control all of his life because he had so much responsibility to bear.”
“What are you talking about?” Magnus demanded.
“Chillhurst could not afford to indulge his wild passions and emotions like the rest of you because he got stuck with the task of taking care of everyone else. He was forever having to rescue the lot of you.”
“I say, that’s going a bit too far,” Magnus grumbled.
“Is it?” Olympia narrowed her eyes. “Do you deny that he had a tremendous responsibility thrust upon him at a very tender age, my lord?”
“Well, only in a manner of speaking,” Magnus said grudgingly. “It was not as if I wasn’t around to see to the important things. Isn’t that right, Thaddeus?”
“Quite right. You were around and so was I,” Thaddeus said. “‘Course neither of us had much of a head for business, Magnus. Got to admit it. Your son was the only one who understood finance and economy.”
“And you were both quite happy to take advantage of his talents, were you not?” Olympia fixed each of the men in turn with a challenging
look.
“Well, now,” Magnus began.
“Hah,” Olympia interrupted. “You and the rest of the family are content to spend the money he makes but you condemn him for the very temperament it takes to make that money.”
“It ain’t that, exactly.” Magnus shifted unhappily in his chair. “Making money is all well and good, but the Flamecrest blood is supposed to burn hot, not run cold.”
Thaddeus sighed. “Jared ain’t like the rest of us, Olympia. Leastways, he didn’t show any signs of it until lately. Last thing we want to do is put the damper on him now that he’s displaying the Flamecrest fire.”
“We are going to save him, not put the damper on him,” Olympia said tightly. “And you are all going to help me.”
“We are?” Magnus looked skeptical.
“Let me put it this way,” Olympia said in a voice that dripped ice, “If you do not assist me in this matter, I will make certain that neither of you ever learns the location of the missing Flamecrest treasure. I will personally destroy the Lightbourne diary and all its secrets.”
“Good God,” Thaddeus whispered.
Magnus and Thaddeus exchanged horrified looks.
Magnus turned to Olympia with a charming smile. “Since you put it that way, m’dear, I suppose we can give you a hand.”
“Glad to do our bit,” Thaddeus said cheerfully.
Robert spoke up. “What do you want us to do, Aunt Olympia?”
Olympia sank slowly back down into her chair and folded her hands in front of her. “I have come up with a plan that I believe will work very well. Chillhurst will not be pleased, but I am certain that once he has calmed down, he will listen to reason.”
“No doubt,” Magnus said sadly. “My son always did listen to reason. One of his chief failings.”
Jared held the candle higher and surveyed the crowded storage room at the top of the stairs. “What was it that you wanted me to see up here, Olympia?”
“One of the portraits.” Olympia, wearing an apron over her morning gown, struggled with a large, heavy trunk. “It is lodged directly behind this.”