Complications (5 page)

MR BRIGHTFORD frowned at the letter, mind reeling. It was
a rash move but he could not blame Harrington.

“Is everything all right, Jolly?” Alex
asked, he, Nathan and Wrackley pausing in their breakfasts to look at him.

“I have just received a letter from Mr Benjamin
Harrington asking me to be his second in a duel.” He explained what had
occurred with Mr Saverney and that the man had now re-emerged.

“Poor Miss Harrington,” Alex said,
frowning. “To have to worry about her brother on top of such a distressing
situation.”

“It is Mr Harrington I am concerned about,”
Nathan exclaimed. “He could die. Jolly, is he a good shot? Is Saverney?”

Brightford considered this. Duels were not
common these days but he did not believe Harrington would falter. “I have never
seen Mr Saverney shoot but Harrington has a good eye.”

“You must give him some pointers,” Nathan
said. “You are the best shot I know. I suppose he cannot be dissuaded from this
course of action? An apology to the family by Mr Saverney?”

“Saverney’s very presence inflames the
situation, particularly with his new bride in tow. An apology six weeks ago
might have been good enough but I doubt it would do any good now. Harrington is
a good fellow, but hot-tempered. He will not change his mind. Indeed, had my
sister ever been treated in such a manner I would have reacted in just the same
way.”

“You should go to see him immediately,” Nathan
insisted and, in spite of the seriousness of the situation, Brightford could
not help an inward smile. Harrington had certainly made a favourable impression
on his cousin.

* * *

Lottie grabbed Amelia’s hands, eyes wide
with alarm. “You will never believe it. Benjy has challenged Mr Saverney to a
duel.”

“Excellent.” Amelia exclaimed, proud and
not in the least surprised at Mr Harrington’s action. At least someone was
finally doing something to put that hateful man in his place.

Lottie dropped her hands and looked at her
with an expression of anger Amelia had never seen before on her face. “How can
you say such a thing? Benjy could die.”

“Nonsense,” Amelia retorted. “Mr Saverney
is already entirely in the wrong. He would be a fool to make his situation any
worse by harming Benjamin.”

“He will hardly be thinking so rationally. They
will both have guns. Anything could happen.”

She paced up and down until Amelia caught
her arm and led her to a chair, she herself sitting on the bed opposite her
friend, a small part of her mind wondering why the room smelt quite so strongly
of perfume.

“I am sure your brother will be fine…”

“If only he would see reason and cancel the
duel. I begged him.”

“Lottie, he is doing this to avenge the
wrong Mr Saverney has done to you, because he loves you. If I were a man it is
exactly what I would do….”

Lottie managed a smile at this.

“… And I sincerely hope that Mr Saverney
suffers an extremely unpleasant injury.”

Lottie hesitated then said, “Nothing
fatal.”

“No, no. Merely an arm or leg or shoulder
injury. Their seconds will ensure nothing more serious occurs. Who has Benjamin
chosen as his second?”

“Mr Brightford.”

“There then. Mr Brightford is far too dull
to allow matters get out of hand.”

Lottie gave a short laugh. “You are unfair
to the poor man. Yet you are right, also: he is dependable enough that I
believe I can rely on him to keep Benjy safe.”

“Of course.”

“Perhaps I should write him a letter
imploring him to do so?”

“Certainly, although that might be a little
improper so I would not mention it to your parents if I were you.”

Lottie looked beseechingly at Amelia. “You
truly believe it will be all right?”

“I do and, indeed, when Benjamin returns
safely I hope you will tell him that you are proud of him.”

“I will do no such thing or he might take
the notion of regularly fighting duels.”

Amelia fought back a smile with only
moderate success. “I do not think he would run quite so wild as that.”

* * *

Benjamin’s valet woke him before dawn. Despite
only having had a few hours of sleep, he immediately jumped out of bed to wash
and dress, feeling only pleasant anticipation at what lay ahead. For weeks he
had had to see Lottie’s misery and at last he could do something about it. He
did not intend to kill Saverney, much as the man deserved it, as Saverney did
have a family who might actually miss him, besides which Benjamin had no desire
to become a fugitive. However, as Amelia had commented to him on her way out of
the house yesterday, causing Saverney an embarrassing injury would be a most
pleasant thing.

Mr Brightford, along with making all the
arrangements for today, had given him a few pointers for the duel. He had also
made a half-hearted attempt to talk Benjamin out of the duel then mentioned
that his cousin, Mr Nathaniel Fenbridge, was particularly concerned for
Benjamin’s safety. The latter news was especially welcome as was the idea that he
might appear in a remotely heroic light to that gentleman for defending his
sister’s honour.

He ate a large breakfast and Mr Brightford
arrived just as he was finishing. They stepped outside to the sight of a sky
striped orange and red then took a carriage to the appointed place which was an
area of countryside with no houses in sight. Mr Saverney had not yet arrived so
they remained in the carriage to wait.

“Are you nervous?” Mr Brightford asked him.

“Not at all. I have been inactive too long
in this.”

Mr Brightford nodded his understanding. “It
might be tempting to want the man dead for his actions, but that would only
make things difficult for you and worse for your family.”

“You need not explain; I am not such a fool
that I am not aware of that. Besides, every member of my family plus Miss
Daventry have already said as much, although Miss Daventry did at least suggest
I inflict a painful injury.”

Mr Brightford gave a snort of amusement
then glanced out of the window. “I think this is them.”

Mr Saverney’s carriage pulled up next to
theirs and he got out accompanied by Sir Bridton, the son of a successful
merchant. As Benjamin stepped outside into the unexpectedly cold drizzle of
early morning, he saw that Mr Saverney was pale but that his mouth was set in a
determined line. He bore little resemblance to the charming liar who had won
Lottie’s heart.

