Read Online Scandal at Dawn (A Regency Rhapsody Novella) by Elizabeth Cole - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Cole
Ads: Link
acting nobly, instead of scorning your birth and your class? Calwell, you’re
finally
doing the right thing.”
“I hope she thinks so. I don’t know how I’ll explain it to her.”
Robert merely smiled. “Get some rest. Leave everything to me. I’ll send a carriage round before dawn.”
* * * *
Emily was roused from her bed by the maid Alice, who was holding a candle.
“Miss, I’m so sorry. A boy just brought this letter round. He said it was a matter of life and death. He
insisted
I wake you. It’s not my fault!”
Emily blinked groggily. “A letter? Shouldn’t you have woken my father?”
“It’s addressed to
you
.” She handed Emily a folded note, sealed in red wax. Emily peered at it. She didn’t recognize the seal, or the handwriting.
“Shall I go, miss?”
“Wait for a moment. Let me see what it says.”
Emily opened the letter, intrigued by the unfamiliar, bold handwriting.
Dear Miss St George,
It may interest you and others close to you to know that Baron Norbury has been challenged to a duel by Jonathan Crombie, as the result of his discovering Crombie’s role in the spreading of certain rumors regarding a blind girl and a rake. They will fight this coming dawn at Hyde Park. I am confident of Norbury’s chances, but a prayer or two may not come amiss.
A Friend.
Emily laid the letter in her lap, trying to remain calm.
A prayer!
Emily was growing very sick of waiting patiently as things happened all around them.
“Alice,” she said firmly. “One half hour before sunrise, you will wake me and Olivia and help us dress. Tell Jack to find a cab to hire and have it waiting. Something tells me Papa wouldn’t approve the use of his own.”
She didn’t explain why she needed all this done, but there was only one type of event that tended to occur at dawn. Alice shivered. “Oh, you can’t possibly mean to…”
“With any luck, we’ll be back before Papa even wakes. No arguments.”
Emily sent a very unhappy maid back downstairs, and settled back in her bed. She knew her idea was madcap. But she also knew Olivia needed to be there, in order to truly understand what Norbury was doing for her.
* * * *
Hyde Park lay silent in the predawn hour, the tall trees and unkempt hedges blocking the view from the closest road. The loneliness of the spot made it ideal for settling arguments. The air was chilly, and mist still clung to the ground, making the deserted scene even more ghostly. Adrian barely noticed, but Robert carefully stepped on the slick grass, assessing it.
“Wet as if it rained all night,” he noted. “I hope you’ll keep that in mind.”
“Don’t fret about the dew, Griffin. I’ve fought dawn battles before.”
“This morning, though, is a bit different from those previous engagements, is it not?” Robert looked at him keenly.
“Why?”
“Because this isn’t some duel over an affair you conducted under the nose of a dotty noble. This time, you are the one fighting to preserve a lady’s honor. Am I right?”
“I fail to see how that will affect my swordsmanship.”
“Don’t play the fool. You love this girl. Don’t let your emotions control you now. Crombie can guess at the truth as well as I can. He’ll do what he can to make you lose your head.”
“Have I ever lost my head?” Adrian asked his friend.
“There’s a first time for everything,” Robert noted dryly.
The pair arrived at the avenue of stately elm trees where duels were customarily held just as another carriage pulled up. The man who got out bore a large leather case, marking him as the doctor. He paid the carriage driver, and then hurried toward Norbury and Griffin. “Gentlemen,” he said. “You appear to be friends, and I don’t see anyone else. Is it too much to hope your opponent has opted out?”
Griffin heard the clatter of yet another approaching vehicle at the end of the lane. “Sorry, sir. It appears the coward isn’t cowardly enough to not show up.”
“I’d
finally
doing the right thing.”
“I hope she thinks so. I don’t know how I’ll explain it to her.”
Robert merely smiled. “Get some rest. Leave everything to me. I’ll send a carriage round before dawn.”
* * * *
Emily was roused from her bed by the maid Alice, who was holding a candle.
“Miss, I’m so sorry. A boy just brought this letter round. He said it was a matter of life and death. He
insisted
I wake you. It’s not my fault!”
Emily blinked groggily. “A letter? Shouldn’t you have woken my father?”
“It’s addressed to
you
.” She handed Emily a folded note, sealed in red wax. Emily peered at it. She didn’t recognize the seal, or the handwriting.
“Shall I go, miss?”
“Wait for a moment. Let me see what it says.”
Emily opened the letter, intrigued by the unfamiliar, bold handwriting.
Dear Miss St George,
It may interest you and others close to you to know that Baron Norbury has been challenged to a duel by Jonathan Crombie, as the result of his discovering Crombie’s role in the spreading of certain rumors regarding a blind girl and a rake. They will fight this coming dawn at Hyde Park. I am confident of Norbury’s chances, but a prayer or two may not come amiss.
A Friend.
Emily laid the letter in her lap, trying to remain calm.
A prayer!
Emily was growing very sick of waiting patiently as things happened all around them.
“Alice,” she said firmly. “One half hour before sunrise, you will wake me and Olivia and help us dress. Tell Jack to find a cab to hire and have it waiting. Something tells me Papa wouldn’t approve the use of his own.”
She didn’t explain why she needed all this done, but there was only one type of event that tended to occur at dawn. Alice shivered. “Oh, you can’t possibly mean to…”
“With any luck, we’ll be back before Papa even wakes. No arguments.”
Emily sent a very unhappy maid back downstairs, and settled back in her bed. She knew her idea was madcap. But she also knew Olivia needed to be there, in order to truly understand what Norbury was doing for her.
* * * *
Hyde Park lay silent in the predawn hour, the tall trees and unkempt hedges blocking the view from the closest road. The loneliness of the spot made it ideal for settling arguments. The air was chilly, and mist still clung to the ground, making the deserted scene even more ghostly. Adrian barely noticed, but Robert carefully stepped on the slick grass, assessing it.
“Wet as if it rained all night,” he noted. “I hope you’ll keep that in mind.”
“Don’t fret about the dew, Griffin. I’ve fought dawn battles before.”
“This morning, though, is a bit different from those previous engagements, is it not?” Robert looked at him keenly.
“Why?”
“Because this isn’t some duel over an affair you conducted under the nose of a dotty noble. This time, you are the one fighting to preserve a lady’s honor. Am I right?”
“I fail to see how that will affect my swordsmanship.”
“Don’t play the fool. You love this girl. Don’t let your emotions control you now. Crombie can guess at the truth as well as I can. He’ll do what he can to make you lose your head.”
“Have I ever lost my head?” Adrian asked his friend.
“There’s a first time for everything,” Robert noted dryly.
The pair arrived at the avenue of stately elm trees where duels were customarily held just as another carriage pulled up. The man who got out bore a large leather case, marking him as the doctor. He paid the carriage driver, and then hurried toward Norbury and Griffin. “Gentlemen,” he said. “You appear to be friends, and I don’t see anyone else. Is it too much to hope your opponent has opted out?”
Griffin heard the clatter of yet another approaching vehicle at the end of the lane. “Sorry, sir. It appears the coward isn’t cowardly enough to not show up.”
“I’d
Similar Books
