Page 67 of Taken By the Broken Duke
“Your words condemn you! I have been told that lies would be presented to me about Juliet's state of health. I know that you have been drugging her to keep her subdued and to enable you to have her packed off to an asylum. I will not allow you to get away with it, rogue!”
Horatio's eyes opened wide with horror. It was worse than he could possibly imagine. The Godwins were attempting the same unconscionable plan as they had with him. It was despicable.Evil.
He knocked the sword aside with his cane and strode for the door to the house. Hemsworth danced to his front with quick, graceful steps. The sword came back, this time hovering inches from his throat.
“Do not test me!” Hemsworth growled.
“You would strike down an unarmed man?” Horatio muttered. “Precisely the kind of cowardice I have come to expect from this family.”
“Nathan!” Hemsworth suddenly bellowed, his eyes never leaving Horatio's, “Your blade, man! Now!”
The man holding the horses unsheathed his blade and tossed it to Hemsworth, who shifted his own blade from right to left hand and deftly caught the flying sword without looking. With a blur of dexterous movement, he had reversed it and offered its hilt to Horatio.
“Spanish steel. Crafted by a master smith. A fine weapon. Now we are well matched.”
Memories flashed before Horatio's face of Duncan Kimberley as Horatio's pistol shot took him in the chest. It had been one of comical surprise and slowly dawning horror and fear. He'd had a brief moment to feel the terror of death. To know that his breaths could now be counted to the last.
A feeling of sick horror crept through Horatio that this man was issuing a similar challenge. A young Horatio had been unable to resist that challenge once it had been made. Had not been able to countenance the dishonor of refusal. Of being accused of cowardice.
Now, he knew the fallacy of that attitude. Now, he would have refused the challenge and accepted the moniker of coward. It would have meant nothing to him. But Juliet was inside and this man prevented him from reaching her. It was not a battle for his name. It was a battle to save Juliet.
“Very well. If you will not listen to reason,” Horatio grunted, accepting the sword and stepping back, testing its weight and balance in his hand.
At that moment, the door to Wetherby House flew open and a young woman ran out. She placed herself between the two combatants, dodging the second man who tried to intercept her.
“Stop this foolishness. This does not help Juliet!”
“I amtryingto protect her, Miss Edith,” Hemsworth glowered, “now, stand aside, please.”
“No! Lord Hemsworth, I will not. Do you not know who this is?” Edith demanded.
“TheDuke of Ravenscourt. A man of ill repute, who has involuntarily admitted to his part in a plot to marry Juliet against her will...”
“No, you fool!” Edith replied hotly, “This is the man whom she loves! The man she would choose to marry were it not for her fear of leaving a widower! You and he have the same objective. Juliet's ultimate happiness!”
Hemsworth's sword hand wavered. He frowned at Horatio who lowered his own sword.
“You…loveher too?” Horatio asked.
“I do,” Hemsworth said, proudly.
“But as a sister! Time for honesty, Lord Hemsworth. For Juliet's sake,” Edith said earnestly.
“Juliet and I made a pact of…secrecy, on certain matters,” Hemsworth said, quietly.
“Then keep your secret and admit to His Grace that you have no interest in Juliet as a woman. As a lover,” Edith flushed scarlet at the use of the word lover.
Hemsworth looked uncomfortable for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.
“It was to be a marriage of convenience. To save Juliet from the cruelty of her Aunt,” Hemsworth murmured, for some reason glancing aside at the man whom Horatio had assumed was a servant. That man moved to stand beside Hemsworth now and Horatio reappraised them. They stood as equals. He put the two men from his mind, there were more important matters. He reversed the blade and offered it to Hemsworth's companion.
“Then I do not believe I will need this. We appear to be on the same side, Lord Hemsworth.”
“We do. Then let us waste no more time.”
Hemsworth spun and strode to the open front door of the house. Lord Gilbert appeared, barring the way.
“Neither of you are welcome in this house,” he announced.
