"Around back of the stables she saw a group of boys, surrounding something on the ground. As she gasped, a boy- a great big fellow, nearly as big as a man- drew back his leg and kicked. The thing on the ground yelped. "No!" Bridget shouted, but she was drowned out by a gunshot. She turned to see the Duke of Montgomery, standing in his shirt-sleeves and pink embroidered waistcoat and breeches, hip cocked, a smoking pistol held almost negligently aloft in his left hand. He smiled, as sweetly as an adder baring its fangs, at the boys. "Won't you please vacate this area?" The boys seemed frozen by surprise- or stark fear. The duke tilted his head and his smile dropped from his face, leaving it blank- and somehow much more frightening. " ."