Drake strode over to join them, and Valentine was glad of the distraction.
“Am I to understand Fairfax wishes to remain in the inn?” Drake narrowed his gaze. “What is it?”
Valentine gave a mocking snort. “Ava challenged Fairfax to a duel, set to take place tonight. The one standing receives the licence and the ruby.”
Drake’s expression darkened. “I can only imagine the conversation when she told you.” He turned to Ava. “Valentine will never allow you to risk your life. If Juliet were standing here, I would bundle her into the carriage, tie the rogue to the axle and drag him fifty miles along the road.”
Ava arched a brow. “You do not respect the fact your wife has her own opinion?”
Devil take it, the lady was brave.
No one challenged Devlin Drake.
It took Drake a moment to answer. “Not if it means I might lose her.” He seemed to consider the comment. “But I would respect her wishes to a certain extent. I would
work to find a compromise.”
After a brief pause, she said, “I am prepared to make certain concessions.”
Thank the Lord.
“Then permit me to act on your behalf,” Valentine pleaded.
“No. I have the skill to shoot in the dark.”
The dark!
Bloody hell!
He had not even thought of that.
“We should discuss this somewhere else before Fairfax sees us,” Drake said.
“There is no need,” Ava replied. “I told him you were waiting outside to kill him. I told him that the duel was his best option if he hoped to gain possession of the mine.”
Another tense silence ensued.
Fairfax was no fool. He had a slim chance of escaping the duelling field alive. If he shot Ava, Valentine would kill him, regardless. Fairfax’s only option now was to run, to bide his time before returning with a fresh plan of attack.
Relief coursed through Valentine’s veins.
“I have a suggestion,” Valentine said. Fairfax would not head for London, so his only option was to venture south. “Let us wait across the road and see what the rogue does. If he heads north, we will follow him and assume he is heading for the duelling field.”
Drake arched a brow. “And if he heads south?”
“Then he’ll be unfortunate enough to meet well-dressed bandits on the road.” Valentine focused his gaze on Ava. “Are you in agreement?”
“I am,” she said without hesitation.
Having crossed the road to hide amidst the shrubbery, they stood and watched the door of the coaching inn. Long minutes passed. A carriage arrived to block their view of the courtyard. Consequently, they almost missed Fairfax sitting astride his horse. With his hat pulled low, he nudged the animal into a canter as he turned onto the road heading for the coast.
“The man is cunning enough to know he had no chance of winning on the field,” Valentine said, exhaling the tension he’d held since Ava mentioned the duel. He could handle whatever came next as long as she wasn’t staring down the barrel of a pistol.
“He has always been a coward,” Ava said as they moved out of the shadows and hurried across the road towards Valentine’s carriage.
They were about to enter the courtyard when a man on horseback charged past them as fast as windy flames devoured a hay barn.
Valentine cursed the fool.