Panic threatened to engulf her. In the span of minutes, Baynton had become important to her. She didn’t know how she would react if he was injured . . . or killed.
“It is fine,” Gavin said. He pulled the glove off.
The tiger opened a gun case and offered it to the brothers. “Is it mine?” the duke asked.
“I picked it up last night,” Lord Ben answered.
“Not from Talbert, I hope?”
“Talbert was long gone when I came by. I took this from the gun cabinet and inspected it myself.”
Baynton looked over the weapon and then nodded. “This is the one I wanted.”
“Come with me,” his brother answered. “We’ll present it to Rov for his approval. You also need to see his weapon and then Harris and I will load them.” Harris evidently was the name of Lord Rovington’s second.
“Very well,” Gavin said. He gave Sarah one last reassuring smile and then both he and his brother walked away from her.
She rolled her arms in his jacket and pressed them against her stomach to ward off a sense of impending tragedy. Dueling was a ridiculous way to solve an argument, especially for the challenge Lord Rovington had issued. She wasn’t about to go with the man if he defeated the duke.
At the same time, she was proud that Baynton had accepted the challenge. That he was not going to let Lord Rovington run roughshod over him. That he was defending her.
She’d never had a champion before and if he died because of it, well, she could not think on it. She must not.
Lord Rovington and Gavin shook hands in the center of the field. It was obvious the two men no longer considered each other friends.
Their seconds inspected the weapons and then loaded them. They examined them again and handed them to the duelists, who once again looked them over. They moved as if in ritual.
Sarah wondered if Gavin wished he had his gloves on. Lord Rovington was wearing them.
His lordship said something to his second, who spoke to Lord Ben. Lord Ben walked over to her. He spoke to his tiger. “David, Rovington wants the phaeton moved over about four yards toward the center.”
“Yes, sir.” The tiger climbed up on the seat to move the vehicle.
“Why does he want this?” Sarah asked Lord Ben.
“He is being fastidious.” He started to go but she called him back.
“Wait.” He turned, lifted his brows expectantly. “Please tell me the duke is a good shot,” she said.
For the first time since she’d been in his company, Lord Ben gave her a smile, one reminiscent of his brother’s. “You needn’t worry. He can break the stem of a wineglass at fifteen paces. He will be fine. If I had thought there would be a problem, I would have driven my coach in case my brother was injured.”
She nodded, not sharing his confidence but relieved to know that the duke was no stranger to a pistol.
Lord Ben moved to the center of the field to stand beside the physician. “Does the position of the vehicle meet your approval, my lord?”
Rovington nodded.
Stepping forward, Lord Ben said, “I shall count to five and then say the word fire. No one discharges his weapon until that moment. Are we understood?”
Both Lord Rovington and the duke nodded that they understood. Gavin was all business now. His complete attention was on his opponent. Sarah swung her gaze over to Rovington, wanting to see him as the duke did. She watched him intently.
Both men took a stance. The pistols in their hands were pointed to the ground.
“Are you ready, Lord Rovington?” Lord Ben asked.
Rovington nodded, but Sarah did not think he looked confident. Indeed, he had gone quite pale.
“Your Grace?” He turned to his brother.
