Mars nodded. He straightened his shoulder, loosening some of the tension. The pistol weight felt good in his hand at his side.
“One,” Roberts said in his booming voice, commanding the attention of all on the field.
Mars drew a breath, released it, and stretched his index finger.
High above them, a bird in a tree started singing to welcome the morning. And this could be his last morning and just like that, Mars thought of Clarissa. Of Clarissa laughing at something he’d said. Of Clarissa sweetly curling up next to his body. Of Clarissa so desperate for him to not duel she was willing to go to any lengths to stop him.
Of Clarissa saying she loved him—
“Two.”
From the corner of his eye, Mars noticed movement. His first thought was that Clarissa had come. He had no reason to think she would, and he was surprised that he actually wanted her here.
But it had only been Thurlowe crossing his arms, his expression concerned.
“Three.”
Mars steadied his breathing, his attention completely on Dervil.
“Fire!”
Mars lifted his arm, his hand on the trigger. He was a crack shot. He had Dervil in his sight. Except, something strange happened—he became not the man he was now, but the lad who had watched in horror as his father was shot. It was as if his mind leaped back in time.
Nor was it Dervil across from him. Itwashis father. Mars was struck by the image of the blood blooming on his father’s shirt. The horror in his expression as he realized that not only had he been hit, his was a mortal wound.
Mars had forgotten that look, pushed it completely from his mind until this second.
And his last thought was—Clarissa had been right. Hehadn’tunderstood the full impact of this duel.
Unfortunately, Dervil did not hesitate.
Chapter Nineteen
“There is no sense in marrying an intelligent woman if one isn’t going to listen to her.” Quote is from my wife.
—Book of Mars
As if from a distance, Mars heard Dervil’s shot. He felt it vibrate in the air all the way to his marrow.
In a flash, he pictured Clarissa smiling and holding Dora and he understood what a fool he’d been.
Then he released his breath and realized he was still standing.
Dervil had shot off to the side. He’d deloped, an admission that Mars had grounds to shoot him dead right where he stood.
Mars still had him in his sights. His gaze met Dervil’s. His opponent was brave. His back was ramrod straight, waiting to take Mars’s bullet.
And no one would blame him for killing Dervil. Or even wounding him.
But suddenly it didn’t matter. He heard Clarissa’s voice—you are about to do something that will haunt you every day of your life.
Just as his father’s death had been a weight almost impossible to carry, so, too, would his next action be a burden... if he let it.
Mars lowered his pistol to the side and then pulled the trigger, the shot going harmlessly into the soft ground.Honor served.
For a long moment, it seemed as if everyone had quit breathing.
Thurlowe was the first to break the silence. “Thank God.” And everyone seemed to relax in relief, except Mars and Dervil.
