Page 2 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke
About thirty minutes later, William came back into the hall without his sister. William walked straight to his best friend, Lord James Pardew.
“Are you not going back to Meredith? She looks to be waiting for you. I have to commend you, she did look flushed when you left her,” Lord James said.
William laughed aloud, slapping his friend on his fore arm.
“I am not returning to her. Our venture together was only to last this dance. I’m more worried about my father. Regina had to leave now to attend to him.”
“And you wonder why everyone calls you a rake,” Lord James replied.
“I am still wondering,” William said, the dying twinkle of his previous laugh still lingering in his eyes.
William saw his friend’s gaze move behind him. He knew someone was about to interrupt their discussion because Lord James’ attention was taken by the incoming figure. He turned around just as the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos got to them.
“Where is the fair lady?” he asked William.
“She isn’t coming back for now. Her presence is permanently required in the house,” William replied.
“Is that the plea you made of me?” the Duke replied, visibly displeased at the turn of events.
“I did not tell that I would make sure she came back. I said she was required in the inner chambers. Your Grace, you seem to have made wrong inferences as to what I said,” William replied, his voice showing the strain of patience that he was exercising.
“William Marlow, you are not a man of honour. You break the customs and lead the lady out of the dancing hall, then you refuse to provide her allowance to come back,” the Duke said.
William was gravely insulted by the comments of the Duke. The man was refusing to understand what was going on and chose to be insulting for no obvious reason. He was not going to take that.
“Your Grace, you will be dismayed to find out that I will not take such an affront to my honour and the word of my mouth lying down. I request that you walk away or apologize for the statement that was just made,” William replied.
It was now obvious that other eyes were on them. The first dance had stopped and chatter was greatly reduced as many of the guests were watching the unfolding spectacle.
“I cannot and will not retract a fair statement. You are not a man of stable character, very whimsical and lacking in the carriage or methods of royalty,” the Duke continued.
William drew near to the Duke, saying his words directly into his face.
“This is not a request. This is the court of the Duke of Wellington, who happens to be my father. Everything you do is under my control here. You retract your statement or we settle things with an affair of honour,” replied William.
William was angry and refused to allow another man make ungentlemanly claims about his honour.
“An affair of honour it is, may the best man win,” replied the Duke before walking away in the direction of the door.
There was an audible gasp from most of the guests. William was surprised at the response of the Duke. He had never been beaten in a duel and had competed in many all over the country. The Duke was not going to beat him in one. William challenged the Duke on purpose to make the man bridle his rambling tongue but the Duke had been even more foolish than he expected; he had walked right into the den of the lions. William wondered how things got to this.
“Nothing, I said nothing wrong,” he repeated to himself.
“What did you say?” James said.
“I said I said nothing wrong. I remember everything I said when I was asking him to allow Regina go,” William replied.
James did not look convinced and shook his head in obvious dismay. He ruffled the golden curls of his hair and straightened out his black jacket. Easing his elbow from the hold of Julie Charlett with whom he had been discussing before the duel was called, he walked to his friend and spoke into his ear.
“That man is a Duke, William. Find a way to end this madness,” Lord James said.
“No one has to lose his life over a small personal squabble,” Lord James stated.
William nodded his head.
“You forget that the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos is renowned to be of great skill in swordplay. He will be better than the ordinary man,” William stated.
“Yes,” Lord James replied. “But you are younger, faster and you have practiced more lately. Remember that no matter the outcome, your father will not like this. This is meant to be a ball, not a court where people challenge themselves to duels.”
