She thought of moral blackmail, of asking him tremulously what she would do if he was killed and did not marry her. But her own sense of honour revolted against that. Live or die, she would not be his wife, and to suggest anything else was to lie to him.
‘Yes,’ Lina said. ‘I will not mention it again.’ But in her heart she knew what she had to do.
Chapter Twenty
‘Could Gregor take me to The Blue Door?’ Lina asked Quinn as the Runners piled into the pawnshop bringing light and noise with them. ‘I would like to be with my aunt for a while.’
‘Of course.’ He was distracted by questions Sir James was asking and not concentrating on her, she saw with relief. ‘Ah, there is Inchbold. Best you are out of the way before I speak to him.’
Gregor was enjoying himself, she could tell, and not best pleased to be sent off to fetch a hackney and take her to the brothel, but he put a good face on it.
‘Thank you,’ Lina said when they were settled on the musty seats. ‘You’ll be able to get back quickly, I am sure.’
He grunted. ‘It is interesting to see how your law and order works here. It is different in Constantinople.’
‘I am sure it is,’ Lina said with some feeling. We do not allow people to own slaves and flog them to death here, for a start. ‘Gregor, will you tell me when Quinn challenges Lord Langdown?’
‘Why? You want to stop him?’
‘I cannot stop him. I just wish to know.’
‘Very well.’ He shrugged. ‘Tomorrow, I think. There is a reception that is being given at the Society of Antiquaries for some ambassador or another who has written a book. They say Langdown will be there. If he is, then Quinn will challenge him.’
‘And when the challenge is issued, will you tell me where, and when?’ When he hesitated she added, ‘I will not make a scene or try to interfere.’
‘He will kill Langdown, there is no cause for worry.’ Gregor sounded amused, as if at feminine weakness.
‘Then he will have to flee the country,’ Lina said. ‘It is illegal to duel, let alone kill your man. Will you please try to stop him doing that, at least?’
‘I can try.’ Gregor still sounded amused. Lina wanted to box his ears.
‘Then please do so.’ The carriage drew up outside The Blue Door and Lina opened the door and jumped down before Gregor could help her. ‘Thank you, Gregor.’
She was still fuming over the idiocy of men—she could understand why they felt the need to avenge an insult to their honour, but not why they thought it enjoyable—when she reached Aunt Clara’s rooms.
Her preoccupation with Quinn vanished when she saw her aunt. ‘Oh, you look so well!’ She flew into her arms and hugged her, her turban toppling off. ‘Is it not wonderful that Makepeace has gone?’
‘Wonderful indeed.’ Clara hugged her back. ‘But what of the sapphire?’
Lina pulled her to the chaise and told her the night’s events in detail. ‘Sir James is going to speak to Sir George Tolhurst. Tomorrow it will be made known that I am innocent, but I do not know what explanation they will come up with to satisfy both the law and the Tolhursts.’
‘And then you will be free to marry Lord Dreycott,’ Clara said. Lina thought she detected a question in her aunt’s expression.
‘No. I will not wed him. Yes,’ she said as Clara opened her mouth to speak, ‘I told you I do love him, but he does not love me. Nothing has changed. And what kind of life would that be if I did wed him? Besides, it would be an unequal match, even though I am cleared of the theft. And then to add the fact that I have been living here—it is impossible.’
How calm and logical it all sounded, how strange that she could be explaining it so clearly while inside she was weeping with the misery of it. ‘Quinn is seeking to rejoin society, to base himself in London, even though I do not expect him to spend much time here. Marriage to me would only handicap him further.’
‘But if he loved you?’ Her aunt took her hand in hers and pressed it gently. ‘What then?’
‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,’ Lina said with a bitter laugh. ‘I would still be an impediment
as a wife. But there is no point in speaking about it, for he does not, and there’s an end to it. He likes me, I think. That is all.’
‘But he is determined to marry you,’ Clara pointed out.
‘He has spoken to you? I might have known. He feels responsible for me, just as he does Gregor, or an injured animal he rescued. He is a man for whom honour is everything and his honour must override my happiness, although I doubt I could ever get him to see it like that.’
‘So what will you do?’ At least her aunt did not seek to persuade her that Quinn was right, although she looked as sad as Lina felt.