“Battle royal.” Reddington fired a musket into the air. Birds squawked and fled. Reddington smiled.
Stephen did not. That had been a real bullet.
“If you do not surrender this castle by the first of June,” Reddington continued, “lawyers will be the least of your concerns. His Grace and his men will storm these grounds and take possession of this land by force. Your tongue may be sharp, but your castle will crumble.”
Elizabeth snorted under her breath. “I’m not afraid of a battle royal.”
“Iam,” Stephen whispered. “Have you noticed which side has an army?”
“If you wish to avoid total annihilation, bring me the deed,” Reddington’s voice shouted up. “We can settle this now, like men.”
“Then you will die,” Elizabeth called back. “I settle things like a woman. Are you afraid to be as honorable? I did not peg you as cowardly,Your Grace.”
Reddington jerked backward. “What did you just say?”
“I asked for a fair fight,” she called down. “No more long-distance attacks on the earl with your poison and arrows.”
“In your opinion,” Stephen whispered. “One hundred to one is a fair fight? As long as it’s up close?”
“You want fair?” Reddington roared. “This castle is mine and you are keeping it from me. His Grace shall retaliate as he sees fit!”
“He hasn’t agreed to a thing we’ve said,” Stephen pointed out. “He answers without answering. Or implies something different from what he means.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Reddington is tricky. We won’t let him get away with misdirection.”
“Or murder,” Stephen added.
“I thought we bothlikedmurdering,” she whispered back.
“I dislike being hanged for it,” he specified. “Or being on the wrong end.”
“You’re one hundred percent safe. Reddington could never beat me.”
“Are we talking about the man who arranged to have his enemies killed and successfully avoided legal repercussions? Then attempted the same trick on me?”
“His mock soldiers could never beat me incombat,” she clarified. “Not one at a time.”
“What makes you think he wouldn’t send all his men in at once? We have to stop this battle royal. It’s not a fight we can win.”
Elizabeth made a face, then leaned out the window. “Reddington, we understand your position. Please understand ours. If we can prove that you’ve no claim over this castle, you must never step foot on this property again. Do we have your word as a man of honor?”
Reddington’s head looked ready to explode. He shook his IOU at them in defiance. “You do not. What about Densmore’s word as a man of honor?”
“At least negotiate terms with us like a true general,” she tried again. “We can set a future date for a calm, rational meeting. Ifyou like, you can bring a lawyer, and we’ll settle the matter like gentlemen.”
“After reneging on a debt of honor, you dare accuse His Grace of not being a gentleman?” Reddington shook his musket. “You go too far, girl. I am the honorable one. Therefore, I shall negotiate battle terms with you on one condition.”
“Don’t do it,” Stephen said. “It’s a trick.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Elizabeth said with frustration. “We need him to agree to negotiate, or he’ll keep attacking the castle. I doubt implementing war strategies is part of Miss Oak’s planned curriculum for the orphanage. If Reddington will agree to sit down for a peaceful conversation on one condition—”
“We don’t know the condition,” Stephen reminded her.
“Well, whatever it may be is better than what we have now.” She leaned out the window. “What is your condition, Reddington?”
“His Grace shall grant Densmore an audience for negotiation if—and only if—Densmore wins a duel against one of His Grace’s men.”
“No,” said Stephen. “I’m not my cousin, and I don’t intend to die for him.”
