The smaller man nodded his head. “It’s about this silly challenge you’ve issued Weston…you don’t intend to go through with it, do you? The man is known for his abilities in the boxing ring.”

“As am I,” Carlisle said with a scowl. Impudent upstart. Who did he think he was, cautioning him against Weston?

“I have no doubt, but you seem to be forgetting the goal of the exercise—to protect Lady Weston from his inhuman rages. How do you think she’ll fare once he takes out his anger on her?”

“Anger at my beating him in the ring? She won’t be responsible for that.”

“No, but she is responsible for having you detained, and forcing Weston into a public apology. No man in his right mind would let his wife get away with such brazen actions, especially a man of Weston’s pride. She’ll pay for her little plan and pay dearly, unless I miss my guess.”

Carlisle digested this unpalatable news. “She was trying to protect him; surely you don’t think he’d—”

“He has every right to beat her for interfering, and when his humiliation at your hands is added to his rage, well…” The smaller man spread his hands and shrugged. “It will be all over for her. Perhaps you can save the next bride.”

“No, dammit, I’ll save this one!” Carlisle snarled, his face twisted with pain. “I couldn’t save Elizabeth from that monster’s wrath, but I’ll save this Lady Weston.”

The small man sat back with a satisfied grin, his fingers steepled together. “I have an idea about how you might just do that. I’ve taken a house in the country. If we move up the plan to tonight, I will place my house at your disposal. There’s no safer location for her—Weston’d never think of seeking her there.”

Carlisle waved away a man offering libations and watched the smaller man fidget with his watch fobs, wondering if he should chance speaking bluntly.

“I thought you were on your uppers? The word around town is that you can’t meet your vowels, yet you’ve taken a house?”

The man flushed angrily. “My finances are no concern of yours. Now, do you want to save Lady Weston or not? Be quick, man, her life is at stake! You should know that more than anyone!”

Carlisle narrowed his eyes at the impudent manner in which he was addressed. He was tempted to walk away from the plan, but the memory of his failure to save Elizabeth haunted him still. He couldn’t allow that history to repeat itself.

He nodded his agreement.

***

“Ladies, we have an emergency!” Gillian declared as she strode into her sitting room, Nick on her heels. “Lord Weston and Lord Carlisle are going to—”

“—have a duel by fisticuffs, yes, we know,” Beverly interrupted her.

Gillian frowned. “How do you know? I just learned of it from my cousin!”

Beverly shrugged.

“We tend to hear things of import in the ton, my lady,” Madelyn said. “We have to be current with the latest on-dits if we are to be successful.”