Christie Kelley (23 page)

“Maybe I could have saved her.”

“Who?”

“I don’t know her name. I never learned her name.”

“Banning, what happened?”

He sank in the chair by the fireplace and dropped his head into hands. “It was two years after I came back from France. Trey and I had been down in Whitechapel, gambling and drinking, but I’d had enough and decided to head for home. I was walking up the street looking for a hackney when I heard a noise from the alley that caught my attention. It sounded like a wounded animal so I went to investigate. When I walked back there I saw him.”

“Emory?”

He nodded. “I had heard the rumors that he spent a lot of time in the taverns down there but I never expected our paths would cross the one night I decided to go there. When I reached the back of the alley I was in shock…he was beating her, Avis. Not just one time. Over and over again.”

She didn’t want to ask but knew she had to. “What did you do?”

“I couldn’t do it.” He picked up the glass from the table next to him and hurled it at the fireplace. “I couldn’t do it, Avis.”

She walked over to him carefully as if he were the wounded animal. He flinched when she touched his shoulder. “What couldn’t you do?”

“I had brought a pistol with me for protection. I never thought I would need to use it, but you know how Whitechapel is. I assumed if anyone tried to rob me, I could go for either my knife or just point the gun at them and they would run off. But I knew as soon as I saw Billingsworth’s enraged face…I knew he wouldn’t be stopped by just a gun pointing at him. I would have to shoot him.

“The pistol was in my greatcoat pocket. My hand curled around the handle. I pulled it out and froze. I couldn’t point it at him even to protect that poor woman.”

“What did Emory do?”

“He pulled a gun on me and told me to get out of there.”

“And?”

“And I ran like a coward. I finally found the nightwatch but by the time we arrived back there Billingsworth was gone and the girl was dead.” Banning rose and walked away from her. “Because of my cowardice that girl died.”

Avis ran to him. “No. Because of Emory that girl died. Why wasn’t he arrested?”

“When he was questioned he had three people, all peers, who supported his alibi. God only knows how he paid them off, but he did.”

“So that’s how he knows about your fear of guns,” Avis muttered.

“Yes.”

“I have to do this, Avis. I can’t let him get away with murder any longer.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I know.”

“I shall be fine. Somerton is my second and the surgeon will be present just in case.”

He kissed her softly on the lips and she savored the sweetness, absorbing every detail of his mouth, of his body.

“I want to come with you.”

“No,” he ordered. “If you are there my concentration will be on you and not where it needs to be.”

She pressed her lips together but nodded in agreement. “Very well. But I don’t want to leave. I need to be here when you get home.”

“I want you to be with my family.”

“Banning, why do you think Emory has changed so over the last month?”

He stiffened with her mention of Emory. “The creditors are demanding payment. I believe he knew that if you and I were courting he would be the loser. You have given him too much money the last few years but it still wasn’t enough.”

“Still, it seems rather dramatic to go to such lengths as kissing me and then striking me,” she mumbled.

“I believe the man may be going slightly mad. There is a rumor that no one wants his newest manuscript.”

“Oh no.” Avis kissed Banning’s hand and rubbed her cheek against it. Fine hairs tickled her face and made her smile. “Do you really think he was jealous of my writing?”

He nodded. “I do.”

The knocked sounded loudly on the front door. They both turned their heads and Avis frowned. “Who would—”

“Somerton.” Banning moved away from her.

“Already? It’s only a little past four.”

“And it will be getting light soon.” He opened the door just as the footman appeared. “Show him in.”

The footman nodded and walked away only to return with Somerton in tow. Somerton sauntered into the room, noticed Avis and smiled. “Miss Copley, good morning.”

“Somerton,” she replied.

“Will you excuse us, Miss Copley,” Somerton said. His usual casual yet caustic demeanor was gone, replaced by tight-lipped seriousness.

“She can stay,” Banning replied before Avis had even opened her mouth to deny Somerton’s request.

“Thank you, Banning.”

Somerton shook his head. “Very well. We finalized everything. Anderson requested pistols, of course.”

“Of course,” Banning commented. His jaw tightened and he inhaled sharply.

“I did my best to request swords, but Billingsworth has no skill with them according to Anderson.”

Banning shrugged. “I’d thought as much.”

“Watch your step this morning, the grass is still wet,” Somerton said, testing the grass with the toe of his boot.

“I will.” Banning stared down at the box in Somerton’s hand.

“Just think about Miss Copley,” Somerton said. “Think about your future, the children you will have, the nights making—”

“Enough,” he interrupted. He understood the point Somerton tried to make.

