Chapter Thirty-Seven – If Need Be
With the wind whipping her hair about her face, Beth clung to her mare’s back as she raced at break-neck speed after the others. Her gaze flew over her surroundings, and she breathed a sigh of relief when Hyde Park finally came into view. And yet, her hands tightened on the reins as fear clutched her heart. Were they already too late?
In the lead, Lord Ainsworth turned his mount east across a large meadow framed by woodlands. Since he had accompanied Tristan to a duel before, he knew where to find them. Behind him, Tristan’s sister Henrietta and her husband Connor−as he had introduced himself quite casually−urged their horses to even greater speed so that Beth had trouble keeping up. Never in her life had she seen the landscape race by at such a terrifying tempo! Still, she could not stop for her husband’s life depended on them!
Long moments passed as Lord Ainsworth guided them onward until he finally lifted his hand, then slowed down his horse and turned toward them. “The clearing is on the other side of this grove,” he said, his breath coming rapidly as his gaze shifted from Henrietta to her husband and then to Beth. “I suggest we split up and approach from two sides. If Mr. Turner is indeed set on seeing Tristan dead, then we cannot know what he’ll do if he sees his goal threatened.”
Beth swallowed as the other two nodded their heads in agreement. As they slid out of the saddle, Henrietta turned to Lord Ainsworth. “Why from two sides? After all, there are four of us.” Then she glanced over her shoulder at Beth. “Do you know how to handle a weapon?”
Taken aback, Beth stared at her sister-in-law. Never would she have expected to be asked such a question! “No.” Shaking her head, Beth felt a sting of guilt. And yet, she could not help but wonder about Henrietta’s question. Was there a woman on this earth who knew how to handle a weapon?
A moment later, Beth received her answer when her slender, new sister-in-law pulled a gleaming dagger from her boot. A wave of awe washed over Beth at the sight, and she marvelled at the ease with which Henrietta moved the weapon in her hand.
“Then we shall approach from three sides,” her sister-in-law concluded, nodding at her husband as he drew his sword. She swallowed then, and for a long moment, their gazes remained locked as though each drew strength from the other which they could not do without. Then Henrietta nodded her head in vehemence and turned toward the clearing, determination shining in her clear eyes. “I shall kill my uncle if need be,” she growled, then glanced back at the others. “We shall protect my brother at all costs.”
Without hesitation, her husband nodded in agreement and stepped up beside her. However, Lord Ainsworth’s face showed the hint of a worried frown as he approached them. “Are you certain this is a good idea?” he asked, his gaze shifting from Henrietta to Connor. “What if you miss and hit your brother instead?”
Connor snorted, a disbelieving grin curling up the corners of his mouth. “I don’t believe I shall ever see that day,” he replied in his Scottish lilt before Henrietta could defend herself. “My wife never misses. She always hits what she aims for.”
A gentle smile came to Henrietta’s face, and for a moment, she leant into her husband, who gently draped his arm around her shoulders.
Smiling, Beth watched them, pride swelling in her chest as she saw how deeply Henrietta cared for her brother and how close she was to her husband. Maybe she, too, had been changed by the love that had found her. Maybe one day, Beth and Tristan could have the same devoted love between them that Henrietta and Connor shared. But only if they hurried!
As the others were about to turn around, Beth stepped forward. “I’ll draw Mr. Turner’s attention,” she spoke, her voice heavy with conviction as the others turned to look at her. “He will not consider me a threat, and it will allow you to approach without being detected.”
While Henrietta and Connor nodded, Lord Ainsworth stepped toward her, his brows drawn down in indecision. “I cannot allow you to do that,” he said imploringly, and Beth could tell that he was asking rather than forbidding her. “Tristan asked me to look after you. He would not want you to get hurt.”
Beth drew in a deep breath. “I know,” she said, holding his gaze. “Nor do I want him to get hurt. But I will not stand idly by and watch my husband get killed. I may not be a fighter and know how to handle a weapon, but I can do something. I can do my part to save the man I love.”
