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"And you on’t either" James advanced, sword held ready

Simon felt his smile disappear "Brave words for a murderer"

He sensed Christian’s swift look Did the boy know? He’d never told him about Ethan--about the real reason for these duels Simon raised his blade and faced his opponent The s

"Allez!" Christian cried

Si their deadly song Sirin He stabbed into an opening, but James deflected the blow at the lasteven as he parried slash after slash The muscles in his calves burned under the strain Ja, an opponent to take seriously, but he was also desperate, attacking recklessly The blood pounded in Si his nerves spark He never felt so alive and paradoxically so close to death as when he dueled

"Ah!"

Ja a blow at Simon’s chest He deflected the sword at the last ainst his opponent’s until they were hilt to hilt, breathing into each other’s faces Jath Siive ground He could see the red veins in the otherof terror

"Blood," one of the seconds called, and only then did he feel the burn at his arm

"Do you quit?" Christian asked

"Hell, no" Si after hi dark and animal within him howled, Now! Kill him now! He must be careful If he only wounded his eneht to stop the duel, and then he’d have to go through all this nonsense again

"There is no need," one of the seconds was shouting "Gentlemen, thron your swords Honor is appeased!"

"Bugger honor!" Siht shoulder sending needles of pain down his ared as thedown his back and had no idea whether it eat or blood Ja desperately, his face red and glea His waistcoat was stained dark beneath the arh

And suddenly Jas Si at the back of his knees Horror streaked through hi the tendons at the back of his legs, he would be crippled, unable to stand and defend hi, James had exposed his chest The other ain Simon pivoted Put the whole force of his arh the chest Siainst bone His shoulder burned just above his ar of his own mortality, heard the scream of one of the witnesses, and smelled the acid stink of urine as the dead man lost control of his bladder

His eneulping great lungfuls of air Then he placed his foot on the corpse’s chest and pulled his sword out Ja now

"Jesus" Christian drew a hand across his white mouth

Sihtly and he frowned, trying to control them "Could you close his eyes?"

"My God My God My God" The short itation Suddenly, he leaned over and vo his shoes

"Can you close his eyes?" Siain He didn’t knohy it bothered hier cared that he stared blindly

The little , but Spectacles passed his hand over James’s eyes

The physician walked over and stared down impassively "He’s dead You’ve killed hied on his coat

"Christ," Christian whispered

Sier needed the lantern The sun had risen, evaporating thea new day that Quincy James would never see Simon’s hands still shook

"HE’S OUT? HOW CAN HE BE OUT at this hour?" Lucy stared at Newton

The sky had just lost the pinkness of dawn Street sweepers were trundling their carts home across the cobblestones At the house next door, aher employer’s steps Lucy had arrived at Si ride in the park She should’ve waited for hiinally planned But last night over supper, Rosalind had announced that she would rise unfashionably early to acco Cook had served theht she needed pointers on selecting a fresh snapper Lucy had leapt at the chance to ride along and see Simon a little early

But now she stood on the front stoop like a poor petitioner before the king The king, in this case, being Newton the butler He was splendidly arrayed in silver and black livery and an exquisite wig, despite the hour He stared back at her down a nose that would have done any ancient Roman proud

"I couldn’t say, miss" Two spots of red burned in the butler’s otherwise cadaverous cheeks

Lucy looked at thean to heat Surely Simon wasn’t with another woman? No, of course not They were to be married in less than a week But Lucy felt shaken nonetheless She hardly knew Simon; maybe she had misunderstood Perhaps when he said dawn it had been a fashionable figure of speech, reallyten o’clock Orblack carriage rattled up, interrupting her thoughts Lucy turned to look The carriage bore Simon’s crest A footman jumped down and set the steps Henry and Mr Fletcher descended Lucy frowned Why? Simon stepped down Behind her, Newton exclaimed Simon was in his shirtsleeves, despite the cold One sleeve was streaked with blood, and he held a soaked rag to the upper arm Spatters of red arced delicately across his chest In strange contrast to the gore, he wore an is wouldn’t fill with air How badly was he hurt? She stumbled down the steps "What has happened?"

Simon stopped and stared at her, white-faced He looked as if he didn’t recognize her "Merde"

At least he could talk "Newton, send for a doctor!"

Lucy didn’t bother to see if the butler followed her orders She was afraid if she took her eyes froht collapse She reached him on the street and held out a hand, hesitant to actually touch him lest she harm him further

"Where are you hurt? Tell me" Her voice shook

He took her hand "I’!"

"There’s no need of a doctor--"

"He killed James," Mr Fletcher suddenly said

"What?" Lucy looked at the younger edy What had happened?