Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 04] - Love's Duet Read Free Page A

great deal in his expression and flared, "How
dare
he humiliate you! He is doubtless shamed by your military record since
his own son can only suffer by comparison! Cavorting about Europe with
his fancy Frenchwoman—at his age! The man should have been wed long
since and his sons out of Eton already!"
    Both amused and touched by her vehemence, Clay grinned. "My sweet
champion! But in all honesty, Chick, Damon's— ah—liaison with the
beautiful Mademoiselle Gabrielle was ended some time back."
    "I am not surprised," she sniffed. "Even a lightskirted Parisienne could have only contempt for a man who shirked his duty."
    Clay frowned a little. "Patriotism takes many forms, Sophia."
    "It does, indeed. And, in our noble uncle, it took a very cunning
form. He served his country vicariously, if you will." She uttered a
brittle laugh and said, "My Lord Damon purchased Stephen's colours.
Were you aware?"
    "No, by gad! Jolly decent of him, since your Papa could… not…"
Sophia was regarding him in horrified disbelief. He regrouped. "What
d'you mean—vicariously? You never hold it against him that Whitt—"
    "Near died and is cruelly maimed?" Her small fists clenched, and she
said with unfamiliar bitterness, "Lud— why ever should I do such a
thing? Because Damon cursed and bullied Stephen into doing his fighting
for him while
he
stayed safely at home? Good gracious—no!"
    After a small, tense silence, Clay asked softly, "Do you intend to tax him with it? If so, I'd best not ask his help."
    "Oh—I'd not thought of that! If
only
I could help you." Her worried eyes brightened suddenly. Her early marriage had left her with only a title, and…
    "My emerald! That's the answer! Marcus, you could—"
    "I most certainly could not!" he said, his eyes flashing
indignation. "What the deuce d'you take me for? I vow you're becoming
positively totty headed!"
    "And you too prideful for your own good! Wherefore, I collect I'm
obliged to be all sweetness and light at the Priory—and shall be, never
fear. Until I am able to spirit Stephen safely away from my infamous
uncle. Or until you have secured his promise of help." Her heart
constricted violently. If the Marquis of Damon already knew of her
vengeance, Clay could expect short shrift!
    Misunderstanding her expression, the Major said uneasily, "Gad—I'd not intended to stay longer than one night."
    Nor had she! The thought of even dining there made her toes curl
with fear. But she must not let Clay know that and therefore laughed.
"Gracious! You sound bereft of all hope. You love to fence. You and
Damon could—"
    "He don't fence."
    "But—he must! Has he not fought several duels?"
    "Was challenged each time. Chose pistols. He's a dead shot, I hear, but hates swordplay."
    "Well, then, you could ride. He's said to have a splendid stable."
    "He don't ride. Loathes horses."
    "
Loathes… horses
?" Shattered by such infamy, she gasped, "Lud! Then what
does
he do for diversion? Spar? Or is he too dainty for that, either?"
    "Don't fence," Clay mourned. "Don't ride; don't spar."
    "Good… God! My poor uncle must have led a solitary life aside from
his French baggage. Surely the Bucks and Corinthians shun him?"
    "Matter of fact," said Clay thoughtfully, "he was well liked in Town
before he debunked. Ran with Saxon and Bolster and that crowd. Our
cousin Redmond thinks the world of him, I gather."
    "Harry? How odd. They must be years apart. And Harry's a dear."
    "Wouldn't describe him in just that fashion," he grinned. "But I'll agree Redmond don't seem the type."
    "For what?"
    "Your uncle's diversion—as you called it." Sophia waited, intrigued,
and Clay said with a chuckle, "Only thing he does that I know of,
m'dear, is play the harpsichord."

Chapter 2
    Her bags beside her, Sophia stood on the far bank, pulling her cloak
tighter and watching Clay anxiously. The swollen river roared
thunderously in her ears, and she tried not to notice the rubble its
broadened girth had claimed from the banks to