Part 10


“Double,” Joshua said, laying his card on the table.

His friend Rene smiled, placing his own card down. “Double,” he returned, his attention shifting from the cards to the commotion at the club door. “He’s here,” Rene observed.

“Finally,” Joshua said. “I was beginning to believe he’d never realize what was happening.” He laid another card on the table. “Triple.”

“Bastard,” Rene countered without malice. He watched Joshua as Christophe Patrice approached their table. The Duc was cool and calm, unlike Patrice, whose anger seemed to have turned him a most unbecoming shade of purple.

“De Tournville!” Patrice shouted. “I demand that you stop at once!”

Joshua flicked a dismissing glace at Patrice, resuming his dealing of the cards. “What are you talking about, Christophe?” He picked up his hand, nodding to Rene while placing a card on the table. “Double.”

“You know damn well what I’m talking about,” Christophe said. “You’ve somehow convinced all the creditors in Paris to cut me off?”

“I did?”

“You know you did,” Christophe insisted.

Joshua shrugged, his focus never leaving the card game. “I’m not sure how I could possibly be responsible for the fact that every merchant in the city had finally realized you’re a bad bet.”

“And you’re a criminal,” Christophe countered.

Joshua turned an icy gaze on the other man. “You forget to whom you are speaking, Christophe,” Joshua warned. “Watch yourself when addressing your betters.”

“My betters?” Christophe spat. “You? You’re nothing but a freak, a fucking sodomite who helps convicted murders to escape!”

“Did I?” Joshua smiled. “The court ruled there was too much evidence, too many witnesses that proved otherwise.”

There was a murmur of laughter through the room as most of those “witnesses” were present in the club this night.

“You still did it,” Christophe insisted. “I don’t care what the court said.”

“And you murdered the Countess de Chanté, Christophe,” Joshua countered. “No matter what the court said.”

While some might have thought it possible, no one had ever accused him to his face of the murder. “How dare you!”

“Oh, I dare,” Joshua said, rising of his chair to tower over the smaller man. “I dare. You killed her, you selfish bastard. You killed her because you knew the King would choose my suit over yours. And you’re petty enough to not only kill her, but ruin others at the same time by framing Justin du Lac.”

Christophe was shaking with anger. He looked around at the crowd in the club, noting all activity had stopped to watch the two men. He reacted impulsively and without thought.

The slap against Joshua’s cheek resounded throughout the silent club.

Joshua smiled.

Christophe paled.

“Rene,” Joshua addressed the other man, his eyes still on Christophe’s pale face. “You’ll be my second, yes?”

“Of course, your grace.”

Joshua nodded. “I expect to see you at the Ille de Souvicee at seven in the morning, Christophe. And I suggest you be there. Believe me, there is no where you could hide.”

As Joshua strode through the club, there was a resounding and thunderous round of applause.


The fog hung heavy over the river, creating eerie shadows and muffled sounds. Joshua sat in the carriage calmly, waiting for Christophe to arrive.

Sitting next to him, Rene was more on edge. “The bastard had better show up.”

“He will,” Joshua said softly.

“You’re very confident about that,” Rene said. “If I were due to face you across the field, I know I’d be as far away as possible by the next morning.” He shook his head. “Patrice never struck me as the brave type.”

“He’s not,” Joshua concurred. “But he’s arrogant, and thinks he can best me.” Joshua turned icy blue eyes toward his friend. “But he can’t.” A jangle of harness could be heard coming through the fog, signaling Christophe’s approach. Joshua and Rene left the carriage and approached the doctor who had been hired for this event. Joshua observed Christophe as he exited his carriage. The arrogance was back, Joshua noted. But there were dark circles under his eyes, as if sleep had been hard the night before.

Joshua had slept soundly.

“Gentlemen,” Rene said after a conference with Christophe’s second. “You both know the rules. We must attempt to solve the dispute once before the duel.” Rene turned to Christophe. “Viscount Chambless, would you be willing to end this right now, leave this place by accepting an apology from the Duc de Tournville, and in return, apologize for striking him?”

Christophe’s eyes darted between Joshua and Rene. “If his grace will apologize and refrain from further comments about me, yes.”

“Sir, you cannot put qualifications on the apology,” Rene informed him. “This is regarding the Duc de Tournville’s allegation that you are a murder, and your subsequent striking of the Duc’s person.”

