“Alvin!” Cressida gasped from across the room. “What are you doing?”
Edward ignored her and said, “Very well. I accept your challenge.”
“Edward,” Emily hissed, yanking on his arm. “Are you insane? Why would you do this?”
“I will not allow him to smear my good name,” Edward replied through gritted teeth. “This ends one way or another. If he insists on it being through a duel, I will oblige him.”
“You are being ridiculous,” Emily growled.
“Now, now, let us take a moment to all calm down,” Lord Lansbury declared, stepping between Edward and Alvin with his arms raised. “I believe you two gentlemen would benefit from some time apart to think through such a rash decision. Lord Harford, please, go to my study. Mr Hutches, the library.”
Emily and James grabbed hold of Edward and led him away from the murmuring crowd and down a hallway toward the study.
Once they were inside the room, Emily closed the door and rounded on Edward.
“Have you lost your mind?” she demanded to know. “You cannot accept Alvin’s challenge. You would die for such a ridiculous accusation?”
“Of course not,” Edward snarled. “I will not lose to that buffoon.”
Before Emily could say a word in response, the study door burst open, and Cressida came rushing into the room.
“Edward, please!” she cried, running to him. “Please do not duel my brother!”
Taken aback, Edward took a few moments before replying, “Unless Alvin is willing to back out, I have no choice. You know this as well as I do.”
Cressida gazed up at him with tears in her eyes. There was real fear in her gaze.
Clasping her hands together as though praying, she begged, “Please, Edward. Please…I…I know you will never marry me. I know that. I am sorry that I refused to accept that, but please, if you go through with the duel, I could lose the only family I have left!”
Edward felt a tinge of pity for her. That she was so willing to admit her deceptions and misdeeds meant she was truly fearful for her brother. He might be the only person in the world she actually loved.
“Then convince him to call it off,” he told her. “Plead with your brother. If he is the one to call it off, then no one will be shamed.”
Cressida whimpered but nodded. “All…all right. I will go and speak to him.”
“In front of everyone,” Emily insisted sharply. “You must speak to Alvin in front of everyone and confess that Edward has done nothing to you. That he owes you nothing.”
Cressida appeared hesitant at that.
At length, though, she finally nodded and said, “Very…very well. I will tell him. I will tell everyone. Just…please…”
“Then let us go,” Emily said with a sharp nod, turning to march out the door.
Edward moved to follow her, and Cressida and James were not far behind.
When they made their way back out to the dining room, Alvin was already standing among the other partygoers.
“Go on,” Emily jerked her chin at Cressida.
Hesitantly, Cressida stepped forward and cleared her throat, bringing the room’s attention to her.
“I…I have something I must say,” she murmured. “Lord Harford did not take advantage of me in any way. I lied. There is no reason for this duel to take place, Alvin. Please…please rescind the challenge.”
More gasps. More titters. But Alvin was entirely focused on his sister. Cressida was staring back at him, pleading silently with him.
His nostrils flared, and a moment later, his shoulders slumped as if in defeat.
“Very well,” he murmured. “I…I rescind the challenge.”
