Page 43 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
“All right, gentlemen, stand back-to-back, and I will count out the ten paces. One. Two. Three …” Old Man Philips called out sternly.
As he called out the rest of the paces, Theo thought of Penelope, how usually in a little while he would be meeting her for their secret morning rides together. Not this morning, though. And when he pictured her in her big bed with a hurt ankle and thisverminbeing the one responsible for her pain, his fury rose, and he wished once more that Penelope had not made him promise not to kill him.The criminal does not deserve to continue breathing!
“Ten! Turn and face each other now. Ready, aim, fire!”
Old Man Philips had told them that when the other was shooting they may stand side-facing, but Theo would not show any fear.
Henry fired, and after the smoke cleared, it was clear that he had not even come close to hitting Theo.
“Your Grace, it is now your turn. Ready, aim, fire!” Old Man Philips called out, and as he did so, Henry turned, visibly shaking.
Theo fired his pistol and specifically aimed for his arm. Theo hit his target exactly where he had intended and just barely grazed his arm with the bullet. Henry cried out and wailed like a woman giving birth to her first child. It took a lot of coaxing from Mr Lancaster to allow him to see it.
Once Henry finally showed him his wound, Mr Lancaster slapped him on the back, saying to hush up, for it was hardly more than a scratch, and he would be fine. Mr Lancaster then came to him and bowed low to Theo.
When he arose, Theo looked him dead in the eye and said, “You will take that scoundrel with you and return to France and never set foot back in England. If I ever hear of either of you setting one step on British soil, I will finish what I started here today, and that day I will not show either of you any mercy!”
Mr Rupert bowed once more, pulled up Henry, and they quickly rode off as Henry whimpered the entire time.
Theo and Alexander watched the two of them leave, and Theo felt a sense of relief that he would never see either of them again.
Once they were out of sight, Theo thanked Old Man Philips and shook his hand, concealing an extra tip in his palm. Old Man Philips tipped his hat to Theo and then nodded his head to make Theo look behind him. Theo turned and saw the viscount riding down from the hill.
“Your Grace, I did not expect you to be here. If things took a turn for the worse, I did not want you to be implicated in this.”
“I learned of your plans from Penelope’s handmaiden, who overheard your conversation with her last night, where you not only asked for my daughter’s hand in marriage but also told her about your plans for this morning.”
“Yes My Lord, I apologise. I know I should have asked your permission first before asking her—” Theo said but was cut off by the viscount when he raised his hand, signalling him to stop.
“You need not apologise. I came here this morning because I wanted to see what you would do. I must say I am extremely impressed with your fortitude and restraint not to finish that git off when you had the chance. I am not sure I would have been able to do so if I were in your position.”
“I promised your daughter that I would not kill him,” Theo explained.
“Yes, I know that as well, and to be truthful with you, not only do I know that you could have easily killed him from that distance, but you also could have shot him in a place where he would later die from his wounds. But you only grazed him, and the fact that you would place such a high value on honouring your word to my daughter … Well, I will gladly give you permission to marry her!”
Theo blinked in shock and joy. “Oh, thank you! I can never express to you how happy you have made me! She is the most wonderful woman I have ever met, and I am ardently in love with her! I promise you I will always take care of her.”
“I know that you will. You have proved that in many ways in the past two days.”
With that, the viscount mounted his stallion again and left. Now it was just Theo and Alexander left at the old mill. When the viscount was out of sight, Alexander whooped out loud and slapped Theo on the back.
“Well, man, I knew it would all work out in the end, and I am overjoyed that you have got what you deserve my friend!” Alexander congratulated him.
Theo felt his face turn a bright shade of red, could not hide his big smile, and laughed with Alexander in jubilation.
“Now you just need to go ahead and ask Ms Stuart to marry you!”
“Oh, do not worry, I intend to! You know the other morning when you and this viscount went hunting alone, and I was gone most of the day?”
“Yes, of course, I do. Why?” Theo responded.
“Well, I took the opportunity to travel to Ms Stuart’s village and seek her father’s blessing for her hand in marriage. He gave it to me, so now I am free to ask her tonight at dinner. Will you help me at the jeweller’s today in selecting a token of my affection? I was thinking a ring for her.”
“Oh, blast! With everything that has been going on, I had completely forgotten about a ring. I need to go and get my mother’s engagement ring sized down for Ms Ainsworth!”
“Let us go back to your estate, have breakfast, and make ourselves ready for going to the jewellers today then,” Alexander suggested.
“Yes, let us do that. My stomach has been complaining loudly for some time now!”
