Duchess by Chance (31 page)

“Please,” he added.
 

“Of course she will,” Lady Dunbar snapped, giving the Dowager Duchess a shove in the back.

“Get up, Beatrice! We were just saying last night that we never get to dance anymore, and here you have an invitation from one of the most handsome men in the room.” Lady Fairlie winked at Daniel.

“You flatter me, Lady Fairlie.” Daniel bowed deeply. Dear God, he couldn’t remember the last time he had blushed in company, yet his grandmother’s cronies could always make him feel like he was wet behind the ears.
 

“I want to thank you, Grandmother,” Daniel said as he gently steered her around the room seconds later. He wondered if she was nervous, because in truth he had not seen her dance in many years. “For this night, for helping Eva, but most of all for being the one constant in my life, the only person I could truly rely on,” Daniel added, realizing that it was, indeed, the truth. Shaking his head, he wondered if loving Eva was making him soft.

“I am proud of you, Grandson, proud of what you have become.”

Was that a tremor in her voice?

“But I will not be happy until you produce a great grandchild!”

Smiling over her head, he met his wife’s gaze and held it for several seconds before her partner turned her away. He would keep their secret for a while longer.

The night for Eva was both pleasure and pain. Pleasure at her acceptance and success with the hundreds of guests, pleasure at her husband’s and grandmother’s obvious pride in her, but dear Lord, her feet hurt and she was exhausted. Her slippers were far too tight and if she was going to get through the entire evening she would need to change them and soon. Realizing supper was only a few dances away, Eva knew she had to make her move now.
 

“If you will excuse me, Claire, I must see to something.”

“Shall I come with you?”

“No. I can mange and will return shortly.”

Eva skirted the room and slipped out of the ballroom.
 

“May I be of assistance, your Grace?”

Waving her hand vaguely at the footman who had appeared before her, Eva shook her head and walked toward the stairs. “I will return shortly,” she added over her shoulder as she started to climb.

Eva released a breath as the quiet enveloped her. She could still hear the music and soft rumble of voices but it was nice to be on her own. Daniel would not like that she had left the ballroom unescorted, but it was only briefly and she would have returned before he noticed her absence. Walking down several long hallways, she finally found her room. A lamp had been lit and the curtains drawn. Eva looked longingly at the bed but knew it would be some time before she could lie upon it. Kicking off her slippers, she sighed as her cramped toes stopped aching. Molly had packed several pairs of slippers in case the first pair was ruined in some way. At least Furban wasn’t here so she didn’t have to worry about his little teeth gnawing on the satin. Unfortunately, it was Daniel’s clothing and footwear that he chose to drag around the house, not hers. Yesterday, she had watched as he ran past, followed by a scowling valet, with one of Daniel’s neckties in his mouth.
 

“I am most pleased to have finally found you alone, your Grace.”

Eva watched in horror as Gilbert Huxley emerged from behind the curtains and walked toward her.

“I would ask you to leave this room at once, Lord Huxley!”
 

“I think not, your Grace. When I leave, you will be accompanying me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I would never leave my own ball.” Eva was pleased at how calm her voice sounded when inside her chest, her heart was thumping painfully.

“I didn’t say it would be voluntary, Berengaria. And much as I want to throw you upon that bed and rut you until you scream, we must leave now before your husband appears.”
 

Eva felt the color drain from her face. “He will kill you for this.”

“He will have to catch me first and with all the noise going on below, I fear we shall be well away from here before he even notices you’re missing.”

“No!” I will never leave with you,” Eva began edging toward the door.

“Unfortunately you will have little choice in the matter, my dear.”

Eva watched him walk toward her as one would a venomous snake. “Why are you doing this?”
 

“Because you have always belonged to me and I should never have listened to your father when I wanted to take your innocence. The duke may have been your first lover, Berengaria, but I will be your last.”

“No!” She screamed as he lunged for her – she heard her bodice rip as his hands caught the edge. Raking her nails down his cheek, Eva fought with everything she had. Lifting her leg, she tried to knee him in the groin; however, he was too quick and twisted his hips.
 

“You won’t escape me, Berengaria!”

She saw the cloth in his hands and knew his intent was to drug her - in seconds she would be unconscious. Stomping down with her foot she then jabbed her fist into his stomach. His grip slackened as the air whooshed from his body, and that gave her enough time to run. He blocked her way to the door, so instead, she ran around the bed.
 

“If you touch me again, I will kill you!”

“You are stronger than you were, Berengaria. But that only makes me more determined.”

“Eva!
 

She watched as the door opened and Daniel charged into the room. Horrified, she then saw Gilbert Huxley pull a wicked looking sword from his belt.

In one glance her husband took in her ripped bodice and the nail marks down Huxley’s cheek.
 

“You’ll die for this.”

“No, Daniel, do not fight him, I beg of you!”

“What the hell is going on?” Simon bellowed, running into the room seconds later, followed by a footman.

“This room is getting crowded,” Huxley said, swishing his blade from side to side, his eyes never leaving Daniel. “Your wife is delectable, Stratton. I wish I had time to really taste her,” he added.

“Did he attempt to abduct you?” Daniel bent to pick up the piece of cloth Huxley had tried to smother Eva with.

“Daniel, please - ”

“Eva, tell me the truth!”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“You.” He pointed to the footman. “Two doors to the left from here, you will find my late grandfather’s blade. Bring it to me.”

“You cannot fight in this room, Daniel. It is not big enough,” Simon said.

