Page 36 of Seduction of a Widow

She narrowed her eyes. “If you think that I will be swayed by the ridiculous notion that a man must protect a woman’s honor by risking his life, I will say that you are as foolish as he is.”

“I understand the impulse,” he replied.

“The impulse?” she blurted. Her eyes burned with the need to cry. “I thought you had better sense. I simply cannot believe that Mr. Drucker’s aim was better than Evan’s.”

“That surprised me, as well.”

The steel in his voice gave her pause.

His gaze shifted past her and she looked over her shoulder. The footman who had driven the cart stopped, his gaze on Stirling. Leslie returned her attention to Stirling.

He smiled gently, but she noted the gleam in his eyes when he said, “If you will excuse me.” He brushed past her and when he caught up with the footman, they continued away.

Leslie lifted her skirts and started after them at a slow pace. When they turned down the stairs up ahead, she hurried forward and slipped down the darkened stairs.

“…did you find?” Sir Stirling’s voice drifted up to her.

“Nothing,” the footman’s baritone voice was easily audible.

“You…on…his lordship?”

“Sound asleep,” the footman replied.

“It had to be him.” Stirling’s voice was louder.

Leslie’s heart pounded. It had to be him? His lordship? Barnton? Something more than just a duel had taken place.

“You are sure you saw…” the remainder of Stirling’s words were unintelligible.

“Aye, my lord. Positive.”

They reached the next floor. Leslie hurried down the remaining stairs and broke out into a well-lit hallway. The two men were twenty paces ahead. They stopped and turned. Sir Stirling frowned as Leslie hurried toward them.

She reached them, and he said, “Is something wrong, my lady?”

“What is wrong is that you are not telling me what really happened.”

His frown deepened. “I beg your pardon?”

“I overheard you in the stairs.”

His gaze bore into her. “Just what did you hear?”

“That you checked on Lord Barnton and found him sleeping and that it had to be him. Also, that you were looking for something. What exactly were you looking for, Sir. Stirling?”

He didn’t answer for a beat, then said, “The man who shot Mr. MacLaren.”