Banning looked up as Billingsworth’s carriage rolled to a stop. Anderson jumped down and then held out his hand as Billingsworth stumbled out. Billingsworth took a step or two, as if unsteady.

Somerton chuckled. “Bloody stupid man. Perhaps drinking was the only way to foster his courage.”

Somerton walked toward Anderson to work out the final details, the primary being the task of verifying Billingsworth was sober enough for the meeting.

Beads of sweat dampened the gloves on Banning’s hands. His pulse thrummed through his veins. He could do this. Just think of Avis. He watched the meeting as Anderson and Somerton nodded their agreements on some matter. Then Billingsworth picked up one pistol, held it, tested it, and then did the same with the second gun. After choosing the first one, Somerton returned.

“I will load this and we can get this over with. Billingsworth says he is fine for the meeting but be careful. A drunkard can sometimes be worse than a coward. A drunkard can fire too soon.”

Banning nodded, staring at the gun in Somerton’s hand. This was different. No little boy was going to throw himself in front of Billingsworth. Pick up the pistol, he told himself.

Somerton held out the pistol for him. Banning reached out his hand and took the gun. The gun felt heavy and cold even through his gloves.

“Take your gloves off,” Somerton reminded him.

He did and then felt the cool ivory handle and a little jump of tension skipped up his arm. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply to calm his agitated nerves. But nothing would stop the little quiver in his hands. He just had to get this over with and live through it.

“Gentlemen, please take your places.”

Banning and Billingsworth stood back to back.

“Did you know she came to see me this morning?” Billingsworth whispered. “I think she wanted me to swive her, but I refused. I’ll have plenty of time to have her after she’s free of you.”

Banning’s fingers flexed around the handle of the gun. “She was with me.”

“Will you actually be able to fire that thing?” Billingsworth mocked. “I remember another time when you just couldn’t get that pistol in your hand. That girl was a good fuck but she actually thought I’d pay her for her services. Stupid girl.”

“Twenty paces,” Anderson called out before Banning could reply.

Damn him. Billingsworth’s taunts were not about to distract him.

“Turn and fire!”

He turned and faced Billingsworth. Banning lifted his pistol into position and aimed for Billingsworth’s right shoulder.
Do it. Pull the damn trigger.
Just as he did, a bullet tore past his ear, hitting nothing on him. He looked over at Billingsworth as he dropped to the ground, clutching his right shoulder.

Anderson rushed over to him and spoke in hushed tones. He stood and announced, “Honor has been satisfied.”

“No,” Billingsworth moaned.

“Yes,” Anderson replied tightly. “The duel is over.”

Somerton slapped him on the back. “I knew you would find the courage to pull that trigger. Damn shame you didn’t kill him, though.”

“I thought you were his friend?”

Somerton laughed coarsely. “It’s always better to keep your enemies close so you can watch them. You should know, I talked to Anderson and Wilkerson, and both decided to recant their stories with a little persuasion. Billingsworth wasn’t with them that night. He blackmailed them to tell the magistrate that story.”

“How did you find out about that?”

Somerton gave him a half-smile. “You really don’t want to know.”

“Then at least tell me why you did it?”

“Because what they did was wrong and it was about time the truth came out.”

“Since when do you care?”

Somerton only grinned again. “Oh, don’t be fooled, Selby. I don’t care.”

“Thank you.”

Somerton nodded.

All he wanted to do now was go home to the loving comfort of Avis’s arms. The whinny of a horse brought his attention to a black carriage rolling away. He could only smile.

“Banning!” Jennette called out from the salon. “Are you all right?”

He walked into the room where his mother, sister, and future wife sat and said, “I am quite well. The man couldn’t sight a pistol to save his life.”

Avis gasped. “Did you kill…?”

“Would you care if I did?” Banning shrugged out of his coat and handed it to the footman. “Perhaps I should rephrase my question, would you care if I didn’t kill him?”

She frowned and looked down at her lap. “I suppose I should care either way. He was a dear friend of mine until a few weeks ago.” Avis glanced at him, her brown eyes bright with tears. “But I would definitely care if
you
had been killed.”

Jennette sighed. “What happened?”

“Yes, Banning, please sit down and tell us exactly what happened this morning,” his mother requested.

“I would like to speak with Avis alone first,” he said.

“Ahh,” his mother said softly. “Come along, Jennette.”

His mother took Jennette’s hand as his sister muttered, “I just want to know what happened.”

“Soon enough. Give your brother time with his betrothed.”

She shut the door behind them, leaving Banning and Avis alone and in silence. As soon as the door clicked, Avis jumped out of her seat and into his arms.

