Charmed By Knight (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (19 page)

* * * *

The moment Megan’s head hit the pillow, she tried to make her weary mind rest. After what had happened last night between her and Edmund and how it kept her awake most of the night, she really looked forward to actually getting some sleep tonight. Although she willed her mind to sleep, she couldn’t shake her memories of the night before and the way he touched her, kissed her, and…loved her.

But it hadn’t been love at all.

She grumbled and turned in the bed, squeezing her eyes. She needed sleep. And thinking about Edmund wasn’t helping. And remembering the scandal he had created tonight at the ball wasn’t helping, either.

Finally, just as she got to the point of drifting off, the squeak of the bedroom door opening brought her alert. Soft footsteps approached her bed. She opened her eyes and jerked upright.

“Who’s there?”

“Miss, it’s me, Bertha.”

Megan scrunched her forehead. “Is something wrong with my parents?”

“No, it’s not your parents.”

When the maid passed in front of Megan’s window, the Bertha’s outline became visible from the full moon. She was still in her nightclothes.

“Then, what is it?” Megan asked.

“A messenger brought me a note just a few minutes ago.”

“At this late hour?”

“That’s exactly what I thought, but the messenger said it was urgent. It’s for you, milady.”

Megan took the note from her maid as Bertha hurried to light a candle. Once the room was bright enough to read, Megan opened the note and skimmed over the few sentences.
Edmund is in trouble. Lord Rollins challenged him to a duel at Becker’s Field. Morning break.
She looked further, but there was no signature.

Her heart dropped along with the note as it floated down to her lap.
A duel? That’s illegal!

Bertha wrung her hands against her stomach. “What is it?”

“Edmund is going to duel Lord Rollins at morning break.”

Bertha gasped. “Why that’s only a few hours away.”

“Quickly, get my clothes. I’m going to stop them.”

“You cannot, Miss Megan. It’s improper.”

“And so is dueling. Edmund will get arrested. I cannot have that.” Megan yanked off the blankets and jumped out of bed. “If Father thought Edmund’s actions at the ball had created a scandal, this will certainly cause him to have serious heart palpitations.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m not certain yet. But I cannot let this happen.”

If the authorities arrested Edmund, her wedding would certainly be called off. If that happened, she and her parents would be right back where they were before Megan met Edmund. At least with Edmund, a marriage proposal was on the table, which would save her family from living on the street – or having her wed an old, drunken lord.

Bertha ran to Megan’s closets and opened them. “Which dress would you like?”

“Does it matter? Just grab the first one you find.”

Megan combed her fingers through the tangles in her hair as Bertha proceeded to slip the yellow day dress over her head. It took a while, but finally it was in place, and Megan’s hair pulled back with a matching ribbon.

“Should I inform your parents?”

Megan spun around and grasped her maid’s hands. “Heaven’s no. They mustn’t know about this.” She glanced at Bertha’s nightgown and shook her head. “You need to get dressed, too. You must act as my chaperone.”

Bertha turned and ran from the room. Megan prayed her maid would keep her sanity together until everything was over, then Bertha could have a fit of the vapors.

What was she going to do? Fear grasped her chest, making it impossible to breathe. She’d never been put in a situation like this before. But standing by as Edmund and Lord Rollins met on the dueling field was out of the question. If only she could talk some sense into that drunken fool, Rollins. She was certain he was the one who instigated the duel.

It seemed she waited an eternity for her maid. When Bertha came rushing back into her room, dressed and presentable, Megan grabbed her hand and tiptoed down the stairs. With every step her heart hammered, and she feared it was loud enough to wake the dead. Once they were outside, they ran to the stable to saddle the horses.

“We will ride to Lord Rollins’ estate first,” Megan instructed her maid. “We have to do something to stop him.”

“That man is so bothersome. Why, he accosted you at the ball last night.”

“It doesn’t matter now. I must stop him from going to the dueling field.”

By the time they arrived at his estate, Megan feared it was too late. The morning birds had begun their awakening song, and although the sun had not yet peeked, crimson light lit the sky in certain areas. She ran to the front door and pounded. Several minutes later, a servant opened the door.

“I need to speak with Lord Rollins. It’s most important.”

“I’m afraid Miss, that his lordship left early this morning.”

“No,” she cried and spun around, running for her horse. Bertha kept up with her, and soon the two were back on the road. Riding sidesaddle, Megan pushed her mare as fast as she dared, worrying it wasn’t fast enough.

Finally, the field loomed several yards ahead of them. Four men stood in the shadows. Edmund was there, his tall, muscular frame giving him away. Her heart sank. Would she make it on time?

* * * *

Edmund had a plan. He just prayed he could injure the foolish lord and not kill him. The group of tall trees they had gathered in hid them from the road, and if all went well, Rollins and Lord
Eversley
would be on their way home shortly. Rollins, of course would be sporting a blade injury.

“I’m relieved you made it, Knight.” Rollins snickered and stepped forward. He puffed his chest. “I see you’re not as imprudent as I had first suspected.”

Edmund nodded. “You probably know me as well as the rest of the realm, so you must know I’m not one to turn down a challenge. I’m an excellent marksman at pistols, but even greater at swords. I will be more than happy to kill you if that is what you wish.”

Rollins laughed, handing his coat and hat to
Eversley
. “Sometimes I get you confused with the other pompous lords. Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t have a title. That’s the only way I can tell the difference.”

Edmund brushed off the comment and turned to Nick. “Would you choose my sword?”

Nick nodded.

