The Earl Claims a Bride (34 page)

Understanding lighted in Bray’s eyes. “So he knows he’s lost Angelina.”

Harrison nodded once. He didn’t have to guess at what the army captain was feeling. Harrison knew. The man had lost his eye, his ability to be a soldier, the lady he loved. Captain Maxwell probably no longer cared if he lost his life as well.

“He won’t change his mind and I’m not in a mood to forgive him should he.” Harrison looked up at his friend. “I am at peace about this, Bray.”

“In that case, I’m your second?”

“I don’t want to involve you in this.”

“You’re not. I am.”

Harrison nodded.

“Change your shirt and get your sword. I’ll get us a room at the fencing club so you can practice.”

Harrison started to walk away but Bray stayed him with a touch to his shoulder.

“This is a no-win duel for you, Harrison. If you wound him, she’ll never forgive you, and if the unthinkable happens…”

“I understand. My honor demands I answer his challenge.”

Chapter 32

They durst not do’t; they could not, would not do’t.

King Lear
2.2.215–16

She woke with a start. A door had slammed below stairs. Booted feet were climbing the steps fast.

“Angelina!” her father called.

Her heartbeat raced as she looked out her window. It was still dark. What was going on? She pushed the covers back.

“Angelina!” he called again.

She scrambled out of bed and was donning her robe when he rushed inside, slamming the door against the wall.

“You must dress and come with me at once!”

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Did your lenders not accept the money?”

“No, no, of course they did and were quite happy. It’s Lord Thornwick. He’s in danger and you must help him.”

Harrison!

Her heart jumped into her throat. “What kind of danger?” she asked, running to her wardrobe to find a dress.

“That foul Captain Maxwell has challenged him to a duel at dawn. We must stop him. The carriage is waiting.”

Frantic, Angelina looked back to her father. “A duel? Captain Maxwell and Harrison? But why?”

“The captain accused him of cheating at cards.”

“That’s preposterous,” she exclaimed, pulling out a simple carriage dress that would be easy to put on. “Lord Thornwick would never cheat.”

“It was just a ruse, my dear. I’m sure the true reason is you. To his credit, I’m told Lord Thornwick did his best to talk Maxwell out of the challenge. The fool just wouldn’t listen.”

“Where are they?” she asked, frantically pulling out a pair of shoes.

“What’s going on?” her grandmother asked from the doorway.

“Help me dress, Granna. I must hurry. Lord Thornwick is in danger.”

“I’ve heard they are meeting at Martin’s Ditch,” her father said. “I think we can catch the earl before he leaves his house. I’ll wait below stairs. Hurry!”

A few minutes later their landau arrived in front of Lord Thornwick’s town house. The carriage was barely stopped before Angelina had the door open and was waiting for their driver to help her down. Harrison’s carriage was still there. Thank God he hadn’t left yet.

Not waiting for her father, Angelina raced to the door and hit the knocker several times. The door jerked open and she saw the Duke of Drakestone. Harrison was behind him with his cloak and gloves in his hand.

“Harrison, don’t do this,” she whispered, rushing past the duke and stopping in front of Harrison.

His eyes swept lovingly up and down her face. “Angelina, what are you doing here?”

“Papa heard about what you have planned and told me. I had to come,” she said.

Her father rushed in the door behind her. Harrison gave him a murderous look. “You shouldn’t have told her.”

“I had to. She’s the only one who can talk you out of this foolish stunt. Besides, she would have never forgiven me if I hadn’t.”

“Wait outside,” Harrison said. “Both of you.”

The duke and her father went out and closed the door. Angelina flung herself into his arms and he caught her up tightly to him. He was warm and strong and he was hers. She couldn’t lose him in a duel.

“Don’t do this, my love,” she pleaded, her arms circling his waist. “Please, don’t do this.”

He held her tightly for a moment and kissed the top of her head then set her away from him. “I want you to go back home with your father. I will come to you there when this is over.”

How could he tell her that? “Don’t ask that of me.” Her throat ached from holding in the fear churning inside her.

“You must. A duel is no place for a lady.”

