Sherry turned to look at Revesby, his face hardening. “I was forgetting that damned scoundrel was here!” he said. “By Jove, you’re right, Ferdy! Someone’s landed him a facer at last! Take a look at his jaw!”
“Very wisty castor,” agreed Ferdy, nodding his head approvingly. “Dashed if this fellow, Tarleton, ain’t a regular right one! Very obedient servant, sir! Happy to have met you!”
“Yes, but wait a bit!” Sherry said, his gaze taking in the unsheathed sword, and Mr Tarleton’s arm. “Something devilish queer about this! What’s that sword-stick doing there? You don’t mean to say — ”
“Ask Sir Montagu!” said Miss Milborne, who had been leaning her chin in her hand, and staring into the fire, quite divorced from these proceedings. “Ask him to tell you how he drew steel upon an unarmed man!”
“He did?” said Ferdy. “Well, of all things! You hear that, Sherry? Told you he was a Bad Man.”
“Lord, I’ve known that any time these past three months! What I want to know is why he drew steel, and what he got that facer for! And another thing I may as well know, while about it — not that I care much, but it’ll save trouble. I dare say — is what the pair of you are doing here at this hour of night!”
Miss Milborne promptly favoured him with an exact account of her share in the evening’s adventures. The Viscount remained unmoved. “Well. I warned you not to go off with him, Bella,” he said. “Might have guessed he would be up to some mischief. Dashed if it doesn’t serve you right! A rare dust you have kicked up, and all to spite George, if I know anything of the matter! But that don’t tell me how he came to have a set-to with Tarleton!”
“Oh, Mr Tarleton very kindly knocked him down, because he said such horrid things to me!” explained Hero blithely.
“Oh, that was it, was it?” said his lordship, a martial light in his eye. “I’m much in your debt, Tarleton! And what, my buck, did you say to Lady Sheringham, before I choke it out of your lying throat?”
Sir Montagu, retreating, said hoarsely: “You will regret it if you touch me, Sheringham! If the events of this night were to become known — ”