‘A fine day for such stupidity,’ said Gaise Macon, approaching the two men.
Winter Kay gave a thin smile. ‘Matters of honour are rarely stupid, young man. Perhaps an understanding of that from you would have spared us this duel.’
‘I shall bear that in mind in future, my lord,’ answered Gaise, with a bow.
A third man approached them. Wrapped in a heavy topcoat and scarf, the burly Lord Cumberlane bowed briefly to the two duellists. ‘I am appointed by the king,’ he said, ‘as Master of the Duel. It is my duty to implore both of you to find an equitable solution to this matter.’ There was ice forming upon his thick moustache, and his face was grey with cold. He swung towards Lord Person. ‘Can you now, my lord, see your way clear to resolving this issue without recourse to bloodshed?’
‘No,’ replied Person, with a malevolent glance at Gaise Macon.
‘Perhaps the offer of an apology?’ insisted Lord Cumberlane.
‘Honour demands satisfaction upon the field,’ said Person. Mulgrave felt his anger rise. The man’s confidence was such that the swordsman became ever more convinced that the duel was to be rigged. He glanced at Gaise Macon. The young man seemed perfectly at ease, but Mulgrave knew him well, and could see that he was performing.
‘Very well,’ said Cumberlane, sadly. ‘Let the matter commence. You will choose your weapons, and then stand back to back where I bid you. On my command you will advance ten paces and turn.
Once you have done so neither man will move. Not a step to the left or the right. I shall then give the instruction to fire. If either man shoots before I give the word he shall be deemed a craven, and shall face a charge of murder. Is my instruction clear?’
Both duellists nodded.
‘Each man will fire a single shot. Should no-one be hit the duellists will remain in position while the pistols are reloaded.’
Person strolled to where two silver pistols had been laid upon the table. Gaise Macon followed him. Person waited while Gaise examined both pistols. They were Emburleys and handsomely crafted, the long barrels engraved with scenes of running deer, the butts boasting the Leopard Rampant crest of the Winterbourne family.
‘Will they suffice?’ asked Winter Kay.
‘Admirable, sir. Admirable!’ said Person jovially.
‘Then choose, Master Macon,’ said Winter Kay.
Gaise Macon made his choice. Person took up the second pistol. Both men then handed the pieces to the Redeemers behind the table. The Knights expertly primed the flash pans, snapping shut the covers, then tilted the weapons to add a charge of powder. The Redeemers then each took a round lead ball from a bowl set on the table.
‘A moment, sir,’ said Gaise Macon. ‘I shall choose my own ball.’
‘They are all identical,’ said Winter Kay.
‘Of course they all appear that way,’ said Gaise Macon, smoothly, ‘but I have learned to judge by feel.’ Reaching into the bowl of shot he rolled several of them in his fingers. Then he produced one. ‘This feels perfect,’ he said. Reaching across the table he relieved his surprised loader of the silver pistol and dropped the shot into it. Lifting a small square of silk from alongside the bowl he pressed it into the barrel. Sliding the ramrod clear he tamped down the charge. ‘I am ready,’ he said, looking directly at Lord Person.
Mulgrave suppressed a smile. Person no longer looked confident. His face was ashen, and he was blinking rapidly. It seemed to Mulgrave that even the man’s ludicrously waxed moustache points were about to sag. Person licked his lips and cast a glance at Winter Kay. ‘Such behaviour is insufferable,’ he said.
‘In what way, sir?’ asked Lord Cumberlane.
‘He … he impugns the . . . the neutrality of … the competence of . . .’ He stammered to silence. Sweat was showing on his brow.
‘Ready yourselves, gentlemen,’ said Lord Cumberlane. ‘Back to back if you please.’
Gaise Macon removed his topcoat, handed it to Mulgrave, and walked out into the centre of the garden. Person lagged behind, staring at Winter Kay. Then he stumbled out to take his place. ‘Be so good as to remove your uniform jacket,’ Cumberlane told him. Winter Kay strode out and relieved him of the garment.