Challenge!

CHALLENGE!

Spencer

Mr. Beauvillier arrived red-faced and puffing as he hurried into the morning room. Seeing his junior solicitor, he stopped, glaring.

"There you are, sir. Why are you not at your desk? Clients have been asking for you for the last hour or more." His voice was thready from lack of breath and as he finished, his chest heaved, and his mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

Townsend sat stony-faced and uncommunicative, but I saw him covertly glance at Lady Claremont.

An uncomfortable interval was broken by Miss Dashwood. "Mr. Townsend is desperately in love with your daughter and came to press his suit but was surprised to see Viscount Kintleford and Mr. Hodgson here."

Beauvillier's eyes widened with shock. "Is this true, Townsend?"

The man nodded. His hands clenched into fists as he began to rise, then fell back, the chair rocking under the violent motion. His voice was as rusty as an old gate. "I have always loved your daughter."

Townsend took out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes. "Ever since I came to the firm as an office boy, I have adored her from afar and I was crushed when she married. With her husband's death and her return to Rochester, I believed I could take my chance. But then Viscount Kintleford appeared, and I feared I had a powerful rival for her affection."

Pity mixed with anger as I surveyed my competitor. He seemed deluded at best, as the countess had shown no partiality toward him but instead discomfort at his presence. The discomfort she currently displayed.

Returning to my perusal, I asked Townsend, "Why did you bring a pistol?"

Beauvillier startled us with his roar. "A pistol! Are you mad?" Then he thrust out a hand. "The pistol, if you please."

"Hodgson has it," the younger man snarled.

Ralph handed the weapon to Beauvillier. Gingerly, the lawyer put it on a table. His voice tolled like a mourning bell. Acting as both judge and jury, he pronounced sentence on the condemned man. "Townsend, you are no longer a member of our firm. No partner will give you a character and if we hear of you attempting to procure a position with another law firm, we will take steps to inform the principals of what has transpired here."

Angrily, the outcast turned to face me. "Sir, you are the cause of all of my troubles. I challenge you." He threw down a glove then turned his gaze toward the butler, who had just returned with Mrs. Townsend. "Would you be willing to be my second, Father?"

Beauvillier's fierce eyes turned to the butler. "You introduced this canker into my household. I hold you responsible."

"I am his father, sir. But I sought to introduce no canker into your household. Jacob was a bright boy and showed great promise. You offered him a position in your firm. Once he entered the army, we grew apart but welcomed him back at the end of his service."

"Father, please calm yourself and sit down. You will make yourself ill." Lady Claremont settled him on a sofa, then turned to her erstwhile swain .

"Jacob, please reverse your challenge. You accomplish nothing by fighting the viscount."

"You are wrong, Lady Claremont. The challenge has been issued and cannot be retracted."

At that, I picked up the glove and handed it to my opponent. "I cannot accept, Townsend. Our positions in society do not allow it. Therefore, the challenge is null and void."

"I am not satisfied." Townsend let out the sort of yell that was a battle cry on the field and launched himself at me. Although shorter, he was muscular and surprisingly strong, his arms like metal bands around me as he squeezed.

Ralph attempted to intervene while the ladies emitted cries of concern. Joined by Townsend and Beauvillier, the three men managed to pry him away from me. All the fight went out of him like a pricked balloon.

Townsend's jowls drooped as he regarded his son, his face reflecting a mixture of sadness, despair, and anger. He said, "Jacob, you must leave Rochester."

Puffing himself up once more, Jacob Townsend faced the countess. "You have broken my heart twice and are not worthy of any regard." Then he lowered his head, and coat over his arm, slunk away.