by Wendy Vella
“If you will excuse me, Claire, I must see to something.”
“Shall I come with you?”
“No. I can mange and will return shortly.”
Eva skirted the room and slipped out of the ballroom.
“May I be of assistance, your Grace?”
Waving her hand vaguely at the footman who had appeared before her, Eva shook her head and walked toward the stairs. “I will return shortly,” she added over her shoulder as she started to climb.
Eva released a breath as the quiet enveloped her. She could still hear the music and soft rumble of voices but it was nice to be on her own. Daniel would not like that she had left the ballroom unescorted, but it was only briefly and she would have returned before he noticed her absence. Walking down several long hallways, she finally found her room. A lamp had been lit and the curtains drawn. Eva looked longingly at the bed but knew it would be some time before she could lie upon it. Kicking off her slippers, she sighed as her cramped toes stopped aching. Molly had packed several pairs of slippers in case the first pair was ruined in some way. At least Furban wasn’t here so she didn’t have to worry about his little teeth gnawing on the satin. Unfortunately, it was Daniel’s clothing and footwear that he chose to drag around the house, not hers. Yesterday, she had watched as he ran past, followed by a scowling valet, with one of Daniel’s neckties in his mouth.
“I am most pleased to have finally found you alone, your Grace.”
Eva watched in horror as Gilbert Huxley emerged from behind the curtains and walked toward her.
“I would ask you to leave this room at once, Lord Huxley!”
“I think not, your Grace. When I leave, you will be accompanying me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I would never leave my own ball.” Eva was pleased at how calm her voice sounded when inside her chest, her heart was thumping painfully.
“I didn’t say it would be voluntary, Berengaria. And much as I want to throw you upon that bed and rut you until you scream, we must leave now before your husband appears.”
Eva felt the color drain from her face. “He will kill you for this.”
“He will have to catch me first and with all the noise going on below, I fear we shall be well away from here before he even notices you’re missing.”
“No!” I will never leave with you,” Eva began edging toward the door.
“Unfortunately you will have little choice in the matter, my dear.”
Eva watched him walk toward her as one would a venomous snake. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because you have always belonged to me and I should never have listened to your father when I wanted to take your innocence. The duke may have been your first lover, Berengaria, but I will be your last.”
“No!” She screamed as he lunged for her – she heard her bodice rip as his hands caught the edge. Raking her nails down his cheek, Eva fought with everything she had. Lifting her leg, she tried to knee him in the groin; however, he was too quick and twisted his hips.
“You won’t escape me, Berengaria!”
She saw the cloth in his hands and knew his intent was to drug her - in seconds she would be unconscious. Stomping down with her foot she then jabbed her fist into his stomach. His grip slackened as the air whooshed from his body, and that gave her enough time to run. He blocked her way to the door, so instead, she ran around the bed.
“If you touch me again, I will kill you!”
“You are stronger than you were, Berengaria. But that only makes me more determined.”
“Eva!
She watched as the door opened and Daniel charged into the room. Horrified, she then saw Gilbert Huxley pull a wicked looking sword from his belt.
In one glance her husband took in her ripped bodice and the nail marks down Huxley’s cheek.
“You’ll die for this.”
“No, Daniel, do not fight him, I beg of you!”
“What the hell is going on?” Simon bellowed, running into the room seconds later, followed by a footman.
“This room is getting crowded,” Huxley said, swishing his blade from side to side, his eyes never leaving Daniel. “Your wife is delectable, Stratton. I wish I had time to really taste her,” he added.
“Did he attempt to abduct you?” Daniel bent to pick up the piece of cloth Huxley had tried to smother Eva with.
“Daniel, please - ”
“Eva, tell me the truth!”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“You.” He pointed to the footman. “Two doors to the left from here, you will find my late grandfather’s blade. Bring it to me.”
“You cannot fight in this room, Daniel. It is not big enough,” Simon said.
“Open those doors. They lead to a larger, private balcony. We will fight there.”
“Daniel, no!” Eva cried.
“Simon, take care of Eva.”
She could feel his anger. It filled every corner of the room, yet he would not look at her. Gilbert Huxley was his sole focus. His words were clipped; his body, tense - ready to strike. Gone was her amiable husband, in his place a cold, hard man whom she barely recognized. Never had she been so scared in her entire life. “Daniel,” she whispered, taking a step toward him.
“Simon, take Eva from the room at once!”
“No. I will not go!”
“Madam, you will do as I say,” he said in cold, clipped tones.
“I will not!” Eva dragged a blanket off the bed to cover herself.
Simon walked to the glass doors, which led to the balcony and threw them open.
“I have the sword, your Grace.”
Daniel wrenched off his coat and gloves then took the blade from the servant. “Outside,” he said with a nod of his head to Huxley.
Eva watched an evil smile tilt the corners of Gilbert Huxley’s mouth as he backed toward the doors and then slipped outside. Silence filled the room, the only sound the swishing of Daniel’s blade.
“If something should happen to me this night, make sure Eva is cared for and kept away from her family,” Daniel said to Simon. “She is with child. I will ask you to visit my solicitor and make the necessary changes.”