For a moment, Lord Ainsworth held her gaze. Then he nodded. “All right, you’ll come with me.”
Following him, Beth met Henrietta’s eyes and once more thought she could almost read the other woman’s thoughts. Her eyes shone brightly, a gleam of pride and determination burning in their depths, as she nodded her head, and Beth felt as though she had just been welcomed into the family.
As Henrietta and Connor broke off to the sides, Beth followed Lord Ainsworth through the dense grove. Lifting her skirts, she stepped over roots and around thickets that threatened to hold on to her dress and keep her trapped. At first, the light grew dimmer until they approached the other side of the grove, now only a handful of trees between them and the clearing. Angry voices echoed to their ears, and Beth tensed, feeling the blood run cold in her veins. Lifting her gaze, she met Lord Ainsworth’s eyes, who had stopped in his tracks, listening intently. Then he looked at her. “We better hurry.”
Beth nodded and followed him as fast as she could.
As they approached the edge of the clearing, the sky was streaked in warm colours as the sun slowly ascended to the heavens. A mild breeze blew across the earth, and early morning dew clung to the tall grass. In the centre of the clearing, stood the three men. While Tristan’s and Matthew’s faces were pale with shock, Mr. Turner’s head looked as though it was about to explode as he held a duelling pistol in his hand, its muzzle pointing at Tristan’s chest.
Beth gasped and immediately lunged herself forward, but Lord Ainsworth caught her and pulled her back behind a tree, one hand closed over her mouth. “You cannot rush out there,” he whispered in her ear as she fought against him. “We need to know what is happening and how best to proceed. Your death serves no one.”
Slowly, Beth calmed. However, the image of Tristan held at gunpoint conjured even worse ones of him lying on the ground, the earth stained with his blood as it gushed out of his body, leaving him pale and lifeless.
Nodding her head, Beth waited until Lord Ainsworth removed his hand from her mouth. “Then what do we do?” She turned to face him. “We have to do something.” As her hands began to tremble, she balled them into fists.
“And we will,” Lord Ainsworth replied. Then he turned around and peered past the tree, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. “Although I cannot make out what they’re saying, their body language suggests that neither Tristan nor his cousin are intent on meeting the other in a duel. It appears they’re both taken off guard by Mr. Turner’s reaction.” He watched them for another excruciating moment. “I do not believe the younger Mr. Turner to be a threat. The way he and Tristan exchange glances, I think it is more likely that they’re in agreement. That leaves only the elder Mr. Turner to worry about.”
Beth nodded. “Good. One is better than two.”
“Definitely.”
“Then what do we do?”
Lord Ainsworth turned to look at her, his eyes holding hers as though desperate to find the answer to an all-consuming question.
Beth lifted her chin. “I will not stay behind.”
Drawing in a deep breath, he nodded. “All right. If you’re certain, then listen closely.”
Beth swallowed, but nodded.
“Call out your husband’s name to announce yourself,” Lord Ainsworth instructed, his eyes stern. “We do not wish to alarm Mr. Turner and make him pull the trigger because he is startled. Then slowly approach. Lift your hands to show that you’re unarmed. Be emotional and pleading, and keep his attention fixed on you as well as you can.”
Again, Beth nodded, her fingernails digging into her palms.
“I shall circle around a bit so as not to be in his line of view,” Lord Ainsworth continued before his eyes softened, and he nodded at her encouragingly. “Do not worry, my lady, you’re not alone. If need be, we shall eliminate Mr. Turner to protect you both.”
“Thank you,” Beth whispered, her gaze shifting back to the scene in the clearing. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, then stopped and as loud as she could called Tristan’s name, her voice almost deafening to her own ears.
Immediately, the three men in the clearing froze; then their heads swung around, looking in her direction. With a hint of relief, Beth noticed that the pistol in Mr. Turner’s hand no longer pointed at Tristan…but at her.
Inhaling deeply, Beth stepped out into the clearing, her hands lifted at her sides, hoping Mr. Turner would not shoot her on sight.