“It’s no place for anyone. I will talk to Captain Maxwell and I’ll get him to
^____
”

He grabbed her upper arms with his hands. “It’s too late for that, Angelina. Everything is set and it cannot be undone.”

“Of course it can,” she insisted. “This is madness! I don’t care what he thinks about you. I’m asking you not to go.”

“If I could do this for you I would, but I can’t.”

“Does the captain think I will love him if he forces you to wound him further? I will tell him again, I will never love him. I love you.”

“It’s not about love for him anymore, Angelina. It’s about revenge and it can’t be stopped. Go home and I will come to you there when this is over.”

“You are good with a pistol, right?”

He nodded.

“So you’ll only wound him. Like that other man. The one you dueled with last year, right?”

He smiled. “Thank you for your faith in my abilities, my love, but this will be with a blade.”

She remembered the sound of Captain Maxwell sliding his sword back into his scabbard and she shivered. “But he’s a soldier. He must be very good.”

Harrison shrugged.

Angelina shook her head. “I don’t understand why you have to do this, my love. How can I let you do this?”

“You can’t stop me. Angelina, my honor is the only thing that makes me deserving of you.”

At that moment she knew she couldn’t change what was to happen so she had to be the one to change. She couldn’t be a weak, whimpering lady, though she desperately wanted to be. Those feelings had to be denied. Angelina had to be strong and confident for Harrison. He had to know she had faith in him to know what had to be done and his ability to do it.

She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “In that case, I can’t leave you to face this alone. I know you will handle this like the gentleman you claim you aren’t. I understand that, but I must be there for you.”

His eyes searched her face. She remained courageous and steadfast though inside she felt as if she were falling apart.

“Very well, you and your father can ride with me, but once we are there you must stay in the carriage, stay quiet, and not try to stop this. I must have your promise, Angelina.”

Could she do that? If she gave her word she would have to. It broke her heart anew to say it but she relented and whispered, “I love you, Harrison. I promise I will stay inside the carriage until the duel is over.”

He hugged her to his chest and whispered, “I love you, Angelina.”

Chapter 33

Take honor from me, and my life is done.

Richard II
1.1.183

Harrison sat in his coach with his eyes closed and the back of his head pressed against the velvet cushion, resting his eyes, remembering how alluring Angelina was with her gorgeous hair spilling over her shoulders to caress her breasts. He didn’t ever want to forget that memory. Or her soft sighs, her gentle touch, or her eagerness to enjoy, to give, to fulfill both their cravings for each other.

She was sitting on the opposite seat from him, with her father. He couldn’t touch her so he thought of her, deeply and longingly. He didn’t want her with him, but he couldn’t deny her. He had no doubt of her courage or strength no matter what might happen.

He wore his favorite over-the-knee boots, breeches that didn’t bind, and a white shirt with full sleeves, forgoing the coat, waistcoat, and neckcloth, knowing the less clothing to worry with, the better. For hours, he’d swung the sword until his arm ached and then fenced some more. After a couple of hours’ sleep he and Bray had readied to come out to the dueling site.

There could be little doubt that Captain Maxwell was good with a sword. How could he not be, having been a soldier for the better part of twenty years? Still, the man was handicapped by his blind side. Harrison had to use that to his advantage.

The carriage door swung open. “It’s time,” Bray said, holding Harrison’s sword in his hand.

“Everything has been attended to?” he asked.

“Exactly what you wanted. No time limit, no interference by anyone, and no halting the fight once it begins.”

“But—” Angelina leaned forward. “What does that mean?”

“Angelina.” Harrison spoke her name softly and shook his head. “Remember your promises to me.”

She hesitated and started to argue then leaned back in the cushion again and folded her hands in her lap. It would not help him if she troubled him now. “I do and I will remain quiet, but remember I love you.”

Harrison smiled at her. “I will not forget that.” He then glanced at her father. “See she stays inside.”

“I will sit on her if I have to, my lord. Be careful.”

