“Gentlemen,” he said with a brazen grin, as he walked into the soggy arena to fight for his love. “A lovely morning for it.”
His heart jolted slightly at the sight of Miles standing there in a dripping greatcoat, his head bowed as if he were at his own funeral. Hugo reallyhadexpected the man to back out of the agreement, but perhaps the baron had more determination to have Evelyn for himself than Hugo had thought.
Josiah was also there, flanked by his two sons. Replacements, certainly, if Miles should lose his nerve. Or, maybe, they were just there to act as seconds.
“This is your last chance to forfeit,” Josiah said, shivering in the cold and the wet.
“Funny, I was just about to say the same thing to the baron,” Hugo replied with a smirk.
Miles seemed to shudder, shoving his hands into the pockets of his greatcoat. Not exactly the stance of a gentleman who was eager to duel, unless he meant to shoot through the fabric of his coat.
“You insulted me gravely last night,” Josiah continued, a veritable waterfall tumbling off the rim of his top hat. “Anapology and a promise to stay far away from my daughter would suffice.”
Hugo quirked an eyebrow. “Have you lost your nerve, Lord Townshend?” He glanced at Miles. “Or is it that the most reasonable gentleman among you has informed you that he does not wish to duel for your daughter’s hand?”
“My nerves are perfectly steady!” Josiah snapped. “And the baron is more than willing to duel for my daughter’s hand. Is that not so, Lord Hemstich?”
Miles did not raise his head, nor did he answer.
“I love her, you know,” Hugo said to the baron. “I love her with all of my heart, and I mean to spend the rest of my days making her happy. That is why I have no intention of losing today. I have a life to begin with her. An entire future with her. Can you say that you have the same determination?”
Miles peered up at him, his face drained of color, a deep frown creasing his brow.
“There is no price I will not pay in order to secure her happiness, Lord Hemstich,” Hugo continued. “And you should know that she loves me in return.”
The baron’s frown altered slightly, his despair transforming into something like curiosity.
“No price?” Miles asked quietly, coming forward.
Taking the man to one side, Hugo replied in a low voice, “Name it.”
“I have… debts,” Miles said with a grimace. “Not considerable, but bothersome enough. It is why I need Lady Evelyn’s dowry.”
Hugo nodded. “What is the sum?”
He was aware of Josiah and Evelyn’s brothers watching the conversation with some agitation. It would not be long before Josiah interrupted; Hugo could sense it in the air.
“Four-hundred pounds,” Miles replied.
The amount was a pleasant surprise to Hugo, who had braced to hear a much larger sum. “We could call it five hundred,” he said generously, “for the inconvenience of this awful morning, and for the gossip that will surely abound. Although it may serve you well, as I hear that sympathy draws a great deal of interest from society’s ladies.”
“Five hundred pounds? You would give that so readily?” Miles pressed, a flicker of relief passing across his face.
“I would,” Hugo replied with a smile. “It is no sum at all if it means I get to keep my life and my beloved.”
A small smile crept onto Miles’ lips. “I wish you every happiness, Your Grace.” He paused. “Dumb shots?”
“Dumb shots,” Hugo agreed.
With that, the gentlemen drew apart.
“It shall be one shot apiece,” Miles announced, as if that was all they had been discussing.
Since Hugo had not thought to bring a second, it was not so strange that the principals would discuss the terms of the duel themselves.
I knew all would be well…Hugo allowed himself to breathe, a sense of calm settling over him as he opened his pistol box, took one for himself, and offered the other to Miles. In such terrible weather, the pistols might not even fire, which soothed Hugo all the more.
“Let us finish this quickly,” Miles said, with a conspiratorial nod to Hugo. “Shall we say ten paces?”