“Open those doors. They lead to a larger, private balcony. We will fight there.”

“Daniel, no!” Eva cried.

“Simon, take care of Eva.”

She could feel his anger. It filled every corner of the room, yet he would not look at her. Gilbert Huxley was his sole focus. His words were clipped; his body, tense - ready to strike. Gone was her amiable husband, in his place a cold, hard man whom she barely recognized. Never had she been so scared in her entire life. “Daniel,” she whispered, taking a step toward him.

“Simon, take Eva from the room at once!” 
           
“No. I will not go!”

“Madam, you will do as I say,” he said in cold, clipped tones.

“I will not!” Eva dragged a blanket off the bed to cover herself.

Simon walked to the glass doors, which led to the balcony and threw them open.

“I have the sword, your Grace.”
 

Daniel wrenched off his coat and gloves then took the blade from the servant. “Outside,” he said with a nod of his head to Huxley.

Eva watched an evil smile tilt the corners of Gilbert Huxley’s mouth as he backed toward the doors and then slipped outside. Silence filled the room, the only sound the swishing of Daniel’s blade.

“If something should happen to me this night, make sure Eva is cared for and kept away from her family,” Daniel said to Simon. “She is with child. I will ask you to visit my solicitor and make the necessary changes.”

Dear God, he was discussing her in such a calculated manner - as if she were not standing right there, only a few feet from him.

“He has the rest of the details in my will.”
 

“No!” Eva cried, running around the bed toward him. He caught her and briefly held her close. “You will not leave me, Daniel.”

“Never doubt my love for you, Eva.”
 

“Stop him!” Eva tried to hold him as he pushed her toward Simon.

“Eva, he must do this, and in order for him to win, he must focus solely on Huxley. Do you understand?”

Eva stilled, as if all the air had been sucked from her lungs. Looking up into Simon’s eyes, she realized no one could stop the fight and that either Huxley or Daniel would die this night. “I cannot lose him.”

“He’s good, Eva.” Simon placed his hands on her shoulders. “So is Huxley. However, I believe Daniel can take him if he fights with his head.”

“Can he?” she whispered. “I-I mean will he fight with his head?”

Simon nodded. “As long as he has no distractions.”

Eva gulped a deep breath and then nodded. It was obvious she could be a distraction.

“I will not distract him, b-but I will not leave. If my husband is injured, I wish to be here to tend him.”

“All right.” Simon took her hand and followed Daniel outside.

Light from the room lit the small balcony and the moon sat high in the night sky illuminating both men as Simon and Eva joined them. She bit her lip to keep herself from calling out as she saw them facing each other. Simon clenched his fingers around her slender ones and she was glad of their strength at that moment, as her knees were struggling to hold her upright.

“Ready to die, Stratton?”

“Even if you win tonight, Huxley, you will never get your hands on my wife. She is protected now from scum like you. And tonight I will extract long overdue revenge for the part you have played in tormenting her. No one frightens my wife and lives to see another day.”
 

“En garde!”
 

Eva shivered at the first clash of steel, the sound so loud in the night air. The music from the ballroom below drifted toward them, the happy sound so at odds with what they were watching. She felt a wave of hysteria swell up in her throat.
 

“Focus, Daniel,” Simon said softly.

They seemed to be locked in some sort of deadly dance for several seconds, each circling the other, gauging weakness, looking for opportunity. She didn’t want to watch but could not draw her eyes from the scene. Huxley lunged and blood appeared on Daniel’s arm. Daniel lunged and Huxley retreated and each time Eva felt as if a fist was clenching tighter around her heart.

“Have faith in him, Eva.” Simon tightened the grip on her fingers, his eyes never leaving the two men.

They were both fit. Huxley was the shorter, yet he was fast, his movements quick and concise. Daniel’s moves were elegant and seemed to flow more easily from one to the other.
 

“Keep moving, Daniel.” Simon’s voice sounded calm when, in fact, he was far from it. Next to him, Eva could feel the tension in his body.

She didn’t know how long the fight had been going on; time seemed to stand still. The night air was now filled with the harsh breaths of both men as they continued in their deadly combat. Occasionally, a burst of laughter drifted upwards from below.

“Your wife has beautiful breasts,” Huxley rasped.

Eva held her breath as Daniel lunged, his feet leaping forward. His blade sliced through Huxley’s shirt and into his side. Huxley gasped and dropped his sword as the front of his shirt was swiftly drenched in blood.
 

Simon stepped forward, pushing Eva to one side. She gripped the stone balcony, watching as both men reached for the fallen man.

 
“Kill me, you bastard. For God’s sake put me out of my misery!” Huxley cried.

“Simon, is that footman still here?”

“I am, your Grace.” The man materialized out of the shadows.

“Have my coach brought around to the back entrance and say not one word of this to anyone,” Daniel ordered.

“At once, your Grace.”

Daniel tried to ease his breathing as he spoke. “Eva, get another blanket from the bed,” he said without looking at her. If he did, he would have to touch her, pull her into his arms and hold her and never let her go. He couldn’t allow himself to do that until he had the matter of Huxley cleared away. Only then would he take her back to their house and lock the bedroom door.

“I have the blanket,” Eva said a short while later. He noted she had pulled on a cloak over her torn dress.

“Good girl. Now lay it over him and then go to the steps along the end and see if the carriage has arrived.
 

“Where are you taking him, Daniel?” Simon said, still holding his hand on Huxley’s injury.

“Is the Imperial still in port?”

“Aye, I believe so,” Simon nodded.