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

Answer: That she is the granddaughter of General Sir Giles Challoner who is one of his father's oldest friends.

This is a revealing chapter where the reader is allowed to glimpse a different side to Lord Vidal who, realising that he has made a terrible mistake and that Mary is a respectable young woman, shoulders what he sees as his responsibilities and determines to marry her. Poor Mary, despite being deeply in love with him and wanting nothing more than to be his wife, is equally determined that Vidal shouldn't ruin his life by marrying beneath him as her own father did.

Answer: Mr Frederick Comyn

Despite being warned by the Marquis to keep a low profile at the inn, Mary can't stop herself intervening when she overhears Mr. Comyn (who speaks little French) having difficulties with the innkeeper (who speaks little English).

Answer: He/she is in France following advice given him by Lord Vidal himself.

Poor Frederick, who because of his love for Juliana has gone against his somewhat staid nature and come to France with the intention of 'romantically' eloping with Miss Marling as suggested to him by the Marquis himself at Lady Montacute's drum, is warned fiercely by Lord Vidal to tell no-one that he has seen Mary in his company and replies, with an ultra-correctness which exasperates Vidal, that as he has never seen 'the lady' and Lord Vidal together, he therefore has no tale to tell.

Answer: 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.

Juliana is a lovely character, very pretty, flighty, romantically-inclined and as much in love with staid Mr. Comyn as her mother, Lady Fanny, was in love with her staid Mr. Marling in 'These Old Shades'.
She is very fond of Mary and doesn't hesitate to enter into a scheme whereby she introduces her to Tante Elisabeth as an old friend who has been visiting Paris with her (fictional) aunt, and has been invited to spend a week or so staying with them.
She is horrified at Mary's determination to run away from Vidal and become a governess or a milliner and, much to her friend's dismay, strongly advises her to marry him.

Answer: 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.

This chapter is hilarious and so complicated that it needs to be read to appreciate the full humour of the situation when Mrs. Challoner, finding both Duke and Duchess of Avon absent from London, presents herself to Lady Fanny Marling and is instantly mistaken for a mantua-maker demanding payment for an outstanding bill. Once this misunderstanding is cleared up and Mrs. Challoner demands justice for her daughter, Lady Fanny instantly leaps to the conclusion that the daughter in question must be the result of an extra-marital affair with the Duke of Avon with hilarious consequences - I can't do it justice here - it has to be read!

Answer: The Duchess and Lord Rupert set out together for France.

Leonie, recalled to London, sees Mrs. Challoner and Sophy, and despite receiving their news calmly, flies instantly to apprise Lord Rupert Alastair of what Vidal has done. Determined to salvage the situation before the Duke of Avon finds out, the Duchess instructs Fanny to tell his grace that she has been called to the bedside of a sick cousin, and then sets out for France with Lord Rupert.

Answer: 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.

Juliana, although still deeply in love with Frederick, is enjoying the whirl of Parisian balls, parties and flirtations. Discovered flirting with her cousin Bertrand at a ball Mr. Comyn begged her not to attend, they quarrel and she tempestuously tells him that all is finished between them.
Instantly regretting her hasty words, too proud to take them back, she (apparently) blithely informs Mary that she no longer has any intention of marrying him.

Answer: That Lord Vidal has informed him of the whereabouts of an English divine, currently travelling through France.

Having told Mr. Comyn that she is safe so long as he doesn't tell the Marquis the direction of the English cleric who is currently travelling through France, Mary is dismayed when the stoical Frederick tells her that he did not tell the Marquis, rather the Marquis had told him.

Answer: That she accept an offer of respectable marriage from himself.

In her agitation, Mary confesses that she doesn't doubt that Vidal has the power to force her to marry him, and explains her reasons why this would be repugnant to her for the Marquis' sake.
Moved by her honourable motive and her sacrifice, devastated by the loss of Juliana, Mr.Comyn proposes to Mary, explaining that as their hopes of love are dashed, they can strive to go on 'tolerably' together.

Answer: He sets out in pursuit of them, reluctantly taking his cousin Juliana along with him.

Livid, the Marquis throws his household at the Hotel Avon into disarray as he prepares to follow Mary and Frederick, exasperated when Julian turns up and insists on being taken along to rescue 'her' Frederick, despite his lordship's warnings that he will be travelling very quickly and that her comfort is of no concern to him.

Answer: Dijon.

Dijon is where the English cleric, Mr. Hammond, is currently staying with the young sprig of the aristocracy he is escorting on the Grand Tour.

Answer: That he has arrived too late, that he and Mary are already married.

When this information is relayed to him, the Marquis instantly determines to make Mary a widow and challenges him to a duel.

Answer: She throws herself between them, holding a thick cloak to protect herself, but is slightly wounded by Vidal.

She does throw a jug of cold water over them to stop them coming to fisticuffs, but when the swords are drawn, she courageously grabs a travelling cloak and flings herself between them, forcing the blades up but causing the Marquis' sword to 'pink' her shoulder.
Half-swooning from shock, she can hardly believer her ears when he, also shocked into speaking his true feelings, clasps her into his arms and murmurs words of love to her.

Answer: 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.

Mary's happiness is short-lived - the Duchess's ill-considered words shatter her dream and make her face the reality of her situation. Almost penniless, she slips out of the inn and into the diligence which is just about to leave for Paris.
She knows that she has insufficient money to reach her destination and has no real plan, all she knows is that it's imperative to put some distance between herself, Lord Vidal and his mother.

Answer: The old gentleman is his grace the Duke of Avon, Vidal's father.

This is a wonderful finale, beautifully-crafted to draw all the threads of the story together - anyone familiar with the Duke of Avon from 'These Old Shades' won't even blink at the 'coincidence' of him residing at the very inn where Mary seeks shelter.
As always, his grace has everything in hand - the tale which the world will be told is that Mary's grandfather, Sir Giles Challoner, is awaiting her arrival at the British Embassy in Paris where she is expected to arrive to prepare for her wedding in the company of the Duchess of Avon with whom she has been travelling.

It's not possible to do the story justice in a few short words - do read it - you won't regret it!