The gentlemen approached each other and Sir
Bridton said, “It is my duty to ascertain whether there is some peaceful way to
resolve this argument.”

“There is not,” Benjamin said flatly.

Sir Bridton opened a box containing two
pistols and presented them to first Benjamin then Mr Saverney, who each took
one, Benjamin testing its weight and the unfamiliar feel of it.

They took their places back to back -
almost like a dance, Benjamin thought - then Sir Bridton gave the word and they
began walking. The twenty paces stretched out ahead of him, straining
Benjamin’s patience. He finally reached twenty and turned round to see Saverney
aiming at him. A shot rang out - loud in the stillness - and Benjamin was
jerked backwards several steps, arm exploding in pain. Damn, it was his
shooting arm too.

He gritted his teeth and lifted his
throbbing arm to take aim. Saverney went pale and it was clear how much effort
it took for him to remain in place. Benjamin made the shot then he let his arm
drop to his side with a groan of pain. The wound was bleeding profusely.

The next thing he knew Brightford was by
his side wrapping a neckerchief tightly round his arm, which stopped the bleeding
but made the pain even worse.

“Did I hit Saverney?”

Brightford hesitated. “I am not certain how
severely hurt he was. He was hit around the stomach area.”

Benjamin grimaced at this news. “I was
aiming for his arm.”

“Do not worry about it. Bridton will fetch
him a doctor. You need to return home so that I can do the same for you.”

* * *

Lottie had had a restless night worrying
about the duel and she awoke hearing male voices downstairs. She realised Mr
Brightford had arrived and as she was in her nightgown it was too late to go
down and wish Benjy luck. As she listened to them leave the house and the
carriage drive away, this increasingly felt like a terrible failure on her
part.

She got out of bed and began to dress, not
bothering to call her maid at such an hour. The least she could do now was be
waiting the moment Benjy returned. She heard her parents descending the stairs
and joined them for breakfast, although she could not face the thought of food.
She sat with them in silence and sipped a cup of chocolate.

The time inched by until finally they heard
the sound of the door knocker. They all jumped to their feet, getting to the
hallway as the butler opened the door. Benjy and Mr Brightford entered the
house and she went cold at the sight of blood all over her brother’s shirt and
jacket.

She gasped and her mother made a horrified
exclamation as Benjy said, “I am fine.”

Mr Brightford added, “It is only his arm
that is injured - it looks far worse than it is. I have sent my carriage to
bring back the doctor.”

“We are grateful, sir,” Papa said.

Refusing offers of help, Benjy walked up to
his room, the rest of them trailing after him. Lottie helped him to remove his
jacket and shirt while her mother rang for a maid to fetch warm water so they
could bathe the wound. As he sat on his bed Benjy looked far too young to have
been injured in such a way.

“How is Saverney?” Papa asked.

“The wound was either in his side or
stomach,” Mr Brightford answered, brow furrowed. “It could be serious.”

“He could die?”

“Perhaps.”

“Then Benjamin would be branded a
murderer?” Mama said, clasping her husband’s arm.

“I am afraid so, but we must hope it does
not come to that. When the doctor arrives I will send my footman out to bring
back news of Saverney’s condition.”

“I can send someone.” Her father left to
arrange this.

Lottie numbly helped clean Benjamin’s arm, wiping
away blood until the basin of water was red. She felt sick – Benjy had fought
the duel because of her. She should have forbidden it. Now he might have to
flee the country, even in his wounded state. They might never see him again.

It was all her fault.

* * *

Amelia was confident that nothing could be
amiss as she knocked on the door of Mr Harrington’s home. She could not imagine
any outcome to the duel except complete success for Benjamin. Indeed, the
previous evening it had occurred to her that very likely Mr Saverney would be
too much of a coward to even show up to fight and would have to skulk out of
Edinburgh a laughingstock.

It was, therefore, with surprise that she
found herself led into the drawing room while the maid checked if Lottie could
see her. Almost at once Lottie came into the room, face so pale and haggard
that Amelia’s stomach lurched and foreboding filled her.

“Benjamin..?” He could not be dead?

“He is injured - his arm. The doctor says
he will shortly be recovered…”

“Oh, thank goodness!” Amelia sank into a
chair.

“… But Mr Saverney’s injury is far worse. If
he should die Benjy would have to leave all of us and flee the country.”

“It will not come to that,” Amelia said,
needing to reassure herself as much as Lottie.

“If it does I will have ruined our family.”

The words were spoken so softly that Amelia
almost thought she had misheard. “How could any of this possibly be your
fault?”

“He fought the duel for my sake. I could
have found a way to stop him…”

“But I convinced you it would be fine,”
Amelia exclaimed, getting up and crossing the room to her friend. “If it is
anyone’s fault, it is mine.”

“Not at all. You were simply comforting
me.”

“No, I was not. I honestly believed
Benjamin was so clearly in the right that it would all work out. It was stupid
and wrong of me.”

“It is not your fault,” Lottie insisted.

“Then neither is it yours.”

“Perhaps. I simply cannot believe that it
has come to this.”

“Nor I. What is Benjamin’s injury?”

“It is towards the top of his arm. The
physician took out the bullet and said Benjy was lucky as it had not caused any
loss of movement in his hand and fingers.”

Amelia was prevented from answering by the
sounds of voices in the hall.

“Oh, that might be news about Mr Saverney’s
condition. I must go and check.”

Lottie darted from the room and Amelia
paced back and forth, wondering how she could have been so naïve as to assume
no harm would come from the duel. After what seemed an interminable time she
heard footsteps approaching and Lottie came in, a smile lighting up her face.