Paris stopped swinging, his eyes narrowing at Scott. “What did you just say to me, Boy?”
Scott didn’t lower the pitchfork and he didn’t back down. “I said the House of de Wolfe has property and money,” he said. “What do the de Norvilles have except a madman for a father and a life of servitude to Teviot? You’re nothing but a servant and that is all you will ever be. You should be fortunate that I am offering for your daughter at all given the state of your family.”
“Scott,” William hissed, standing several feet away because he’d followed the combatants at a distance. “Apologize immediately.”
Scott glanced at his father. “I will not,” he said defiantly. “He has spent the past several minutes greatly insulting me and you let him. I love Athena and I am trying to do the honorable thing by marrying her, but all Paris wants to do is insult me and the family name. I won’t stand for it any longer.”
“He’s drunk, lad.”
“I don’t care!” Scott said, tossing aside the pitchfork and opening himself up to Paris’ weapon. In fact, he faced Paris and spread his arms out. “You want to kill me? Go ahead. But it doesn’t change facts. Athena is pregnant and I am the father. I am trying to do the right and honorable thing, but you want to kill me for it just like you wanted to kill Troy. You’re a fool, Paris de Norville. An old and stupid fool, so if you think you can find a better husband for Athena, go right ahead. I won’t stop you. But just know I have lost every bit of love and respect I ever had for you, so I hope you can live with that.”
With that, he stormed off, leaving Paris, William and Kieran standing in the small stable yard. William and Kieran watched him go as Paris stood there, looking at the rod in his hand. When Scott stormed out of sight, William and Kieran looked at each other before returning their focus to Paris.
“He did not mean it,” William said. “But you pushed him too far, Paris. You had no reason to behave as you did towards him.”
Paris was still looking at the rod in his hand. “No reason?” he repeated. “The man impregnated my daughter. You’ve had two sons impregnate my daughters, William. What does that say about you as a father?”
William’s instinct was to hold his tongue because with as brittle as they both were, their lifelong friendship really could end that night. For good. But he didn’t like hearing Paris impugning his sons.
It wasn’t as if Paris had lived a straight and pious life himself.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “I’d be more concerned with the fact that you have two unwed, pregnant daughters. What does that say about you, as a father, that you would let your daughters be so unrestrained around men?”
Paris looked at him. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
William shook his head, exasperated, but he was prevented from responding when Kieran put himself between them.
“Enough,” he rumbled quietly. “If this conversation goes any further, real damage will be done. Paris, you have left many a deflowered maiden in your wake, so stop pointing fingers. You, of all people, have no right to do so. What Scott did was not ideal, but it’s not like you haven’t done the same thing and with women you were not in love with, so your outrage is hollow.”
Paris’ blue eyes glittered. “Are you taking his side, Kieran?”
Kieran cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not taking anyone’s side,” he said. “But I am pointing out that you are acting despicably. You have every right to become angry and to punish Scott, but you do not have the right to insult him and his father. Stop acting so self-righteous. We have been through this with you once today and, quite honestly, I am weary of your behavior.”
“So am I.”
It wasn’t William or even Paris who spoke. The three of them turned towards the stable yard entry to see Athena standing there with a broadsword in her hand. A big, heavy broadsword that she was handling most ably. The men faced her as she stepped into the small yard, her focus on her father.
“Scott is in the hall, Papa,” she said, her jaw ticking faintly. “He will not speak to me or look at me. What did you do?”
Paris didn’t like being cornered and he didn’t like being questioned, especially by his daughter.
“That is no affair of yours,” he said. Eyeing his tall, elegant daughter, the emotion was visible on his face. “Tee… how could you let this happen? Helene, I can understand, because she is weak and pliable. But you… you would make a magnificent battle commander had you been born a man. How could you let this happen?”
Athena could match her father’s strength and then some. “It’s not his fault, you know,” she said, coming closer to him. “I seduced him. You are right when you say that I would have made a magnificent battle commander because I can command men to my will. I commanded Scott to my will and I liked it. Is that clear enough? I carry his child now and I am not sorry. He came to tell you the situation like an honorable man but, clearly, you did not react in kind. What did you do?”
The last four words were spoken deliberately. Paris heard them, but he was still dealing with the fact that his daughter had admitted to seducing a man. Bold, strong, and willful Athena was behaving like her father had in his prime – seducing women, acting on impulse and passion rather than common sense. She was most definitely her father’s daughter.
But his pride wouldn’t let him admit it.
“I called him an animal,” he said. “Because he is. Both Scott and Troy are animals because of what they’ve done to you and your sister. Beastly actions from men with no honor.”
Athena’s eyes narrowed, looking a good deal like her father in that gesture. “Take that back,” she said in a hazardous tone. “Take it back and apologize. You will not insult him so.”
“After what he has done?” Paris said, incredulous. “After what you let him do? Your mother is a fine, noble woman. I thought you would have learned grace and restraint from her.”
Athena cocked an eyebrow. “As you have so often pointed out, I am exactly like you,” she said. “I learned to be passionate and selfish, because that is exactly what you are – selfish. You are selfishly thinking about yourself in this situation and not about me. I love Scott, Papa. Does that even matter to you? I will marry him.”
“It is my decision.”
“It is not.”
Paris waved her off. “I will not have this discussion with you,” he said. “You are a lass that knows your own mind and is not afraid to speak it. But in this case, you are wrong. It’s my decision whether or not you will marry that rutting bull who has soiled my fragile flower.”
It was almost the exact same thing he had said to William about Troy earlier in the day, though Athena couldn’t have known that. She did, however, have the same reply that William had.
“No daughter of Caladora de Norville is a fragile flower,” she said coldly. “And you will not speak that way of Scott.”
“I will do as I please.”
Athena lifted the broadsword with two hands. “Then you have insulted him for the last time,” she said. “I will ask you once more – will you give permission for our marriage?”