“He’ll live,” Aidan told them softly.
“We should make an announcement,” the Dowager Duchess said, as the music ceased.
“I intend to,” Aidan said.
Captain Melville pushed his way through the crowds. “Where is my sister?” he demanded. “I demand to see my sister.”
“Your sister has gone to her room,” Ann said, glaring at him. “She needed to change out of her bloodied clothes and to relax. She’s been quite traumatized by what she did to help save Lord Candelstone. I sent up a sleeping draught for her.”
“Oh. You haven’t locked her away anywhere?”
“For what?”
“For shooting Lord Candelstone.”
Some of the nearest guests gathered closer.
Aidan ground his teeth. “She didn’t shoot Lord Candelstone. Why would you say that?”
“That’s what some people are saying,” Melville whined.
“They are wrong,” Aidan forcefully said. He looked balefully around at the nearest guests, then back at Melville. “That’s a ridiculous supposition. Come join us for breakfast tomorrow. You can see her then,” he told him.
Pouting, Captain Melville left.
Ellinbourne grabbed Ann’s hand as they stood beside Aidan. Gwinnie remained with the musicians.
“I should tell you,” Ellinbourne said, leaning toward Nowlton, lowering his voice. “Lady Blessingame found a gun under the bench.”
Nowlton’s head whipped around to look at Ellinbourne.
“Muff pistol,” he said. “I have it in my pocket.”
Nowlton frowned and nodded, then turned back to face those in the ballroom. The room went quiet.
“Someone shot Lord Candelstone with a small caliber bullet. It hit his collarbone. The doctor has successfully operated on him, and my brother-in-law is now resting comfortably. Barring any infection, he should make a complete recovery. Lady Candelstone asked him if he saw who shot him. He repliedno. That is all we can tell you at the moment. If anyone saw anything, we ask that you inform us. We will contact Bow Street to help with this investigation.”
“I have already sent word requesting Mr. Martin’s presence early tomorrow if he is in town,” Lady Malmsby said.
Aidan looked at her in surprise for sending for the runner so quickly, but nodded. “Excellent,” he said.
Ellinbourne stepped forward to address the guests, Ann close beside him. “Miss Hallowell and I thank you for coming to our betrothal ball. This is not how we wished our ball to end, but end it must for the sake of the Nowlton family,” Ellinbourne said. “We are, however, grateful that you were present to hear Lord Candelstone’s injury is not serious.”
The guests' voices began again, the volume rising. Slowly, reluctantly, they made their way past the family, many stopping to offer best wishes to Lord Candelstone and offering what they saw. Some ventured to echo Captain Melville’s fear; however, Nowlton’s reaction shut them down quickly.
The family thanked them. It was an hour past midnight before the last guest left, to the accompaniment of Don Joaquín Pedroso y Castel softly playing his guitar.
* * *
While Ann,Gwinnie, and Lady Malmsby went to check on Bella, Aidan, Ellinbourne, Malmsby, and Lake gathered in the Duke’s old study on the same floor as the ballroom. They took seats at the round table in the center of the room. Mr. Harold brought them brandy. Malmsby raised his glass. “To the 1816 Knights of the Round Table!”
Everyone but Aidan laughed. He scowled.
“What are we going to do about Captain Melville?” Ellinbourne asked, as they all settled after the toast. “His voice was loud enough to carry across the ballroom.”
“Send him to deepest Africa,” Aidan said tiredly.
“With Candelstone,” Lake suggested.
