But something was making him uneasily aware that it would not be as simple as that. She wanted to be loved, even though he suspected she would perish rather than admit it. And so do I, he realised, startling himself so much he stopped dead and almost upset a footman with a tray of glasses. Well, we will just have to make do with good sex, friendship and humour. What if she falls in love with someone when we are married? He would not tolerate her taking a lover, whether he was in the country or not, he knew that. But sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I’ll have to be faithful too. Hell.
But even as he thought it he realised that being faithful to Celina would not be such a strain. He would make vows and he would keep them because not to do so would be to live a lie and he would not do that to either of them.
The ambassador was turning. Quinn made himself think in French and stepped forwards, disconcerted to find himself having to struggle to think of something coherent to say. Yes, the sooner he married the woman and got his life back on an even keel, the better.
Dawn tomorrow, Hampstead Heath. It took Lina a while to decipher Gregor’s handwriting on the note that had been slipped under her door. The right fork at Jack Straw’s Castle, she read. Swords. She rang the bell for Prudence and, when the maid came in, asked, ‘For what hour has his lordship’s and Mr Vasiliev’s shaving water been ordered?’
The girl seemed to find nothing strange in the question, nor at being summoned at midnight to answer it. ‘For quarter to four, ma’am.’
That seemed right. Sunrise would be about five o’clock and she supposed they would not take more than coffee for breakfast; she could not imagine anyone fighting on a full stomach. Fifteen minutes to wash, dress, drink, then an hour to get to the Heath, which was enough time to allow for any delay on the road.
‘Wake me at that time, too, please,’ she said. ‘I want to make sure they get away all right. There is no need to tell them, I hate to be seen to fuss whenever his lordship goes on a journey.’
‘Of course, ma’am.’ Prudence bobbed a curtsy and took herself off to bed, leaving Lina to blow out the candle and lie staring up through the darkness, wondering if Quinn could possibly be able to sleep facing a lethal fight in the morning.
She was woken by Prudence in darkness. It seemed she had slept after all, although the fleeting memory of her dreams were filled with blood and threatening shadows.
‘I’ve brought your hot water, ma’am, and your chocolate and a sweet roll,’ the maid said, setting them down.
‘Thank you, Prudence. If you will just help me dress, then you can go back and have a rest; I shall not need you again this morning.’ She put on a simple walking dress and then, when the girl had gone, delighted at the thought of a lazy morning, she found stout shoes and a plain cloak and took up her station at the window.
A few minutes later a chaise appeared and the men came down the steps and got in. She watched Quinn avidly, all too aware that next time she saw that elegant, loose-limbed stride he would be facing bare steel.
As soon as they were out of sight she ran downstairs. The butler was just walking away from the front door. ‘Whyte, a hackney, please, at once.’
‘But, ma’am—’
‘His lordship has forgotten something important,’ she said, waving her reticule as though it contained the item in question. ‘I must catch
him up.’
‘Yes, ma’am, of course.’
The driver he found looked alert; presumably this was his first hire of the day and both he and his horse were fresh. ‘Take me to Jack Straw’s Castle,’ she said quietly to him. ‘As fast as possible. Then stop and I will have further direction for you.’
She climbed in and found herself with nothing to do but worry. Her own terrors over the sapphire and what might have happened to her seemed distant now, as though they had happened to another Lina. All that mattered was Quinn and the threat to his life and freedom. It is all your own fault, you stubborn man, she scolded in her head. But in her heart she knew the fault lay with Lord Sheringham and his son all those years ago. They had shattered Quinn’s trusting nature, wounded his honour and made a hardened adventurer out of a naïve young man. He had to bring this to a close, with blood if need be. Please, not your blood, she prayed.
They were climbing the long slope of Haverstock Hill now, she saw. The outline of buildings were beginning to show against the sky. Hampstead soon and then the Heath. How far was she behind? How quickly would they begin to fight? Would she be there in time?
Lina was almost frantic with the inaction of just sitting, waiting, by the time the driver drew up. ‘Jack Straw’s Castle,’ he announced.
Lina looked out of the window. There was the bulk of the big old coaching inn with the morning bustle beginning around it, but no sign of the chaise. ‘Take the right fork,’ she said. ‘And look out for a chaise. There will be at least one other vehicle with it.’
‘A duel, is it?’ The man leaned down from his perch. ‘Going to stop it, are you, miss?’
‘No. I want to observe it without being seen. Can you manage that?’
‘Aye, I’ll do my best. Don’t want your husband to see you, eh?’
‘Yes,’ she agreed, wishing she had thought to put a veil on her bonnet. ‘That is so.’
The hackney took off at a brisk trot, then she heard the man bang on the roof of the cab as they passed three carriages drawn up together, one of them the chaise Quinn and Gregor had taken. They trotted on past, round a bend and the carriage drew up. ‘There you are, ma’am. Won’t see us here.’
Lina got down. ‘Will you wait, please? You’ll be well paid.’
‘I’ll wait,’ the man agreed as she ran back up the road to a clump of bushes on the corner. There, as though on a distant stage, the lethal dance was about to begin. She could see Quinn in his shirt sleeves standing with his blade held down. Facing him some yards away was another man. Gregor and Sir James and two others she did not recognise were in an earnest huddle, presumably discussing whether an apology might be forthcoming. To one side stood a black-coated individual with a servant holding an ominous bag at his back. The surgeon.
The knot of seconds broke up and went to their principals, then stepped away. One of them spoke, Lina thought, for the two swordsmen walked forwards, raised their weapons and took guard.