“I would argue that you created your own problems,” Lord Haddington remarked. “You were the one who got involved with the wrong people.”
“What would a dandy like you know about that?” Charles shrieked.
“Quite a lot,” Lord Haddington replied. “You frequent The Queen’s Parlor, a notorious gambling hell, and are extraordinarily terrible at cards.”
Lord Hawthorne chuckled. “That is putting it mildly.”
“It’s true,” Lord Haddington said. “You should have stuck to parlor games. Gambling hells cheat and spit out people like you.”
“Regardless, it will all go away once I deliver my sister to Ransdale,” Charles said, turning determinedly in Georgie’s direction.
Lord Hawthorne held his hands out widely. “I’m afraid I can’t let that happen. My wife has grown rather attached to Miss Holbrooke, and she would be devastated if I let anything untoward happen to her.”
“I care not for what you or your wife want,” Charles snapped. “Georgie is mine, and I will do with her as I please!”
“You should know that we took the liberty of going to the Court of Chancery and speaking to Lord Reynolds. He was very concerned with your ill-treatment of your sister,” Lord Hawthorne said.
“Very concerned,” Lord Haddington agreed with a bob of his head.
“Insomuch that they granted me guardianship over her until you go to court,” Lord Hawthorne continued.
“You are lying!” Charles exclaimed.
“He’s not,” Lord Haddington said. “I watched the judge sign the document myself. I should note that Lord Reynolds is a friend of ours.”
Charles growled. “You will pay for this.”
“Who?” Lord Haddington asked. “Will Hawthorne pay, or me? You might want to be more specific in your threats. They can be rather confusing.”
“Yes, they can,” Lord Hawthorne said, glancing at Lord Haddington. “I thought he was threatening me, but then, he was looking at you.”
“Be quiet!” Charles shouted. “You two are imbeciles!”
Lord Hawthorne tutted. “That wasn’t very nice of you to say. Here I thought we were being civil to one another.”
“I tire of this game.” Lord Haddington reached behind him and retrieved a pistol. “I don’t want to have to shoot you, Wakefield, but it is becoming very tempting for me to do so.”
Charles kept his pistol aimed at William. “If you shoot me, I’ll kill Grenton.”
“That is, assuming I don’t kill you with my shot first,” Lord Haddington said.
“No one is that good of a shot,” Charles huffed.
“I am,” Lord Haddington responded without hesitation.
One of the horses whinnied, drawing Charles’s attention.
“I would just give up, Wakefield,” Lord Hawthorne said. “If Haddington doesn’t kill you, then our sharpshooter will. Either way, it ends poorly for you.”
A line of sweat appeared on Charles’s brow. “Why did you two have to get involved?” he grumbled. “This has nothing to do with either of you.”
“Because you threatened our friend,” Lord Haddington answered. “We do not take kindly to that.”
Lord Hawthorne also reached behind him and pulled out a pistol. He pointed it at the remaining horseman and ordered, “Get out of here.”
The guard nodded and kicked his horse into a run.
“You are outnumbered and outplayed,” Lord Hawthorne said. “This is the moment when you should realize you have lost.”
