Devil's Cub

by Georgette Heyer

‘So that’s the truth, is it?’ said Miss Challoner severely to herself. ‘You are in love with him, and you’ve known it for weeks.’

‘I could manage him,’ she sighed. ‘Oh, but I could!’

She smiled lovingly at him.

He sounded cross; she wanted to take his face between her hands and kiss away his ill-humour. ‘No, sir, I am not mistaken.’

‘My future, if you please.’ He looked frowningly at her. ‘That’s my affair, ma’am.’

Come, can’t you stomach me as a husband?’

The Marquis looked at the contents of the bowl in the silence of amazement.

‘Oho!’

Mary said unhappily: ‘I’ve begged you – I’ve prayed you to help me escape from this net. Do you care for me so little?’ ‘I love you so much I’m quite delighted to think you are to be my cousin,’ responded Miss Marling.

Why was that fellow holding your hands?’ ‘For comfort,’ said Miss Challoner desolately. He held out his own. ‘Give them to me.’ Miss Challoner shook her head. There was a curious lump in her throat that made speech impossible.

But Mr Comyn was deeply hurt, and he did not recognise in these signs a perverted expression of his Juliana’s love for him.

‘Where is Mary Challoner?’

‘You’re a fool, Ju. What’s the game you’re playing? Trying to make him jealous, eh? It won’t work.’

‘You’ve chosen the wrong man for these tricks of yours.

‘I don’t mean that I want him to be really like you,’ explained Miss Marling. ‘It’s merely that – oh, I can’t tell! But supposing you loved me, Dominic, and I – well, flirted, if you must use that horrid word – with another man: what would you do?’ ‘Kill him,’ said the Marquis flippantly.

Vidal, you’d not let another man steal the lady you loved, would you? Do answer soberly!’ The smile still lingered on his lips, but she saw his teeth shut hard. ‘Soberly, Ju, I would not.’

‘What would you do?’ inquired Miss Marling, momentarily diverted by curiosity. His lordship was silent for a minute, and the smile faded, leaving his face strangely harsh. A tiny snap sounded under his fingers. He glanced down at them, and the grim look left his face. ‘I’ve spoiled your fan, Ju,’ he said, and gave it her back.

‘Where’s Mary Challoner?’ ‘She wouldn’t come.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘To say truth, Vidal, I believe she did not desire to meet you.’ ‘Fiend seize her!’ said his lordship unemotionally, and went off.

Miss Marling emerged from her alcove to find him gone. When he did not reappear she realised that he had left the ball, and had no difficulty in guessing his present whereabouts.

his wine. ‘Because I am obliged to?’ he said. ‘I mean to marry Mary Challoner because I’m devilish sure I can’t live without her.’

‘You may have married her,’ he said fiercely, ‘but she is mine, do you hear me?