“And then you ran through the house, wielding the foil, scaring my butler. When I tried to kiss you, you turned around and thrust the foil, and I slashed my neck.” Benedict pointed at his cut. “It’s a miracle I’m alive.”
“It’s a shallow cut,” Alexander said.
“I was frightened.” Benedict sounded outraged.
“I’m really sorry about that, but what happened to the foil?” she asked.
“You left with it. You said you wanted to return it to Alexander.”
“Finally some decency,” she whispered. “And nothing happened between us?”
Benedict shook his head. “As much as I like ladies, I find that my interest diminishes when they try to cut me into pieces.”
He exhaled. “Don’t be so dramatic. Did Esther hail a cab?”
“I don’t know because I was bleeding!” Benedict pointed to his neck again. “Is this your strategy to make sure you win the championship? To get rid of all rivals? Unleashing a crazy lady on me?”
“I don’t need stratagems to win the championship.”
“You’re together,” Benedict said, shifting a finger from Esther to Alexander. “Accomplices.”
“No, the duke is helping me recover the foil.” Esther lifted the veil. “He didn’t ask me to do anything.”
“So you don’t know where my foil is,” Alexander said, anxious to get somewhere.
“No,” was Benedict’s curt reply.
“What about my cloak?” She joined her hands as if in prayer.
Benedict nodded at his butler who darted down the corridor. “Your cloak…” He stretched out an arm and waited for the butler to deposit a bundle in his palm. “Is here.”
She cried out in happiness. “Thank goodness.” When she unfolded it, her smile vanished. A large dark stain marred the fabric. “What is that?”
“Blood.” Benedict’s voice turned icy. “My blood. I used your cloak to stem the flow.”
Hell, even Alexander had to admit that was a lot of blood. “Mrs. Wilson will have it laundered.”
She gave him a desperate look.
“I don’t care if you burn it.” Benedict waved them out. “I think you should leave now.”
The butler opened the door eagerly.
She paused on the threshold. “But it’s important we find the foil.”
“It’s more important to preserve my veins intact with my blood in them. Good day.” Benedict went up the stairs.
Ten
After Alexander and Esther left Benedict’s house, they lingered on the porch. The whole affair between Benedict and Esther bothered him. She had waltzed into his life and turned it upside down with a simplicity that shocked him.
“He overreacted.” He helped her down the stairs to the pavement.
“If someone who doesn’t know how to use a foil waved it at you, and you fell and hurt yourself, you wouldn’t be happy either.”
He chuckled. “I’m not sure. If it were you, I might be.”
She smiled, and the world seemed less dark. “We should walk back to your house.”
