Hardy glanced towards the trees. ‘Good God, Rawden, I would implore you not to end a life this day, especially not your own. You have finally found happiness, and have far too much to lose.’
Two horses approached from the woods, racing across the grass and skidding to a halt. Caville Sharp leapt off and strode up to Rawden, all bluster and impatience. ‘Well, are you ready to meet your maker, Voss, for if you face me, there will be no mercy?’ he snarled.
‘Surely this is to first blood only, not to the death,’ said his companion - a white-faced Gilbert Routledge. His startled gaze veered from one man to the other. ‘Caville, say it is not so. We don’t need a murder to settle a matter of honour.’
Caville rounded on Gilbert. ‘To be here today, I have torn myself out of a brothel bed and foregone the ministrations of a very skilled whore, even more skilled than Voss’s wife, in fact. I am in no temper for half-measures, Routledge. ’
‘I am sure you had to pay a goodly sum for the woman to suffer you, Sharp,’ said Rawden.
‘As did you, for your bride, Voss,’ spat Sharp. ‘But enough of these pleasantries. For the inconvenience of coming here, I propose we keep firing until only one of us still stands. What do you say, Voss?’
‘I say let us get on with it,’ said Rawden. He needed to, before Sharp’s well-aimed jibes summoned his temper.
‘No, I did not agree to this,’ exclaimed Gilbert Routledge. ‘This is barbarous. A gentleman settles a matter of honour with first blood. Surely the matter is not so serious as to merit this carnage?’
‘It is a matter of honour,’ said Caville.
‘Yes, Sharp here has none, and I mean to teach him the meaning of the word,’ said Rawden.
‘As if you know, Voss. It is a trial for me to even challenge a social inferior, such as yourself. There will be scant honour in putting a bullet through your heart.’
‘This is insupportable,’ cried Gilbert. ‘I was brought here on false pretences. Withdraw your slight to the lady, Sharp, and accept an apology, Voss, and let us go home.’
Rawden considered Routledge an unlikely second, as he had the courage of a sheep. He prayed the man would be discreet about their meeting, for duelling was punishable under the law, and he could be charged with murder if he killed Sharp.
Gilbert’s howls of protest were thoroughly ignored. Hardy clapped him on the back. ‘If they are determined to do this, Routledge, then we must act accordingly. You have agreed to be Lord Sharp’s second, so, seeing as you have come all this way, inspect this weapon before we are discovered and the law set upon us, with dire consequences for every man here.’ Hardy gave Rawden a stricken look and passed the weapon to Routledge.
‘Be sure he does not cheat, Gilbert,’ sneered Sharp.
‘Your weapon, Sharp,’ said Hardy through gritted teeth. He inspected it and handed it back, and Rawden’s was returned to him. It would all be over soon.
Hardy squared his shoulders. ‘Let us set the rules of engagement, gentlemen. The usual convention is ten paces, turn and fire. One shot only, and then it is done.’
‘I object,’ said Sharp. ‘As the challenged party in this sordid affair, I demand that we face each other five paces apart, and I get to fire first.'
‘Are you so afraid that you want to take every advantage, you coward?’ Rawden spat on the ground to underline his contempt.
‘No, but I will not turn my back on a villain of the lower orders bearing a pistol. And you laid hands on me, Voss. I have the bruises to prove it. My name is old and honourable, and only the satisfaction of killing you will appease such a grave insult. I demand these rules apply, or you may ride away now.’
‘Very well. If you insist, I will happily oblige your insistence on dying this day.’ He turned to Hardy, who had gone very pale. ‘Five paces, then give the signal, at which point we will fire. The shots will be heard by anyone out riding the park, so when it is done, the survivor and his second must leave at once.’
‘I must insist on ten paces, gentlemen,’ said Hardy. ‘We are not savages. If it is not a distance of ten paces, I will ride away now and leave you fools to it, both of you.’
‘I agree wholeheartedly,’ squeaked Gilbert.
Sharp’s jaw worked, and then he nodded his agreement, as did Rawden. Hardy was still shaking his head in despair as Rawden stalked away and shrugged off his jacket. His skin tightened with cold and anticipation, every nerve screaming to act, to move, violence swirling in his gut like poison.
‘Rawden, are you not afraid?’ Hardy had approached him, leaving Gilbert Routledge and Caville Sharp talking in agitated whispers. ‘This is no battle line you are in. This is more like a firing squad. Do you not remember the deserters? Men lined up and staring down the barrel of a pistol, pissing themselves in the dirt, unable to flee.’
‘I do, and it changes nothing. I will face him head-on.’
‘Sharp is an excellent shot, my friend, even from ten paces.’
‘So am I, and remember, we have faced lines of French lancers intent on killing us. We had to hold the line with the roar of a cavalry charge and the pound of canon in our ears. Sharp is more used to showing off his prowess to the other dandies or to impress the ladies. My mind is made up. Grace’s person and reputation will never be safe while he spouts his poison. One way or another, it ends here today. But I would ask for one promise. If I fall, keep my wife safe from that brute.’
‘If he goes anywhere near her, I will end him myself, Rawden. On that, you can rely.’
‘The sun climbs higher. Let us do this,’ shouted Sharp.