An overconfident gleam appeared in Rollins’ eyes. Edmund’s lips quirked into a grin. Foolish man thought he had the upper hand. Edmund would have to prove the dolt wrong. Edmund held back the laugh threatening to bubble from his throat.
So far, so good.

Within minutes, Nick returned and handed a sword to him as Lord
Eversley
gave one to Rollins. Edmund checked his weapon over, making certain it was sharp and workable. Once he was satisfied, he gave an approval nod to Nick.

“Shall we begin?” Rollins asked.

“I suppose I’m as ready as I’m ever going to be.”

Both men took the pose. Edmund stretched his arms and legs, preparing to start. Off in a distance, the thundering beat of horses’ hooves jerked his attention away from his opponent. A woman’s familiar voice shouted in the distance.

He snapped around. Megan raced toward him on her horse. When the animal came to a halt, Lord Rollins ran over to her.

“Miss Ramsey, what are you doing here?” Rollins took her by the waist and helped her dismount.

“I just heard what you were doing, and I had to stop it,” she said, breathless.

She glanced at Edmund before looking back at Rollins. Edmund narrowed his eyes.
She’s up to something.

Lord Rollins shook his head. “This is no place for a woman.”

“You don’t understand. I cannot have you fighting Mr. Knight.”

“Miss Ramsey, this isn’t proper—”

“No, I’m very sorry, milord, but I insist.” She took a deep breath, looking as if she were trying to gain control. She gave Lord Rollins a sweet smile. “What a silly you are, my lord, to be contemplating a duel when you have already promised me a picnic this afternoon.”

Rollins’ eyes widened, and Edmund was certain his eyes were just as large. Megan couldn’t possibly be serious.

“But I thought you were upset with me.”

“You apologized, didn’t you?”

“Uh, yes, but—”

“Then why should I remain upset?”

Rollins touched Megan’s hand. “I’m relieved to know you don’t loathe me, but my honor is at stake. Mr. Knight disgraced me in front of the Hamptons’ guests last night, and I expect—”

“Lord Rollins.” She moved closer to him. “It’s very ill-mannered of you to treat me so poorly, and I’m shocked you would consider breaking your word to me. If the guests at Hampton’s ball ever discovered you broke your word, you would be disgraced ever so much more than what Mr. Knight could do.” She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

Edmund now guessed what she was about, and his heart swelled with pride. She cared for him; that was why she tried to stop the duel. Although she acted as if she were put out with Rollins, it was obvious where her heart lay.

“I will take you on the picnic
after
I have my duel,” Rollins said in a strangled voice.

“After? I think not. You will be too weary to be good company.”

She turned and faced Edmund. He hurried and lost his smile before anyone noticed.

“And you, Mr. Knight, cannot be so rude to deprive me of my afternoon escort.”

Edmund bit his lip, trying not to laugh. He covered it with his hand. Without giving Lord Rollins the opportunity to argue, she turned and faced his opponent with another smile.

“Now that we have that settled, Lord Rollins, will you please see me and my maid back home? I fear I’m dreadfully exhausted from this morning’s events.”

Once again, the stubborn woman didn’t give his opponent time to rebuke. She relieved him of his sword and handed it to Lord
Eversley
, who stood with his mouth agape. Over her shoulder she looked at Edmund and winked.

“Good day, Mr. Knight, and I pray you won’t meddle in other people’s affairs any longer.”

Edmund finally let himself smile as the very confused Rollins walked to his carriage with Megan.
Rollins’s
servant tied the two horses to the vehicle before they left the field.

Behind him, Nick laughed, which made him chuckle in response.

“Knight? Where did you find that woman?” He walked up to Edmund and stopped by his side.

“When I first met her, she had me confused with
Kelton
. Although our meeting was a mistaken identity, I’m thankful for whatever it was that brought us together.”

“Does Miss Ramsey know how much you love her?”

All laughter stopped. Edmund snapped his attention to his friend. “Love her? Certainly you jest.”

“No. I’m surprised you cannot feel it yourself. I can see it perfectly.”

Edmund paused as he tossed the idea around.
Love her? Do I truly love her?
His body warmed with the knowledge, and he smiled wide. “Nick, old man, I think I love her.”

“Does she know this?”

“No.”

“Are you going to tell her?”

“Someday. Maybe after we are married.”

“Why not before?”

Edmund shrugged. “Why not, indeed?” He laughed, and gathered his things to depart.

* * * *

Piercing light shone through Megan’s window, bringing her out of a sound sleep. She squinted and saw her mother hurrying to the next window to push back the curtains.

“Megan, you have a visitor downstairs.”

Megan shielded her eyes with her hand. Her hand bumped the cold compress covering her forehead, and she groaned. This morning’s upset still had her head throbbing, but at least she’d stopped the duel. Edmund wasn’t hurt, and wouldn’t be arrested.

“Dear, did you hear me?”

Megan rolled over in bed and sat up, holding herself still until the room stopped spinning. “Yes, Mother, I heard you.”

“Aren’t you curious to know who is here?”

She sighed. “Fine, then. I will play your game. Who’s here?”

Her mother chuckled. “Mr. Knight. I suppose he told you he was coming for both of us this afternoon to take us shopping?”

Her mother’s cheerful mood grated on Megan’s nerves. But of course her mother would be happy. Edmund was paying for everything.

“Yes, I remember him mentioning something about that last night.”

“Which makes me wonder why you told Lord Rollins you would go on a picnic this afternoon.”

Megan gasped. “Why? Is he here?”

“No. Lord Rollins sent a note stating that business matters came up and that he’d have to cancel your afternoon picnic.”

Megan blew out a gush of air between her teeth.

“So, my dear, if you had made plans with two men, why aren’t you up and ready?”