Don Lorenzo took Seth’s place. The scent of cloves filled Matthew’s nose. He closed his eyes as the cloth covered them, desperately holding onto the location of the apple.
“I told you we would speak again once your vision cleared, but you never see things for how they are,” Don Lorenzo tied the cloth around Matthew’s head and whispered,“¿Ve con claridad ahora?”
Matthew opened his eyes, and every sense awakened. Even with his eyes covered with cloth, he saw everything so clearly. His chest tightened. Every conversation with the man rose up in his mind, and realization hit him as violently as a shot.
He was wrong about Don Lorenzo.
Matthew’s voice shook. “Sí. Ahora comprendo.”
“Concéntrate, y termina esto.” Don Lorenzo gave him a hard pat on his shoulder, sending him stumbling forward a step. “Aim true.”
Seth came to load the pistol, but Matthew shook his head. “Hand me the rounds, Mr. Reeves. I’ll load it myself.”
Shutting out everything else, he focused on the cold feel of metal and the sound of Seth placing three rounds in his hand.
“Is the apple still on his head?” Matthew asked loudly, ensuring his voice carried.
“It is,” Seth affirmed.
As Matthew lifted the pistol, a sense of calmness washed over him. His breathing evened. His heartbeat slowed. He had three shots, but he only needed to connect with one. By the end of the night, he would be finished with Duke Kendall.
But first, a presentation.
The corner of his lips lifted. “I’m ready.”
***
Jasmine’s heart sank as Don Lorenzo tied the blindfold around Matthew’s eyes. Sheknewshe shouldn’t have trusted him! The crowd fell silent. More than a few held their breath, as if even a whisper would offset Matthew’s aim.
But that tilt to his lip…
Was that a grin?
With a bounce in his step, Don Lorenzo dropped into the seat beside her, lounging back as if nothing were amiss.
“What have you done?” Jasmine hissed.
“Te ayudé,” he said simply. “Like you asked.”
“You’ve made it worse!” She stared at him incredulously. “You moved him!”
“Then I have made you a wealthy dowager.” Don Lorenzo shrugged. “Sit back and enjoy, Lady Lincolnshire.”
Matthew stood perfectly still. Duke Kendall’s face remained passive, but his skin paled in the moonlight. Matthew placed a round in the pistol, then closed it with a deafening snap. He raised it and Caroline gasped.
“Oh God, he’s going to kill him. Jasmine, you must stop him.” When Jasmine shook her head, Caroline turned to Cassandra. “Cassandra?!”
Cassandra sat with dawning horror, preparing to witness her brother murder a man for the second time. When Caroline realized she was ashelpless as everyone else, she hid her head in her hands.“Sisters, please.”
Jasmine laced her fingers with Caroline’s and brought her hand into her lap. All anyone could do was watch. All week, they had discussed possibilities, and with every one, there was one conclusion—trust Matthew to make the right decision. As much as she trusted him, when faced with the reality of him aiming a gun at another man, her mind screamed the same plea:stop him.
“Shall we count?” he called out. “One!”
The first shot rang out. She flinched. Above the bullseye, a splintering crack formed in the target. Duke Kendall’s eyes widened. His knees shook, and the apple wobbled atop his head.
“Is he still alive?” Matthew joked.
“Too high!” one nobleman called out.