“Oh God, I have been so dreadfully worried about you, Banning.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him softly.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I thought I asked you not to come to the duel.”

Redness tinged her cheeks. “You did.”

He kissed her forehead. “How should I handle my disobedient betrothed?”

“Disobedient?” she asked innocently.

“I saw the carriage.”

Avis looked into his sparkling blue eyes and sighed. “I had to be there, Banning. I had to know that you were all right.”

“I know,” he said with a smile. “I did it, Avis. Thanks to you.”

“All I did was listen to you,” she said.

“Anderson and Wilkerson have agreed to recant their stories about what happened.”

“How did you manage that?”

“I didn’t. Somehow Somerton did.”

“Oh. So Emory will be arrested then?”

“Yes.”

“So he’ll never bother either one of us again?” Avis whispered.

“Never.” Banning held his future wife tight against him, savoring her warmth. “From now on, we’ll face our fears together.”

“I have no fears with you by my side,” Avis whispered and then kissed her future husband.

Avis checked the small clock on the table in the salon once more. After four months of marriage, she shouldn’t still be waiting with such anticipation to see Banning. But today was different.

Where was he? He’d said he would be home by four and it was ten minutes past that now. She’d waited three weeks to be sure and now she was certain.

“Blasted weather.” Banning’s voice rang out from the front hall.

“Banning?” She stood and waited for him to enter the room. As he entered, a smile deepened those dimples she loved.

He crossed the room and brought her into his arms just as he did every day. Only this time it felt different to her. His lips caressed hers with such tender passion she almost thought she’d cry.

Oh, she’d better tell him quickly before he guessed from her tears. Breaking away from his kiss, she looked up at him and smiled.

“So, are you ready to tell me yet?” he said with a smug grin.

“You know?”

He brought her back into his arms and kissed her again. Lifting his lips off hers, he smiled. “Of course, I know. We are married, Avis. You can’t keep a secret like that from your husband.”

“But—”

“Avis, we’ve made love at least three times a week for the past seven weeks. Not once did you tell me we couldn’t because of your monthlies.” He clasped her hands and led her to the sofa.

“And you’re not upset that we didn’t wait longer?”

“Of course not! I would have been happy if you were already four months along or even five,” he said with wink. “Although, my mother might not have been happy about such an early delivery.”

Avis chuckled softly. “No, she wouldn’t have been pleased with that. No one would have believed the baby was early after my admission on the Kesgraves’ terrace.”

“Are you happy about it?” he asked tentatively.

“More than I thought possible. I’m not like my father after all. I think I’m a perfect combination of both my parents.”

Banning looked genuinely relieved as his smile deepened.

They both looked up as Battenford approached the salon holding a silver salver in his hands. “This just came for you, my lady.”

Even after all these months, she still hadn’t become used to hearing Battenford call her that. “Thank you, Battenford.”

“And congratulations, my lady,” he replied with a slight smile before he left.

Avis laughed. “Does everyone in this house know?”

“Quite possibly,” Banning answered.

She picked up the letter and placed it on the table next to Banning. “It’s from the publisher, and I can’t stomach a rejection on such a happy day.”

“Maybe it’s not a rejection,” he reasoned.

“Of course it is.”

Banning grabbed the letter and opened it before she could protest.

“All right, tell me the bad news,” she said before walking to the window.

“Well, he said the book was very well written—”

“But he didn’t love the characters,” she finished for him.

“No, he loved the characters.” Banning looked back down at the paper.

“Then he didn’t love the plot.”

Banning chuckled. “No, he loved the plot.”

“Then the book was too sensual for the modesty of the times.”

“No, that’s not it either.”

Avis turned to face him as frustration flowed within her. “Then what is the reason this time?”

“He loved everything about the book and can’t wait to publish it.”

Avis grasped the top of the wingback chair for support. “He what?”

“He’s going to publish your book.” Banning rushed over to her, picked her up, and twirled her around in his arms. “You’re going to be a published author.”

After all these years, it felt so…anticlimactic. Getting her work published was something she’d wanted for so many years that she’d thought she would be jumping up and down with joy. She wasn’t unhappy, but she now realized getting published was only part of what she’d really wanted.

And the rest was standing in front her with a huge grin on his face because she’d fulfilled her dream.

“Avis?” Banning questioned. “Are you all right? This is what you’ve wanted forever.”

“I’m overjoyed,” she replied with a big grin. “Not because my story will be in print but because I have you and now a child will be entering our lives and—” Her voice caught with the incredible fulfillment she felt now.

“I have everything I was afraid to even dream of,” she whispered with a watery smile, “because of you.”