London was agog with the news that Daryl Dixon had killed the Duke of Woodbury!

Dueling was legal although it rarely ended in death. It was for the satisfaction of honor. Daryl gave the details of the duel in his statement to the constable. His manservant and the duke's driver were witnesses and their accounts matched. Lady Amelia's name was never mentioned.

The reason for the duel was not part of the statement as that was considered a private matter between gentlemen. Rumors abounded of insults given, offense taken and satisfaction demanded. The truth was never known but Society sided with Daryl. He was a veteran of battle, a retired military man of good name who was known to have acted with kindness toward an old family friend who died recently. Philip Blake was a boor who had made himself odious on his own estate and in the neighboring village and had never been issued vouchers to Almack's! The verdict was good riddance to bad rubbish.

But it was an unwritten rule that if you killed a man in a duel, no matter the circumstance, you left England for awhile as a self-imposed exile. So Daryl, or rather his new valet, packed his trunk and they went to Italy. Merle saw them off, jealous of this so-called punishment.

"Guzzling vino and lazing about in the sun," he said sourly. "Hope it won't inconvenience you to return for my wedding."

The duel might have been a nine days wonder except that on the third day it was eclipsed by a notice in the papers of the engagement of Lord Merle Dixon, Earl of Benford, to Lady Andrea Harrison, eldest daughter of the late sixth Duke of Woodbury. This distinction was necessary since the seventh duke was now also deceased.

The notice was a result of accord reached between the couple following Lady Amelia's safe return.

"What are your conditions?" Merle had asked warily.

"I would like my sister to live with us until she marries."

"Where else would she live?" Merle had no objection and in fact had already expected that Amelia would join the household.

"I love to ride but have not had a horse for years …" Andrea's voice trailed off.

"Of course the stables will be open to you." Merle was aware that Andrea had been unable to afford to keep her own horse since her father died. "But I'm not sure there's a suitable mount. Better choose something you like at Tattersall's." This was easier than he had expected. He took out his snuff box, opened it and pinched a bit between thumb and forefinger. "What else?"

"I don't care for the habit of snuff," Andrea said pleasantly.

Merle froze, suddenly certain that Andrea had only one real condition and he had just heard it. He very deliberately sniffed his pinch into each nostril. Then he got up and went to the fireplace, empty in these summer months, and dumped his snuff into the grate. He snapped the lid closed and put it back in his pocket. "I'm keeping the box," he said defiantly.

"Of course," Andrea said soothingly. "You might use it for lemon drops or mints or caramels."

"That's a good idea." Merle was pleased that his prospective bride had noticed his sweet tooth and did not disapprove. He would need confections now that he had given up snuff.

Daryl and Glenn returned to England six weeks later, in time to move Daryl's things to Dixon Manor before Merle and Andrea were married in the Benford village church. Merle invited his brother to join him for a drink on his last night of freedom.

During the war Merle had headed up a local volunteer militia to protect the southeast coast of England against invasion by Napoleon. Daryl suspected the patrols had been an excellent cover for smuggling. All through the war years Benford Park had the finest cellar in the region.

Merle rang for his butler. "Bring a bottle of brandy. The good stuff."

"I'll bring whatever is left," Theodore replied. "I drank the good stuff myself. You can't tell the difference anyway."

Merle put up with this impudence because Theodore had been his accomplice in running goods from France during the war.

Nevertheless, a bottle of excellent vintage was delivered to them.

The next day Daryl cast a critical eye over his brother to make sure he was properly dressed for his nuptials. Like Daryl, Merle hadn't bothered with a valet until recently because he was single and planning to remain so. He wasn't much interested in fashion and rarely entertained so it was easy to dress himself. But he had taken a village lad with him to London for the Season and kept Randall on afterward since a married earl was expected to be well turned out. A village lad wouldn't be an obvious choice for valet but talent may be found in unexpected places.

"You look very presentable since Randall took over," Daryl said.

"He ties my cravats," Merle admitted. "I'll never get the hang of it."

In November Daryl paid a condolence call on his friend Sir Richard. Lady Grimes had died in childbed following the birth of a healthy daughter. Sir Richard was not himself and Daryl felt powerless to be of comfort. Viscount Greene was nearby so Daryl called on him next and learned that the Viscount visited Sir Richard frequently. Though the Viscount was much older, both men had been widowed and left with young children. Daryl hoped their friendship would help.

