Read Online Scandal at Dawn (A Regency Rhapsody Novella) by Elizabeth Cole - Free Book Online Page A

hunt him down if he tried to run,” Adrian added grimly.
    The surgeon looked at him more carefully. “I take it you initiated this. Do you intend to kill your opponent?”
    “Fear not, doctor. I just want to satisfy the demands of honor. Crombie can live, as long as he loses.”
    The surgeon’s lips twisted. “I see.” He plainly didn’t approve of the whole proceeding.
    By that time, Crombie emerged from his carriage and advanced down the lane, dressed in the same clothes as last night. In fact, he didn’t look as if he’d slept a wink. The only thing to suggest he’d done any planning was that he had picked up a sword somewhere along the way.
    His second, the man he’d called Eberling, walked beside him, now stone cold sober. “Griffin. Lord Norbury. I’m not sure we’ve ever actually been introduced,” he said. “I’m Derek, Lord Eberling. I don’t suppose there’s any way to stop this.”
    Adrian nodded. “An abject public apology from Crombie, addressed to Miss Blake and her uncle, would be acceptable. He’d also have to give up membership in all his current clubs.”
    “Go hang, Norbury,” Crombie growled as soon as he heard the demands. “I told some stories, that’s all. Whoever would have thought you would turn into a prude?”
    “If the stories were only about me, we wouldn’t be here. Your mistake was dragging Miss Blake’s name into the mud.”
    “Poor innocent Miss Blake! She can’t be that innocent, if she knows you. How’s the blind chit in bed, Norbury?”
    “For the love of God, Crom!” said Eberling, disgusted by the insult.
    Robert stopped Adrian from attacking Crombie only by throwing himself in between the two men. “You’ve already agreed to fight a civilized duel!” He then glared at Adrian. “Calm
down
,” he warned in a low voice.
    “I guess we’re not going to walk away after that remark,” Eberling sighed. He looked around. “Let’s set the rules.”
    Robert nodded. “One sword for each man. No other weapons allowed. The duel will continue until first blood is drawn. The man who draws first blood is the winner. The loser will immediately drop his sword, and the fight will end. Acceptable?”
    Robert looked at the small circle of men, from the surgeon’s somber face, to Crombie and Adrian, both furious, and finally to Eberling, who nodded in assent. “No objections.”
    “Very well,” Griffin said. “Let’s begin.”
    Adrian and Crombie took their places opposite each other in the clearing. At a word from Robert, both men drew thin fencing swords. Crombie looked distinctly less adept with his, trying several grips before settling on one he could maintain. Adrian watched in amusement, refraining from making a rude innuendo about Crombie’s dubious skill at swordplay. He figured defeating the man in a fair fight would be more rewarding. At Eberling’s command, they dropped to the
en garde
position, and the duel began.
    Adrian knew he had the advantage. He was the better swordsman, he had rest, and he was on the side of
right
, damn it.
    Crombie, by his expression, knew it too. He hovered just out of range of Adrian’s sword, obviously hoping to tire his opponent and then trick him into making a mistake. Adrian had no intention of letting the fight go that long.
    He darted forward suddenly, but encountered only air as Crombie lurched out the way.
    “Not as impressive as I’d been told,” Crombie sneered. “But you’re a lover, not a fighter.”
    “You’d best focus on my reputation as a fighter,” Adrian warned him angrily. He attacked again, but Crombie scurried back quickly, ending up several paces away.
    The man in black smiled, showing shark teeth. “We’ll see. If you love like you fight, no wonder you need to resort to courting cripples.” He ducked another thrust of Adrian’s blade.
    Adrian knew Crombie was goading him, but he couldn’t stop his rage from boiling up. He hated the idea of Crombie even thinking Olivia’s name.
    He