Camberly did not answer. Instead, he changed the subject by catching Soren’s arm. “The park is this way,” he said. The side path led them to an expanse of green lawn. Fog drifted like dragon’s breath through the clearing.
Under the branches of a spreading oak, Bainhurst and his second waited along with a few men interested enough in the contest to disturb their sleep.
Soren began mentally preparing himself for the coming venture, only to be interrupted by the duke’s weak logic. “She would be better off without him.”
“We all would. That doesn’t mean you ignore the vows made before man and God.”
“Says the man who has challenged him to a duel.”
“Hechallenged me.” Soren stopped when they were some twenty feet from the other men. He faced Camberly. “And if I don’t do this, then all the world will believe I dishonored Cassandra Holwell. I’ll be damned if I let that happen.” He began tugging at the knot in his neck cloth.
“But didn’t I hear people say last night that you proposed marriage to her? And she turned you down?”
“As is her right.” He handed his neck cloth to Camberly. “Besides, she didn’t say no. She said she couldn’t. Her father is behind that decision.”
“She hasn’t acted all that interested in you when I’ve been around the two of you.”
That statement annoyed Soren. He removed his jacket and handed it to the duke. “Cass is an independent thinker. She has queer notions.”
“Such as?”
“She reads prodigiously.”
Camberly shrugged. “I believe everyone should read prodigiously.”
“You are not female. Cass will have an idea in her head and then she is hard to dissuade once she has reasoned her way into it.”
“Such as her distaste for dueling?”
“Exactly.”
“Then you had best be ready because here she comes now.”
Camberly was looking past Soren toward the house—and there she was, making her way toward them, her whole being bristling with indignation. She had dressed hastily and had not appeared to have touched her hair. Her braid swung with her determination. Soren had no doubt she intended to the stop the duel.
Well, Cass-an-drrraaa was about to learn she could not always have her way. He reached for the hilt of the sword Camberly held in its scabbard and pulled it out. He hadn’t bothered removing his boots for this match. He didn’t expect the swordfight to last long.
The sharpened blade caught the first rays of the morning’s sun. “Come, Bainhurst,” he called. “Let’s do this.” In an aside to Camberly, he said, “Make certain she stays out the way.” He walked to the flat section of field in front to wait for his opponent.
Bainhurst was a surly soul on a good day. This morning, he appeared positively grim. Mayhap someone had mentioned that Soren was more fighter than gentleman. That would work in Soren’s favor.
“What is she doing here?” Bainhurst said by way of greeting, nodding in Cass’s direction.
“Observing,” Soren said. “Don’t worry. The duke will stop her.”
“I do not believe Camberly is a match against the energy of her nature,” Bainhurst rightly suggested.
Soren sliced the air a few times with his sword. “Then we’d best begin.”
A germ of an idea had begun to form in his mind, and he liked it. He had a trick of his own to play, one that would serve both Bainhurst and himself.
Cassandra knew Soren had seen her approaching. He’d looked right at her. He also knew what she was about. However, instead of waiting, he’d stepped out into the dueling field.
One of the things that had always annoyed her was how men, including her father, dismissed her very right concerns for the flimsiest of reasons. Her father’s favorite response was that she didn’t understand a man’s world and should keep her opinions and her questions to herself.
Well, she had every right to interfere now; when someone was fighting a duel using her name, then it was her concern.
The Duke of Camberly approached her. She held up a hand. “Do not come an inch closer, Your Grace. I willrunover you.”
