“Do not distress yourself, Lady Margaret,” Roland said. He was so enraged he felt as if his head might blow off his shoulders. “Return to your guests while Setterdown and I have a private word in your hall.”
Lady Margaret looked all but panicked but did as she was asked.
“Setterdown?” Roland said through clenched teeth. “Step out a moment.”
Setterdown grinned, as if there were some big joke in the offing. He was about to discover otherwise.
In the great hall, Roland sent the lone footman away.
Setterdown sneered and said, “Gad, Baderston, if you don’t want to play piquet, just say so.”
“I have a few things to say to you, none of them about piquet,” Roland said. “It has come to my attention that you and your family members are responsible for pressuring Lady Margaret to snub an innocent lady.”
“Lady Viola?” Setterdown said. “She is hardly innocent. My God, man, she ran off with a tinker.”
“She did no such thing. Lady Viola is a lady of the first order and anybody acquainted with her must know it. The story that has gone round has been authored by a meanspirited and low person.”
Setterdown got very red in the face. “My own sister was told the tale by Lady Viola herself. Do you say that she embellished it?”
Lady Clara. He should have known.
He would not for a moment believe that Lady Viola had told such a tale about herself because he would not for a moment believe the truth of it.
“Embellished it?” Roland asked. “I say she has invented it.”
“You are walking on dangerous ground, Baderston. Retract that at once.”
Roland folded his arms. “I will not.”
“You have insulted my sister,” Setterdown said. “I will have my answer for it.”
“Oh, you want to meet me on a green, do you?” Roland said. “The great Corinthian would like to show his skill with a pistol?”
“You leave me no choice.”
Just then, Conbatten came into the hall. “Lady Margaret is concerned that there might be some trouble here?” he asked.
“There is no trouble, Your Grace,” Roland said. Daringly, he said, “I would be grateful if you would condescend to act as my second in this matter, as it concerns the honor of your in-laws.”
“He has called my sister a liar,” Setterdown said.
“As she most certainly is,” Roland said. To Conbatten, he said, “Lady Clara is the individual who sent the tale on its rounds about Lady Viola.”
Conbatten sighed, rather like he was disgusted. “I am certain that if that is the case, Lady Clara was only mistaken or misheard. There is certainly no need to duel over it.”
“I insist,” Setterdown said.
“Then I insist, too,” Roland said. He was beginning to think Conbatten was right. There might be better ways to untangle whatever had happened. However, he would not for the world back down to a fellow like Setterdown.
“Wonderful,” Conbatten said drily. “Setterdown, send your second to me in the morning—we will agree on the details. Both of you go home now. I will not have you interrupting Lady Margaret’s card party. Speak to nobody about this. If I hear it mentioned anywhere, I will flog you both. Do not wait for your cloaks or your horse, I will have them sent on.”
Roland nodded. “You will say nothing to your duchess? I would not wish Lady Viola to know of it.”
Conbatten nodded. “I do not wishanybodyto know of it. Both of you go home and reflect on what this actually means and hopefully you’ll have the good sense to call it off.”
Roland nodded, though it would have to be Setterdown to call it off. He turned on his heel and left.
It was a rather long walk home, so he decided to stop at the YBC. The walk there gave him time to reflect on what he had engaged himself to. He had never thought he’d find himself a party to a duel. In truth, he’d always viewed them as particularly stupid. But what was he to do?
