Duelling for a Wife by Gemma Blackwood

Author:Gemma Blackwood
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2019-01-21T22:00:00+00:00

7

“I tell you it is a foolish bet. I would lay no money on it myself.”

“It is a sure thing, William! Why, everyone knows Lord Henbury’s wife can hardly stand to look at him,” James chuckled, writing his wager down in the betting book while his brother continued to object. Lord J. Marsden bets Mr Kingsley ten guineas that Lord George Washam receives a legitimate heir before Lord Henbury.

“You’re throwing your money away, Marsden,” smiled Kingsley, closing the book.

“And what if Lord Henbury discovers that you are gambling on his future in this way?” asked William, distressed.

“I’m sure he will find it very amusing!” James laughed. “Now, let’s see who can join us for a game of whist.”

“James, you have had quite enough fun this evening,” said William, with a wary eye on his brother’s depleted purse. “Tomorrow morning, you will be sorry you placed any bets at all. This behaviour doesn’t suit you. Now, it’s high time we went home. Don’t you think?”

“Spoilsport,” grumbled James, but he allowed his brother to wrestle him into his coat without too much fuss. They made their way down St James’s Street, quiet at this time of night, with the elder brother leaning heavily on the younger.

William was truly beginning to tire of this bachelor’s lifestyle. He did not like what it was doing to him, or to his brother. Gambling had been their father’s downfall, and in his right mind James was the first to speak out against it.

But the giddy excitement of their new membership at White’s was exactly the wrong tonic for his brother’s reckless character. James was enjoying their status a little too much.

William lifted his head to the stars as James tottered along on his arm and entered a state of dreamy wistfulness. Soon his life as a single man would be over. Soon his married life would begin.

“Marsden!”

“What now?” James spluttered, pushing himself up straight.

“Marsden!”

It was a deep and threatening growl which could not be ignored. William knew who it belonged to in an instant.

The Earl of Scarcliffe.

He turned around to see the earl and his brother, Lord Jonathan, hurrying towards them along the empty street.

“Gentlemen!” James began, waving enthusiastically. William had told him nothing of his adventures with Celia. He gave James’s arm a sharp tug to silence him.

Robert loomed over them with pale anger creasing his face. “Marsden, I demand satisfaction!”

“What on earth –” James began. William stepped in front of him.

“For what, may I ask?”

“You know very well! I will not sully my family’s name by speaking your foul deeds in public.”

“Then I am afraid I cannot answer you. I have done no wrong to you or your family.”

“Beast!” snarled Hart. “Our sister’s honour is at stake!”

“I’ll see you on Horton Heath this coming Thursday at ten o’clock,” said Robert calmly.

James began to splutter. “Horton Heath? That’s a duelling ground if ever I heard of one! William, tell me what’s going on? Surely this is all a misunderstanding?”

William stood firm before the earl and his brother.

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