Athena's Ordeal Read online

  “Robert’s age or a little bit older. Fair haired, almost as light as Charlie’s,” Sabre said, referring to her second oldest brother, the ever affable and horse-mad Charles Bittlesworth. “Cut in that fashionably tousled style. And his eyes are green. A very light green, a spring green George would probably call them. You would expect such innocently colored eyes to house a more wholesome soul.” Sabre realized Jack had become suspiciously quiet and looked over at her friend. The countess had one hand clasped over her mouth, eyes wide with horror.

  “You know who it is,” Sabre accused.

  Jack closed her eyes and let the hand fall away. “Oh Quince, what did you do?”

  Sabre slammed down her teacup with a crack and jumped to her feet. “You’re telling me the obnoxious toad that propositioned me this morning is the Duke of Beloin?”

  Jack nodded, “I think so, yes.”

  “The same Duke of Beloin you have been raving about since I came back from Italy? That you have been bragging I will meet at your ball?”

  Jack shrugged helplessly, “Are you sure you didn’t misinterpret what he said?”

  Sabre loomed over her seated friend and hissed, “Do you want to know what he said? It was, ‘Whatever he’s paying you, I’ll double it. Triple it. You’ll never want for anything again in your life.’ Do you think I misinterpreted that Jack? Really?”

  Her friend gasped in shock. “That’s terrible! I can’t believe he would say that.”

  Sabre stalked off to stare out the window. “Either it was the Duke of Beloin or he has a twin. Who is also a duke.”

  “And who was the ‘he’ that the duke was referring to? I’m confused, Sabre. Did this happen this morning? Where?”

  Sabre turned back to her friend. “I’ve said all I’m going to say on that matter. Thank you for providing the information I needed.”

  Jack launched to her feet as well. “Sabre, I don’t like that look. What are you planning to do?”

  Sabre tilted her chin up. “I’m planning to defend my honor.”

  Chapter Two

  Quince felt surprisingly good after sharing his burden with Robert Bittlesworth. Enough so that his step was lighter as he headed toward the front door to exit the house, but then the scene of his meeting with Bittlesworth’s sister stopped him short. Gods, how could he have been so stupid? With one impulsive offer he had insulted a young lady and perhaps, if she decided to confide in her brother, ruined the chance that Bittlesworth would help him with this issue. Yet, glancing up the stairs to the landing where he first saw her, he had to admit that the vision of her in that dress would be with him for the rest of his life. Knowing that simply seeing him again would probably cause more offense to the lady, he accepted his coat from the doorman and departed.

  “Oh Sabre…” Jack said. “Surely you don’t mean to challenge Quince to a duel?”

  Sabre nodded. “Of course I do. It’s his just desserts. And didn’t you say that he believes in women’s rights? Why shouldn’t it be my right to defend my own honor?”

  Jack sighed. “There is a sad symmetry to it.”

  “You’ll be my second?”

  Jack scowled but nodded. “Of course.”

  Sabre nodded again. “Good, that’s settled. I shall send a message to the duke informing him that his second can meet mine.” Sabre searched her mind for an appropriate location that wasn’t a men’s club. “At the private room in the back of the George and Vulture?”

  “The George and Vulture?” Jack asked. “Are you sure you can stand the idea of me wearing breeches and having Welsh rarebit without you?”

  Sabre pouted. “You have a point. Perhaps I could come with you?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, you know that’s not how it’s done. Perhaps Twinings would be a better option?”

  “The tea and coffee house? Now who’s being ridiculous? The duke’s second would laugh all the way home.” Sabre looked up at her friend with a bit of disgust. “Stop thinking like such a girl.”

  Jack just laughed and shook her head. “Considering there’s more than a fair chance that the person I’ll be meeting is my husband I am simply trying to head off his complaints.”

