“Can we discuss this like gentlemen?” Mr. Drummond lifted his hands into a defensive position.
“I gave you that opportunity.” He pulled back both hammers on the pistol. “You kidnapped my fiancée.”
“She is my fiancée.”
Levi extended his arm. “Would you care to revise your statement?”
Mr. Drummond’s gaze dropped to the muzzle. “Would you consider a challenge?”
“Such as?”
“Fisticuffs.” Mr. Drummond lowered his arms and slowly climbed to his feet. “If I lose, I’ll leave Wiltshire tonight and never think on Miss Braddock again. However, if I win, Eveline is mine to do with as I please.”
“I accept your terms.” Releasing the hammers, Levi lowered the pistol to his side.
When he turned to set the gun on the ground, Mr. Drummond lunged and swung his fist, catching Levi in the temple. Staggering sideways, Levi dropped the pistol and spun, raising his arms as Mr. Drummond advanced.
He dodged Mr. Drummond’s second blow, ducking his head at the last moment and circling to the left, then he snapped his right arm out, striking Mr. Drummond’s nose and breaking the appendage.
Howling, Mr. Drummond fell to his knees and crawled toward the house. He wheezed and sprayed crimson across the snow, then collapsed.
When Levi approached Mr. Drummond’s bent form, the man scraped his fingers across the ground, gathering muck and slush, then spun and flung the grimy mixture into Levi’s face. Blinded, Levi stumbled backward, scrubbing his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt.
Mr. Drummond launched himself at Levi, catching him around the waist and driving him into the thorny bush. Climbing onto Levi’s legs, Mr. Drummond pinned him to the icy ground, then rained down a multitude of blows, nearly beating Levi unconscious.
After wiping his blood-stained knuckles on Levi’s shirt, Mr. Drummond stood, straightened his jacket, and strode to Miss Braddock’s immobile form. He bent, his mouth a breath from hers. However, before he could kiss her, Levi staggered to his feet and lurched toward Mr. Drummond.
“Get away from her,” Levi slurred, agony shooting through his jaw.
Straightening, Mr. Drummond shoved up his sleeves. “You don’t know when you’re beat.”
“If it takes my last breath,” Levi said, raising his arms again, “I’ll ensure you never touch Miss Braddock again.”
They circled each other.
“I’ve never killed a duke before,” Mr. Drummond said, baring his teeth. “However, I’m quite certain that unless I do, you won’t allow me to depart with what is rightfully mine.”
“You assume correctly,” Levi replied, his right fist snapping out again and catching the side of Mr. Drummond’s face.
Miss Braddock moaned, drawing Levi’s attention. Mr. Drummond, using that distraction, struck Levi with enough force to send him flying over the stone bench. Levi crashed to the ground, landing on his side, and rolled onto his back with a low moan. Before he could gain his bearings, Mr. Drummond leaped over the bench and landed on top of him.
Mr. Drummond’s left hand wedged itself under Levi’s throat, cutting off the flow of oxygen. Levi grabbed Mr. Drummond’s fingers, but he couldn’t peel the viselike grip from his windpipe. Blackness clouded the edges of Levi’s vision.
A dark grin flitted across Mr. Drummond’s face. He reached down with his right hand, collected a stone from the garden, and raised the rock above his head.
“As I previously explained, Eveline belongs to me, and there’s nothing you can do to prevent the punishment I will exact on her for forcing me to collect her from Wiltshire.” He adjusted his grip on the rock. “At least, after your death, her suffering will no longer concern you.”
As Levi lost consciousness, the soft click of the pistol caused Mr. Drummond to freeze.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EVELINE/HELENA
“Put the stone down!” Eveline added a second trembling hand to the butt of the pistol.
Humphrey twisted his head toward her, his dark eyes blazing, and straightened, dropping his arm.
“What do you intend to do with that, Eveline?” he sneered, taking a step toward her.
