The Serpent Prince (Princes #3)(96)

She shivered and turned away. It was horrible to have to wait for him like this. She’d never known before what he was doing. But now . . . She’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 welcome him as a loving wife should. She would get him a glass of wine, she would rub his shoulders, and she would make it clear that she was staying with 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 more roses, with a single treatise, probably valuable, on fencing. She selected a large volume on roses and placed it on the edge of the desk. She was about to open it, perhaps learn enough to be able to discuss the flower with 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 moment, her neck still crooked; then Lucy straightened 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 known what despair I would bring you, I swear I would’ve done my damnedest not to be left half dead almost at your doorstep that afternoon, so long ago now. But then I wouldn’t have met you—and already I am forsworn. For even knowing the pain I’ve brought you, I do not regret loving you, my angel. I am a selfish, uncaring cad, but there it is. I cannot unmake myself. Meeting you was the most wondrous thing 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 my grave an unrepentant sinner, I’m afraid. There is no use in mourning one such as I, dearest. I hope you can resume your life in Maiden Hill, perhaps marry that handsome vicar. De Raaf has my business papers and will look after you as long as you need him.

—Your Husband, Simon

Lucy’s hands were shaking so badly the paper cast wild shadows against the wall, and it took her a moment to see the postscript at the bottom:

P.S. Actually, there is one thing I regret. I would’ve very much liked to have made love to you one more time. Or three. —S

She laughed, horribly, through the tears blurring her vision. How like Simon to make salacious jokes even while writing a farewell love letter. For that was what 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. Somehow reading Simon’s words as if he were already dead made the waiting far worse. It was just another duel, she tried to reassure herself. How many had he fought 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 Simon’s conservatory. She placed her palm against the wooden door, so solid and comforting, and pushed. Perhaps if she strolled the greenhouse 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 man was narrow-chested with large, bony hands springing strangely from the delicate wrists of a girl. He blinked nervously in the lantern light and almost shied when Simon turned to him.

Oh, grand. The end of his life would be presided over by a boy hardly old enough to shave. “Yes, yes,” Simon muttered impatiently. He tore open the neck of his shirt, popping 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, presumably to confirm that he wasn’t wearing chain mail under his shirt.

“Let’s get on with it.” Simon swung his arms, trying to keep warm. There was no point in donning his waistcoat and coat again. He’d be sweating soon enough, even in shirtsleeves.

Twenty feet away, he could see de Raaf. The big man grunted and gave Christian back his sword. The younger man nodded and walked toward Simon. Simon studied him. Christian’s face was white and set, his ginger hair like a dark flame. The boy was tall and handsome. No lines marred his cheeks. Only months ago at Angelo’s academy, Christian had walked toward him as he did now. Simon’s regular sparring partner had reneged, and Angelo had sent him Christian to practice against instead. On that occasion, the young man’s face had betrayed nervousness, curiosity, and a little awe. Now his face was expressionless. He’d learned well in just a few months.

“Ready?” Christian’s voice was without inflection.

The thin-wristed second approached to give Simon back his sword. “Ought we to wait until it’s brighter? The sun isn’t even up.”

“No.” Simon took his sword and pointed with the tip. “Put the lanterns to either side of us.”