  Sabre knew she was frowning as she felt a shudder of disapproval run through her. She had been at first delighted that her prudish, intellectual friend had married Lord Lucifer. Based on the stories from Robert and Charlie she had expected the earl to help Jack loosen up a bit. Instead it seemed the lord was even more reserved than Jack herself. Meanwhile, the freedom-loving and headstrong woman Sabre thought she had known was now content to submit to her overbearing husband. It was enough to make Sabre swear off the idea of marriage forever. “No,” she said, “I think the George and Vulture. I don’t wish to tip our hand too early.”

  “Tip our hand?”

  “He has to believe the challenge comes from my brother or he won’t even show up to the field.”

  “Won’t the game be up when Giddy sees that I’m the second?”

  “Not if you convince him to help us.”

  “Sabre, that’s not very likely.”

  “I have every faith in you.”

  A full day had passed since Quince had visited Bittlesworth. He hadn’t expected immediate results, of course, but now that he had initiated a solution he found himself impatient to get on with it. Instead, he was spending his mid-morning reviewing correspondence. One of his least favorite activities. None of the duties of a duke were particularly appealing to him, but reading all these invitations and solicitations ranked lower than low. And these were only the remaining letters after his secretary had already parsed through the majority. Blessedly it seemed the torture was coming to the end for today. There was only one, small missive left on the tray. Cream colored heavy stock. When he turned it over he saw “Duke of Beloin” in a heavy, flowing script and a blank seal that had been broken, he assumed, by his secretary. Something about the letter made him uneasy and he regretted that his man had opened it first. Unfolding the paper he saw the dark script inside.

  Your proposition yesterday was unconscionable. I will have satisfaction. Your second shall meet mine this evening before nine at a private room of the George and Vulture. – Bittlesworth

  Quince felt his body go cold. Not only would Bittlesworth not aid him, the insult to his sister had driven the man to challenge a duke to duel. Apparently even a man with a reputation for reserve could be pushed too far. Numbly pulling out a blank sheet of paper the duke considered how to best phrase the request to his second.

  Sabre had been pacing in the front hall much of the morning, waiting for Jack. Finally hearing a familiar knock on the front door she schooled her expression and opened it. Jack stood on the steps, eyeing her friend critically.

  “I don’t like that look,” the countess finally announced.

  “What do you mean?” Sabre countered, but she could feel the grin beginning to tease at the side of her mouth.

  “You did it. You sent the challenge.”

  At that, Sabre’s eyebrows drew down. “Shh!” she admonished. She pulled her friend into the front hall and looked around to see if any servants were present to have overheard them. Not seeing anyone she hustled Jack up the steps to the sitting room.

  “Sabre!” Jack admonished in a fierce whisper. “If we can’t talk here then perhaps we should go elsewhere?”

  “We’ve had a predictable pattern since you’ve been back to Town,” Sabre responded, also in a whisper, “changing it now could be disastrous.”

  Jack settled herself onto a love seat and smoothed her skirts. “Your definition of a disaster might be quite different from mine,” she said, but still kept her voice low.

  “No, I’m sure that inspiring my brother’s suspicion rates fairly high on your list of disasters.”

  Jack raised a brow but remained silent.

  Sabre sat in the chair opposite her friend and spent some time fussing with her own skirts.

  “And?” Jack finally prompted.

&n
bsp; “And what?” Sabre asked calmly.

  “And what? And everything. What did you send? Did he send anything back? What is the plan?”

  Sabre could feel the frown tugging at her lips. “I sent a short letter this morning. Of course he hasn’t sent anything back. The plan continues with you at the George and Vulture tonight, as we already discussed.”

  “Then why am I here?”

  “Because every other morning you and I have a mid-morning chat in this sitting room.”

  Jack threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. “So you’re going to leave it all to me to explain this to my husband?”

  Sabre knew a true frown was marring her expression now. “Do I need to be concerned? You act like you’re afraid of him. You’ve never been afraid of anything.”

  A poignant stillness enveloped the room as the two young women eyed one another. Jack finally set her jaw in a mulish expression that Sabre recognized and quite honestly, it was a welcome relief.

