Page 93 of The Unfortunate Debutante
Simeon slowly placed the pistol on the ground, his eyes never straying from Lockhart.
Lockhart smirked. “And the spare pistol from your boot.”
Leaning down, Simeon removed the overcoat pistol from his right boot, dropping it on the ground.
“Now kick them away from you,” Lockhart directed.
Simeon took his foot and slid the weapons towards Peter and his thug.
“Now, you’re free to go,” Lockhart announced, lowering his pistol.
Not sure what game Lockhart was playing, Simeon asserted, “I’m not going anywhere without Emma.”
“Then you shall die,” Lockhart replied, bringing his pistol back up.
“Stop!”Emma said, moving to stand in front of Simeon. “If you want to kill him, you’ll have to kill me first.”
Lockhart lowered his gun and gave Emma a condescending smile. “I have no wish to kill you, my dear. I love you.”
“You don’t love me,” Emma huffed. “Your actions prove otherwise.”
Looking bored, he responded, “Your guardian left me no choice. I’ve already explained that.”
“Please let Simeon live,” Emma pleaded.
Lockhart cocked an eyebrow at him. “Simeon, is it?”
“Yes,” she confirmed, “he’s my friend.”
“Is this the man that you previously mentioned that you care about?”
Emma pressed her lips together as she sheepishly glanced over her shoulder at Simeon. What a mortifying thing to admit out loud, especially given the circumstances.
“It is,” she answered honestly.
“And does this man return your affections?” Lockhart asked.
Unsure of how to respond, she remained silent.
To her surprise, Simeon replied in a firm but gentle tone, “He does.”
Lockhart frowned. “Then we have a problem.” He pointed his pistol towards Emma. “I can’t possibly let him live, or you’ll continue to harbor feelings for him.”
Emma squared her shoulders, despite a pistol being pointed at her. “I’m not the same girl you knew growing up, Peter. I’ve changed.”
“I can see that,” Lockhart scoffed. “You’ve become a harlot.”
She gasped. “How dare you!”
Lockhart’s expression grew accusing. “The Emma that I knew growing up was innocent and kind, and she was never one to toy with a man’s emotions.”
“I’m still that girl,” she contended. “I’ve never toyed with a man’s emotions.”
“No?” Peter questioned. “You promised yourself to me.”
“I did no such thing!”
He took a commanding step towards her. “When you were ten, you told me that you wanted to marry me down by the stream.”
