bloom out through the great wooded area, bringing silence in their wake. “It was Lord Waddington who started the rumour about Penelope and I. He was angry that I would not have him, that I would not give up the girl for him, and so he set out to ruin our entire family. It was he who sent the story to the scandal sheets, and it was he who made our name a byword amongst the local villages.” She turned her eyes to Nigel. “Captain Bateson learnt of this truth and the obstruction to my honour and has set about to risk his life in defence of my good name.”
“What is the meaning of this?” he was frozen, confused.
“He has challenged Lord Waddington to a duel,” Margaret said stiffly. “I have not agreed to it – I have begged him to set it aside, but you must know where the heart of the man is who you have called dishonourable. He wishes to punish the man who has done us wrong.”
She could see that the news of Lord Waddington’s involvement had come as a shock to her father. He had spent so much time furious at Margaret for ruining her prospects that he had evidently never considered the possibility that another was to blame. He shook his head as though to clear it and then turned to Nigel slowly. “Is this true?” he asked.
Nigel looked at Margaret briefly, and then nodded soberly at the older man.
There was a long moment of silence, and for the first time Margaret saw something like respect reflected in her father’s eyes as he looked at the gamekeeper’s son. “I thank you for that,” he said gruffly. “You are more of a gentleman than I took you for.”
The words seemed more an insult than a compliment, but Margaret knew just how much effort they took her proud father to say. She saw from Nigel’s face that he appreciated them as well. He nodded briefly.
“So,” Margaret interjected desperately, “Now that you see the truth, now that you know Nigel is acting in our best interest and is not at all dishonourable, will you not do something to avert this disaster? Tell him that the honour of our family can take this disruption. Talk him out of this disaster. He will not listen to me.”
Her father didn’t even look at Nigel. He kept his eyes, cool and careful, on Margaret. “You have much to learn,” he said quietly, “but this you may understand now. Duelling is a right of passage for many gentlemen, and it is not something with which I plan to interfere. If this man wishes to defend your honour, I will not stop him.”
Margaret could not believe she was hearing such words from her proper, law-abiding father. Lord Somerville was the epitome of grace and poise, always finding a peaceful and political end to problems. And yet here he was perfectly willing to see Nigel lose his life over a matter of pride.
“I don’t believe it,” Margaret said. She turned her eyes back to Nigel. “Please, Captain Bateson, reconsider.”
Nigel just looked at her. She could see the determination on his face. She felt the hot tears piercing her eyes again, took one shuddering breath, and then ran from them both, her feet beating a rhythm against the lonely forest path.
Chapter 25
She had almost convinced him. Nigel spent the night after their conversation tossing and turning, unable to sleep, his thoughts consumed with the way Margaret had felt in his arms and the way tears had welled up in her lovely eyes when she pleaded with him not to risk everything in a duel.
He was divided in his feelings about their encounter. On the one hand, he was not any less determined to go through with the endeavour. This made him worried about Margaret’s anger and desolation when she had learnt about the duel.
On the other hand, he could not be fully unhappy with the memory of the way she had looked at and spoken to him in that beautiful moment they had shared before Lord Somerville’s arrival. Their words had been brief, but he could no longer deny the truth – she cared for him. She loved him, perhaps. He knew for certain that she would have kissed him had they had another moment together.
He nearly went to her that afternoon and submitted to everything she desired regarding the duel, but he was stopped by the arrival of a short message in the post: