“Yes,” he said through gritted teeth.
“See, that was not so difficult, was it?” Ash taunted.
Deering glared daggers at him. “Is my admission adequate?”
“Not quite. I want two signed copies of your confession to keep as insurance—one for myself and one for Lord Pelham,” Ash said before addressing Pelham. “I would ask that you keep his account confidential for the time being, my lord.”
Pelham frowned. “You will let his contemptible deeds go unpunished?”
“I did not say that precisely. I am not quite so noble. No, I want three more things from Deering in exchange for our silence.” He turned back to the viscount. “Next, you will sign over the stallion’s deed of sale to Miss Collyer. Then you will make a public apology to her—today, in writing—withdrawing the charges you made two years ago against her father and absolving him of all suspicion of cheating. I want to see a retraction in this evening’s newspapers.”
“Very well,” Deering said grimly.
“And lastly, by week’s end, you will take an extended trip to the continent and not show your face in England for the next decade.”
When his final condition sank in, Deering erupted, practically sputtering in outrage. “You cannot expect me to leave my home!”
Ash smiled at his vehemence. “It is entirely your decision, but if you remain, your dishonor will become universally known. I daresay you will be hounded out of England, and even your closest friends will disavow you.”
“Damn you, Beaufort!”
“Protest all you like, but you should be grateful that I am not pressing to have you arrested. Your employees will shortly be on their way to jail, where they will be charged with assault on a peer.”
Traherne interjected with a trace of humor, “You should take his advice and go abroad for an indefinite stay, Deering.”
When the viscount snarled like a cornered animal, Ash’s smile broadened to bare his own teeth. “Buck up, Rupert. I am offering you a chance to avoid total disgrace. But if you should attempt anything like this ever again … if you dare act in any manner whatsoever against Miss Collyer, I promise I will hunt you down and kill you, do I make myself clear?”
His tone was amiable, but there was a deadly glint in his eyes. Pelham looked a trifle shocked at such plain speaking, but Deering apparently understood that Ash’s threat was serious. He also knew that he had no choice and that he’d been soundly beaten.
“Perfectly clear,” he growled, nearly vibrating with rage.
He cast a scathing glance at Maura then, his fury barely contained. She could feel his desire to punish her for his defeat and almost recoiled at the hatred in his eyes.
“This is all your doing,” he complained bitterly.
Ash took a protective step towa
rd her, but Maura raised a hand to forestall him.
“You brought your banishment on yourself, Lord Deering,” she replied defiantly. “You have only yourself to blame.”
Wheeling, the viscount marched over to his waiting carriage and flung himself inside. As the vehicle drove away, Ash thanked Lord Pelham for his participation and his discretion. Then Pelham took his leave also, all the while shaking his head in incredulous disgust.
Traherne’s reaction was more positive. His eyes gleaming with appreciation, he clapped Ash on the shoulder. “Well done, cousin. And congratulations, Miss Collyer, on the imminent restoration of your father’s reputation. This is cause for celebration. I say that when we return home, we gather the family to raise a toast to your success.”
Ash answered for her. “Unfortunately, any celebration will have to wait until later, since I must lay charges against those fine fellows.” With his head, he indicated the bound thugs. “The wagon is full, however, so if you’ll give me a ride to Old Bailey, Quinn, I’ll send Miss Collyer home in my coach. There is no need to expose her to the criminal elements she would find there.”
“I would be happy to,” Traherne agreed.
“My thanks … and will you also allow me a moment of privacy with her?”
“Certainly.” Ash’s cousin glanced up at the crowd on the hillside. “I shall inform the spectators that the duel has been canceled. They will be sorely disappointed to be deprived of their entertainment.”
Traherne strode away then, leaving Ash alone with Maura. She stood there speechless, unable to move as she realized the import of what had just happened. She felt stunned by Deering’s confession, almost numb with euphoria.
“I cannot believe it,” she whispered before her voice cracked.
When she lowered her head and covered her face with her hands, Ash caught her wrists and made her look at him. She could scarcely see him through her blur of tears, but she could tell his expression showed concern as he peered down at her.