“If he doesn’t refrain from speaking about me like that,” Christophe countered, “we will just end up here again.”

“Guaranteed,” Joshua added.

Christophe glared at Joshua. “You are a smug bastard, Chasez,” he spat.

“And you’re a murderous dog,” Joshua responded. “Now, what is your answer? I have things to do today and must be getting this over with, one way or another.”

Christophe bristled at Joshua’s casual attitude. “Then, no.” He walked over to Rene, who held the pistol box. “We’ll just take care of this now.”

Rene opened the pistol box and Christophe drew one out, waking to his second who inspected the weapon. Joshua removed his pistol from the box, handing it to Rene.

Joshua’s friend inspected the pistol, handing it back to Joshua. “You’re very calm about this, Joshua,” Rene said. “Are you that confident you’ll win?”

Joshua’s saw in his mind the face of Britney, so young and beautiful, gone from this Earth before her time. And Justin, so loving and giving, gone from Joshua’s arms. “Yes, I am.” was Joshua’s answer.

Rene looked at Joshua’s set face, nodding in understanding. “Gentlemen!” he called out. “Please meet in the center of the field, standing back to back.”

Joshua and Christophe walked towards each other, the animosity an almost palatable thing between them. They stood back-to-back, pistols held in front of them as Rene joined them. “At my command, take three paces, turn, and fire.” Rene stepped back. “Now!” he called out.

The two men walked away from each other as Rene counted off the paces, keeping a watch on both parties. At the count of two, he saw Christophe turn early and shouted a warning. “Joshua!” Joshua turned as a shot was fired, a painful, white-hot fire burning through his left arm. He observed Christophe as he stood across the field, smoking pistol still held out in front of him.

And he smiled.


Justin scrubbed his face, rubbing his fists into his tired eyes. He looked at the clock. Nine p.m. He’d been at the shipping office for twelve straight hours. He gazed again at the papers in front of him, the words and numbers all blurring together to his tired mind.

But extreme tiredness was really the only way Justin could sleep at night. If he wasn’t exhausted, both mentally and physically, he lay awake for hours, thinking of Joshua.

Always thinking of Joshua.

It had been six months since he escaped from France. He had sailed to Baltimore on one of his own ships and had found that in the time that Justin had been in prison, Joshua had managed to transfer most of his money and all of his ships out France.

It had been a difficult transition for Justin. He spoke little English, but managed to hire an interpreter who also tutored him in the new language. Now he could get by with the merchants who he did business with as well as anyone else he came into contact with. However, Justin mostly stayed by himself, working at his shipping office. He lived simply in rented rooms above a tavern, eating his meals there every night, reading books in English and easily avoiding the serving girls advances. Most of the regulars had accepted the strange Frenchman in their midst, even going so far as asking him now and then to play cards with them, which Justin sometimes accepted but usually refused.

So he had everything. Wealth, freedom, even friendship.

But his heart was in France.

Justin bent back down to his work, only to look up as someone rushed into the office. “Excuse me, Mr. Lake,” the boy said. “But Captain Reeves has just brought The Corsair into the harbor and would like you to come aboard.

“En ce moment de nuit?” Justin replied automatically.

“What’s that?” the boy replied.

“Excuse moi, I mean excuse me,” Justin corrected himself, shaking his head. “I said, at this time of night? What does he want?”

The boy shrugged. “I don’t know, sir,” he said. “I was just sent to fetch you.”

“Very well,” he agreed, putting on his coat and snuffing out the candles and lamps. Justin and the boy left the office and walked the short distance to the harbor. The Corsair was indeed moored in the harbor. The young sailor pointed to a rowboat at the dock. “I’ll take you over, sir,” he said, motioning for Justin to get in the boat.

Justin climbed up the ladder next to the ship, jumping over the railing and landing softly on the deck. He looked over the side and watched as the young sailor rowed away from the ship. “Wait!” he called out. “Where are you going? How will I get back to shore?”

The boy ignored Justin’s cries, rowing faster away from the ship.

Justin angrily hit the railing, wondering what the hell was going on here. “Captain Reeves?” he called out. No answer. He looked around the deck of the ship, noticing for the first time it was completely empty. Was there no one else aboard? Justin wondered. He strode across the deck to the captain’s cabin, throwing open the door. “Captain Reeves?” he called again, entering the softly lighted cabin.

