Devil's Cub (Alastair-Audley Tetralogy 2)

‘It is an idea,’ agreed the Vicomte. ‘Decidedly it is an idea. But I must ask myself, can I do it? Is he perhaps a master of sword-play? That gives to think! I cannot fight for the hand of the peerless Juliana unless I am sure I win. You perceive how ridiculous that would make me appear.’

‘It won’t make you more ridiculou

s than those earrings,’ said his lordship. ‘I wish you would go away; I want to talk to Juliana.’

‘You inspire me with jealousy the most profound. Do I find you at the Hôtel Avon? I shall see you perhaps to-morrow, then.’

‘Come and dine with me,’ Vidal said, ‘but no earrings, mind!’

The Vicomte laughed, waved an airy good-bye, and went off in search of further amusement.

‘Ju, I want your help,’ the Marquis said quickly. ‘Where can we be undisturbed?’

Her eyes sparkled. ‘My dearest Vidal, what can you have done now? Tell me at once, dreadful creature. Of course, I’ll help you! I know of a little room where we shall be quite alone.’

The Marquis followed her to where a curtain hung over an archway, and held it back for her to pass through.

‘Juliana, you minx, were you ever at a ball without finding a little room where you could be quite alone?’

‘No, never,’ answered Miss Marling with simple pride. She seated herself on a couch, and patted the place beside her invitingly. ‘Now tell me!’

He sat down, and began to play with her fan. ‘Do you recall the blonde piece you once saw me with at Vauxhall Gardens?’

She thought for a moment, then nodded. ‘Yes, she had blue eyes and looked stupid.’

‘She was stupid. I’ve run off with her sister instead of her, and the devil’s in it, I must marry the girl.’

‘What?’ shrieked Miss Marling.

‘If you screech again, Ju, I’ll strangle you,’ said his lordship. ‘This is serious. The girl’s not like the one you saw. She’s a lady. You know her.’

‘I don’t,’ contradicted Miss Marling positively. ‘Mamma would never let me know the sort of female who would run off with you, Dominic.’

‘Don’t keep interrupting!’ commanded Vidal. ‘I meant to bring the other sister to Paris, since I had to leave England –’

‘Merciful heavens, what have you done that you had to leave England?’ cried Miss Marling.

‘Shot a man in a duel. But that’s not important. The fair sister was to have come with me, but this one got wind of it and took her place to save her.’

‘I expect she wanted you herself,’ said the sceptical Miss Marling.

‘She don’t want me; she’s too strait-laced. I didn’t discover the cheat till Newhaven was reached. The girl thought to make me believe Sophia had planned the trick. I did believe it.’ He frowned down at the fan he still held. ‘You know what I’m like when I lose my cursed temper, Ju?’ Miss Marling shuddered dramatically. ‘Well, I did lose it. I forced the girl to come aboard the Albatross, and brought her over to France. At Dieppe, I discovered the mistake I’d made. She was no Sophia, but a lady, and virtuous to boot.’

‘I’ll be bound she enjoyed it prodigiously for all that,’ sighed Miss Marling. ‘I should.’

‘I dare say,’ said his lordship crushingly, ‘but this girl is not a minx. There’s nothing for it but to marry her. I want to do that as quickly as may be, and until I can arrange it I want you to befriend her.’

‘Vidal, I never, never thought that you would turn romantic!’ said Miss Marling. ‘Tell me her name at once!’

‘Challoner – Mary Challoner,’ replied the Marquis.

She fairly leaped up from the couch. ‘Mary! What, my own dear Mary, who left school and was never more heard of ? Dominic, you wicked, abominable creature! Where is she? If you’ve frightened her, I vow I’ll never speak to you again!’

‘Frightened her?’ he said. ‘Frightened Miss Challoner? Don’t you know her better than that? She’s the coolest woman that ever I met.’

‘Oh, do take me to her at once!’ begged his cousin. ‘I should like of all things to see her again. Where is she?’

‘At the Hôtel Avon. Listen to what I want you to do.’