  “Of course I’m not afraid of him,” the countess said vehemently. She looked down and traced the pattern on the arm of the love seat and after a pause added more softly, “Some things are just not worth the trouble of arguing about.”

  Sabre felt a rush of blood that made her head swim. She stood up abruptly. “Well, if my honor isn’t worth the trouble then I can certainly look elsewhere for a second.”

  Jack looked stricken. “Oh, Sabre, no! That’s not what I meant! Not at all. It’s just, well…” Her friend looked up at her with tears in her green eyes. Jack was never scared and she never, ever cried. Now Sabre didn’t know whether to be angry or frightened herself.

  “It’s just what?” she prompted.

  After a moment Jack bit her lip and gave a watery chuckle. “Oh, never mind,” she said, shaking her head. “You’ll find out for yourself one day. Or you won’t. I’m not sure you’re the type who will marry for love.”

  “You didn’t marry for love.”

  “Yet I found it all the same. Funny that.” Jack shrugged. “And I must apologize once again for letting my pregnancy get the best of me. My moods of late have been quite abominable. Of course I will be your second. I will handle Giddy.”

  Sabre didn’t know whether it was the pregnancy or the husband that was having the worse effect on her friend. All she knew was that she wanted neither affliction for herself.

  Quince heard heavy boots in the hallway and knew the earl had arrived. He hadn’t asked Giddy to come in his letter. Had asked him quite specifically to appear at the G&V at the appointed hour, in fact. But that was Giddy for you. Managing. Had to come see everything for himself.

  “The Earl of Harrington,” Larkins intoned from the door.

  Harrington strode across the room with his usual air of purpose and then stood looming over the duke’s chair as though a question had already been asked and he was impatiently waiting for the answer. Unlike the duke’s own impeccable appearance, the earl looked as though he had been out riding in a stiff wind.

  “Hullo, Giddy,” Quince said softly, swirling wine in the bottom of the glass he was holding. “Feel free to make yourself a drink. Not too many, though. We must be sharp in the morning.”

  “What on God’s green earth have you gotten yourself into, Quince? Your letter said to expect Charlie Bittlesworth as a second?”

  Quince nodded. “That seems most likely.”

  “So you and Robert are at crossed swords? What on earth do you have to duel about?”

  “He perceives that I insulted his sister.”

  At that Gideon looked thoughtful, then did turn to the sidebar to fix himself a drink. “Little Sabre?” he mused. “Doubtful. She would have run you through herself if you had.”

  Quince gave his friend a questioning look. “Little Sabre?”

  Gideon sat in the chair opposite his friend. “Certainly I’ve told you that Miss Sabrina Bittlesworth is my wife’s best friend.”

  “No, I don’t remember it coming up.”

  “What did you say about her?”

  “Say about her?” Quince asked.

  “That she or Robert took as an insult.”

  “I haven’t said anything about her.”

  “Then what was the nature of this supposed insult?”

  “I may have, inadvertently… asked her to be my mistress.”

  Gideon choked a bit on his swallow of wine. “I’m sorry, you may have what?”

  “Asked her to be my mistress.”

  “I don’t know who it was you asked to be your mistress, but as you are devoid of wounds I have to guess that it wasn’t actually Sabrina Bittlesworth.”

  “I’m quite certain it was.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Robert referred to her as his sister mere moments later.”

  “You made this proposition in front of him?”

  “No, shortly before he entered the room. I assume she told him about it later.”

  Gideon set his glass down and sat back, crossing his arms. “Well. Aren’t you a piece of work?”

  “Whatever do you mean?”

  “You still look as saintly as ever, yet there you were. Propositioning a young lady of Quality. Even I never did that.”

  “In my oh-so-slender defense, I did think she was Robert’s mistress at the time.”

  “What? Why on earth would you think that?”

  “If you’d seen the dress she was wearing you’d think it, too.”

