Page 52 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
“It is you that is late,” said Jonathan, closing the gap that separated them. He took Amelia’s hands in his. “Do you still love me, Amelia? If yes, tell them, for if being parted from me was as hard for you as it was for me, then we have shared the same pain. Not a day went by that I did not think of you. To hold your hands again is the most special gift.”
A tear escaped Amelia’s eye and rolled down her cheek. Her lips quivered. For a heartbeat, she was lost for words. It was all too wonderful having him standing before her and holding her hands. “I never stopped loving you,” she said at last.
“What! You can’t possibly have feelings for this man,” Amelia’s mother puffed her cheeks like a bullfrog in the mating season, “You are already betrothed to Lord Templeton French.” She started flapping her hands in front of her face erratically. “Think of the scandal; oh, I can’t bear it. Do you want to kill your own mother, Amelia?”
Her daughter whirled around to face her mother. “You think everything is about you, Mother. But it isn’t. I happen to love this man and not the insufferable bore you would have me marry. Captain Jonathan Mitchell is an honorable man and a gentleman.”
“Commodore Mitchell,” corrected Jake, grinning. He couldn’t help looking about furtively in the hope of obtaining a glimpse of Anna.
Amelia smiled at him, then she returned her scrutiny to Jonathan. “Commodore is it?” Her eyes twinkled in just the way Jonathan remembered. He couldn’t help a smile appearing on his face despite the awkwardness of the situation.
“I was promoted in April.”
“Very impressive.” The two of them acted as if they were the only two people in the hall. The love they shared for one another had created that impenetrable bubble that only lovers shared. She gazed into his deep blue eyes that reminded her of the cerulean sky above Fair Weather Heaths’. They drew her in like magnets. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him. But before Jonathan could get any closer, their bubble was burst for them.
“You have feelings for this man. I can see it,” bit Lord Templeton French. “You, ma’am, are a harlot of the lowest kind. Fancy I might have…”
Jonathan punched him in the face before he could continue with his insults. The thwacking sound echoed throughout the large hallway. “No man speaks to the woman I love like that,” he hissed between clenched teeth, his bulk almost filling the entire hallway.
Lord Templeton French staggered back, nearly knocking the lady of the house over. He held his bleeding nose in his hand. “You, sir, are a rogue for preying on innocent women. I’d wager Amelia is not the first woman that was to be engaged that you seduced.” He flinched when he saw the big American with the deep baritone voice make to move closer still. His gaze hastily darted to the front door in search of the fastest avenue of escape.
Amelia held Jonathan before he could attack Lord Templeton French for the second time. “From what I heard about your person and from what I have witnessed here today…you, sir, are a coward,” said Jonathan.
“Such an insult cannot go unanswered.” Sir Thomas stepped between Lord Templeton French and Jonathan. “You should demand satisfaction, my lord,” he said to Airey.
“I, I…no I will not. I have had just about enough of all of this. Keep the woman. She is not worth my life,” said Lord Templeton French, his lips shivering.
Jonathan had seen cowardly men before, but none of them had held a candle on this cowardly aristocrat. Rear Admiral Cockburn had been exactly right in his description of him. He shook his head in disgust when Lord Templeton French spun on his feet and marched toward the door. He was content that he did not have to kill Airey no matter how craven his behavior but seeing a so-called gentleman do absolutely nothing to protect his honor and fight for his right to keep his woman was just about the lowest of the low.
“My lord, my lord, you mustn’t leave. This man has insulted you!” Sir Thomas said in an attempt to stop the fleeing nobleman.
“Airey, you cannot leave us,” said Amelia’s mother almost crying. All of her grand plans of societal elevation went up in smoke before her very eyes. To her, it was a fate more painful than death. She feared that after this day, the Carlyle family would be ostracized and shunned.
After Lord Templeton French had made good on his escape, Sir Thomas turned around to face Jonathan. His gaze seeped anger. In contrast to his former son-in-law, this man was no coward. “Unlike the insipid and spineless lord, I take my honor seriously. I challenge you, Sir, to a duel.”
“I meant no offense, Sir Thomas.” Jonathan said lifting his hands. “I do not wish to fight you. I only wanted to be reunited with the woman I love,” he indicated discreetly with his hand to Amelia, “and I think you heard what your daughter said.”
Sir Thomas’s cheeks inflated. “She has no say in the matter. This is between you and me now.” He inhaled again. “You insult my house, Sir…and my family by coming here. You feigned good intentions by asking for my daughter’s hand in marriage even though you had the gall to court her without my permission. It is an outrage. No gentleman of any standing would resort to such clandestine tactics.”
“We were in America; I had no chance to ask for your permission,” said Jonathan, feeling the situation slipping more and more from his grasp.
“You used your position as my daughter’s captor to inveigle your way into her heart and for that I demand satisfaction.” Sir Thomas said. His face had turned the color of a tomato.
“No Father, you cannot do this;” beseeched Amelia. “I love this man.”
Her father blatantly ignored her. “Be so kind as to supply my butler with the address of your lodgings in the city so that I may provide you with the name of my second. As I am the one issuing the challenge, you may choose the weapons, the time and the place of the duel. Please be so kind as to provide all of that to me in writing by the late afternoon…good day, Sir.” Sir Thomas grabbed his daughter by the arm and guided her away. His wife, who was still in shock, followed quickly after them.
“Sir,” said the butler, handing Jonathan quill and paper. “For your address,” he prompted when he saw the confusion play on his face.
Jonathan had no choice but adhere to the butler’s request. Not doing so would invite the title of cowardice to his name, and even worse, he would never be able to see Amelia again. He was certain that her father and mother would keep a close eye on her now that they knew of his existence.
He scribbled his address and handed it back to the waiting butler. For one or another reason, Jonathan stared at him for a few heartbeats. The man was absolutely emotionless. The expression on his face was the epitome of passivity. It was like gazing at a wall.
“Come on, Jake, let’s get out of here,” he said after he had had enough of Sir Thomas’s home.
The two men took their coats from the waiting footmen and vacated the house. Somehow, he had expected his reunion with Amelia to have played out differently. Instead of fighting Lord Templeton French, he would face her father.God, how will I get myself out of that one?he thought, turning onto South Audley Street.
Chapter 26