Harrison picked up his coat from the seat, stepped outside the coach, and shut the door. He didn’t want to do this. He wanted to be through with dueling. Turning away from the carriage, he surveyed his surroundings: more than two dozen men standing around a small clearing, several carriages lined in a row opposite his. Trees budding with spring, dew shimmering in patches on the ground. Air chilly but not cold. The low murmurings hushed and for a split second it was so quiet, Harrison could hear his own labored breathing.

Until now, he had fought fairly for Angelina. He dug into his pocket, pulled out a crudely made eye patch, and started fitting the black fabric over his right eye.

“What the devil are you doing?” Bray said. “Give me that.” He reached for the eye patch and Harrison swerved away from him.

“I’m making this an equal fight,” he said, tying the thin leather strips at the back of his head.

“It’s fair without that,” Bray muttered. “You aren’t as proficient with a sword as he is. I’ve let you do some dangerous and fool-hearted things in my life.”

“As I have you,” Harrison countered.

“But at the time, we were young, and had no respect for life or anything else. You have Angelina now. It’s downright foolish to handicap yourself this way.”

“Maybe.”

Bray let out a heavy sigh and flattened his hand against Harrison’s chest. He looked him directly in his eye and said, “You know what you’re doing, don’t you?”

Harrison remained quiet. You’re hoping the patch will make him angry, make him reckless.”

“Like I said, I’m hoping to make this an equal fight. I never said it was fair.”

Bray held the sword out to him. He started to reach for it but heard Captain Maxwell yell from the other side of the clearing, “Take it off!”

Harrison looked at the soldier. He’d removed his regimentals and like Harrison wore only trousers, boots, and shirt.

“You are mocking me by wearing that! Get it off!”

Harrison saw rage light in the captain’s face as he stomped toward him without his sword in hand. “I am giving you an equal chance, which you wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s the only way I can honorably fight you.”

Maxwell gave him a murderous look as he quickly closed the distance between them. “Take it off now, you coward.” He pointed his finger at Harrison. “Or I will rip it off after I have torn your head from your shoulders!”

Harrison was getting damned tired of the man calling him a coward. “You can try,” he said calmly and continued his leisurely stroll to meet him.

The captain let out a yell and charged Harrison, catching him in the chest with his shoulder. The wind swooshed out of Harrison’s lungs. He stumbled backward and fell onto the ground. The captain leaped on top of him and clawed for the patch. Harrison held him off with a tightfisted blow to his chin that stunned him.

Harrison threw the man off him and sprang to his feet. Maxwell was on his feet just as fast and came up swinging at Harrison. He sidestepped him, backed away, and motioned with both hands for the captain to come at him again.

“I’ll gouge both your eyes out and see how you like that!” Maxwell shouted on a ragged breath and took another swing at Harrison.

Harrison ducked but a quick right caught him under his eye, sending splintering pain through his face as his head snapped back. Regaining his balance, Harrison plowed his fists one right after the other into Maxwell’s stomach. The man grunted and came back at Harrison with a powerful glancing hook to his abdomen.

Shouts from the crowd drew closer but Harrison kept his focus on the raging soldier in front of him. Sucking in a short, shallow breath Harrison connected to the man’s jaw with a hard jab. Bloody spittle flew from the captain’s mouth as he grabbed for Harrison’s patch again. Another hard right caught Harrison on the side of his mouth, smashing the tender flesh against his teeth, ripping his lip and sending a shower of blood that sprayed his chin.

Evading Maxwell’s long reach, Harrison gave him a powerful uppercut to his chin and then two quick jabs to his midsection. Sweating, Captain Maxwell staggered backward then suddenly lunged forward again, knocking Harrison to the ground. The captain pounced on top of him, and once more clawed for the patch. With a surge of strength, Harrison rolled the man over and grabbed him around the neck by the crook of his arm, forcing him to gasp for every breath.

“I’m assuming you changed your mind as to the choice of weapons and took fists,” Harrison said between labored breathing. “Wise choice.”

“Hell no, I didn’t,” Maxwell sputtered, trying to leverage his body with his feet and pull himself away from Harrison’s grip.

Harrison grabbed his wrist with his other hand and tightened the pressure against the officer’s throat. “I could snap your neck right now, and no one would fault me, Captain.”