  Gideon merely raised a brow in that way he had that made you know he was questioning your sanity.

  Quince frowned into his glass. “The particulars of the matter don’t really signify now, do they? Tonight you meet his second and in the morning there will be a duel.”

  “Tonight Charlie and I commiserate over what half-wits you both are, and in the morning we get to watch you be idiots. Shall I advocate for swords?”

  “The choice is Robert’s, of course.”

  “Yes, but if he chooses pistols and if he’s angry… Well, you might not make it through the morning.”

  “There are any number of reasons we might not make it through the morning, Robert Bittlesworth’s pistols notwithstanding. If he wants pistols, then pistols it shall be.”

  “There’s likely another way to solve this, you know.”

  “Don’t say it, Giddy.”

  “Offer for her.”

  “No.”

  “Why does everyone say no when I propose marriage? You know the idea is valid. Expected even.”

  “No. I shall not marry a Bittlesworth.”

  “The current viscount can’t live forever, and Robert is a good enough sort.”

  “This isn’t a topic open for discussion, Giddy.”

  “You would rather die than marry her?”

  “If need be.”

  Gideon sighed. “Well, old boy, I propose that in the future you be more careful about whom you invite to be your mistress.”

  Chapter Three

  At precisely half past eight Gideon was informed that his horse was ready. The earl considered going up to check on his wife before leaving. She had been quiet and distracted at supper, not quite her usual self, and had retired early. But if trouble was brewing in her mind it might be best to get this foolish duel out of the way first. He paused at the door and looked up the steps. He had promised himself that he wouldn’t avoid confrontations with her but certainly this was a special case. And, he thought to himself with the beginnings of a smile, if he told her what he was off to do then she would undoubtedly want to come along.

  Jack kept her head down with the brim of her cap low, sipping at a bitter beer. It was ridiculously easy to pass for a young man in her loose-fitting trousers and vest. The barman had been busy and rushed when she came in and hadn’t looked twice at her. He had taken coin at her mumbled request to hold a private room for her master, leaving her here with the door open for the supposed master’s imminent arrival. Now she just had to wait for what she still assumed would be Gideon. If not,
he would soon find her missing at home and she could just imagine what sort of trouble that could cause. Lara, her maid, was sworn to secrecy… unless the earl started forming a search party or some other silly, overwrought thing. There was no reason to upset the entire household for what was essentially a short ride and meeting a friend at an alehouse. Not that women in her station were allowed to do such things. She ran her finger over the grain in the heavy wooden table and grinned.

  The tiny room she had secured held only a table and four chairs, but it did have the advantage of a small fireplace and a lantern. There was enough light to read, if she had only thought to bring a book.

  She heard the heavy stomp of boots approaching and schooled her features into the discontented scowl that was as much a part of her disguise as the ratty old cap that she wore. Keeping her chin low she looked over as the boots stopped in the doorway. Black Hessians. She recognized those boots.

  “Boy, who else is here?” The earl’s voice was brusque, impatient. “I’m expecting Charlie Bittlesworth.”

  “You can expect him,” Jack replied, “but I haven’t seen him since we’ve been back to Town.”

  After a deathly still pause the earl said, “Jacqueline?”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “Hullo, Giddy. Fancy meeting you here.”

  Shock gave way to irritation as he saw that it truly was his wife. He closed the door to the room with a thump and strode over to the table. “Bloody hell, what are you doing here?”

  “The same thing you’re doing here, unless I miss my guess.”

  He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Then it is Sabre who took exception to Quince’s misstatement.”

  “Misstatement? Is that how he put it? And of course Sabre took exception to it. I believe we have some terms to discuss.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this? Why the subterfuge? We could have discussed this at home.”

  “I couldn’t be entirely sure that Quince would choose you as his second. Why didn’t you tell me that you were to be involved in a duel in the morning?”

  Gideon crossed his arms and stared down at her. She could tell that he desperately wanted to demand that she leave off this pursuit. He changed tacks instead.