The Alistair Trilogy: 'Devil's Cub', Part two

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1. While Mary and Vidal are obliged to stay on at the inn in Dieppe to allow the Marquis’ injury to begin to heal, what does he discover about her which confirms his determination that they must be married as soon as possible? That she will become a great heiress on the death of her grandfather, Sir Giles Challoner That she is the granddaughter of General Sir Giles Challoner who is one of his father’s oldest friends. That before they left England, Mary sent a letter to his mother, the Duchess of Avon , which informed her grace of her son’s scurrilous behaviour toward her sister Sophy. That before she left England, Mary wrote a letter to her mother instructing her to contact the Bow Street Runners if she, Mary, did not return home within 24 hours.

2. Having been persuaded, reluctantly, to give her word that she will not leave his protection while the Marquis is recovering from his injury, but will travel on to Paris with him where he intends to find an English cleric to marry them, whom does Miss Challoner come across having difficulties in making him/herself understood by the innkeeper? Her mother Lord Rupert Alastair The Duchess of Avon Mr Frederick Comyn

3. Why has the newcomer journeyed to France? He/she is carrying a letter to be delivered to the English Ambassador in Paris. He/she has given up all hope of winning the heart of Juliana Marling and has come to France to try to forget about her. He/she is in France following advice given him by Lord Vidal himself. He/she has lost his/her fortune on a game of chance and left England to escape his creditors.

4. Discovering during a conversation with the Marquis that Juliana Marling was her best friend at the select Ladies’ Seminary where she was educated at her grandfather’s expense, why does Mary agree to Vidal’s suggestion to travel to Paris and persuade Juliana to help them? She is certain that Juliana, once the full story of the escapade is known, will aid her in escaping Vidal’s clutches and perhaps help her to find respectable employment. She is convinced that once Vidal is reunited with his family members, it will be easy to persuade him to abandon the notion of marriage. She is certain that Juliana will be able to convince Vidal that to marry her, Mary, will cause his parents great embarrassment . She suspects that Juliana, far from loving Mr. Comyn, secretly desires to marry Vidal herself and will do everything in her power to prevent a wedding taking place.

5. Meanwhile, back in England, what action has Mrs. Challoner taken on finding the letter from Mary explaining the circumstances and the reasons she took her sister’s place on the night of the assignation? Finding both the Duke and Duchess of Avon absent from London, Mrs. Challoner has taken her case to Lady Fanny Marling , Avon’s sister, and thrown her into such a panic that Fanny has dispatched her son John to carry a letter to the Duchess. Mrs. Challoner has laid charges of violent abduction against the Marquis of Vidal with the Bow Street Runners. Finding the Duchess of Avon absent from London, Mrs. Challoner has accosted the Duke on the steps of his club and laid accusations of the violent abduction of her daughter against the Marquis of Vidal. Finding the Duke and Duchess of Avon absent from London, Mrs. Challoner has approached Lord Rupert Alastair and demanded justice for her abducted daughter.

6. What transpires as a result of Mrs. Challoner’s actions? Mrs. Challoner and an officer of the Bow Street Runners set out for France. The Duchess and Lord Rupert set out together for France. The Duke and Lord Rupert set out for France. The Duchess and Lady Fanny set out for France.

7. In France, are romantic matters between Juliana and Frederick Comyn going smoothly? Yes, they are deeply in love and planning an elopement and secret wedding. Yes, although Tante Elisabeth does not approve and is chaperoning Juliana closely. No, Juliana has scorned Frederick, and having been assured by Mary that her friend feels that she cannot marry Vidal under such circumstances, has announced her engagement to her English cousin. No, Juliana, flushed with her success in Parisian society, is acting flirtatiously and seems to be encouraging the addresses of her French cousin, the Vicomte de Valmay.

8. When Frederick confides his concerns to Mary, what information alarms her? That the elopement is planned and only needs someone to distract Tante Elisabeth while he and Juliana make their escape. That Lord Vidal has informed him of the whereabouts of an English divine, currently travelling through France. That he has challenged Vidal to a duel. That he has challenged the Vicomte de Valmay to a duel.

9. When Mary states that she does not wish to marry the Marquis, what does Mr Comyn suggest? That he will escort her back to England and do what he can to find her respectable employment. That she would do well to reconsider on the grounds that in the fullness of time she will become a Duchess. That she accept an offer of respectable marriage from himself. That the question does not arise, since the Marquis now is engaged to Miss Marling.

10. On discovering, via a note-of-hand sent to him by Mr. Comyn, that he and Miss Challoner have left Paris and intend to be married as soon as possible, what action does the Marquis take? He tears up the note, goes to see Juliana and proposes to her. He decides that Mr. Comyn has acted honourably to avenge the wrong he, Vidal, has done Mary, and, although he loves her, decides not to pursue them. He falls into a deep depression, believing that Mary has fallen in love with Mr. Comyn. He sets out in pursuit of them, reluctantly taking his cousin Juliana along with him.

11. Where are all of the 'couples' (including Vidal's relatives who have just arrived from England) now headed? Calais. England. Dieppe. Dijon.

12. When Mary and Mr. Comyn are overtaken on their journey by the Marquis, what does Frederick tell his lordship? That he is relieved to see him as he has been robbed and has no money to pay his shot at the inn where they are dining. That he has arrived too late, that he and Mary are already married. That he has arrived just in time to attend their wedding. That the note-of-hand was a ruse, and that Mary has, in fact, returned to England.

13. How does Mary intervene to stop the sword-fight between the Marquis and Mr. Comyn? She threatens to summon the innkeeper and have him send for an officer of the law. She throws a jug of cold water over them. She throws herself between them, holding a thick cloak to protect herself, but is slightly wounded by Vidal. She encourages Juliana to fall into strong hysterics and the commotion causes the landlord and ostlers to rush into the room.

14. In the aftermath of the duel, overjoyed to know at last that Vidal loves her as much as she loves him, why does Mary slip out of the inn and board the diligence (stage-coach) for Paris? She overhears the newly-arrived Duke of Avon tell Vidal that if he does presume to marry Mary, he will be disinherited. She overhears the newly-arrived Duchess of Avon telling Vidal that although he has no choice but to marry Mary (whom Leonie declares she 'detests already'), he has, by his actions, finally succeeded in breaking her heart. She overhears Juliana tell Frederick that although she herself is fond of Mary, once married she and Vidal will almost certainly be shunned by the 'ton'. She overhears her mother, Mrs. Challoner, loudly demanding justice for her daughter and instructing the Bow Street Runner to arrest the Marquis.

15. Forced, by lack of money, to leave the diligence long before it reaches Paris, Mary is insulted by an inn-keeper and his wife who presume that she is not a respectable young woman due her lack of luggage and maidservant. Rescued, in the nick of time, by a distinguished, elderly gentleman who is staying at the inn and invites her to dine with him, Mary finds herself confiding in him. Hearing a commotion outside of the parlour where they are dining, knowing the Marquis has once again found her and fearing for the older man's safety, she is surprised and anxious, when, in response to the landlord's query, her companion invites him to show 'his lordship' in? Why is he so calm and unruffled? The old gentleman is the local magistrate. The old gentleman is an envoy of Sir Giles Challoner, Mary's grandfather. The old gentleman has a loaded pistol. The old gentleman is his grace the Duke of Avon, Vidal's father.