So Heyer juxtaposes two shootings - Quarles in ch 3 and Vidal in ch 6 and I think it’s another lovely instance of her highlighting fantasy versus real life. Or normal people versus psychos. 1/8

#GeorgetteHeyerReadalong

Riotous card party with excessive drinking, Vidal in charge and many many witnesses.
-v-
Sedate dinner for two with polite conversation, Mary utterly powerless save for fact she is armed. 2/8

Shooter and victim both drunk
-v-
Shooter stone cold sober, victim rollicking. 3/8

Victim is no threat to shooter - Vidal considers he’s provoked but there were many alternatives to a duel as all present counselled.
-v-
Shooter has no other choice: pull trigger or be raped. 4/8

Vidal is a marksman. Uses own weapons and practises on a candle before the duel. He shoots to kill.
-v-
Mary doesn’t know whether pistol is loaded and literally shuts her eyes before she shoots. 5/8

Vidal shows no concern for victim - is surprised he didn’t kill him and pays less attention to him frankly than the corpse he took to the drum
-v-
Mary immediately remorseful and helps to treat Vidal. 6/8

Vidal leaves Q and carries on his race. Never enquires for him again.
-v-
Mary not only doesn’t flee but stays to nurse Vidal and even make him gruel which he doesn’t want. 7/8

In other words, Heyer makes it very clear Mary is a heroine behaving normally under extreme circumstances. Whereas Vidal is a bit of a psycho frankly. And my the contrasts makes the second scene as funny as be damned even whilst it should be awful! 8/8