Dear God, he was discussing her in such a calculated manner - as if she were not standing right there, only a few feet from him.
“He has the rest of the details in my will.”
“No!” Eva cried, running around the bed toward him. He caught her and briefly held her close. “You will not leave me, Daniel.”
“Never doubt my love for you, Eva.”
“Stop him!” Eva tried to hold him as he pushed her toward Simon.
“Eva, he must do this, and in order for him to win, he must focus solely on Huxley. Do you understand?”
Eva stilled, as if all the air had been sucked from her lungs. Looking up into Simon’s eyes, she realized no one could stop the fight and that either Huxley or Daniel would die this night. “I cannot lose him.”
“He’s good, Eva.” Simon placed his hands on her shoulders. “So is Huxley. However, I believe Daniel can take him if he fights with his head.”
“Can he?” she whispered. “I-I mean will he fight with his head?”
Simon nodded. “As long as he has no distractions.”
Eva gulped a deep breath and then nodded. It was obvious she could be a distraction.
“I will not distract him, b-but I will not leave. If my husband is injured, I wish to be here to tend him.”
“All right.” Simon took her hand and followed Daniel outside.
Light from the room lit the small balcony and the moon sat high in the night sky illuminating both men as Simon and Eva joined them. She bit her lip to keep herself from calling out as she saw them facing each other. Simon clenched his fingers around her slender ones and she was glad of their strength at that moment, as her knees were struggling to hold her upright.
“Ready to die, Stratton?”
“Even if you win tonight, Huxley, you will never get your hands
on my wife. She is protected now from scum like you. And tonight I will extract long overdue revenge for the part you have played in tormenting her. No one frightens my wife and lives to see another day.”
“En garde!”
Eva shivered at the first clash of steel, the sound so loud in the night air. The music from the ballroom below drifted toward them, the happy sound so at odds with what they were watching. She felt a wave of hysteria swell up in her throat.
“Focus, Daniel,” Simon said softly.
They seemed to be locked in some sort of deadly dance for several seconds, each circling the other, gauging weakness, looking for opportunity. She didn’t want to watch but could not draw her eyes from the scene. Huxley lunged and blood appeared on Daniel’s arm. Daniel lunged and Huxley retreated and each time Eva felt as if a fist was clenching tighter around her heart.
“Have faith in him, Eva.” Simon tightened the grip on her fingers, his eyes never leaving the two men.
They were both fit. Huxley was the shorter, yet he was fast, his movements quick and concise. Daniel’s moves were elegant and seemed to flow more easily from one to the other.
“Keep moving, Daniel.” Simon’s voice sounded calm when, in fact, he was far from it. Next to him, Eva could feel the tension in his body.
She didn’t know how long the fight had been going on; time seemed to stand still. The night air was now filled with the harsh breaths of both men as they continued in their deadly combat. Occasionally, a burst of laughter drifted upwards from below.
“Your wife has beautiful breasts,” Huxley rasped.
Eva held her breath as Daniel lunged, his feet leaping forward. His blade sliced through Huxley’s shirt and into his side. Huxley gasped and dropped his sword as the front of his shirt was swiftly drenched in blood.
Simon stepped forward, pushing Eva to one side. She gripped the stone balcony, watching as both men reached for the fallen man.
“Kill me, you bastard. For God’s sake put me out of my misery!” Huxley cried.
“Simon, is that footman still here?”
“I am, your Grace.” The man materialized out of the shadows.
“Have my coach brought around to the back entrance and say not one word of this to anyone,” Daniel ordered.
“At once, your Grace.”
Daniel tried to ease his breathing as he spoke. “Eva, get another blanket from the bed,” he said without looking at her. If he did, he would have to touch her, pull her into his arms and hold her and never let her go. He couldn’t allow himself to do that until he had the matter of Huxley cleared away. Only then would he take her back to their house and lock the bedroom door.
“I have the blanket,” Eva said a short while later. He noted she had pulled on a cloak over her torn dress.
“Good girl. Now lay it over him and then go to the steps along the end and see if the carriage has arrived.
“Where are you taking him, Daniel?” Simon said, still holding his hand on Huxley’s injury.
“Is the Imperial still in port?”
“Aye, I believe so,” Simon nodded.
“I think Lord Huxley needs to make a new life for himself in America,” Daniel said.
“I will not!”
Daniel knelt beside Huxley so he could see into his pain filled eyes.
“Heed me, Huxley, because if you do not take this opportunity I give you and you choose to remain in England, then I will hunt you down and this time I will not aim to wound you.”
“B-but America,” the man groaned as Simon pressed harder.
“America will offer you more than you leave behind in England.”
“Wh-why?” Huxley said.
“Because killing you would mean I’d have to leave for France and you have caused my duchess and I enough trouble already.”
“The carriage awaits, Daniel.”
“Simon, take his legs. I’ll get his arms,” Daniel said, slipping his hands under Huxley’s shoulders.
“Go to your room now, Eva, and change your dress and go back down to the ballroom. Simon will escort you when he returns.”
