The Alastair Trilogy : 'Devil's Cub', Part One Quiz

Answer: Three.

Vidal shot and killed only one of them and appalled his servants by ordering them to drive on and leave the body in the road.

Answer: His cousin.

It is the dearest wish of Julian's mother, Lady Fanny Marling, that Juliana should marry her cousin, Lord Vidal - but Juliana has other ideas and her heart is set on Frederick Comyn.

Answer: Mary and Sophia.

The Challoner girls are the product of a mesalliance between Charles, the younger son of Sir Giles Challoner and the rather common Miss Clara Simpkins. The marriage caused Charles' noble family to cease to have contact with him, although Sir Giles paid for Mary's education after her father's death.
The sisters are as different as chalk and cheese - Sophia is very beautiful, but as foolish as her mother, while Mary is quietly attractive, clever and possessed of a great deal of commonsense.

Answer: A duel with Mr Quarles in Timothy's gaming club

Though both of them are very drunk, the duel is forced upon his lordship by Mr Quarles who accuses him of using loaded dice. At this point in the story, Vidal once again meets Frederick Comyn, Juliana's beloved, who offers to act as Quarles' second and coolly ensures that the duel is fought according to the 'rules' laid down for such incidences.

Answer: Sophia.

The letter he writes to arrange the assignation is carelessly addressed to 'Miss Challoner', and is therefore delivered to Mary who is the elder sister - in order to ensure that Sophia received the letter, Vidal should have addressed it to 'Miss Sophia Challoner'.

Answer: All of these reasons.

Mary was certain that Vidal didn't intend to marry Sophia, but she only began to relax when his carriage turned toward the coast and didn't take the North Road to Gretna - her intention was to pretend that she and Sophia had made up the whole 'masquerade' to play a cruel joke on him, but she didn't expect the violence of his reactions to her duplicity.

Answer: He threatens to make her drunk.

A dreadful moment for Mary as it dawns upon her how foolish she's been to place herself in his power - she is still self-possessed enough, however, to steal a pistol from him and conceal it in her cloak.

Answer: He provides her with a basin when she succumbs to seasickness.

Poor Mary - anyone who has ever been seasick can surely sympathise with her plight. I love this part when the Marquis moves in for what he hopes will be the kill :-
"And now," said Vidal silkily, "and *now*, Miss Mary Challoner .."
Miss Challoner made a heroic effort, and raised on her elbow. "Sir," she said, self-possessed to the last, "I do not care if you go or stay, but I desire to warn you that I am about to become extremely unwell." She pressed her handkerchief to her mouth and said through it, in muffled accents, "Immediately!"

Answer: She shoots him.

She doesn't kill him, of course, but her determination to protect her honour and her explanation as to why she took her sister's place makes him realise that she is, in fact, a very respectable young lady

Answer: He tells her that they must be married.

A shock and a very poignant moment for Mary, who has tried to deny to herself that she is deeply in love with Vidal.

Hope you enjoyed the quiz - I'll try to get the second part done soon - in the meantime, I'd love to read some feedback! :D