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from her seat and leapt between them.
    “This is very foolish, Mr. Harding, I will not allow you to meet Lord Ravenscroft in a duel. I assure you he will kill you.”
    “Yes, I will,” he said from behind her as she faced the younger man.
    “He will shoot you down like a dog in the street and not lose a moment’s sleep nor miss a meal over you.”
    “Wait a minute,” Raven began, incensed at her description of him.
    She truly thought him an animal, incapable of anything but base emotions.
    Mr. Harding bowed formally to her. “I care not, Miss Rutledge.
    He outraged your honour and I will call him out for it. If I die, then I will consider that a worthy price to pay.”
    “Actually I was mistaken over that particular detail,” Evangeline said quickly, clearly trying to placate him and smooth the situation over. “So you see there is no need to call his lordship out.”
    “Oh, let him if he insists.” Raven smiled hungrily. It was a good while since he had had a duel. “Choose your weapons, boy, swords or pistols. I’ll kill you with either. Your choice.”
    Mr. Harding drew himself up. “My father was a grenadier, he taught me to use a sword very well.”
    “Excellent!” Raven grinned wolfishly.
    “Are you mad?” Evangeline said into the young man’s face.
    “Look at the length of his arms, you won’t stand a chance. You’ll never get near enough to nick off a button.”
    Taking a hard look, the young man changed his mind. “You’re right, pistols would be easier.”
    “Never mind pistols, I simply won’t hear of such behaviour,”
    Evangeline said, while Raven stood back watching with a smile. “You will get on the afternoon coach and go back to the boarding house.”

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    “I will wait for you, Miss Rutledge, to assist you and protect you.
    I won’t leave you within arm’s reach of this cur.”
    “Did you just call me a cur?” Raven’s voice rose threateningly.
    He reached across Evangeline to clout the young man across the head again.
    Evangeline thrust him back with her elbow. “His lordship did not outrage me, Mr. Harding. In my innocence I thought he had but thank God he had not. His greatest sin against me is merely lying and kidnapping.”
    “Merely! Is that not enough, Miss Rutledge?”
    “It is certainly a good deal, Mr. Harding, but after what I thought he had done I feel quite suddenly far less abused than I did when I woke up this morning. I am prepared to allow the matter to sink into obscurity without resorting to the courts which would only sully me further.”
    “You can’t forgive him after what he has done to you. The man belongs behind bars. Newgate is too good for him. Send him to Coldbath Fields, let them put him on the treadmill, that’s what I say.”
    “I’m going to slit his throat if he utters another word,” Raven said.
    His tone was such that young Harding knew the game was up. A public duel with the whole village watching and a young lady clutching her bosom while he risked his life was an appealing thought. But having his throat slit quietly and without fanfare was far more frightening. His cheeks flaming, he bowed and withdrew while the assemblage, Evangeline in the forefront, sighed with relief.
    Even Mrs. Brackett cast up her eyes. “Thank God he’s gone. He was becoming a nuisance.”
    “Excellent! Let’s get down to business,” Raven said.
    “Never mind business,” Mrs. Brackett said firmly. “You can follow that young fool and take yourself off. Me and Miss Evie’s going to have a bit more to eat and then get ourselves up to our room and have a nice rest. In the morning we’ll be on our way back to the civilized world. London!”

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    Rory Dancer took Raven’s arm. “Yes, it is time we left also. We’ll bid you both good day, ladies.” Protests sprang to Raven’s lips but remained there under Rory Dancer’s forbidding gaze.

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Chapter Twelve
    Evangeline had searched the inn, the courtyard, and then the street for more than an hour for Mrs. Brackett. The woman had left her putting on the fur-lined cloak over her wedding gown while she paid the innkeeper and carried her small bag down to the courtyard where the coach drew in.
    “Have you seen my companion?” she asked the innkeeper when she entered the courtyard once more to see him washing his hands at the outside pump.
    “No, Miss, not since she put her bag by the back gate ready for the coach. It should be here any