A Rose at Midnight Read Online Free

bide his time in the country, out of reach of Bow Street Runners and the authorities. It wouldn’t have been so bad if this were his first duel. In fact it was his seventh, and if his bad luck held, it would be his second fatality. Even his more sober family connections couldn’t keep him from the consequences of his current misdeeds.
    She’d told him so, too. She’d gone into great detail about his lack of manners and judgment, complaining bitterly about being evicted from her pleasant home because of his imprudence.
    He’d simply opened one eye and stared up at her from his lazy perch on her chaise. “You never used to be such a prig, Ellen,” he observed.
    “Did you have to mortally wound him, Nicky?” she responded with some asperity. “After all, you were in the wrong. Shouldn’t you have deloped?”
    “And gotten my head blown off for the trouble? I’m not such a fool.”
    “As a matter of fact, he did,” Taverner announced.
    Ellen had jumped, startled. She could never get used to the fact that Nicky’s valet seemed to consider himself an equal, joining into any conversation that suited his fancy. Not that she didn’t try to treat Ghislaine the same way. But Gilly kept erecting walls as fast as Ellen tried to tear them down.
    “What do you mean, he did?” she demanded irritably.
    “He means I deloped, more fool me,” Nicholas murmured. “Every now and then I have a noble moment. Jason Hargrove didn’t choose to be amenable and accept the token apology. If I hadn’t ducked we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
    “You needn’t sound so surprised. I mean, you are supposed to be killing each other when you fight a duel, aren’t you?”
    “Not necessarily. In Hargrove’s case I assumed he’d be satisfied with my apology, or failing that, first blood. Instead the man tried to murder me.”
    “Murder you?” she echoed, confused.
    “His first shot went wild,” Taverner offered. “Blackthorne bowed and turned his back, assuming honor was satisfied and all that rubbish. And then he shot again.”
    “At your back?” She was aghast.
    “At my back,” Nicholas said. “Not only that, he had another pistol in his greatcoat, and was reaching for that. I had no choice. I was fortunate his bad timing and abysmal lack of skill had saved me twice. I couldn’t count on that happening again.”
    “So you killed him.”
    “That remains to be seen. Last I heard he was still clinging to life with remarkable stamina. Don’t you know that only the good die young?”
    “That accounts for your advanced age,” Ellen said with some asperity. “But what does it say about me?”
    “Only that you might not be such a starched-up prig after all.” Nicholas was eyeing her with new, dangerous interest. “Maybe you should throw caution to the wind and stay here after all. You can’t expect to experience life if you don’t take a chance or two.”
    “Don’t even think it.” Her voice was severe. “You’ve known me since I was in leading-strings, and you should have enough sense to realize that we shouldn’t suit.”
    He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “I wasn’t suggesting marriage, Ellen. I have no intention of getting leg-shackled, ever. That doesn’t mean that I can’t introduce you to a few more… physical pleasures.”
    “Put a damper on it,” she replied, much pleased with herself. She wasn’t tempted, not even for a moment. Though she almost wished she were. “I don’t care what Carmichael says—I want you to leave as soon as possible. In the meantime, don’t cause trouble for my servants. Don’t harass the butler—he’s too old for your tricks. Don’t chase my chambermaids—they’re hard to find. And leave my cook alone!” This was said with unbecoming ferocity, and the moment the words were out of her mouth she knew she’d made a mistake.
    “The famous female chef?” Nicholas Blackthorne suddenly looked a great deal less drunk than he had moments before. “I