The Duchess Diaries by Jillian Hunter

Author:Jillian Hunter
Language: fr
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historical
Publisher: Penguin Group, Inc.
Published: 2012-02-06T23:00:00+00:00

Sir Christopher Fenton, master at arms of a popular fencing salon, ordered his assistant to crack open a bottle of porter when he entered the school and saw Gideon practicing his lunges in the gallery. “What’s the matter?” he called out jovially. “Couldn’t think of another excuse to visit Miss Boscastle tonight?”

Gideon shot a wry look at his friend. “Let’s not use foils tonight. That way I can hurt you and pretend it’s an accident.”

“I was thinking the same thing,” Kit said. “Except I was going to hurt you so that you’d have a genuine reason for Charlotte’s sympathy. Women love to take care of reckless men like us.”

“I don’t think we need to go that far.”

Kit grinned. “You’ve missed several practices. I would have been worried about you if we hadn’t met at the park. Some of the lads thought you’d given up the sword.”

“What are you grinning about?” Gideon straightened from a lunge. “I’ll be giving up more than fencing practice after I’m married.”

“I don’t see anyone holding a pistol to your head,” Kit retorted.

“And the fact that you work for my betrothed’s cousin does not influence your opinion?”

“Well—”

“And,” Gideon continued, “the fact that Grayson used his influence so that a commoner like you is now Sir Christopher and not ordinary ‘Kit’ has not swayed your point of view?”

Kit rested back against the wall. “If this is how you behave when you’re away from the lady, I don’t think I want to see the pair of you together.”

Gideon ignored that. He wasn’t about to admit he would have given in to the temptation of visiting Charlotte again if he could think of an excuse.

Kit Fenton was a hard man to fool. He’d been orphaned at birth and brought up in a workhouse, where he’d lived on his wits and brawn until he had been adopted by a retired cavalry captain. It was Captain Fenton who had taken advantage of Kit’s skill with the sword to reform his ways.

Gideon suspected that there wasn’t much Kit hadn’t seen in his time. He’d turned around the lives of many young men attracted to ruinous adventures. He demanded that his pupils train hard and follow a code of honor.

Gideon was sure that he wouldn’t be the man he was now if not for Kit’s influence.

Even now his friend saw through him. “Your mind is not on your blade, Gideon. If you can’t pay attention, go for a walk.”

“I’m afraid of where I’ll end up again.”

“Then for God’s sake, go to her.”

“No.” Gideon shook his head in refusal. “I can’t do it again. I’ll appear to be desperate.” Which they both knew he was. “Did I tell you about my incident at the theater?”

“I saw the broadsheet.”

“The other man was her first love. He didn’t return her desire at the time.”

“And he does now?”

“To his misfortune, yes.”

“It’s only been what? One day? Three?”

“What can he do?” Gideon asked with the aristocratic negligence that seemed to define his nature.

“Challenge you?”

“Good. I’d enjoy that.”

Kit frowned, drawing up his shirtsleeves.

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