“Never fear, my friend.” Alworth clapped his hand between her shoulder blades, tripping her forward.
“Would you stop doing that!” She swore.
He laughed.
Blackstone’s group threw an irritated look at them. Did Pen imagine it, or did Blackstone stare at Alworth? She saw him converse with his man in an agitated manner.
“Chin up, whelp. They’re coming over.” He turned quickly to Pen. “You have to trust me in this. Let me talk and keep your mouth shut.”
“Alworth! It is you.” Blackstone shifted his eyes uneasily between her and Alworth. “What is your role here?”
“I am Mr Kumari’s Second, of course.”
Blackstone swore.
“Language, Blackstone.”
“He didn’t tell me you were his Second.”
“Mr Kumari and I are good friends. Aren’t we?” Alworth got out the pistol and polished it. “So naturally, I would be his Second. Especially since I have also taught him the art of shooting.”
Blackstone paled. “He was your student? You taught him how to shoot?”
Alworth affirmed.
“You, yourself personally?”
“I loathe to repeat myself. But yes. We have daily shooting lessons. My friend here has become quite adept. Almost as good as me. But not quite.” Alworth flashed his teeth.
“For how long?” Blackstone pressed.
“A while.”
“I did not know—he never mentioned—that is an entirely different matter, then—” he blustered. Pearls of sweat appeared on his forehead.
“My dear Blackstone. Am I hearing a certain recalcitrance in wanting to go ahead with this duel?”
Pen protested, but Alworth clamped an iron hand on her arm and threw her a quelling glance. She snapped her mouth shut.
Blackstone, too, opened and closed his mouth like a fish. “I–he—that is—”
“Speak up, man. Would you, perchance, prefer to withdraw?”
Blackstone almost melted with relief. “Yes! That’s it. Hang honour and all. I withdraw.”
“If you will excuse us.” Forsyth drew Blackstone aside to consult with him. “Are you certain?” He hissed loudly enough for them to overhear. “The boy doesn’t look like he knows his right foot from his left.”
“But Alworth does.” Blackstone did not even bother to lower his voice. “If the boy really learned with him, and there is no reason he didn’t, you know what that means. He’s the best shot in the entire kingdom. And, the boy did say he used to shoot tigers in India. What if it’s true? I’m a dead man.”
Pen tried with all her might to focus on the foliage of the tree in front of her and pretended not to hear the conversation.
A muscle twitched in Alworth’s jaw.
The men returned. “It is as you say,” Blackstone’s Second said. “We will accept Kumari’s apology and—”
“One moment. We never talked about apologies, did we, Pen?” Alworth intervened.
Pen frowned. “No. But then Blackstone also never apologised for having besmirched the Duchess of Ashmore’s honour.”
