Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Prudence was infuriated by Trevor’s interpretation of events. “If you want my opinion, Angelstone
showed the sort of mature, respon-sible behavior one would expect in a well-bred gentleman. If you truly
believe he’s a coward, then you are a fool, Trevor.”
“Now, Prue, calm yourself. Truth is, the man’s a coward and that’s a fact. By this evening, the entire
social world will know it.”
“Rubbish. Utter rubbish.” Prudence picked up her skirts and dashed up the carpeted stairs.
Angelstone had kept his word. He had spared Trevor’s life. Pru-dence prayed that the Fallen Angel
would not put too high a price on the damage she had apparently done to his formidable reputation.
Chapter Four
Four days later on the night of the Thornbridge ball,
Prudence decided she had had enough. She was thoroughly annoyed with Sebastian and she let him
know it the moment he sought her out in the crowd.
“My lord, you are making a laughingstock out of my brother.”
Sebastian, dark and predatory-looking in his black and white eve-ning clothes, managed to make every
other man in the room look like a fop. He seemed unsurprised and unmoved by Prudence’s accusation.
His mouth curved in the familiar humorless smile.
“At least he is a live laughingstock rather than a dead one,” he said. “Isn’t that what you wanted, Miss
Merryweather?”
She glowered at him through her spectacles. He was being deliber-ately difficult. “No, it is not what I
wanted. Not precisely, that is.”
Sebastian’s brow rose inquiringly. “You would rather I had ac-cepted one or two of the numerous
challenges I have received from him in the past few days?”
“Certainly not. You know perfectly well that the last thing I wanted was a duel between the two of you.
That was the very thing that I wished to avoid.”
“You have gotten your wish.” Sebastian’s amber eyes gleamed. “I have kept my end of the bargain.
Why are you berating me, Miss Merryweather?”
Prudence felt herself turning pink at the reminder of the deal they had struck in his library. “You know
perfectly well I expected you to handle this entire matter in a more subtle manner, my lord. I did not think
you would turn it into a joke.”
The realization of exactly how Sebastian was dealing with her brother’s outrage had finally come to
Prudence earlier that afternoon. Hester, torn between amusement and affection for Trevor, had out-lined
the latest gossip to Prudence only a few hours ago.
“It is common knowledge that Trevor is issuing a challenge every time he learns that Angelstone had
talked to you or danced with you,” Hester had explained over tea.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Oh, no.” Prudence had gazed at her friend in shock. “Why on earth can’t Trevor learn to keep his
mouth closed?”
Hester had shrugged. “He’s very young, my dear. And quite deter-mined to protect you. In any event,
Angelstone has made a game of the entire affair. He promptly sends a flowery apology each time Trevor
calls him out.”
“And Trevor accepts it?”
“There is nothing else the boy can do. Angelstone’s reputation is not harmed in the least because no one
would dream of suspecting him of cowardice. His reputation is far too formidable. There isn’t a soul who
believes he is actually afraid to meet Trevor.”
Prudence had brightened slightly. “I suppose everyone realizes Angelstone is showing compassion and a
mature nature by refusing to meet my brother.”
“Not quite, my dear,” Hester had said. “The assumption is that Angelstone is refraining from putting a
bullet in poor Trevor because he is reluctant to cause you distress.”
“I don’t understand.”
Hester sighed. “It’s perfectly obvious, Prue. Everyone believes Angelstone is indulging you for the
moment because they believe you are marked as the Fallen
Prudence was infuriated by Trevor’s interpretation of events. “If you want my opinion, Angelstone
showed the sort of mature, respon-sible behavior one would expect in a well-bred gentleman. If you truly
believe he’s a coward, then you are a fool, Trevor.”
“Now, Prue, calm yourself. Truth is, the man’s a coward and that’s a fact. By this evening, the entire
social world will know it.”
“Rubbish. Utter rubbish.” Prudence picked up her skirts and dashed up the carpeted stairs.
Angelstone had kept his word. He had spared Trevor’s life. Pru-dence prayed that the Fallen Angel
would not put too high a price on the damage she had apparently done to his formidable reputation.
Chapter Four
Four days later on the night of the Thornbridge ball,
Prudence decided she had had enough. She was thoroughly annoyed with Sebastian and she let him
know it the moment he sought her out in the crowd.
“My lord, you are making a laughingstock out of my brother.”
Sebastian, dark and predatory-looking in his black and white eve-ning clothes, managed to make every
other man in the room look like a fop. He seemed unsurprised and unmoved by Prudence’s accusation.
His mouth curved in the familiar humorless smile.
“At least he is a live laughingstock rather than a dead one,” he said. “Isn’t that what you wanted, Miss
Merryweather?”
She glowered at him through her spectacles. He was being deliber-ately difficult. “No, it is not what I
wanted. Not precisely, that is.”
Sebastian’s brow rose inquiringly. “You would rather I had ac-cepted one or two of the numerous
challenges I have received from him in the past few days?”
“Certainly not. You know perfectly well that the last thing I wanted was a duel between the two of you.
That was the very thing that I wished to avoid.”
“You have gotten your wish.” Sebastian’s amber eyes gleamed. “I have kept my end of the bargain.
Why are you berating me, Miss Merryweather?”
Prudence felt herself turning pink at the reminder of the deal they had struck in his library. “You know
perfectly well I expected you to handle this entire matter in a more subtle manner, my lord. I did not think
you would turn it into a joke.”
The realization of exactly how Sebastian was dealing with her brother’s outrage had finally come to
Prudence earlier that afternoon. Hester, torn between amusement and affection for Trevor, had out-lined
the latest gossip to Prudence only a few hours ago.
“It is common knowledge that Trevor is issuing a challenge every time he learns that Angelstone had
talked to you or danced with you,” Hester had explained over tea.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
“Oh, no.” Prudence had gazed at her friend in shock. “Why on earth can’t Trevor learn to keep his
mouth closed?”
Hester had shrugged. “He’s very young, my dear. And quite deter-mined to protect you. In any event,
Angelstone has made a game of the entire affair. He promptly sends a flowery apology each time Trevor
calls him out.”
“And Trevor accepts it?”
“There is nothing else the boy can do. Angelstone’s reputation is not harmed in the least because no one
would dream of suspecting him of cowardice. His reputation is far too formidable. There isn’t a soul who
believes he is actually afraid to meet Trevor.”
Prudence had brightened slightly. “I suppose everyone realizes Angelstone is showing compassion and a
mature nature by refusing to meet my brother.”
“Not quite, my dear,” Hester had said. “The assumption is that Angelstone is refraining from putting a
bullet in poor Trevor because he is reluctant to cause you distress.”
“I don’t understand.”
Hester sighed. “It’s perfectly obvious, Prue. Everyone believes Angelstone is indulging you for the
moment because they believe you are marked as the Fallen
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