“Eh?”

“Nothing. How long ago did my husband leave, Crouch?”

“’Twould be a just a few minutes ago, m’lady. Five minutes would be my best guess.”

“Drat the man. How dare he slink off in darkness and leave me to be a widow all by myself? If I’ve told him once, I’ve told him twice, no one can kill him but me.”

“That’s a right interestin’ attitude to ’ave, m’lady.”

“It is the only attitude to have, Crouch, and you’d best be standing staring at the door and not looking around my bedchamber or trying to peep around the screen. I’m sure I’m breaking all sorts of employer-butler rules by having you in my chamber while I’m getting dressed, but as I have no maid, and as Batsfoam has gone off to see Dare killed, you’ll simply have to be the one to do up the tapes in the back.”

“Now, m’lady?”

“No, just a minute, let me get my boots on. Honestly, men! How could he go off to fight a duel and not tell me! He could have at least said good-bye, nice to know you, I hope you have a good life without me.”

“Mayhap ’e doesn’t think ’e’ll be corkin’ off.”

“Oh, I’m sure he doesn’t; every man thinks he’s invisible.”

“Eh?”

“What?”

“’E thinks ’e’s invisible?”

“Yes, of course, what else would you say about a man who dashes off at all hours of the night to stand on a damp field and take turns shooting at another man, a man who has claimed everything you want and has spread the most malicious, foul rumors about you?”

“I might say as ’e thought ’e was invincible.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Dare is quite easily seen. Now you may turn around and do up my back, and we’ll be on our way. You did say you overheard that traitor Batsfoam state where the duel was to be held?”

“Aye, m’lady. The lads and me was just arrivin’ as ye ordered, and there was old Batty and the McGregor gettin’ into a hack, tellin’ it to go to Baker’s Field. Then ye came barrellin’ down the stairs yellin’ and pitchin’ a fit loud enough to be ’eard from ’ere to Banbury.”

“Oh, do hurry. Dare already has a sizable lead on us. At least you had the foresight to keep the carriage.”

“It ain’t easy doin’ up all these fidgety bits with only one ’and, m’lady, but if ye’ll just stand still…aye, there it is. Ye’re done, then.”

Charlotte ignored her bonnet and shawl, grabbing her reticule and dashing out the door as she called over her shoulder, “Come along, don’t dawdle, Crouch, I have a husband to save! Again!”

The ride to Baker’s Field was not long, nor was it particularly arduous, but it seemed to Charlotte to last just shy of an eternity. What if she wasn’t in time? What if that bastard killed Dare? What if her beloved husband was at this very moment lying on the damp grass, his life’s blood draining away from him? What then?