Page 77 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

Rob walked out of Pembroke House with Harry. He had told the rest of his family he was going to visit the doctor, to ask for his advice on Caro’s care.

‘We will go to Kilbride’s house first, and if he is not there, we will find him.’

‘This subterfuge is not like you, Rob.’

Rob glanced at Harry. For all their differences, they were still brothers who loved one another.

‘I have done a lot of things that were unlike me this summer. You should know, though, that when we find Kilbride, I am going to call him out. A duel is the only way to silence him. Will you be my second?’

Harry’s eyes widened. ‘You… Lord. Well, yes, of course. But are you sure? What if he is as good a shot as you? If you are caught you will be hung for duelling.’

‘As you said, I am a good shot, and these threats cannot continue. But Kilbride is just as likely to begin a brawl, so have your fists ready.’

Amusement growled in Harry’s throat. ‘I have had you wrong all these years. You are madder than me. Let us hope he is a bad shot.’

‘He has to accept the duel first.’

When they reached Kilbride’s town mansion, Rob climbed the steps and knocked on the door, his strike firm.

The door was answered by a porter, which meant the butler was engaged in the drawing room. Either the Marquis or the Marchioness, or both, were at home.

‘We have come to speak with the Marquis in private,’ Rob said.

‘He is entertaining.’

‘This is urgent. Tell him Mr Robert Marlow is here.’

‘And Mr Harry Marlow.’ Harry grinned as though this were a great lark.

Rob was suddenly swamped by his sense of inferiority.

He and Harry were nothing compared to the place they stood in.

Kilbride had power, Rob had none. As the servant walked away, Rob glanced about the hall.

The plaster was decorated with cherubs and gold leaf.

Caro must have thought herself in heaven when she’d crossed the threshold – only to be transported to hell.

No, I am not inferior, I am better than this man. Wealth, titles and property are not what make a man. He was superior to Kilbride in every way that mattered.

Rob’s heart knocked hard against his ribs as he waited. He was gambling on Kilbride being keener to kill him than to report him. If he was caught duelling it would destroy everything. Rob would have to flee the country.

Caro would not want him to be here taking this risk. But Rob was not going to let this man control Caro’s life any longer. It was time Kilbride learned fear.

‘It is the boy. ’

Rob looked up to the top of the first flight of stairs. Kilbride walked down as his insult echoed back from the marble.

‘Why have you come?’ The hand that had hit Caro many times skimmed along the banister as he descended.

‘I will speak when we are in private.’

‘What can you have to say to me in private that might not be said before my servants?’

‘You will discover that.’

Kilbride stepped from the bottom stair. He was shorter than Rob by inches, but broader.

A footman who had followed Kilbride down crossed the hall and opened a door.

‘This way, then. Is that other boy joining us?’ He flicked a hand towards Harry, who grew an inch with anger.

Rob pinched Harry’s coat sleeve for an instant as they walked towards the open door. He needed this to be played on his terms. He did not want Harry to lose his temper.

The room was a library, lined with bookshelves and cupboards. In the centre was a round table with a large globe upon it.

‘Have you come to ask me to play a game with you?’

Rob looked back, waiting for the footman to close the door, then he faced Kilbride.

‘You might call it that, if you like to play games with pistols. You are brave when you are beating women, or paying men to attack others in the dark, but I challenge you to face me in the daylight with pistols in our hands.’

Kilbride laughed. ‘A duel…’

Rob said nothing, giving him the time to answer.

‘That is illegal.’

‘Who cares? I do not. Are you a coward? I am offering you a chance to shoot me dead and I ask you to allow me the same. Are you man enough for that? ’

Kilbride had stilled; there was no bravado in his expression now. He was thinking through his options. Reject the duel and he would look weak. Accept and he might die. Did he have the courage? The look in his eyes changed. ‘Very well.’

Rob held back the desire to shout for joy. He had not wholly believed Kilbride would accept the challenge. He thought Kilbride was a coward. ‘We will meet in the fields beside Windsor Bridge, on the river edge. Tomorrow. At dawn. Turn off the road at the White Swan Inn. We will duel at sunrise.’

Rob turned away. There was nothing more to say. Harry opened the door for them to depart.

In the hall, the porter opened the front door.

As they descended the steps outside, Rob almost broke into a jog.

Harry slung an arm about Rob’s shoulders, with brotherly pride, as they walked away. ‘Well done.’

‘Hardly. He might yet bring the runners or kill me.’

‘Then I will shoot him, and we could take Uncle Robert’s dogs, and if the runners are out, pretend we are there for sport.’

Rob laughed.

‘Anyway, I would guess the Marquis of Kilbride has too much pride not to come and fire at you. Now the challenge has been set, he would know himself to be a lesser man if he did not accept. But don’t die, because I would be left to explain it to Mama.’