Author’s Note

Duels of honour were private encounters about real or imaginary insults. Duels with swords spread over Europe from Italy at the end of the fifteenth century. In France political duels were frequent in the nineteenth century and took place occasionally in the twentieth.

In England famous duels were those between Lord Castlereagh and George Canning in 1809 and between the Duke of Wellington and the tenth Earl of Winchelsea in 1829. An Act making duelling a Military affair in 1881 resulted in duels being fought abroad at Calais or Boulogne.

Hatchards bookshop still exists today at 190 Piccadilly.

Chapter One

“I see nothing in this that is remarkable,” the Honourable Richard Rowlands said, inspecting his newly tied cravat from every angle.

“There is a difference, sir,” his valet said respectfully.

“Well, to me it looks just a muddle,” Richard Rowlands responded disagreeably.

“I agree with you,” a voice came from the doorway.

The Honourable Richard swung around with an exclamation,

“Vargus! I did not know you had returned to London!”

“I arrived late last night,” the Earl of Hellington replied, “and I broke my own record, as I intended.”

“With new horses?”

“With the chestnuts I bought at Tattersalls when you were with me.”

“I thought they would prove outstanding,” Richard Rowlands said. “Sit down, Vargus, and have a glass of champagne or would you prefer brandy?”

“It’s too early in the day for either,” the Earl answered, “but I would like a cup of coffee.”

His friend made a face.

“Beastly stuff except when one wants to keep awake.”

“I thought you had more alluring attractions to do that for you,” the Earl remarked mockingly.

He sat down in a comfortable armchair as he spoke and crossed his legs, his polished Hessian boots with their gold tassels shining in a manner that brought a look of admiration into the valet’s eyes as he moved from the room to fetch the coffee the Earl preferred.

Richard Rowlands made no effort to continue dressing, but turned around to sit in his shirtsleeves looking his friend over critically.

“You look damned well!” he said. “I suppose it’s the country air.”

“I have been out in all weathers, training a new horse I intend to win every steeplechase with in the County,” the Earl replied.

“You always do,” Richard said laconically, “and it’s not surprising, considering you always have the best horses because you train them yourself.”

“That is the secret, my dear Richard,” the Earl said. “If you stopped chasing women and concentrated on horses, you would find yourself a better equestrian and very much better in health!”

His friend gave a laugh.

“At the moment the only thing I could afford to train would be a mule that no one else had any use for.”

“Under the hatches?” the Earl asked sympathetically.