Part 40 (2/2)
”Excellent idea, Angeline,” Margaret said.
The marquess's eyes gleamed. ”Clever, Lady Angeline.
”Well, I'm for bed,” the marquess said. ”It has been a long day.”
Everyone else agreed. Soon, Angeline and Colin found themselves alone.
”If I didn't know better, I would think they planned this,” Angeline said.
He cupped her face. ”I'm sorry for the disturbing evening.”
”We weathered it,” she said.
He kissed her gently. ”I have business in London, and I leave tomorrow.”
Angeline laid her head on his shoulder. ”You're planning to call him out.”
”Something must be done,” Colin said.
She was so afraid of losing him. ”He may not even be there,” she said.
”Bellingham sent word. He is luring him.”
”Oh, G.o.d,” she said.
He wrapped his arms around her. ”You've nothing to worry about,” he said. ”All the plans are in place.”
”What if something goes wrong?” she said.
”It won't,” he said.
”No, Colin. It's not worth risking your life. Do you know what it would do to me if something happened to you?”
”I know this is hard, Angeline, but I promise that all will be well very soon. I won't risk my life. I am my father's only heir, after all, and I do want to live. There is so much I wish to share with you. When I return, I will be expecting your kisses.”
”Please be careful. I could not bear losing you.”
”All will be well,” he said. ”I promise.”
She looked up at him. ”I wish you would not go.”
”I know, but I will not rest until he is made to pay for what he did. When it is all over, I will return to you and demand kisses.”
The day after Colin left, the duke requested a meeting with Angeline after breakfast in the marquess's study. Angeline's stomach clenched. She'd missed her father so much and did not know what to expect from him. He had only spoken warmly to her that one time at Sommerall, and he'd ignored her for the most part afterward. She took a deep breath, lifted her chin, and walked inside the study.
Her father stood and made her a very formal bow.
”Angeline, my closest friend in all the world gave me a dressing-down. I am doubly ashamed of having failed you.”
”Papa?” His red-rimmed eyes alarmed her. ”Are you ill?”
”No, but I despise myself for letting you down. I should have booted that b.a.s.t.a.r.d out of our house immediately. I let him take me in, and I could not even look you in the eyes because I failed you. If I had been a better father, he would not have hurt my little girl.”
She ran into his arms. ”Papa, he played us both off each other. We didn't know until it was t-too late.”
”I cannot change my mistakes, but I beg you to forgive me.”
”I love you, Papa,” she said. Oh, she had missed him so much.
”I also am ashamed because I made it seem that I favored Penny over you. I didn't mean to do it. I just felt a responsibility to her. She was so lonely after you and your mother went to Paris. If not for your little sister, I think I might have gone mad. I missed you and your mother so very much.”
”We will be a whole family again, Papa.”
”I have much to mend,” he said, ”but I would very much enjoy playing chess with you again.”
”Thank you, Papa. I would appreciate the distraction. I am very worried about Colin.”
”He will come home safe and sound,” the duke said. ”I have it on the best of authority that he has someone he wishes to see as soon as this business is over.”
She hugged her father hard. ”You have made me very happy.”
”Now, shall we play?”
She took his arm. ”I do plan to trounce you.”
”I will give you no quarter, Daughter, but you may try.”
Chapter Sixteen.
London At precisely midnight, Colin strode into White's Club. He knew who awaited him and where, for it was all set up in advance. His heart beat a little harder than usual, but he greeted acquaintances as he strode through the club. Many were watching, having been recruited into the inner circle. Someone with pretensions to honor was polluting the venerable club. That man would be publicly exposed and severely punished for crimes against the fairer s.e.x.
Brentmoor took a pinch of snuff, rather delicately, and offered it to Bellingham, who waved it off. Brentmoor was unaware that thirty men had waiting hacks outside and were planning a journey for him.
Brentmoor drank three bottles of Madeira, something Colin figured the cur would regret at dawn. Unbeknownst to Brentmoor, the men sitting with him had set him up. Two hours pa.s.sed when Colin invited Brentmoor to join them at a private party. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d accepted and hesitated only when he stepped out and saw the line of hacks at the curb.
Brentmoor spun around and scrambled, but Bellingham caught his arms and roughly tied them behind his back while Harry gagged the villain. Colin stepped forward, stripped off his glove, and slapped it in Brentmoor's face. ”Before this day ends, you will beg for mercy and you will get none.”
Colin pitched a heavy purse to the driver, a bribe to keep his mouth shut. Harry and Bell ducked inside the carriage and Colin shoved Brentmoor onto the floor of the hack. Colin boarded, knocked on the roof, and the hack rolled off. He looked behind the vehicle and saw the other hacks rolling off one by one. The destination was Wimbledon Common, a dueling place.
Brentmoor struggled and groaned when the hack hit a b.u.mp.
”That's only a taste of what I have in store for you,” Colin said.
When they arrived at the field, the servants stood by with lanterns. Colin dumped Brentmoor on the ground, where he writhed like a mangy dog. The other carriages arrived, and the gentlemen descended the hacks. They formed a queue, and one by one they spit on his face.
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