Chapter 3 Goddamn It

The blond man under Cole, during that momentary lapse in time, had regained his strength. He flipped Cole under him and pummel his face until what was left of it was a bloodied eye and a swollen, cut lip.

“That's enough!” The brother with the long scar, named Julian, said from behind them. “Brother, I think you would agree with me that this isn't the time to show your physical prowess but the time to act fast before the ton discovers what is going on here. Goddamn it, our sister had just been ruined.”

The blond man stepped off Cole, but it seems that not everyone agreed to what Julian, the eldest of them had said, for the man behind them, the one who had been cracking his bones grumbled. “At least he should be made to understand that a Bertram, is not to be trifled with.” when Julian said nothing, he grumbled again and ran his hand over his blond hair. “Bloody hell Julian, I think you are turning soft.”

Julian craned his head back and cast that brother a ferocious stare. “Enough!” He said as he came to stand in front of Cole, who was still lying on the plush carpet.

“He would marry her.”

“The hell I will!” Cole hotly refused.

“The hell you mean by that, you would marry her!” Lucas barked and hurried back towards Cole, but Julian held him with one hand. “Wait.”

Lucas's brows furrowed in an angry frown. Wait? Why the hell should he wait, Lucas thought. Didn't Julian hear him, the bloody fool said he won't marry their sister!

“Julian, Their sister's voice filled the room. “You can't do this, you can't force him to marry me!” Emily said as she tried to move forward, but her brother, Vincent, ferociously snatched her back.

“Oh God, Emily, don't tell me you are begging on his behalf.”

So her name was Emily. Cole thought with a bittered heart as he came to stand on his two feet, the little devious chit. She had planned this all. This was all her plan all long. If not, how then did four of her brothers know where to find her.

Julian turned back and stared at Cole with a deep frown on his face, his mouth set in a firm straight line. “You will marry her.”

“I won't.”

“The hell you won't!” One brother growled and rushed to Cole and smacked him on the face.”

“I told you to wait!” Julian gritted out from his teeth.

George turned and stared at his brother with angry eyes. “You didn't tell me that, and just look at what he is saying.” George gritted out as he pointed at Cole, who was now nursing bleeding lips.

“You would marry her even if it's the last thing I do,” Lucas growls out.

“I won't.”

“For God's sake, where is your honour.” George bit out.

Honour? Cole scowled and frowned, honour, for a woman who had set out to trick him into marriage. No wonder she had slammed her body against his when he had kissed her. She had to have known that it would drive a man crazy and make him want to do the unthinkable. Oh God, she had wanted them to be caught. He can't marry her, he won't! And so he voiced his opinion one more time in case they hadn't thought he was serious.

“I can't marry her, and I won't marry her.”

Lucas's eyes turned murderous, and he rushed towards Cole and hooked him by the collar “You would marry her even if it is the last thing I do.” He bit out through clenched teeth.

Cole stared at the blond man with unwavering eyes and opened his mouth. “I—won't.”

A frown settled on Lucas's face, and he stared at Cole. He searched his eyes and saw determination, fierce determination. Learning he meant what he said. He won't marry their sister. Lucas let his hand drop from the man's shirt. “Then prepare to meet me in the fields on the Morrow. What will it be then, Lord Tonfield, a pistol or a sword, heh?”

Against his better judgment, Cole felt his lips twitch. So he did know his name. Ah, it must be his reputation for having one of the best stables.

“A duel?” Emily whispered. “That's it, nobody is having any duel here, she said and snatched her hands away from her brother, but Vincent's hand quickly closed in around her wrist.

Her remaining brothers only raised a brow, and swiftly ignored her.

“Yes, a duel, Tonfield.” Julian chirped in.

“Very well then, I shall make my self available on the morrow,” Cole said.

“And bring a second with you, I shall't like to discover you have gone missing,” George said.

“Julian! You can't do that,” Emily shrieked and snatch her hand away from her brother, Vincent let her. She came to stand in front of Julian and pointed at him. “I won't let you do this, she threw her hands up in the air “Oh this is madness, what must you prove, what will gain by dragging the poor man to the field to fight a duel, the ton doesn't even have an inkling to what has happened.”

Julia frowned and thrust his face the other way, “I don't expect you to understand, but it is something I must do, I can't let him off like that knowing that he had ruined you. It's something I must do to defend your honour.” He finished with his eyes boring holes into hers. “I must do this.”

“Heavens above!” Emily cried. “This is about your pride, she said and jabbed one finger on Julian's chest.

“No is not! Goddamn it.”

“Then what is it about? If I have already said no harm is done, why do you intend to drag this out on the fields.”

Julian opened his mouth and closed it. His sister doesn't understand.

“Tell me, she shrieked. “Why do you intend to drag it all the way to the field?”

“Is for your own good,” George muttered with a frown.

“My own good?” Emily's face clouded. “How is fighting a duel where one person could possibly get shot be for my own good?”

“Goddamn it sis 'tis to salvage your reputation," Lucas chirped in.

Emily opened her mouth, probably to say something nasty but the door chose that moment to slam on the wall, and the dark silhouette of a man entered.

“Would someone care to tell me what the hell is happening in my Goddamn library!”

Cole's head snapped up, and he smiled, Sebastian was here.

Meanwhile, Lucas groans and pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course, now their bloody host is here.

Damnation!