They focused their attention on Alexander and Jacob, who was cowering in a corner as Alexander rounded on him.
“Ye realize ye just attacked the Duke of Gordon’s sister? He could have your head for that.”
“She came here willingly,” Jacob answered, his chin jutted out, but he didn’t appear as strong as when it was just the two of them. He seemed to wilt under Alexander’s scrutiny.
“Mayhap. But no’ to be abused,” he growled.
“I did no such thing.”
In a flash, Alexander smashed his fist into Jacob’s jaw, sending him into the wall as he tried to catch his balance.
Gunn and Malcolm stepped forward. Gunn put a hand on Alexander’s shoulder. “Easy, brother.”
“You fucking hit me!” Jacob sputtered, turning his head and spitting blood.
“Aye. How does it feel, seeing how ye hit the lass? Ye deserve a hell of a lot more than a single punch.”
“The bitch stabbed me!”
Alexander lunged forward but was quickly held back by Gunn. “Think on this, Alexander. Be smart.”
Shrugging off the hands holding him back, he rolled his head from side to side to ease the tension that had gathered in his shoulders.
He took a deep breath. Clarissa was safe. She may have a bruise in the morn where she had been clearly hit, but the wound she had inflicted on Kitt was worse. He couldn’t help but smile. She had fought back. A true spitfire, she was so strong. He couldn’t be more proud.
But he had to deal with Kitt.
“Do ye ken what will happen to ye when the authorities find out ye assaulted the duke’s sister? Ye will be locked away.”
Kitt’s eyes widened, but Alexander wasn’t done.
“Any standing ye thought ye would be gaining in society will be lost. Do ye truly think anyone will be looking to marry their daughter off to ye? Look around ye. Ye have no money. Just a crumbling estate. Which will wither away while ye rot in prison.”
“I cannot go back to prison.”
That caught Alexander’s attention. “Pardon?”
“What do you want? I would prefer to leave the authorities out of this.”
“I want ye to leave. Leave Scotland and go back to the states. Do that, and what transpired here today will ne’er leave this room. But if I e’er see your face again or hear that ye are back I will have your arse locked up with such haste ye willna ken what hit ye.”
Alexander took a step back and watched as the emotions rolled over Kitt’s weaselly face, weighing his options.
Kitt looked around the room and Alexander could tell the moment the bastard realized he was out of options.
“I agree to your terms. I will make arrangements to leave first thing in the morn. I never liked this damn country in the first place. You all are a bunch of barbarians.”
Alexander cocked an eyebrow in his direction. “Ye havena left yet. I would choose your words wisely whilst we are still here.”
“Take Clarissa home, Alexander.” Malcolm stepped forward. “I will stay with Baron Kitt here and ensure he follows through with your agreement.”
“As will I,” Gunn chimed in.
Kitt’s eyes widened as Gunn crossed his arms and glared at him.
“Thank ye, brothers.” With a last look to Kitt, he spun on his heel and approached Clarissa who still stood with Nicholas, his hands resting on her shoulders.
“Go ahead,” Nicholas whispered. “I see it now. And I willna be the one to stand in your way.”
