Page 47 of The Duke's Stubborn Wallflower
Nigel felt the unspoken barb in Alexander’s words.You would have been my second, and I yours. It will always be us against the world.“Yes.”
“Good.” Alexander straightened his coat. “Where shall we meet?”
“It is your challenge. You set the terms.” Nigel shrugged, feeling as though his body were wholly unconnected from his soul.
“There is a forest an hour or so’s ride from here. That should be most suitable,” Alexander noted. “We shall meet there and settle this once and for all.”
Nigel could see the pain in his friend’s eyes as he said it. His heart twisted. He had ruined so much in such a short time. His eyes found Olivia’s, and he saw her shake her head. He knew she was willing him to refuse.I cannot. Alexander is right. Honour must be restored.
Perhaps my death will set her free,he consoled himself with this thought, glad that Olivia might still have a chance at happiness.I wonder if my death might earn Alexander’s forgiveness?
“I shall meet you at dawn tomorrow at the boundary of the forest.” Nigel held out his hand to Alexander, ignoring Olivia’s look of despair.Better this pain is ended now.
Olivia jumped between them, glaring at both men. “Absolutely not. I will not stand for such selfish idiocy.”
Nigel opened his mouth to speak, but Olivia’s look stole the words from him. He had thought he had seen her angry before, but he realised that scorn was nothing in comparison to this.
“Olivia, this does not concern you —” Alexander began but Olivia cut him off.
“Given that you are proposing to ruin not just your own life but the life of everyone else around you over my apparent honour, Iwould say that this very much does concern me.” Olivia’s voice shook with rage.
“This must be settled, one way or another.” Alexander glowered. “Olive, we do not live in the kind of world you imagine.”
“I am far too aware of the kind of world we live in, brother-mine,” Olivia continued as though Nigel had not even spoken, biting out each word as though it were poison upon her tongue. “I know the kind of scandal this could bring upon meifanyone found out.
“But I am not planning on sharing this with anyone. And I doubt the Duke is.” Olivia met her brother’s angry gaze. “And I would assume that you are not planning on sharing what you have seen either.”
Alexander spluttered, his face colouring in embarrassment. “Hardly.”
“Good.” Olivia briefly glanced at Nigel before continuing, “Yourfriendhas already said he cannot marry me, and we must accept that. I have my own feelings on the matter.
“I understand that you want to ‘defend’ my honour. Truly, Brother, I do. But a duel will ruin everything. It will ruin my life, ruin yours, and the rest of our families.” Olivia put her hands on her hips, and Nigel marvelled at her bravery.
She truly is far more than I could ever deserve.Her brother met her defiant gaze with his own fury. Nigel had seen plenty of men turn tail and flee from that gaze, like dogs with their tails between their legs, yet Olivia held her ground.
I cannot let her fight this battle for me.“Good lady, your brother has issued the challenge, and honour demands that I meet it. I am no coward.”
Alexander opened his mouth, and Nigel could almost see the scornful retort forming. Before either man could say anything, Olivia spoke once more.
“You could die!” Olivia’s genuine fear and despair seeping into her voice. “You would leave Rose a widow. You would leave Arthur without a father. And Rose to birth her next child alone and raise them without ever knowing the love of their father.
“You know what the pain of that is. Think of our siblings, think of our own pain when father was killed. You spent years unable to forgive yourself. How do you think I would feel if you were to die because of me?” Olivia held her brother’s arm.
Though her words were not aimed at him, they stole into Nigel’s heart.How could I have been so selfish?If Alexander insisted on a duel, Nigel would allow him to win. He would not deny Rose or his godson a parent. Not when he was a doomed man anyway.
The silence stretched between them, Nigel watching as unspoken words passed between Olivia and Alexander. He felt the silence thicken, becoming steadily more oppressive.
Finally, Alexander said, “My little sister speaks sense. Be thankful you have her on your side though you little deserve it.”
Nigel opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Alexander continued, “I shall do as she asks. We shall not settle this with a duel.”
“Thank you —” Olivia’s voice was full of relief, but Alexander stayed her next words as he held up a hand for silence.
Alexander held Nigel in his gaze, and he felt the full extent of the other man’s disgust and disappointment. Yet beneath the disgust, Nigel could see the heart break and knew this fuelled everything.
“I will not duel you. But nor can I find it in my heart to forgive you.” Alexander’s words were like iron, unyielding and full of determination. “You have dishonoured me, dishonoured my family, and broken my trust.”
Nigel felt his heart twist at the pain in his friend’s voice. Once more, shame filled him, but he could not break free of Alexander’s gaze.
