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Lucy, ures ahead They were actors in an inevitable draarded as a friend, the men ould watch him kill or be killed, the doctor ould pronounce a ed his horse into a trot "We’re here"

"MY LADY" NEWTON’S FACE RELAXED almost into a shtcap flopping over his eyes "You’ve returned"

"Naturally" Lucy pulled back her hood and stepped over the threshold into her town house Good Lord, did all the servants know her--their--business? Silly question Of course they did And, judging from Newton’s hastily covered surprise, they hadn’t expected her to come back to Simon Lucy leveled her shoulders Well Best put that notion out of their heads "Is he here?"

"No, o"

Lucy nodded, trying not to show her disappoint hi She would’ve liked to wish him luck at least "I’ll wait for him in the study"

She laid the blue leather-bound book she carried on the hall table next to a rather battered brown paper package and gave it a small pat

"My lady" Newton bowed "May I wish you merry Christmas?"

"Oh, thank you" She’d set out late fro of the journey through the dark of night, thankful for the hired foote In all the whirl, she’d alotten what day it was "A merry Christain and glided away in his Turkish slippers Lucy picked up a candelabra from the hall table and entered Simon’s study As she crossed to a chair before the fireplace, the candle flames lit two small prints in the corner that she hadn’t noticed before Curious, she wandered over to inspect them

The first was a botanist’s rendition of a rose, full-blown and pink, its petals spread sha the various parts, all properly labeled, as if to bring decorum to the sprawl of the flower above

The second print was medieval, probably one of a series that would have illustrated the Bible It depicted the story of Cain and Abel Lucy held the candelabra up to study the horrible little etching Cain’s eyes ide, his led with his brother Abel’s face was calm, unalarmed as his brother killed him

She shivered and turned away It was horrible to have to wait for hi But nowShe’d vowed to herself that she would not argue with him, even if she hated what he was about to do, even if he killed a friend, even if she was in terror for his very life When he returned, she would welcolass of wine, she would rub his shoulders, and she wouldwith him forever Whether he dueled or not

Lucy shook herself Best not to think of the duel at all She set her candelabra on the desk and went to one of the elegant rosewood bookcases to look at the titles Perhaps she could distract herself with reading She scanned the spines: horticulture, agriculture, roses, and le treatise, probably valuable, on fencing She selected a large volue of the desk She was about to open it, perhaps learn enough to be able to discuss the floith her husband, when she glanced at the blotting paper before the desk chair There was a letter on it Lucy angled her head

Her name was scrawled across the top

She stared for a htened and walked around the desk She hesitated a second longer before snatching up the letter, ripping it open and reading:

My Dearest Angel,

Had I knohat despair I would bring you, I swear I would’ve done my damnedest not to be left half dead alo now But then I wouldn’t havethe pain I’ve brought you, I do not regret loving you,cad, but there it is I cannot un that has ever happened to me You are the closest I will ever come to heaven, either here on Earth or in the afterlife, and I will not regret it, not even at the cost of your tears

So I go to rave an unrepentant sinner, I’ one such as I, dearest I hope you can resume your life in Maiden Hill, perhaps marry that handsome vicar De Raaf hasas you need him

--Your Husband, Si so badly the paper cast wild shadows against the wall, and it took her a moment to see the postscript at the bottoret I would’ve very much liked to have made love to you one hed, horribly, through the tears blurring her vision How like Si a farewell love letter For that hat the note was: a good-bye in case he died Had he written letters like this before all of his duels? There was no way of telling; he would’ve destroyed them on his return

Oh, God, she wished she’d never entered the room

Lucy dropped the letter back on the desk and hurried out the door, snatching up the candelabra on her way out So Si far worse It was just another duel, she tried to reassure herself How ht now? Three? Five? She’d lost count and he must have, too He’d won each before He’d returned to her bloodied but alive Alive Any argument, any problem they had, could be resolved if he just returned to her alive Lucy looked up and found that her feet had taken her to Siainst the wooden door, so solid and coreenhouse with its rows of pots--

The door swung open and she froze Broken glass glittered everywhere

Simon’s conservatory had been destroyed

"IF YOU DON’T MIND, MY LORD?" one of Christian’s seconds asked The ely froirl He blinked nervously in the lantern light and alrand The end of his life would be presided over by a boy hardly old enough to shave "Yes, yes," Simon muttered i a button off It landed in the fluff of snow at his feet and sank, creating a short tunnel He didn’t bother retrieving it

The second peered at his chest, presu chain et on with it" Si to keep warain He’d be sweating soon enough, even in shirtsleeves