Early in 1817, the Patronesses of Almack's met to plan the upcoming Season and to review the matches that had resulted from introductions made in their Assembly Rooms last year. It was generally agreed that the most distinguished union was the joining of two fine families of English nobility in the persons of Lord Merle Dixon and Lady Andrea Harrison.

The marriage of Captain Abraham Ford and Doña Rosita Espinosa might well prove a political alliance as well as a love match. Lord Eugene Porter to Miss Tara Chambler was a surprise but they felt it would turn out well. Miss Chambler had never cared for Town life. The new Baroness had retired to the country with her husband and they might not come to London again until it was time to present their children.

The only unfortunate pairing was the Honorable Miss Elizabeth Greene with James McCune.

"He has no title and no fortune," Dame Deanna Monroe said sadly. "She could have done so much better."

Mrs. Peletier was more optimistic. "It's not a brilliant match, to be sure, but not so very bad. His father owns a prosperous farm which Mr. McCune will inherit. The boy became a groom in order to follow Miss Elizabeth to London. Rather romantic."

"What about her sister? Miss Margaret is 22. Time for her to be settled."

"Sir Richard Grimes," Carol suggested.

"He's been widowed only two months!"

"Of course the proper period of mourning must be observed, but he has an infant daughter being cared for by a nursemaid. Little Judith will need a mother and so will her brother Carl. Sir Richard and Miss Margaret may make a marriage of convenience and perhaps even affection."

Lady Jessica Anderson was disappointed that an illustrious betrothal had taken place without Almack's involvement. Lady Amelia Harrison was to marry the eighth Duke of Woodbury. Milton Mamet had inherited the title upon his cousin's death. Daryl Dixon killing his cousin had created no bad blood as Milton had liked Philip Blake no better than anyone else had and was pleased to be duke in his place. Mamet was a mild-mannered man and very welcome after Blake's reign of terror. The new duke had been invited to Merle and Andrea's wedding and had formed an attachment to Lady Amelia.

"That leaves Daryl Dixon," Mrs. Niedermeyer said. "He no longer has to compete with his titled brother. Perhaps he would be more compatible with Miss Margaret than Sir Richard."

"I don't believe so," Carol said. She had her suspicions about Daryl's nature.

"Do you have designs on him yourself? You've been friends for years."

"No, no," Carol denied. "He is as a brother to me. Besides, I have no desire to marry again. And there is always at least one confirmed bachelor. Daryl Dixon may be ours."

Glenn

March 1818
It is two years since Daryl and I first saw each other at Almack's. We are long settled at Dixon Manor. Daryl continues as steward of Benford Park and I manage his household. It's not complicated since this is a bachelor establishment and ladies do not visit a single gentleman unless they are relatives. Daryl is invited everywhere and I accompany him when appropriate. He has become accustomed to our unequal stations but doesn't like it. I truly am not troubled. Most people have a public and a private face and much is hidden except from those we love.

The Earl and Countess of Benford have a very successful marriage. Daryl is uncle to his six-month old nephew and it is likely there will be more children. Andrea encourages Merle to take his place in the House of Lords when Parliament meets. He was lax in this duty before he married. He's more interested in politics and the future in general now that he has a son but still, I'm fairly certain that Andrea writes his speeches.

Tonight, as usual, I read aloud for awhile when Daryl and I go to bed. Daryl told me the Dixon brothers were indifferent scholars when they were growing up, likely to escape their tutor on fine days to go exploring or hunting. I love to learn and have studied my adopted country, not just history but also literature. Daryl didn't care much for Lord Byron but a friend of the poet has published a gothic novel of horror and both of us are caught up in it. But Daryl is easily distracted when we are in bed so at the end of a chapter he tosses the book on the bedside table and blows out the lamp. I don't mind.

"Are you going to make me come alive like Frankenstein's creation?" I move closer and run my hands over Daryl's body.

"I'll make you come for certain but you're already lively."

Later, before we sleep, Daryl says, "That Mary Shelley has quite an imagination. Bringing the dead to life. It's a good story but it can't ever happen."