Author's Note: Thank you for all the kind reviews and emails, they definitely inspire me to update. I don't know if Gaspar actually was good with a sword, but it fits well in the plot, so he is now. As always reviews are greatly appreciated.

Chapter 5

Samantha sipped her champagne and looked up at the sky for a moment. This just couldn't be happening. Earlier she'd been at a museum in Atlanta in the 20th century and now she was somewhere in France in the 18th century. As though time travel and wasn't bad enough she was stuck with her mortal enemy as her only ally. Things simply couldn't get worse, Sam decided as she half listened to the gentleman in the red coat who had accompanied her outside.

Gaspar-Francois, moved closer to the young blonde and smiled. The fiancé of the Vicompte Jacque de Tous Commerces was apparently oblivious to the fact she shouldn't be unchaperoned and that suited him just fine. The Vicompte angered Gaspar, just by his very being. The Commerces fortune would have come to Gaspar-Francois had it not been for Jacque. Wealth and good looks had given the younger man higher consequence in society than his superior title. Though women were of little consequence beyond a man's pleasure, his host seemed enamored with his betrothed. What better way to bring the man down than to take his fiancé?

He grabbed Samantha and started to yank the bodice of her gown down. Vainly she struggled trying to knee him in the groin, her petticoats limiting the motion and padding him against the blow. Sam's hair clips came out and the elaborate coif fell about her shoulders.

Sam begged and demanded he stop, but Gaspar merely backhanded her and left bruises on her shoulders as he grabbed her. The door flung open onto the verandah and Samantha used the moment's distraction to break away, clasping her dress closed and ran into a very angry Jack.

The other doors onto the verandah opened and guest poured out to watch the tableau unfolding before them. Jack pushed Samantha into the arms of her father and stepped towards the Marquis. His body was trembling with rage as he moved forward. The Marquis watched the younger man with amusement. He may not have gotten to have the Viscompte's fiancé, but as of this night both of them were ruined. Gaspar was the finest swordsman in all of France and none had dared to challenge him in quite some time.

In a low voice that dripped venom, Jack seethed, "In my house, you dared to try and touch what's mine."

The Marquis shrugged and smiled, "Only giving the lady what she asked for. You should have heard her begging for it."

"No one insults my Samantha!" Jack bellowed over the din of the crowd.

"Are you challenging me?" Gaspar smirked. This was turning out even better than he'd hoped, if he could kill the Viscompte in a duel of his own challenging he could kill the young upstart for financial gain and without causing a scandal.

"Swords at dawn Marquis!"

"To the death?" Gaspar inquired tauntingly.

"Is there any other way?" Jack countered a frightening smile on his face.

The Marquis paled slightly at his host's bravado and informed him he would bring his seconds. With excitement the crowd murmured about what had just transpired and men began to make bets as to which man would make it out alive. Most felt the odds were in the Marquis' favor, though a few thought Jack would succeed. Several ladies eyed Jack with undisguised hunger at such a bold and romantic gesture. Jack took several deep breathes, his mind racing wildly.

Turning to the crowd Jack spat out, "GET OUT!" As guests stared in disbelief, he took a step towards them and added, "NOW!"

Exhilarated by the evening's entertainment they left the estate in their coaches buzzing. No matter what the outcome the Commerces engagement and duel would be the only topic of conversation for weeks. As the guests were leaving, Sam tried to talk to Jack, but he simply held his hand up to silence her and her father held her back slightly out of concern. Jack disappeared into his study with two servants and Samantha pulled away from her father.

"Jack-"

"In a moment," he told her then turned to the younger of the servants. "You understand my instructions?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Stop for nothing and speak to no one of your errand. That includes my fiancé's father in particular."

The younger servant nodded and ran from the room. At that the other man told Jack, "You can rely on us, Sir. We'll see to it that your wishes are carried out."

"Excellent. You may go," Jack dismissed him and stood up. Nervously he looked at Samantha and began to pace.

"Jack what's going on?"

"What's going on is I'm seeing to it that you will be cared for and have an opportunity for freedom when I'm gone from this earth."

"I don't under-"

Jack poured a glass of whiskey from a crystal decanter and swallowed it. "I really wish you had listened to me, Samantha. Although I couldn't remember Gaspar's name, I recognized his picture from a history book. When a servant told me who the man was I came running to your aid."

"So who is he?"

"That was the grandfather of the Marquis de Sade and one of the greatest swordsman in the history of France," Jack sighed and sat down, pinching the bridge of his nose slightly.

She put her hands on her hips and demanded angrily, "What in the hell were you thinking challenging him like that then?"

"He touched you Samantha and your honor was compromised. What would you have me do?"

"You've got to be joking!" Exasperation mounting, Sam told him, "You have to put a stop to this."

An ironic smile twisted Jack's features. "My Samantha, the board has changed, but the rules of the game remain the same."

"Jack-" she trailed off. Why was she arguing with him? Sam should be overjoyed at the prospect of his imminent death. Instead, memories of his lips on hers sprung to mind.

"I have dispatched a servant to Calais to book passage for you and a maid to America and arranged for another servant to conduct you and a large sum of money safely to the ship. New York or Philadelphia should be relatively safe and am sending enough money with you to set you up in the highest echelons of society. If you remain your father may try to marry you off again. Present yourself as a widow and you will have the greatest freedom a woman is allowed in this era."

As Jack poured another drink, Sam pleaded, "Jack won't you please call this off?"

Tossing the whiskey down his throat, Jack stood and took her chin in his hand. "No my Samantha, not even for you my love."

He started to walk away and Sam cried out. "Jack!"

"Yes?" he turned in the doorway to her.

"Is there anything I can do?"

For a moment he contemplated asking for a last kiss. Instead he replied lightly, "Pray."

Jack walked away and Samantha sank into a chair...