Page 34 of Seduction of a Widow

“Flee to France, I imagine.”

Would Leslie go with him under those circumstances? He hadn’t considered that. Nae, he was too good a shot. He would only wound Drucker. The worst that would happen—should Drucker take the cowardly path and set a runner on him—would be a few months in prison. If they caught him.

“Lord Robert, if you will show us the pistols please,” Stirling said.

Lord Robert opened the case and Stirling inspected both pistols, then handed Evan one. Lord Robert handed the other to Drucker.

The men stood back to back, pistols pointed at the ground. Wind rustled the leaves in the trees and ruffled Evan’s hair.

“One,” Stirling called.

Evan stepped forward.

When he returned to Leslie, she would surely open up to him as she had earlier. But when she learned he had sneaked out of her bed and went ahead with the duel, would she forgive him?

“Two,” Stirling called.

Evan took another step forward.

What if she refused to forgive him? Nae. She wouldn’t do that. Would she?

“Three,” Stirling called.

Evan stepped forward again, and again and again until…

“Nine,” Stirling said.

Evan took another step and tensed in readiness for the tenth and final step.

“Ten,” Stirling said.

Evan took a step and swung the pistol up as he turned.

“Stop!” a woman shouted.