“I needed time. The only way out of the mess I could see,” he said, not answering her question, “was to find the real father.”
“And did you?”
He shook his head. “Lord Hammerish still believes I ruined his daughter, but when it became clear there’d be no baby, he was unable to make good on his threats or stop me from crying off, for which I’m eternally grateful. Unfortunately it hasn’t prevented him from seeking me out earlier so he could issue a challenge.”
“What? You cannot possibly accept.”
“I can’t refuse him, either. Indeed, it looks as though we’ll be dueling with pistols at dawn.”
“No,” Madeleine said firmly. “Absolutely not. I will not allow either one of you to risk your life over something that isn’t even true.”
Blakely smiled. “Rest assured, I’ve no intention of killing Lord Hammerish. I plan to aim wide.”
“But he has every intention of killing you.” How could he be so calm about this?
“True, though I’m not sure I or anyone else would mind.” Madeleine stared at him, unable to speak, so he continued. “My reputation is in shreds, I’m no longer welcome anywhere. To be honest, I was stunned to be invited here. And the woman I love has turned her back on me. Is that an existence you would wish for?”
“You…love?” was all Madeleine could manage to say.
Blakely nodded. “Please believe me when I tell you you’ve always been the one.”
Taking a step toward him, Madeleine said, “What exactly prevented you from marrying her?”
“I kept stalling for time,” Blakely said, “insisting the banns be cried and such. Only two weeks after we got engaged she lost the child, and I cried off.”
“Yet Lady Nichole remains ruined.”
Blakely grimaced. “Why do you think her father wants to kill me?”
“But if what you say is true, then you are innocent in all of this.” Lady Madeleine insisted.
“It matters not,” Robert said. “Tomorrow I will face him.”
“Not if I can help it,” she said. “One way or another Lord Hammerish will know of his daughter’s transgressions.”
“Absolutely not,” Blakely said as he leaned toward her, drawn to the warm glow of candlelight upon her face.
“You’d rather let her ruin your life?”
“I’d rather preserve my sense of honor.”
She set her jaw. “I will not permit you to proceed with this folly.”
Blakely couldn’t help but smile. He envisioned her stomping her foot in protest.
“Why?” he asked.
She grew utterly still. “Well, because it is the right thing to do of course.”
“Is that your only reason?”
“I…I don’t know what you mean.” Her skin brightened with a delightful shade of pink.
“Then perhaps this will enlighten you.” He grabbed her and pulled her toward him, loving the gasp of surprise on her lips as he wrapped his arms around her. Dipping his head, he claimed her mouth, thankful she did not resist.
Oh no, she did not resist at all.
There was nowhere Madeleine would rather be than wrapped in Blakely’s arms, the warmth of him seeping into her as he kissed her more thoroughly than ever before. There was nothing chaste about this kiss – it was too desperate, as if the man feared it might be his last.
Not if she had anything to say about it, Madeleine decided.
She’d wronged him most terribly and planned on making it up to him, but if he wouldn’t allow her to speak to Lord Hammerish, she would have to find another way.
Hours later, she stood outside Lady Nichole’s bedchamber trying the door handle, but it was locked. Well, there was nothing else for it then. As much as she regretted causing a stir, she raised her fist and knocked forcefully on the door, not stopping until it finally opened. Other doors had opened too, with sleepy–eyed guests looking to see what all the commotion was about.
“What do you want?’ Lady Nichole snapped.
“For you to confess the truth about your engagement to Blakely,” Madeleine said, her voice firm.
“I don’t know what you mean, and if you plan on spreading lies… Don’t. You wouldn’t enjoy having me as your enemy.”
“You’ve held that position for a long time already, and yet I’ve survived,” Madeleine said. “But if you say nothing, you’ll be responsible for a man’s death – perhaps even your father’s.”
There was no mistaking the look of shock on Lady Nichole’s face. “If you’re lying–”
“I am not,” Madeleine said. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Blakely and your father are readying their pistols. Who do you presume to be the better shot?”
“It matters not,” Lady Nichole muttered, grabbing her robe and flinging it over her shoulders. “Think what you will of me, but I would hate to see either man lose.”
Madeleine didn’t doubt her. If Lady Nichole had gotten with child and pinned the blame on Blakely, then it was surely because she wished to marry him. Which must mean she cared for him to some degree.
“And where do you think you’re going?” a steely voice asked, stopping both ladies in their tracks as they descended the steps leading down to the foyer.
Madeleine stared at her grandmother who stood before her, blocking her way. “Not to alarm you, but I do believe there’s going to be a duel. And we intend to stop it.”
“Do you really?” Her grandmother stepped aside. “I suggest you hurry then. Blakely and Hammerish already left with their seconds. But don’t worry, dears, there’s a sleigh waiting for you outside, ready to take you to the location.”
It took Madeleine a good three seconds to recover from the shock of what her grandmother had just told her. “You knew this was going to happen?”
“Let’s just say I expected it,” her grandmother replied, “but there will be time for explanations later. Now you must be on your way.”
“Yes, yes of course,” Madeleine muttered as she followed Lady Nichole out of the house and into the sleigh. The driver snapped the reins as soon as both ladies were comfortably seated, and they swiftly glided off.
“You must be very pleased with all of this,” Lady Nichole said after a while. “For it does appear as though you and Blakely finally have another chance.”
“Tell me,” Madeleine said, ignoring the jibe, “who compromised you?”
“That’s a very personal question, don’t you think?”
“I only mean to suggest that he should receive proper punishment for his misdeed,” Madeleine said.
There was a pause, and then Lady Nichole said, “I will go to my grave without ever speaking his name.”
Madeleine blinked. Was Lady Nichole protecting herself or her lover? Madeleine had little time in which to contemplate it further as they drew into a clearing where three men appeared to be tending to a fourth who was lying stretched out in the snow. To Madeleine’s horror, it appeared to be Blakely.
“Good heavens.” Madeleine scrambled out of the sleigh and trudged through the snow, her breaths coming fast as she approached the gentlemen.