“I have had enough of this circus!” he exclaimed. “I am not interested in family scuffles. This is most undignified. The Marsh family has embarrassed the Kingdom of England with their display here today. I have no desire to wade into the matter.” He turned to the man who would have been his father-in-law had things turned out differently. “You however, sir, almost tricked me into marrying an impure woman and that I will not forgive you.”
Mr. Marsh shook his head. “I could never attempt to trick Your Grace–”
Commander Pierce decided that was his moment to grab what he had come for and stepped forward.
“I shall kill her defiler for you, Your Grace,” he declared lustily.
“Don’t!” Jane said, trying to restrain him.
The Commander turned to her. “Try to stop me, and I will kill you too,” he threatened.
“Let her go,” Alistair said. “If you as much as harm one hair on her head, it will be the end of you.”
The Commander chuckled. “Do not make promises you cannot keep, vermin. I will kill this whore faster than the eyes can blink.” Commander Pierce declared. “And afterwards I will kill you and have your head mounted on a spike in front of my castle so all can see the fate of Scottish bastards who go against the English.”
He looked to the Duke, as if seeking validation or approval, but the man’s countenance was impassive. Commander Pierce turned back to Alistair. “I shall enjoy it enormously.”
“We will not have bloodshed in the house of God,” the priest said, his tone severe. “Enough of this! I have heard enough disrespect in this holy place. Take whatever grievances you have outside.”
He turned to the Duke. “Your Grace, please.”
“You shall do as the priest says,” the Duke said. “Immediately.”
Alistair nodded and stepped toward the door and thus the Commander.
“Come any closer and I will kill her,” Commander Pierce said.
“Did you not hear my order?” the Duke asked, his voice raised.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Commander Pierce said, cowed. “I shall-”
“I challenge ye tae a duel, Commander,” Alistair said. This caused a stirring among the congregants. “Right now. Outside.”
“Are savages even allowed to do that? Challenge honorable Englishmen to duels?” the Commander asked. Alistair ignored the comment and turned to Andrew Marsh. “I am fighting for Jane’s and her sister’s honor. If I win, you shall let both Jane and Eleonor marry whom they wish.”
Andrew Marsh was silent.
“Marsh!” the Duke prompted.
“I agree,” Andrew Marsh said finally.
Alistair then turned to the Duke, to confirm what His Grace had said earlier. “I trust that ye are a man of honor and will keep yer word from afore, thus respecting the outcome of the duel. If I win, ye will abandon any pretense to Eleonor’s hand.”
The man nodded. “That is agreed. As I said, I shall not entangle myself in this family’s business.”
“Very well,” Alistair said. “Then we shall step outside, and the duel shall begin.”
CHAPTERNINETEEN
The congregants readily turned into spectators. In their Sunday best, they huddled together outside the church, waiting for the action.
Commander Pierce had been reluctant to let go of Jane, but he had eventually conceded. Now, Jane was at Alistair’s side at the chapel’s entrance, beseeching him to take his words back. “I would prefer,” she said to him, “being married to him, living all my days as a slave in his house, than having him kill you. Please, Alistair. Say you have changed your mind and escape with Ramsay and Eleonor. I doubt that the duke will take her now, anyway. Please. I cannot bear the thought of living in a world without you.” She clutched at his shirt, oblivious to the reaction it elicited from spectators.
Alistair chuckled. “Have ye nay faith in yer lover, Jane Marsh?”
“Do not jest!” Jane exclaimed sharply. “This is a matter of life and death. Don’t you dare jest.” A sob escaped her. “He means to kill you.”
“As he should,” Alistair said, “fer I have taken what almost became his most prized possession, a lily sweeter than any, a jewel without comparison, and made it mine. What man wouldnae feel like killing the man that robbed him so?”
