Page 10 of How to Catch an Heiress

The duke gave a slow nod. "When I shared Chastity’s ridiculous scheme to marry off her sisters, you were quick to accept the challenge. I believed you saw the opportunity to elevate your station in life. It never occurred to me you had any other interest."

"You couldn't know. Now, if you'll excuse me, I feel I must deal with my future bride."

To Stirling’s surprise, the duke laughed. "Do what you think best. Take my advice, lad, and remember that the Roxburgh women are as intelligent as they are beautiful."

Stirling grinned. “I am counting on that very thing, sir." He started to turn away, then stopped. "Would you consider helping me teach your daughter a lesson?"

His brows rose. "What sort of lesson?"

"Am I right in assuming that someone sent you to this room?"

The duke reached into his pocket and pulled out a small sliver of paper. He unfolded it and handed it to Stirling. The note read ‘Please meet me in the study. Second door on the left down the hallway.’

Stirling nodded. "Lady Chastity believed you would catch me in the throes of an illicit encounter. I imagine she believed you would call off our engagement, and pack her off home, and that would be the end of that. It never occurred to her that had you caught me with another woman, you might feel the need to defend her honor."

A slow smile spread across the duke’s face. "In the future, she might think twice about dabbling in such an idiotic plan if she better understood the consequences. She will spend a sleepless night tonight, wondering which one of us will kill the other in defense of her honor."

"It is a hard lesson," Stirling said.

"One she dearly needs to learn," he replied.

"I will enter the ballroom first and do my best to make sure she sees me leave. If you find her immediately and tell her you're leaving, she will assume you caught me with Mrs. Dorring."

The duke nodded. "She will, of course, try to get me to tell her what happened."

"Exactly. Tomorrow, you can inform her that you spoke with me, and came to understand that I wasn't engaged in a rendezvous with the woman, but that I had tried to extricate myself from the situation. You do understand, I would not have her think that I would do that to her?"

The duke nodded. "Of course. You go along. I will follow in a few minutes."

A moment later, Stirling turned the bend in the hallway and slowed at the sound of voices inside the room to his left. Was that Chastity's voice? He crept to the door and strained to hear the voices beyond the thick wood. He discerned the muffled sound of the man's voice, but couldn't discern the words. The woman cried out.

Stirling threw open the door. Mr. Dorring held Chastity pinned against the sideboard located beside a small hearth. Chastity seized the clock from the mantle and bashed the side of his head.

He cried out as Stirling lunged forward. Chastity's gaze snapped onto him, eyes wide. Stirling seized Dorring's arm, and threw an upper cut to his jaw. Dorring flew backwards and crashed into a small table, then he hit the floor, and rolled to his feet as Stirling leapt toward him. Dorring drove a fist into Stirling’s gut. Stirling was vaguely aware of Chastity’s scream as he drove Dorring backward. They collided with another table and lamp.

Dorring threw an arm around Stirling's throat. Stirling hauled Dorring over his shoulder. The man hit the carpet on his back, then pushed to his knees. Chastity stepped into view and before Stirling could speak she whacked him across the side of the face with a large book. The man wavered. Stirling started toward him, then large hands seized his shoulders and yanked him backwards. He ripped free and whirled, fist raised.

"Stop!" Chastity shouted.

Stirling registered the duke's face and froze. He heaved in heavy breaths.

"What happened?" the duke demanded.

Stirling swung on Chastity. “Mr. Dorring assaulted Chastity."

The duke's eyes jerked onto her. "Is this true?"

She nodded.

"What the blazes were you doing alonewith him?"

She opened her mouth to reply, then looked helplessly at Stirling. Dorring moaned and opened his eyes. Stirling lunged for him. The duke seized his arm and yanked him back.

"He is unconscious. You will hang for killing a defenseless man."

"I don't give a damn," Stirling snapped.

The man sat up and blinked. "She came with me of her own accord, you bastard,” he snapped at Stirling.