Page 68 of Avenging the Earl's Lady
Chapter 16
ShockedNoscame from the three younger men, but Kincaid nodded, eyes gleaming.
“My lord,” Penderbrook said.“He’s demanded swords instead of pistols.”
“He would cling to that archaic rule,” Shaldon replied.The Major picked his marks before dinner and killed them before breakfast the next day.“As Kincaid said, he’ll not yield to negotiating anything that does not favor him, even the method of fighting.Penderbrook, Charles will see you up to one of the guest chambers.Bakeley, you will wake Penderbrook early and run through your latest practice from Angelo’s.”
“May I have paper and ink?”the young man asked.
Shaldon waved a hand.“Of course.Write out your will and whatever last missives that you wish, but don’t be up until dawn doing it.You must get some sleep.”
“I must also pay a call on Lady Jane.I fear I have left matters unresolved.”
“No,” Shaldon said.“Such a visit won’t help you or her.You may speak to her after the duel.”
“But—”
“Nor will you Bakeley, and you, Charles, discuss this matter with your wives.There is no need to upset the ladies.They will only want to rush out and interfere in what is a matter of honor between men.”
When the door closed on the three younger men, Shaldon went to the sideboard.“A matter of honor with a murderer?”he muttered.“This has been a devil of a day.”
Kincaid came over and refilled his own glass.“And another coming up.What’s this particular devil up to, I wonder?The Major must know that if he kills that boy, you’ll see him hang.Unless he thinks to delay his death by scampering off to Spain, but the Duque’s business here isn’t done yet.”
“This is blood sport to Payne-Elsdon.”Shaldon tipped back a swig that banished the chills.
“Blood sport for him, and for the Duque, a poke at you.”
“The Duque doesn’t care if Payne-Elsdon dies or he hangs.”He thought about the intelligence he’d received after delivering Lady Jane to her lodgings.“And he won’t—hang, that is.”
Kincaid’s gaze wandered to the cold fireplace and he squashed a smile.Dispensing cold justice was one of his favorite endeavors.“Let’s just make sure the boy doesn’t hang either,” Kincaid said.“Or you.”
“We won’t.I’ve met with the Duquesa tonight, and I believe she might facilitate a trip to Spain for the Major.”
Kincaid raised an eyebrow, waiting.
“The Major left many enemies.”
“And revenge would make for some perfect justice.What’s next?”
He took a sip of the stiff whisky.The brew made by Kincaid’s people in the north wasn’t considered a gentleman’s drink, and he didn’t give a damn.“Did you take care of those matters with Guignard?”
“Aye.”
“Is he safe?”
“Still bunking at Marie’s.She’ll have his head later.”
“She’ll have your head.”
Kincaid turned away and went for the whisky bottle, but not soon enough.Only the oldest of friends—like himself—could have detected the whiff of pleasure given off by the man.
Bloody hell, they were a couple of old fools.
But not too old or too foolish to get a young fool out of a pickle.“Do we have a servant in place at Payne-Elsdon’s lodgings?”Shaldon asked.
“Aye.More than one, in fact.Has the bastard picked his second?”
“One will step up after Payne-Elsdon receives my letter.Will you carry it?”
