Page 36 of The Jilted Duchess
“No.” Theodore looked rattled now. “That’s enough. I’m finished.” He began to unstrap his gloves.
“Daenae be a coward,” Hector urged.
“Don’t call him a coward,” Gabriel said. “He doesn’t want to fight a man who has no business being in the ring in the first place. Now, come down, both of you, and Hector, you can tell us what’s happened between Alexandra and yourself. There must have beensomethingto make you so out of control.”
“I am nae out of control,” Hector grumbled, but he could see that the boxing was over for the moment. No one was going to allow him to stay here. No one was going to fight him now.
“Let’s have a drink,” Gabriel suggested. “And try to cool our tempers a bit, perhaps.”
He took out a bottle and a few cups that were kept in a cabinet for just such a purpose and began to pour. The men sat down on the floor, their backs against the wall or against the structure of the boxing ring, and accepted the drinks that were handed to them.
Finally, when everyone had a cup in his hand, Gabriel sat down too.
“You know,” he told Hector. “It’s not the end of the world to feel affection for your wife.”
“Never said it was,” Hector said, taking a sip and relishing the burn. “But ye cannae believe all the rumors that society tries to feed ye. That’s madness.”
“It is, but you must admit she’s a lovely creature. I might fall in love with her if she was mine,” Theodore offered.
The anger that blazed through Hector at that statement was beyond anything he had prepared himself to feel. “She isnae yers!”
Theodore raised his eyebrows. “I’m perfectly aware of that. I didn’t mean to make you jealous.”
“Jealous! What have I to be jealous of?”
“Nothing at all,” Theodore murmured, returning to his drink.
Hector sighed. “Oh, in truth I’ve always been fond of the lass,” he said. He smiled at the thought of what she would say if she could hear him. “She’s great fun. So proper. It’s like a game, spendin’ time in her company—a game to see how she will respond. I never thought having a wife would be such an intriguin’ experience, but truly, it has been.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Cedric asked.
“Who said anythin’ about a problem? Maybe I’d rather be with her right now than with ye lot. Did ye consider that?”
The men laughed. “Go home to her, then,” Gabriel said. “I can assure you that we would survive your absence, Hector.”
Hector shook his head. “I need this break,” he said. “Rumors about me wife are one thing, but have ye heard the other rumor circulatin’ about town?”
“Another rumor about you?” Gabriel asked. “I’ve not heard anything of the kind.”
“Nae about me. About Benedict.” Hector couldn’t keep the darkness out of his voice. “They say he’s on his way back to town.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“On me way in today.”
“No wonder you’re so distracted, then,” Gabriel said quietly. “But it might not be true, Hector. He might not be coming back to town. Surely Benedict knows he isn’t wanted.”
“Well, and when has me brother cared what anyone else wanted? Nay, I’m sure it is true. I’m sure he’s on his way back here and I’ll be forced to confront him soon enough.”
“What will you do?”
“What can I do? I’ll let it happen.” He got to his feet, setting his cup aside. “Let’s fight.”
“No one is going to fight you while you’re in this state,” Theodore said firmly. “No one wants to land a punch on you the way I did, Hector.”
Hector scowled. “I’d fight me brother if he were here.”
“Maybe you’ll get your chance. But we aren’t going to take you on in his place.”
