“The Earl has done me no harm, Andrew. You do not need to do anything rash.”
“Get out of the way, Ellen,” Andrew said coolly.
“Do you really want to cause a scene in the middle of the street? Ruin my honor?”
Andrew glanced around him. Sure enough, a small crowd was beginning to gather. “Meet me at home,” he said before turning around to get his horse. Andrew was waiting by the time the Ridlington carriage arrived in front of Grant Manor.
“Andrew, you must see reason,” Ellen cried as she stepped down from the carriage.
But Andrew ignored her and turned to the Earl who had now stepped down from the carriage. “Ridlington, you know the right thing to do. You have been found in a compromising situation with my unwed sister. If news of this gets out, her reputation will be damaged forever. Do right by my sister, and we shall have a quick wedding.”
“I will not be forced into marriage like this Andrew,” Ellen said, coming up to face her brother.
“This is no longer your decision to make. You lost that chance when you decided to be with a man unchaperoned,” the Duke replied without sparing Ellen so much as a glance.
Andrew faced Gerard. “Well, what shall it be?”
“No,” Gerard replied simply. Ellen turned to Gerard at his answer.
“What do you mean by no?” Andrew seethed.
“No, I will not be forced or be told what to do. I will especially not be forced into marriage against my will.”
“You fiend! Take back your words,” Andrew yelled, lunging forward to grip Gerard by his clothes, but Gerard simply regarded him with a cool look.
“I challenge you, then, to a duel for my sister’s honor.”
Ellen gasped and rushed to Andrew.
“Please, Brother, it does not have to result in that. Nothing happened, I swear it.”
“I am not a fool, Ellen. Now, if you will excuse me.”
Ellen ran to the Earl of Ridlington. “Gerard, please do not duel with my brother. If you have any sort of reserved affection toward me, please do not do this.” But the Earl of Ridlington ignored her as well.
“Oh, Gerard, do you hate me so much that you would rather duel with my brother than marry me?”
The Dowager stepped out then. “Andrew, pray tell. What is going on here?”
“I am handling the situation, Mama. You need not concern yourself with this.”
“That is nonsense. Why is the Earl of Ridlington here?” the Dowager asked, turning to face Ellen.
“Andrew?” the Dowager asked when Ellen refused to reply as well.
Andrew sighed. He had wanted to keep his mother away from this, knowing that she would fly into a destructive rage. “I found Ellen in a compromising situation,” he finally said through clenched teeth, careful to avoid Ellen’s gaze
Selina Bamber gasped and went silent for such a long moment that they all worried that she would faint.
“Surely, that cannot be true. Surely that cannot happen. Oh, dear! We will be the ridicule of London again! I cannot bear it,” the Dowager gasped.
“Mother, it is all right. I am handling it,” said the Duke.
“Who was she caught in a compromising situation with? I do not understand.”
“The Earl of Ridlington.”
The Dowager stood stunned as she stared at the Earl as if she was seeing him for the first time. “Then he shall simply do the right and proper thing, shall he not?” she asked.
