Page 91 of Affair

Baxter frowned. “How did you first encounter him?”

“He contacted us. Offered to instruct us in special techniques that would enable us to make direct contact with the forces of the metaphysical world. It was all very interesting and great fun. But now something has gone wrong.”

“Indeed,” Baxter said softly.

“Things have got out of hand. I fear Norris will likely get himself killed at dawn.”

“Are we talking about this coming dawn?” Baxter asked warily.

“Yes. Tomorrow morning. Everything is moving so quickly.”

“Have Norris make an apology to Tiles. I suspect it will be accepted.”

“I tried to convince Norris to make an apology but he will not hear of it. He is not himself, Baxter. A few minutes ago he danced with Miss Ariel as if he had not a care in the world. Yet at dawn he will be facing Tiles. It’s madness.”

Baxter contemplated the lights of the ballroom.

“Baxter?” Hamilton scowled. “Did you hear what I said? Norris is going to risk his neck at dawn. We have got to stop him.”

“Whom did Norris name as his seconds?”

“He said that, as I am his best friend, I must be one of them. He instructed me to choose the other. He says he cannot be bothered.”

“And have you selected the other second?”

“No. For God’s sake, the last thing I want to do is plan this damned duel. I came directly here to find you. You’ve got to help me, Baxter.”

“Well, if you haven’t got another second yet, that simplifies the situation,” Baxter said calmly. “I shall assist you.”

Hamilton looked horrified. “But I want to stop the duel before it takes place.”

“That may not be possible. The mesmerism practiced by your magician appears to be quite powerful.”

“What will we do? We cannot allow Norris to get himself killed.”

“There may be a way to control the results of this experiment.”

The knock on the front door came at three-thirty in the morning. Charlotte was alone in her study, busily scribbling notes to calm herself. Ariel was not home yet and Mrs. Witty was sound asleep in her bedchamber at the top of the stairs.

Charlotte had been unable to rest. She had been restless since she had returned home from the masquerade ball. She did not know whether it was the encounter with the stranger in the black domino or Hamilton’s desperate expression that worried her the most. Perhaps it was a combination of both.

At the sound of the knock, she got to her feet and hurried out into the hall. When she peered through the glass she saw Baxter standing in the shadows on the front step.

She wrenched open the door and smiled tremulously up at him. “I was hoping that you would find time to stop by before you went home. I have been most anxious to speak to you.”

“I did not know if you would still be awake.”

Charlotte stood back and watched as he tossed his hat onto the side table with an absent movement of his hand. There was an abstracted, preoccupied air about him. She knew that his keen intellect was focused on whatever problem Hamilton had brought to him.

“Is it serious?” She closed the door.

Baxter walked toward the study. “At dawn this morning, Norris is scheduled to meet one of the most infamous duelists in all of London.”

“Oh,no.”She hurried after him. “How on earth did poor Norris get into such a terrible situation? He seems so mild-mannered and friendly and likable. Not at all the type to get involved in a duel.”

“He isn’t.” Baxter went to the brandy tray and picked up the decanter. “He had a little help.”

“What do you mean?”

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