Page 6 of Never Doubt I Love (Calloway #3)
The clash of foils filled the air, a sound that usually put Alexander on edge. Fencing with his brothers was never just a way to pass the time or get some exercise. It was always honing a deadly skill and practicing the art of claiming power over one another. Hugh insisted both Alexander and Charles spend hours in the fencing room each week, and both of Alexander’s brothers had used their skills to their advantage beyond the practice room.
Alexander had never asked what had come of the duels they’d participated in, and he never would. In fact, he tended to ignore them any time they made mention of any disagreements with other people.
“You are slipping,” Hugh growled as he backed Charles into a wall and rested his foil against Charles’s neck. “You would have been dead half a dozen times over today had this been real. I’ve half a mind to send you out to deal with Stubbs so I don’t have to. Perhaps you would survive long enough to get in some good practice, and I would have a problem solved.” He wrinkled his nose as he examined Charles beneath him. “Or perhaps you would lose your life instead of him, based on your poor performance just now.”
Charles spat on the floor, fuming as he fought to catch his breath. “You cheated.”
Hugh laughed darkly. “In life and death, there is no such thing as cheating. Only surviving. And you failed. Alexander!”
As Charles slunk to the bench, Alexander picked up his foil and stretched out his shoulders. Hugh had been particularly fierce this morning, so Alexander would need to be careful. He had many a scar from their sparring matches turning dangerous.
Hugh narrowed his eyes as they stood to face each other. “You have been quiet today, Brother.”
“I am always quiet.”
“Something on your mind?”
“Nothing at all.” Alexander tapped his foil against Hugh’s, strangely eager to fight with him this morning. Generally, he only went up against Charles, who was easy to beat. Hugh would prove to be far more of a challenge.
He allowed Hugh to advance first, carefully parrying each attack without taking the offense. Hugh would see it as a sign of weakness, but it would give Alexander a chance to take his brother’s measure more closely. The key to winning a match against the duke was biding time, something Charles had never understood. Charles was more of an “attack first, think later” sort of fencer, whereas Alexander was exactly the opposite. And the older they got, the more different they became.
“Tell me,” Hugh said after a few advances. He returned to the center of the room, Alexander following close behind. “How does one spend so much time with a lady and not have any planned excursions come of it?” He lifted his foil, preparing to advance again.
Alexander made his first attack, nearly catching Hugh off guard. Hugh managed to parry, but Alexander continued forward as he spoke, forcing Hugh to take a step backward. “You know how her brother feels about our family.”
Hugh parried, his riposte coming more furiously than Alexander had expected. “Which is exactly why I sent you . Heaven knows why you turned out so soft, but we will use that weakness to our adva—” He stopped when Alexander’s blade poked him in the chest, a smile working its way onto his face. “Well met.”
Alexander nodded once and returned to the en garde position. The conversation was far from over, but taking the first point had given him a slight advantage. One that would not last long. “I cannot fathom why Miss Calloway has taken your interest,” he said, readying himself for another attack, “but if she truly is your goal—”
“She is.”
“Then, have patience.” And, perhaps, if Alexander could delay their meeting long enough, Hugh would move on to someone less...
Beautiful. Interesting. Witty. Kind. Impassioned.
Alexander’s foil slipped from his fingers as Hugh struck, clattering to the ground. He held up his hands as Hugh touched his point to Alexander’s neck with a look of triumph.
“I am not known to be a patient man, Alexander,” Hugh said, narrowing his eyes again.
Alexander hardly dared to move. He kept his eyes locked on his brother, holding his breath as he waited to see which emotion would drive Hugh this morning. Anger was most often at the forefront, and the duke’s fury always brought danger with it.
Hugh laughed and lowered his foil, taking a step back to allow Alexander to pick up his own weapon. “If anyone can ingratiate himself into that self-righteous family, you can. I expect to be able to propose to the chit by Lady Lockhart’s ball—and for the girl to accept my hand without hesitation.”
That gave Alexander only a few weeks to find a way to turn Hugh’s attention elsewhere, though he would have to act as though he were doing as he was told. “I understand, Your Grace.”
They fought back and forth without speaking for a moment or two, until Hugh caught Alexander’s foil with his own and tugged him close.
“See that you do not disappoint me.” Hugh’s voice was edged with warning. “I have not been to visit Mother in a long while, and I would hate to think she is overspending while left on her own like this.”
Alexander’s blood ran cold, though he kept his expression neutral. It was not the first time Hugh had threatened Mother to keep Alexander in line, and Alexander had never wanted to take any chances by calling his bluff. This veiled threat to cut her allowance, which was already pitiful as it was, settled heavy in his gut.
That was the true reason Alexander could not leave his family. Why he was trapped under Hugh’s reign. As long as he stayed in line and did as he was told, he could ensure Mother was properly cared for. She seemed happy, holed away in a little village on her own, and Alexander vowed to keep her that way until he could afford to give her a home somewhere else.
He swallowed, which Hugh seemed to take as a sign of agreement, because he smiled and broke away, leaving the fencing room without a word.
Charles was on his feet in a heartbeat, foil at the ready. Unfortunately for him, Alexander needed somewhere to direct his tension, and the duel lasted only a few seconds before Alexander had his younger brother pinned against the wall once more with Alexander’s sword against his chest.
“You know,” Charles said, his eyes fixed on the point of the foil, “you could probably beat him.”
Alexander gritted his teeth. In fencing? Maybe. But in life, Hugh held all the power. Unless Alexander found a way to provide for their mother as well as himself, he would forever rely on Hugh’s fortune. “No. I could not,” he said, dropping his foil and wishing he had somewhere—anywhere—he could run.