S tirling scanned the ballroom for Chastity. He was positive she was up to something. She was being too nice. He suspected that even under the best of circumstances, she wasn’t overly ‘nice’ to anyone. The woman was a born duchess. The set-down she'd given Miss Doncaster had been brilliant. Chastity had looked down her nose at the girl like a true aristocrat. And the young lady had deserved everything Chastity had dished out.

Chastity wasn't made to be amenable, and yet she was being far too amenable.

He caught sight of her on the left side of the ballroom, hurrying toward a hallway.  She glanced back and he tensed. That look had been odd. She acted as if she didn't want anyone to see her.

He started across the ballroom, dodging guests and brushing off greetings. He reached the hallway and quickened pace. Light footsteps echoed up ahead. He turned a corner and heard the click of a door shutting, up ahead on the left. What the devil was she up to? Surely, she wouldn't go so far as to compromise herself in order to get him to break their betrothal? Stirling quickened pace. Whoever the man was, Stirling would kill him.

He reached the room and burst inside. A low fire burned in the study’s hearth. Something rustled on the divan that faced the fire. Stirling crossed the room, skirted two chairs and rounded the couch. He halted at sight of the naked woman sprawled on the cushions.

Linda Dorring stared up at him. "I thought you would never get here," she purred.

Confusion quickly gave way to understanding. Chastity didn't intend to compromise herself. She intended to compromise him. He wanted to laugh. The lass had no understanding of the ways of men. She counted on her father protecting her from a rake who would bed a woman on the eve of his marriage. Stirling wouldn’t do something so despicable, and he would wager the duke knew that. His Grace was sure to see through the plot and marry her to Hathaway, as he’d threatened. That, Stirling could not allow.

He turned and headed for the door. Two paces from the door, he stopped when the duke stepped into the threshold. Stirling silently cursed. No matter,he would turn things around.

"Your Grace," he said. "I am in a bit of a hurry."

The duke's gaze shifted past him. Linda Dorring gasped, and a small thud told Stirling she’d fallen off the couch. The duke’s eyes narrowed and swung back to Stirling’s.

"I only just arrived and, as you can see, I'm fully dressed with not a hair out of place—and I nearly collided with you on my way out the door," Stirling said.

The duke’s expression hardened. "Then what is this about?"

"Your daughter’s handiwork, I suspect."

The older man blinked, then his expression turned thunderous. "This goes too far. I release you of all obligation—in fact, I would not wish my daughter off on a man of your caliber. I will marry her to Hathaway first thing tomorrow."

Behind Stirling, something dragged across the floor, but he ignored the sound, and said, "We have an agreement, Your Grace, and I intend to hold you to it."

Surprise shown on the duke’s face. "You cannot want her after this."

Stirlingchuckled. "As strange as it is, I want her more."

The duke frowned. "I wonder if Chastity is correct. Are you mad?"

"In all likelihood, I am. What man who wants to marry isn't just a little bit mad?"

The older man’s expression turned speculative. "Are you saying it is not the title you want, but my daughter?"

Stirling nodded in the direction of the hallway. "Perhaps we should speak outside."

The duke backed up two paces and Stirling followed, pulling the door closed behind him. He took several steps away from the door. The duke followed.

Stirling slowed, took a few more steps, then stopped and faced the duke. "In truth, sir, I have no need for the title."

"I'll be damned," the duke murmured. "I love my daughter, but I must ask, why?"

Stirling shrugged. "She is magnificent."

The duke’s brow furrowed, then his expression cleared. "She is more like her mother than I care to admit."

"I imagine, then, she was a rather magnificent woman, as well," Stirling said.

A soft light entered the older man's eyes. "More than I can convey."

"Then you understand how I feel."

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.

"You asked to speak with me, sir," she said. "I had no intention of engaging in an illicit encounter with you."

He touched his head and grimaced. "A lady doesn't agree to meet a man alone unless she--"

Stirling yanked free of the two and reached Dorring in twobounds. He drove his fist into the man's jaw. They hit the floor and rolled. Again, the duke pulled Stirling off Dorring.

"Enough," the duke shouted.

"Aye," Stirling growled. "Tomorrow morning, Dorring. The clearing near Kinlochie Castle.”

"What?" Dorring blinked. "You can't be serious. No one duels anymore."

Stirling gave a harsh laugh. "Your ignorance only demonstrates your cowardice. Dueling is very much alive among men of honor."

"Among fools, perhaps." Dorring pushed to his feet.

Stirling gave him a cold smile. "Then I must be the greatest of fools. Tomorrow morning at dawn."

Chastity gasped.

"I don't duel," Dorring said. "It is illegal."

"Be there, or I will pull you out of bed and drag you there."

Dorring looked at the duke. "Reason with him, Your Grace."

The duke's expression hardened. "Chastity is my daughter. If James doesn't kill you, I will."

"Papa," Chastity cried.

"Silence," he ordered.

Dorring looked from the duke to Chastity, then stormed from the room.

Chastity rushed to her father's side. "Papa, Mr. Dorring is right. Dueling is illegal—not to mention dangerous. Someone could get killed."

He regarded her. "You should have thought of that before you came to this room alone with him. What in God's name possessed you? You know better."

She shook her head. "He said he needed to speak with me."

"Speak with you? What could he possibly have to speak with you about?" His gaze bored into her and Stirling felt sorry for her.

"Your Grace, it was an innocent mistake," Stirling said.

"Was it?" He still glared at her.

"I can deal with Dorring," Stirling said. "There is no need to worry the lass."

"I ask you again, Chastity," the duke’s gaze locked on her face, "what could Dorringpossibly have to speak with you about?"

"Sir," Stirling began, but she cut him off.

"He is right. I shouldn't have been here alone with Mr. Dorring. I am to blame."

"You meant no harm," Stirling said.

"Aye, but I did. I intended to tarnish your reputation."

He nodded. “I know."

"What?" She looked from him to her father, then collapsed onto the chair beside her. "Oh dear, that's why you're together. I have made a mess of everything."

Her father opened his mouth to reply, but Stirling said, "Not so big a mess."

Her father gave him a nod, and Chastity realized Sir Stirling had saved her from a well-deserved set-down. An unexpected desire to cry surfaced and she feared she would further embarrass herself.

Chastity took a breath and rose. "No harm was done. There is no need to endanger yourself by meeting Mr. Dorring tomorrow at dawn."

Sir Stirling smiled gently. “You may not understand, Lady Chastity, but there is every need to meet him tomorrow."

"Please do not give me the drivel that your manly honor must be preserved."

His expression further softened. "Nae, my lady, it is your honor that must be upheld."