Page 74 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
With his body rigid, Noah grabbed his coat and tightened it around him. He also took his holstered pistol and shoved it in a bag with the contents of his envelope and some money. Leaving the room and the mansion, he strode purposely to the stables and readied his horse. Saddled, the Duke sped off towards Leverton, hoping that he wasn’t too late.
Chapter 28
War or Peace
Oh, how George wished he was back in the feudal era where any infraction could merit war. While on his way to Newberry, the Duke could clearly see himself, clad in armor made with thick steel plates, a helmet under his arm and his grandfather’s sword at his side, one he would gladly run through Newberry–the glorious pretender.
Sadly, it was him and five of his best men.
George didn’t care about the reprisal he would get from the Crown for an unlawful attack on a fellow peer, as this was a matter of honor.
“Your Grace,” one of the men said beside him while squinting into the distance. “Is that the Duke of Newberry coming towards us?”
“If it is him coming towards us without men, he is a fool.” George stated, “But order the men to halt.”
With the order given and the marching men paused in place, George sat and waited for the man on horseback to approach him; indeed, it was Newberry.
The other Duke came to a stop, thirty feet away from George and shouted, “This is madness, Leverton. Why would you attack me when we had peace?”
“That was before I found out how much of a treacherous dog you are, Newberry,” George roared, “You paid to have my sister killed! I saw the truth!”
“The truth is subjective to what we all perceive it to be,” Newberry shouted back, not noticing that he had just parroted his mother’s words, “And your hatred of me has surely tainted you to think so, but I had no hand in her death, Leverton.”
“The words do not lie.” George snapped. “There was no sign of duplicity on either your mother’s or your grandmother’s statements.”
This time Newberry urged his horse to walk forward and the man at George’s side pulled out his pistol but the Duke stalled him. “He isn’t armed.”
Newberry's eyes were tortured but George wasn’t going to fall for the act anymore. “I didn’t make that transaction, Leverton. No matter what the report says.”
“You are a skilled liar and master manipulator,” George said stridently. “Why would I trust anything you say? I’ve learned my lesson for trusting degenerates like you.”
Newberry’s jaw tightened, “Didn’t the man say something about the Newberry witch? Do I look like a witch to you?”
“The man was paid by her for a smokescreen,” George returned while controlling his horse. “Your reasoning was clever, Newberry, but duplicity always falls into itself, to expose your actions.”
“Again,” Newberry’s tone was ragged and torn while still hard, “I had nothing to do with that transaction. Give me three days to prove it to you, and then you can have leave to obliterate all you want, but I can promise you, my truth will prevail.”
The words ran over George’s mind and then in a leisurely manner asked the man, “Should I?”
The man’s eyes darted to his Duke and then to the other. “I cannot decide, Your Grace, your judgment is best.”
Tuning back to Newberry, George said, “You have one day to prove your innocence, Newberry, and after that, I will take action.”
“One day?” Newberry’s tone was appalled, “Oneday?”
“Take it, Newberry,” George replied, “And be thankful I didn’t say one hour.”
The Duke’s face was tight and his jaw stiff but he nodded. “One day then. George didn’t move his eyes from his opponent, “If you fail this time, Newberry, the hounds of hell will be tame compared to my fury.”
With the man’s lips pressed, George directed his mount to turn back. To many, turning his back to his opponent looked like a foolish move but to George, who was confident that nothing would happen, it was a strategic move. Newberry would never dare harm him if he wanted to live.
* * *
Noah returned home and packed his clothes swiftly. “Cole, summon my valet.”
“Immediately, Your Grace,” The butler nodded and then summoned the valet to assist the Duke in his preparations and after that notified the coachman.
“Your Grace,” Cole said tentatively, “I understand about the gravity if the situation, but how will it be taken by the authorities if they come and you’re not here?”