“No, I’m not Captain Reeves,” a voice spoke in the room. “But I hope you won’t mind too much.”

Justin watched in shock as Joshua came out from the shadows. “Joshua?”

“Hello Justin,” he said simply. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Joshua?” Justin repeated.

“Yes, it’s me.” A faint hint of worry crossed Joshua’s mind. “Justin, are you alright?” He walked over to Justin, lifting a hand to the younger man’s face.

“Joshua?” he asked again, his eyes finally focusing on Joshua’s.

Joshua nodded, smiling.

“You bastard!” Justin screamed at Joshua, lifting a hand and slapping the other man’s cheek. “How dare you make me leave you?” Justin’s breathing was hard and rapid, his eyes flashing fire. “How dare you say you love me, then make me go away!” He raised his hand to hit Joshua again, only to have it caught by the older man.

Joshua pulled Justin close to him, lowering his mouth until it covered Justin’s, tongue forcing Justin’s lips apart to sweep inside. Justin struggled against Joshua’s hold and mouth, fighting unsuccessfully the emotions caused by Joshua’s mouth on his, Joshua’s hold on his body. His struggles calmed as he became a willing participant in the kiss, sucking Joshua’s tongue into his mouth, moving his lips against Joshua’s, tearing his hand away from Joshua’s hold in order to pull the older man close.

Joshua smiled against Justin’s mouth as he felt the boy’s response, lifting his head to look down at the boy. “I’m sorry,” Joshua said.

Justin opened his eyes at Joshua’s words, a question in his face.

“There was really no other way, Justin,” Joshua explained. He reached a hand up to tangle his fingers in Justin’s curls. “You had to go then or you would have hanged. I had to stay to finish things with Christophe.”

Justin blinked. “And did you?”

Joshua nodded, his mind going back to that morning of the duel. “Yes.”

Justin needed no other explanation. “Good,” he agreed. “So what now? Are you here to stay, or will you be sailing back to France on The Corsair in a week?”

Justin’s words were casual, but Joshua heard the timbre of uncertainty in his voice. He led the boy over to the captain’s bed, his hands busy unbuttoning Justin’s shirt with ease and speed. “That depends on you,” Joshua said, leaning in a running his mouth down Justin’s neck, leaving a trail of fire on the younger man’s skin.

“On me?’ Justin asked, his own hands busy removing garments from Joshua.

“Hmm, yes,” Joshua said, his breath hot against Justin’s nipple, his tongue flicking over the sensitive bud drawing a hiss of pleasure from Justin. “I mean, you have a new life here in America,” he said, moving over to the other nipple and laving that one with the same amount of attention. “You may not have room in your life for me.”

“I might be able to make some time for you,” he said with a laugh that turned to a moan as Justin shivered at the sensations Joshua was creating, his hands unsteady as he pulled the shirt off Joshua’s shoulders. His hand ran down Joshua’s shoulders, pulling away from Joshua as he felt something odd on the usually smooth skin.

Joshua felt Justin pull away and lifted his head to observe the younger man.

Justin looked at the scar on Joshua’s arm, fingers tracing the rough puckered skin. “You were hurt.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Justin looked at Joshua, his eyes filling. “You were hurt because of me,” he continued.

“No, not really,” Joshua said, pulling Justin’s fingers away from the scar and bring them to his lips. “This was nothing, a price gladly paid for what it earned,” Joshua explained. “It was nothing compared to the pain I felt here,” he continued, placing Justin’s hand on his chest so he could feel Joshua’s heart. “This is where I hurt, where I was empty until I saw you again tonight.”

He sat them both on the bed, pulling Justin close. “You weren’t supposed to matter to me, Justin,” he said plainly. “You were supposed to be a goal, a bet to win and a toy to play with until I got bored. But I found out I was wrong. Wrong about you, wrong about me, wrong about everything.”

He again ran his hand through Justin’s curls, wrapping his hand around Justin’s neck and pulling him in for a kiss. “I found out that you were special, perfect, that I love you, and that I hope you love me in return.”

Justin smiled at Joshua’s words. He felt Joshua’s heart beat under his hands, the rhythm matching his own. Justin lifted Joshua’s other hand and placed it on his own chest. “Our hearts beat together, Joshua,” he said, leaning in and placing his lips on Joshua’s for a soft kiss.

“I believe our hearts will beat together for the rest of our lives.”

Fin



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