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After a few beats of aard silence, Williaet a word out, Lord de Bricasse held up his hand "This is highly irregular, Sir Douglas What you de is unreasonable--"

"I can de jerked his head toward Williaree to them I offer him a chance to recover his besmirched honor from the dishonorable defeat--"

"It was not dishonorable--" Lord de Bricasse countered

Doug shrugged again in that profusely exaggerated way "Whatever I’d rather defeat hilowered atsure I understood that this punishment of William was about me

Or maybe not…

Maybe he saw Williadohter as he was Maybe this was Doug’s way of eli cleared his throat and continued "Sir William has a chance to win her bauble back if he wants to But only if he accepts my terms if he loses"

All eyes shifted to William, but it was my turn to speak up "No I won’t allow William to do that"

William turned his head toward me with a scowl on his face "I don’t need your perally et it back" Then I turned to taunt Doug "You obviously aren’t a man of your word"

Williaht’s honor…ever"

Clearly outraged, Doug turned dark red and jerkily grabbed one of the leather gloves hanging off his belt before slapping it on the floor at asped

And I was completely at a loss for what had just happened

I looked up at Willialove, then he bent and swept it off the ground Holding it up, he said loudly, "Sir Douglas has thron his gauntlet at Mistress Kovac’s feet I accept this challenge on her behalf and fight as her champion"