Anne looked from Sophy to Charlotte. "I have made some inquiries into the business of settling arguments in this fashion. There are certain steps we must go through before I load the pistols. First, it is my duty to tell you that there is an honorable alternative to going through with the challenge. I ask that you both consider it."

Sophy frowned. "What alternative?"

"You, Lady Ravenwood, have issued the challenge. If, however, Miss Featherstone will apologize for the actions that precipitated your challenge, the matter will be at an end without a shot being fired."

Sophy blinked. "This whole thing can be ended with a simple apology?"

"I must stress that it is an honorable alternative for both of you." Anne looked at Charlotte Featherstone.

"How fascinating," Charlotte murmured. "Just think, we can both get out of this without getting any blood stains on our clothing. But I am not at all certain I feel compelled to apologize."

"It is up to you, of course," Sophy said stiffly.

"Well, it is rather early for such violent sport, don't you think? And I am a firm believer in taking the sensible course when it is available." Charlotte smiled slowly at Sophy. "You are quite certain your honor would be satisfied if I simply apologized?"

"You would have to promise to leave the love letters out of print," Sophy reminded her hurriedly. Before Charlotte could respond, hoof beats sounded in the fog.

"It must be Jane," Anne said in a very relieved tone. "I knew she would come. We must wait for her. She is one of the seconds."

Sophy glanced around just as a big gray horse materialized out of the mist that clung to the trees. The animal thundered toward them at full gallop, looking like an apparition as it churned through the low fog. A ghost horse, Sophy thought fleetingly, and it carried the devil himself.

"Julian," she whispered.

"Somehow this does not surprise me," Charlotte remarked. "Our little drama grows more amusing by the moment."

"What's he doing with Jane's horse?" Anne demanded angrily.

The big gray was brought to a shuddering halt in front of the three women. Julian's glittering eyes went first to Sophy and then to Charlotte and Anne. He saw the box of pistols in her hand.

"What the devil is going on here?"

Sophy refused to give into a sudden, fierce desire to flee. "You are interrupting a private matter, my lord."

Julian looked at her as if she had lost her mind. He swung down from the horse and tossed the reins to Anne who automatically caught them in her free hand.

"A private matter, madam? How dare you call it such?" Julian's face was a mask of controlled fury. "You are my wife. What the hell is this all about?"

"Isn't it obvious, Ravenwood?" Of the three women present, it was clear only Charlotte was not feeling particularly intimidated. Her fine eyes were more cynically amused than ever. "Your wife has called me out on a point of honor." She waved a hand at the pistol case. "As you can see, we were just about to settle matters in the traditional, honorable, masculine way."

"I don't believe any of this." Julian swung around to stare at Sophy. "You called Charlotte out? You challenged her to a duel?"

Sophy nodded once, refusing to speak.

"Why, for God's sake?"

Charlotte smiled grimly. "Surely you can guess the answer to that question, Ravenwood."

Julian took a step toward her. "Bloody hell. You sent her one of your goddamned blackmail threats, didn't you?"

"I do not look upon them as blackmail threats," Charlotte said calmly. "I see them as mere business opportunities. Your wife, however, chose to view my little offer in a different light. She feels it would be dishonorable to pay me off, you see. On the other hand, she cannot bear to see your name in my memoirs. So she took what she felt was the only alternative left to an honorable woman. She challenged me to pistols for two at dawn."

"Pistols at dawn," Julian repeated as if he still could not believe the evidence of his own eyes. He took another step toward Charlotte. "Get out of here. Leave at once. Go back to town and say nothing of any of this. If I hear one word of gossip concerning this day's events I will see to it that you never get the little cottage in Bath you used to talk about. I will make certain you lose the lease on your town house. I will bring so much pressure to bear on your creditors that they will hound you out of the city. Do you understand me, Charlotte?"

"Julian, you go too far," Sophy interrupted angrily.

Charlotte drew herself up, but most of the cool mockery had disappeared from her expression. She did not look fearful, merely resigned. "I understand you, Ravenwood. You were always quite good at making yourself very clear."

"One word of any of this and I will find a way to ruin all you have worked for, Charlotte, I swear it. You know I can do it."

"There is no need to issue threats, Ravenwood. As it happens, I have no intention of gossiping about any of this." She turned to Sophy. "It was a personal matter of honor between your wife and myself. It does not concern anyone else."

"I quite agree," Sophy said firmly.

"I would have you know, madam," Charlotte said softly, "that as far as I am concerned, it is finished, even though no pistols were fired. You need have no fear of what will appear in the Memoirs."

Sophy took a deep breath. "Thank you."

Charlotte smiled slightly and gave Sophy a small, graceful bow. "No, madam, it is I who should thank you. I have had a most entertaining time of it. My world is filled with men of your class who talk about honor a great deal. But their understanding of the subject is very limited. Those same men cannot be bothered to behave honorably toward a female or anyone else weaker than themselves. It is a great pleasure to meet at last someone who does comprehend the meaning of the word. It comes as no great surprise to discover that this remarkably intelligent someone is a woman. Adieu."

"Good-bye," Sophy said, returning the small bow with equal grace.

Charlotte stepped lightly into the curricle, took up the reins and gave the horse the signal. The small vehicle vanished into the mist.

Julian watched Charlotte leave and then he turned around to pin Anne with a grim glare. He took the pistol box from her hand. "Who are you, boy?"

Anne coughed and pulled her cap down lower over her eyes. She rubbed the back of her hand across her nose and snuffled. "The lady wanted a horse and carriage brought round early this mornin', sir. I borrowed my father's nag and thought I'd make a bit on the side if you know what I mean."

"I will give you a very large bit on the side if you will guarantee to keep your mouth closed about what happened here this morning. But if I hear of this I will see to it that your father loses the horse and the carriage and anything else he owns. Furthermore, he will know that it is your fault he has lost everything. Do you comprehend me, boy?"

"Uh, yes, m'lord. Very clearly m'lord."

"Very well. You will drive my wife home in the carriage. I will be right behind you. When we reach the house you will pick up a woman who will be waiting there and you will escort her wherever she wishes to go. Then you will disappear from my sight forever."

"Yes sir."

"Now, Julian," Sophy began earnestly, "there is no need to threaten everyone in sight."

Julian cut her off with a frozen look. "Not one word out of you, madam. I do not yet trust myself to be able to speak to you about this with any semblance of calm." He walked over to the carriage and opened the door. "Get in."

She got into the carriage without another word. Her veiled hat slipped down over one ear as she did so. When she was seated, Julian leaned into the carriage to adjust the hat with an annoyed movement of his hand. Then he thrust the pistol case onto Sophy's lap. Without a word he removed himself from the carriage and slammed the door.