"Regrettably, no," Dare drawled.
He found a cravat among the slovenly pile of discarded clothing and knelt beside the injured man, pressing the linen against the seeping wound.
"You'll live, more's the pity. As you said, I'm an accomplished swordsman, and I was very careful not to wound you fatally. But you've put me to the trouble of fetching a surgeon."
The door flew open and a man burst into the room, brandishing a pistol. He was a rough-looking character, despite the fact that he was dressed like a dandy. He took in the scene in a rapid glance: Julienne with her hand to her throat. Ivers wounded and half-naked on the floor, his shirt stained scarlet. And Dare with the blade of his swordstick covered with blood.
"Pardon, your lordship," he said, addressing Dare, "?but I heard a cry. I thought murder might be being done."
"Attempted murder, perhaps." Dare rose to his feet. "And you are…?"
"Henry Teal, in the employ of Lord Wycliff, sir. I've been keeping an eye on this scurvy gutter rat"-he shot a glance at Ivers-"so he didn't brush and lope. My partner has summoned Lord Wycliff. He should be here shortly."
"Excellent. Wycliff is just the man to sort out this mess." Dare moved toward the door. "Will you oblige me and keep an eye on our prisoner?"
"Aye, milord."
"And, Teal? We want him alive. If he tries to escape, please direct your bullet to a nonlethal portion of his anatomy."
Teal grinned. "Aye, milord."
Taking Julienne's arm, Dare escorted her from the room and shut the door behind him. Several groggy patrons garbed in nightshirts had gathered in the dimly lit corridor,
"A small mishap," Dare reassured them. "No cause for alarm."
He waited until they had returned to their own rooms before pulling Julienne into his embrace.
"I was afraid he would force your hand and make you kill him," she murmured against his shoulder.
"No. But he will pay for his crimes."
Julienne shuddered.
"It's over, love," Dare said softly. "You won't have to deal with Ivers ever again."
"Thank you. But… it isn't entirely over." She drew back to search his face, keeping her voice low and hushed when she asked, "Is Perrine really Caliban?"
"I think it likely. Certainly our mild-mannered house-guest has just become our chief suspect." Dare frowned, suddenly wondering how Julienne had come to be here. "How did you know where to find me?"
"Riddingham. I had asked him to keep a watch out for me, and he told me Ivers was staying at this hotel. I managed to hail a hackney, even at this late hour, but discovering the exact room was more difficult. The proprietor was reluctant to allow me up here." Her mouth curved sardonically. "I persuaded him that you had summoned me here. No doubt he thinks me your doxy."
Dare reached for her arm again. "Come, I will take you home."
Julienne shook her head. "I'm not leaving, Dare. Not when the matter of Caliban is still unresolved."
"You can't mean to involve yourself with hunting for him?"
"I already am involved. I am in the government's employ, remember?"
Dare hesitated.
"You will have to follow Perrine to France, won't you? Well, I am French. I think I can be useful in searching for him."
When his frown deepened, Julienne raised her chin. "You are not just going to send me away," she insisted.
"Well, I don't intend to stay out here in a public corridor debating it with you."
This time Julienne's smile held faint amusement. "Then I suggest you find the proprietor and hire a parlor so we may argue about it in private."