Page 87 of A Devious Secret

“I would.” Stephen walked over to the main door and opened it, not bothering to wait for his butler.

He followed Marielle and Hugh out the door and into the waiting coach. Once the door was closed, Marielle asked, “Why were you at the Scarlet Lady?”

“I was looking for someone,” Stephen replied.

Marielle was not appeased by his vague response. “You will need to reveal more of yourself if you want to convince Gemma to stay.”

Stephen sighed. “I was looking for my first lieutenant and I was told that he frequented the Scarlet Lady. I was only there long enough to discover what boarding house he was residing at and then I left.”

“Did you find him at the boarding house?” Marielle questioned.

“I did not, but I won’t stop searching until I find him,” Stephen said.

Marielle exchanged a glance with Hugh before saying, “Perhaps he doesn’t want to be found and you are on a fool’s errand.”

“Regardless, Hawthorne is helping me track the man down,” Stephen shared.

If Hugh was surprised by his brother’s involvement, he didn’t show it. “If Nathaniel is helping you, then you will find him.”

Marielle crossed her arms over her chest and asked, “Can you kindly explain the duel to us?”

“I had little choice in the matter,” Stephen contended.

“That seems unlikely,” Marielle muttered.

With a glance out the window, Stephen said, “It was discovered that a seaman had disguised herself as a man and was working aboard our ship. One of the lieutenants started making lewd comments about her and I caught him trying to force himself upon her.”

Stephen continued. “When I confronted him, he told me to mind my own business and that the captain had placed him in charge of the young woman. I knew by the time I spoke to the captain that it would be too late. So, I challenged him to a duel and he accepted.”

“You had a duel on the ship?” Hugh asked.

“It wasn’t my brightest idea, but we both found seconds and we met on the main deck,” Stephen said. “My shot hit him in the side, and he almost died. We both were subjected to a court-martial, but we were both let off with a warning.”

Marielle uncrossed her arms. “What happened to the young woman?”

“Since I won the duel, the captain assigned me to watch over her until we arrived back in England,” Stephen explained. “I knew she wasn’t safe on a ship full of men so I had her sleep on my hammock in my quarters while I slept on the ground.”

“You expect me to believe that nothing happened between you two?” Marielle asked.

“I do, because it is the truth,” Stephen said. “Once we arrived back in England, she was escorted off the ship and I have never seen her again.”

Marielle considered him for a moment before saying, “I believe you.”

“Thank heavens for that,” Stephen muttered.

“But I am not the one that you need to convince,” Marielle said. “I have no doubt that Gemma is really hurt and confused right now.”

Stephen ran a hand through his hair. “How did the newssheets even discover my involvement in the duel?”

“It came from Lord Hawkinge,” Hugh said. “Gemma had mentioned that her brother-in-law doesn’t exactly approve of you.”

The coach came to a stop in front of Lord Montfort’s townhouse and Stephen didn’t wait for the footman to open the door. He hurried up to the main door and was pleased when it was opened by the butler.

“I have come to call on Lady Hawkinge,” Stephen declared, reaching for his calling card.

The butler gave him an apologetic look. “I do apologize, but Lady Hawkinge is not available for callers at this time.”

“Will you not at least ask her?” Stephen asked.