A Captain's Order - A Duke's Command (Hot Regency Read) (Scandalous Series Book 2) by Tamara Gill Read Free Book Online

to injure me.” Gabe sighed and rubbed his eyes. No, Fenshaw would not wish to injure him, kill him would be closer to the truth.
    “Can ye speak to him and talk sense into him?”
    He shook his head. “There's no talking sense to him.” Gabe's laugh sounded far from humorous. “I tried speaking to him years ago before I left England, and the bastard wouldn't listen. No, I'll have to face him and hope for the best.”
    Hamish frowned. “What of the duchy should you die? What of ye ship?”
    A twinge of guilt settled in Gabe's gut at the thought. He had despised the title and all it involved. Dale, such a proud and honourable name. Second son that he was, he had only brought scandal to the ducal door, tarnishing the family name. Or so his father always believed. Gabe had tried to right the wrong he had caused, but nothing could calm the wrath of his father. Nor could he find Fenshaw's sister to offer for her. Instead, he'd been ordered out of England by an irate father with a demand never to return.
    “I should have stayed and fixed this error of judgement years ago. I was a foolish young man who should have known better. Had I tried harder, I could have found Miss Fenshaw. Explained better to father what had happened and what I intended to do to solve the problem.” Gabe looked at the box of duelling pistols at his side, his finger absently stroking the wooden casing. “And now it is too late.”
    “Whatever the future holds, I wish you to know, working under you and being your friend was a privilege. Rest assured, all will be well. You'll more than likely find when we make the Green Man Inn in an hour or so, Fenshaw is nowhere to be found.”
    Gabe nodded and returned to looking out the window; the bleakness of the streets matched his mood exactly, but he doubted his friends words. Fenshaw would be there intent on seeking his misbegotten revenge. That there was no doubt.
     
    “He's gone. Already?”
    “Yes, Lady Eloise. If you would please enter, I'm sure we can discuss your concerns further, inside.” The old butler looked up the street, his eyes darting about, no doubt terrified someone would see her at the dukes door causing strife.
    Eloise gave the elderly butler a frantic shake of her head. “No, no. I must go now. I have to reach him before it's too late.”
    She turned and ran down the front steps.
    “To Putney,” she called to her driver as she climbed back in her coach. “And please hurry.”
    She sank back against the plush seat, twisting her hands in her lap. She would be too late, she was sure of it. Already, the night sky had started to give way to the dawn. Had she lost the opportunity to speak to Gabe again, she would never forgive Emma for it. Why didn't her friend wake her when she'd fallen asleep on the settee? Eloise moved to the opposite seat and opened the little window between herself and her driver. “Is this the fastest you can go?”
    “Aye, my lady. Any faster and I'm likely to turn us over at the next corner.”
    With a snap, she shut the portal. Taking a deep breath, Eloise attempted to calm herself. At this early hour, not many people were on the London streets; they would make it in time. They had to.
    The nightmare that had awoken her haunted her mind. Gabe, bleeding and lying dead on the heath…alone. She shut her eyes, not able to bear such a thought. He had wronged, but he was barely a man when he had done so. The fault lie with them both, Gabe and Miss Fenshaw, and he would explain. Eloise was sure.
    Should he live to do so…
    The carriage rolled around a corner, and she clasped the strap to keep her upright, the steel object in her pocket digging into her thigh.
    Fenshaw was mad. Perhaps the affliction that affected his sister ran in his family's blood. Whatever the reason, she did not trust the man to honour the rules of duelling. Her dream had been so vivid and lifelike. No, she would not allow Fenshaw to kill the man she loved.
    If anyone was to mete out punishment