‘Archie, he’s trying to cheat you out of your money,’ Kitty said urgently. ‘He’s not your friend.’
‘And you are?’ Archie let out a derisive bark of laughter.
‘We are not going anywhere until you come with us,’ Hinsley affirmed, reaching for Archie again.
‘Very well.’ Selbourne had had enough. ‘Lionel?’ he called loudly.
Another door opened, this time from a ground-floor antechamber, and three hulking figures trooped out. Archie stared at them uncertainly – as did the other guests, backing away in befuddlement. Captain Hinsley stepped in front of Kitty.
‘I should very much not like to force you out,’ Selbourne said conciliatorily. ‘Don’t make me, Hinsley.’
‘Selby, I say,’ Archie said, a little shocked. ‘Not sure that sort of thing is needed – how terribly rude. In fact, do you know, I think I’ll be off. Yes, I think I ought to go – this is not the thing, at all.’
‘Archie, I’m afraid I cannot allow you to leave in the middle of a game. It would be very impolite,’ Selbourne said it quite mildly, but Kitty felt a chill run down her spine.
Archie stared at his friend, aghast. ‘Selby, why did you bring me here?’ he asked at last. ‘Was it really to cheat me?’
‘Go back to the table, Archie,’ Selbourne snapped. ‘You stupid boy, you don’t understand – I need you to go back to the table. Don’t make me ask again.’
Lord Selbourne no longer looked urbane, his eyes darting restlessly from Archie to Hinsley to Kitty and back again. In fact, Archie thought he was looking downright squirrelly.
‘Lionel,’ Selbourne called again, and one of the hulking men began to move forward. ‘Take Archie back to his seat, would you?’
‘I say – get your hands off me!’ Archie squawked, as they began to tug at his arms.
‘That is enough,’ Kitty said firmly. She sidestepped Hinsley, pulled the pistol out from under her cloak and pointed it directly at Selbourne. The men stilled.
‘Oh, blast it,’ Hinsley groaned. ‘She brought the pistol. Miss Talbot, give it to me.’
‘Let’s calm down now, shall we?’ Kitty suggested politely, ignoring Hinsley. ‘There’s no need for such rudeness. We’re going to leave now, Lord Selbourne, all of us – with our apologies for interrupting the evening.’
The appearance of the pistol had shocked everyone into silence, and it quickly became clear that not one of the men assembled knew quite what to do about it. There was an awkward pause. Archie gaped at Kitty, quite stupefied that such a shockingly vulgar thing was happening in front of him; Hinsley glared at Kitty and held his hand out entreatingly; and Selbourne was staring with wild flickering eyes from Archie to Kitty to Hinsley, quite consternated that his evening should have gone so awry.
‘Miss Talbot,’ Selbourne was the first to speak, in a passable imitation of his own calm. ‘I’m not sure you can expect me to believe that a gentlewoman such as yourself is really going to shoot me.’
Kitty held her hands steady. ‘You’re a gambling man, Selbourne – are you willing to bet on it?’
He ran a sweating hand through his hair.
‘Just let him come upstairs for a bit,’ he implored. ‘You don’t understand the trouble I’m in – I need the money – and he’d barely notice the difference.’
‘I say,’ Archie murmured again, in quiet shock. Selby did not seem quite so glamorous when he was begging.
Kitty just shook her head. They stared at each other for a beat – then two. Then, on the third count, Selbourne jerked his hand, and his men fell back. Taking this for the signal it was, Archie backed away towards Hinsley and Kitty.
‘Er – terribly sorry, Selby, for the inconvenience and – and everything,’ he said, with admirable politeness. ‘But think I ought to get Miss Talbot home, you know, given the weather. You have a very good evening, my lord.’
34
The inn appeared out of the darkness quite suddenly. Radcliffe cantered ahead, dismounting in the courtyard swiftly and throwing the reins of his horse at the stablehand.
‘Hold him!’ he commanded, stalking inside.
Ahead of him, leaning against the innkeeper’s desk, was Lord Montagu, arguing fiercely with the innkeeper.
‘If you would just listen to me – it’s important – we just need—’ He broke off with a yelp, as Radcliffe caught him by the ear and wheeled him around.