Chapter 26
KENDRICK
The carriage drove away, and I turned to face Penham, who was still there. I’d hoped he would scurry off to whatever corner he’d come from, but I was not so fortunate. I stood my ground and waited for him to spout whatever nonsense was festering inside him.
The firm set of his jaw told me just how angry he was. Good. Men who were angry were careless. I’d promised Caroline that I would protect her from Penham above all others, and knowing what I did about him, I would see that promise through.
“You need to stop whatever it is you’re doing with Miss Edwards.”
I tilted my head. “You mean the woman your friend gave me?”
His jaw clenched, and in that moment, I became certain Caroline’s brother had concocted this scheme with Penham.
“I’ve spoken to Weston, and we’ve come to an agreement. I am willing to pay you the money that was owed if you destroy the promissory note.”
I took out my pocket watch and glanced at it, knowing the small delay was making him even angrier. I tucked it away again and faced him, a lazy drawl in my voice. “I’ve already been paid.”
Penham’s fists clenched at his sides, and I readied myself to ward off a blow. But what came instead took me by surprise. “The lot of you have always been insufferable. It’s time someone taught you a lesson. You’ve left me no choice but to meet you at dawn.”
Damn. This man was more foolhardy than I’d thought. He’d always managed to get himself into one scrape or another, but I’d never heard of him challenging anyone to a duel.
I smiled. “If you insist.”
He nodded then turned to storm away. Fairfax and Clifton melted out of the doorway to Almack’s. From their expressions, I knew they’d overheard our exchange.
Fairfax whistled. “Are you going to kill him?”
Heaven knows I wanted to, but instead I forced myself to shrug. “That would be far more trouble than he is worth.”
Clifton nodded. “So you’ll wound him?”
“Of course.”
“You could just accept the money,” Fairfax said. “It’s what you wanted that first night.”
I shook my head. “I promised Caroline that I would keep her safe from Penham.”
Clifton laughed. “So now you’re her hero?”
Fairfax made a strangled sound of amusement.
“Hardly. But I do keep my word.”
They both nodded. That was the one thing sacrosanct among us. It didn’t matter whether we’d made a promise to each other or to a woman who was thrust into our midst. Once we gave someone our word, nothing would cause us to break it.
Fairfax nodded toward Clifton. “You’d better ask him to be your second. Much as I’d love to see Penham taken down, I don’t think I have the gravitas required for such a role.”
I nodded in agreement.
Fairfax liked to cultivate his air of being just a pretty face and a sly wit. We all knew there were depths beneath his surface, but for whatever reason, he liked to concentrate on the lighter side of things.
Clifton blew out his breath. “I suppose I need to track down Weston now since he’ll be Penham’s second.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” I said.
“See that you do,” Clifton said.
I nodded. It was what we did. Above all else, we were there for each other. No one kept score of who owed whom a favor because we didn’t have to.
I turned and headed toward King’s. Fairfax fell in step beside me. Almack’s was only a short walk from Rexford’s club, so I hadn’t brought my carriage. We were just steps away from the club when Fairfax spoke again.
“Is she worth all this trouble?”
“Yes.” My answer had been instant.
He nodded. “Well, I suppose there’s going to be a duel tomorrow morning, then.” He was clearly aiming for levity, but his slight frown reflected his concern.
I didn’t know how good Penham was at pistols, but his skill didn’t matter. I was better.