“But, Daniel…”
“I need you to do this for me, love. No questions or arguments. There is too much at stake.”
Nodding, Eva hurried inside just as Molly appeared.
“Your Grace, I was just about to tidy up.”
“Pl-please, Molly, don’t ask any questions just help me change quickly.”
“Tis lucky we have a spare,” the maid said, noting the ripped bodice. She instantly whisked the dress over Eva’s head and then went to collect the other one. This one was emerald green although the style was not dissimilar to the last. It was scalloped around the hem with silver thread and had a silver underskirt. Slipping on a clean pair of white gloves, Eva noted her hands still trembled. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the white slippers Molly was slipping onto her feet. Had she not come up here to change earlier, none of the events she had just witnessed would have happened.
“You are ready now, your Grace.” Molly helped her to stand.
“Thank you.”
Simon was waiting outside and took her arm as she walked through the door and silently they returned to the ball.
“I will stay with you until he returns, Eva.”
They slipped into the ballroom and then followed the flow of people into the supper room. Forcing a smile onto her face, she unclenched her fingers on Simon’s sleeve and let him lead her to the buffet table.
“Eva! I have looked everywhere for you.”
“Hello, Claire. I-I had an accident in my dress and was forced to change.”
Claire looked from Eva’s fearful gaze to Simon’s anxious one but said nothing. Instead she said, “I shall get you both something to eat if you will find seats for us, Simon.”
Simon found Eva’s grandmother and her friends and lowered her into a chair beside them. He then stood behind her chair, resting one hand on her shoulder.
“Is all well, Granddaughter?”
“If you would be so kind as to not ask any questions, your Grace,” Simon said in a voice only she could hear. “We have had an incident that the duke would rather keep between ourselves. Therefore, I would ask that you keep the duchess at your side until he returns.”
The Dowager Duchess looked at Simon and her granddaughter, then she nodded and started to talk, including both Simon and Eva in the conversation. If both chose not to add much, it went unnoticed.
Before long, Claire returned, moving to Simon’s side. Eva heard her begin to question him. Her tone was gentle, unlike the other times they had conversed. No one commented on the duchess’s pale face or shadowed eyes. They all just stayed close to her side, listening as the Dowager Duchess and her elderly friends talked endlessly of amusing stories from their past.
When Daniel walked into the ballroom, he was once again the immaculately attired Duke of Stratton. His arm had been cleaned, stitched and bandaged and stung like the devil beneath his jacket. His eyes swept the room but could not find his wife. Prowling around, he finally felt his body relax as he saw Eva’s head beside Claire’s. Simon stood at her back and his grandmother to her right. His heart eased at the scene; they had formed a circle around his duchess, protecting her. Nudging Simon aside, he moved into position behind her. Placing one hand on her shoulder, he caressed the soft skin.
“I hope you are not telling stories of my youthful indiscretions, Grandmother.” He felt the shudder that ran through Eva at his words and tightened his fingers on her. He stood there for a while, talking and stroking her skin until she slowly relaxed.
“Come, Duchess, it is time for our second waltz.” He took her hand in his. “Thank you,” he then said to each of the people who had cared for her while he could not.
“It’s all right now, love,” he whispered as she gripped his fingers tight. “I am here, Eva, with you,” he added soothingly, dancing her slowly down the room. “Look at me, love,” he coaxed.
“I wa
s scared I would lose you.”
Daniel felt her despair like a fist to his stomach as she looked up at him. The blue depths were wide with remembered terror. He had vowed to keep her safe from those who would hurt her, and again he had failed. “You will never lose me, Eva.”
Lowering her eyes, she kept them trained on his necktie for the rest of the dance.
For the remainder of the evening, Daniel watched Eva closely. Her smile was brittle as she danced and chatted and he knew her well enough now to see the turmoil hidden deep inside.
“We will leave soon, love,” Daniel whispered in her ear as he stood at her side. Her only response was a quick nod. Finally, an hour later, the guests started to depart.
“Come, sweetheart, let’s go home.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We need to be in our own home tonight,” Daniel said, leading her down his grandmother’s front steps and into the waiting carriage. They were silent on the journey. He held her close to his side. She stared out the window into the darkness and Daniel wanted to tell her how proud he was of the way she had gotten through the evening, yet knew now wasn’t the time. First, they would have to discuss the duel.
“I will say goodnight, Daniel,” she said as soon as they entered the house. “I am in need of sleep. Therefore, I shall see you in the morning,” she added in a tight voice.
Daniel admired his wife’s slender ankles as she picked up her skirts and ran from him up the stairs. If she thought she would be spending the night alone, she could think again.
“Will you require anything further, your Grace?”
“That will be all, Wernham,” Daniel said, following his wife. His valet helped him remove his clothing and then Daniel dismissed him. After washing, he slipped on his dressing gown and moved to the connecting door between their rooms.
Pushing the door open, he saw Eva lying on the bed, still dressed in her gown and slippers, with the puppy nestled under her arm. Closing the door behind him, he watched her eyes widen as he stepped up to the bed.
