Page 54 of The Scandal of the Deceived Duchess
“We will write a letter of apology…” Jake lifted a hand to forestall any protest. “And he, of course, will not accept.”
“Then what good is it then?”
“It putsyein a good light with Amelia. And that is the reasonyeare here, right?” Jake’s gaze bored into Jonathan. He needed him to understand what he had planned.
“I suppose.”
“Yesuppose.Yecan do better than that.Yeare here becauseyelove her and directly accepting this challenge makesyelook like a scoundrel.Yeare a trained seaman and a soldier.Yehave fought in the war and commanded a ship. And what has this man done in that realm? Diddlysquat…that’s what. Ifyedo shoot him, everyone will say that ye are a killer because ofyercredentials as a soldier. With a letter of apology and some other careful tactics I have in mind,yeavoid all of that.”
Jonathan eyed his friend with heightened respect.Jake is right. I am a trained killer and Sir Thomas, though possibly a good shot, is a businessman. He has no chance against a seasoned veteran. I will be vilified if I win.“You mean they will say that I tried to apologize, and still Sir Thomas insisted we continue with the duel?”
“Precisely,” said Jake, feeling extremely pleased with himself. “We will of course drag this on for a while, making doubly sure that it is clear thatyesawyerculpability in the matter, and offered suitable recompense for the alleged transgression against Sir Thomas’s person.”
“How do you mean?” asked Jonathan, becoming more and more intrigued by the minute.
“After the written apology, I will approach his second in person, and we will try to negotiate a suitable outcome.Yewill be very forthcoming withyerapology and I assume he will not,” said Jake.
“How can you be so sure that everything will play out in just the way you envisage?” asked Jonathan, feeling the first slivers of doubt creeping up his spine.
“Didyesee the man? He was fuming. He would not even care ifyewere a trained assassin…he wants his satisfaction and that’s it. Think about it;yeruined everything for him. His former son-in-law was the son of a duke andyeare an American. Now, he most probably will become a laughingstock because of this whole cockup.”
“Thank you for that.” Jonathan gulped as realization dawned on him. “What will happen to Amelia?” He already knew the answer, but he needed to hear it from someone else.
“She will be cold-shouldered throughout so-called polite society in these parts no matter the outcome.” Jake felt for his friend. He hated to tell him this. “What doyethink Lord Templeton French is going to do now? He won’t stand idly by. Such disgrace against his honor is too much for that Nancy Boy aristocrat: his betrothed eloping with an American – the shame is too great. And what about Amelia’s father?”
“What about him?”
“He has to fightyeto maintain his family’s honor. This will be all over the newspapers in no time. The English love nothing more than a good bit of scandal.”
Jonathan sighed. Jake was right. All he had to do was defend his honor by standing before a man with a gun – it might do something to protect Amelia in some way. He was not afraid; he had done it countless times before and this would be no different. However, for Amelia, it would be societal oblivion. There was no way out for her. Lord Templeton French was probably already spreading the word that his former betrothed was a dishonorable harlot for breaking her word.
“Yegotta win,” said Jake, coming back from the liquor cabinet. “That would solve a lot,” he concluded with a hearty swig of the fiery liquid.
Jonathan arched his eyebrows. “Win…” He took a moment to think it through. “I see what you are implying. If I win, I take her home with me and her reputation would be intact…at least in the United States, it would be.”
“Precisely. Back home they would applaudyefor saving a woman from such a fate.” He sniggered. “And for beating an English nobleman.”
“All right, Jake. We have some planning to do,” said Jonathan, feeling slightly more animated about everything.
“That’s the spirit, my friend. Let’s start with the letter of apology that I will deliver to Sir Thomas’s second on the morrow.”
* * *
“Didyesee him, Amelia?” whispered Anna into her mistress’s ear, while she prepared her for bed. It was the only time in the day that they really got to be alone together. And she was dying for some news on Jake. Amelia had been morose for the rest of the day since her father’s challenge. She had hardly spoken a word, but Anna could hold back no longer.
Amelia was still deep in thought. The day had taken on quite an unexpected turn. One moment, she was walking in Hyde Park with her mother and the unspeakable Lord Templeton French, and the very next she stood in the hall staring into the blue eyes of the man she loved. How she had prayed for that day she had never expected would come. And yet it had – he was here – in London, breathing the same air as she was.
What would happen now? Her father had challenged Jonathan to a duel. Who would kill whom? It was the vilest situation imaginable. Amelia hardly had any time to spare a second thought for the inevitable condemnation of her reputation by her boorish former fiancé. By now, news of the annulment and the reason for it had most probably reached every person in polite society – she was finished. If Jonathan succumbed as well, Amelia would spend the rest of her life a spinster for no man would risk his reputation by marrying her.
Amelia placed her head in her hands. She felt like weeping but she couldn’t. Jonathan was here. How could she be sad no matter her dilemma? She lifted her head and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked beautiful despite the heavy burden weighing on her shoulders. But more importantly, she looked strong. Seeing both Jonathan and Jake had proven to her that love was powerful, nothing could hold it back when it was set free.
“Amelia…”
“Oh, dear Anna, I am so sorry; I was just lost in thought. So much has happened that I don’t know where to begin.”
“I did not mean to pry…”
Amelia removed Anna’s hand that had been brushing her hair from her head and held it tightly. “You have every right to know what is going on as I do. I am sorry for being so distant today. It was just that seeing Jonathan again…”
