Page 52 of The Scot is Hers
“Sir Joshua Keith is a good shot,” Giselle said, her mind whirling with visions of Alec bleeding from a bullet wound. She couldn’t imagine a world in which he didn’t live, and if he were to die on that field, she would be forced to live her days out with the man who’d murdered him.
“So am I.”
“Nay, ye do no’ understand. He is verra good.” She’d watched him on the hunt earlier in the season, taking shots at anything and everything. In it to brag about his accuracy rather than catch the stag. “Please, do no’ do this, I beg ye.”
His mother looked ready to faint, and her father took the dowager countess’s arm, leading her to a chaise to sit down.
Alec narrowed his eyes at Giselle, the look of betrayal vivid in his eyes. “I assure ye, despite the way I look, I can handle myself. Especially when it comes to that bastard.”
And then he too was stomping from the room. Giselle stared after his retreating form, feeling a sense of dread. How could she trust him if he were so willing to throw himself into the line of a bullet meant to kill?
* * *
There wasno mistaking the fear Alec saw in Giselle’s eyes when he’d agreed to the duel. She didn’t believe that he could take care of himself, and she knew what his death would mean to her—a life with Keith.
Seeing all of those thoughts play out on the open book pages of her face was a punch to the gut. And a reminder that she’d only agreed to marry him to get away from Keith, to begin with.
In the foyer, he was met with a line of his friends, blocking him from movement. Lorne, Euan and Malcolm all looked at him, determination etched in the lines of their faces.
“What the hell are ye doing?” Euan asked.
“Putting an end to this bloody feud for good.”
“Ye could be arrested,” Malcolm said. “Duels did no’ become legal while ye were hiding away up here, and I would no’ put it past that bastard to bring a magistrate as his second.”
“Neither would I,” Alec said with a bitter smirk. “That blackguard needs to be put in his place.”
“Ye already took his woman. Why do ye need to shoot him, too?” Lorne asked.
Alec resisted telling them why it would feel so good to put a bullet in the man who’d been the source of his lifelong torment.
Instead, he said, “Which one of ye will be my second?”
Euan sighed. “I will. I’ve got less to lose than either of these two blokes.”
Alec squeezed Euan’s shoulder. “Thank ye.”
“It does no’ mean I agree, so we’re clear.” Euan gave him a disgruntled look.
“I know. But I thank ye all the same.”
“Well, ye might as well show us where this is going to take place, so we know the lay of the land and can get a head start picking the right place to stand that has ye at an advantage,” Lorne said with a heavy exhale. “And pray my wife does no’ kill me for supporting ye.”
Alec took one last glance at the door behind him, wishing he could wrench it open and yank Giselle into his arms. But then her face flashed before his. The fear she’d displayed, the lack of confidence in his skills.
Didn’t she realize that this duel was about so much more than an accepted marriage proposal?
This was about what happened on the battlefield. This was about what Keith had done, what he’d taken. Alec needed to settle this score, or he’d never be able to move on with his life.
14
With Jamie and Lady Errol’s help—and the reluctant agreement of her parents—Giselle stood in the field by the abbey, looking at her handiwork with satisfaction.
This was certainly going to put a damper on the arrangement the two dueling idiots had. There was no way she was going to let them shoot each other. It was reckless, irresponsible and idiotic.
Tables covered in white cloth with vases of wildflowers on top were set for a luncheon outdoors. She was so glad the weather had cooperated because when she’d conceived of the plot to host the luncheon in the very same place the men schemed to shoot each other, she’d worried a storm would ruin everything.
But just as the weather had driven her and Alec together originally, it seemed to be cooperating today in bringing them back to the same parallel once more. The guests were due to arrive any minute, which was thirty minutes before the start of the duel. She intended to be well into the serving of their luncheon before the men arrived, and her little garden party spoiled their plans.
