However, when he overheard a group of men that he thought were his friends talking about Leana in the most disparaging terms possible, his anger resurfaced and he smashed his fist into Laird John McLeod’s face. The rest of the men scattered, but he knew that the gossip would not stop; it would merely go on behind his back. Leana was regarded as no more than dirt underneath these people’s feet.
It took very little time for Hector McKechnie to make good on his word to get even with Fraser. A letter arrived for Fraser a week before the wedding to demand satisfaction for the indignity he had caused.
M’Laird Dubhgnall,
Further to our conversation last week, I would like to demand satisfaction from you by means of a duel on Saturday 25th of November on the field by St Anne’s Church near the Ardbrae River. I was subject to the greatest humiliation in front of my daughter and I wish to restore my dignity in her eyes.
Please respond as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Laird Hector McKechnie
Fraser read it when he was alone, and decided not to say anything to anyone about it for the time being, since he wanted a few hours to think about his response.
In the end, he decided to tell Rory and no one else. Rory, of course, advised him not to answer the letter but Fraser had to; he was honor bound to accept.
The next day he replied.
M’Laird McKechnie,
I would be delighted to meet you at the appointed time and place so that we can address the matter between us. When it is over, we will consider the matter settled, and may the best man win.
Laird Fraser Dubhgnall
Leana, although she was not aware of the letter, was distraught because she knew that most of Fraser’s friends were deserting him because of her.
“Maybe I should take lessons in how tae talk proper,” she said sadly.
Fraser was outraged. “Absolutely not!” he cried. “You do not have to worry about anyone’s opinion but mine, and I love you just as you are. Your lovely lilting voice is part of you and I will not have you changing it.”
Leana smiled at his anger. He was always ready to take her side, always ready to defend and protect her, but no matter how much he protested, she still worried that his status and reputation were suffering because of her.
Fraser had no such thoughts. He was enraged that anyone should say such vile things about the woman he loved in front of both of them. McKechnie was a laird, but Fraser was a laird and a warrior, and was determined to win, although he had no intention of fighting to the death.
Fraser had brought Rory, Joe, and Joe’s nurse Janet with him in case of emergency, but he had kept Abi and Leana in ignorance, because he knew they would fret and try to talk him out of it.
They were using rapiers, cutting swords that could bite into a man’s flesh and shear straight through it. Both were wearing chainmail, and it was obvious when they stood next to each other that Fraser was by far the bigger of the two, both in height, breadth, and reach.
Hector McKechnie threw down his gauntlet then Fraser picked it up, and they
bowed to each other. The duel had begun.
“What is going on?” Abi asked, puzzled. They had gone down to the stables to begin their daily riding lesson when they saw the stable hands in a state of violent excitement, shouting and laughing, quaffing ale, and generally stirring up the kind of noise that would not have sounded out of place in a cattle market.
Abi went down and repeated her question to the head groom.
He smiled from ear to ear. “M’Laird won the duel, mistress!” Alec Bain cried. “Lasted less than twa minutes!”
“Whit duel is this?” Leana asked menacingly.
Alec’s face fell. “I am sorry, mistress. I thought ye knew.”
“Naw, I didnae, but maybe ye can tell me,” she growled. “I cannae wait tae hear aboot it!”
The duel did not last long, and by the end Hector McKechnie was lying on the ground with Fraser’s sword at his throat, staring up at him with round, terrified eyes.
“Do you yield?” Fraser asked, his deep voice now even deeper as he raised it to a shout.
