Chapter Eight
The Mediterranean Sea
Later, in their cabin room, Spencer fumbled with the ends of his new bow tie, standing before the mirror, muttering to himself, "The things you do for love." Frustrated, he called out toward the other room to his bride, "I need some help with this."
He heard Alex's footsteps, and then her soft voice, "Mm-hmm." but he didn't look up immediately, intent on conquering the stubborn bowtie, until he noticed he hadn't heard her leave the doorway.
When he finally looked up- he froze.
She looked nothing short of stunning. Alex's blonde curls were pinned up with a white jeweled headpiece, and her ankle-length, fitted white dress sparkled with thousands of delicate, dangling silver jewels. Silver bangles adorned her wrists, and her matching heels gleamed with understated elegance. Around her neck and ears, diamonds catch the light, adding the final touch to her ethereal look.
Spencer stands mesmerized, momentarily speechless.
Without a word, Alex crossed the room and stood before him, taking the tie from his hands as she idly said, "If you think about it, we never had a reception."
Spencer, still entranced, stared at her. "Sure, we did," he says, voice thick with admiration.
Alex grinned as she worked the bowtie into place. "That wasn't a reception. That was a consummation. One could argue that we've consummated enough that the English-speaking world is now relieved of the burden."
Spencer smirked, his gaze never leaving her. "That a fact?"
"It is…" She smirked back, eyes glinting, "Though, to be safe, we should probably consummate again after dinner."
Spencer chuckles darkly, his resolve weakening. "Or we could just skip dinner altogether."
Alex giggles, meeting his heated gaze. "Approve of the dress, I see?"
"It's going to look great draped over that chair," Spencer quips, nodding toward the chair nearby.
Alex laughs, leaning against him, and then sighs contentedly as she rests in his arms. "Most people long their whole lives for this, and never feel it."
Spencer wrapped his arms around her more firmly, his voice low. "No," he agreed with quiet sincerity.
"What a tragedy," she tilted her head up for a kiss, and then disentangled from him before it turned too passionate. This look had taken effort, after all.
Plus her lipstick was now lightly staining his lips.
"What?" he asked, suspicious of her amusement.
"Nothing." He'd find out soon enough.
In the formal dining room, the sounds of the violinists, glasses chiming, and the low hum of chatter filled the air.
Arthur watched as Alex and Spencer walked into the grand dining room, their hands intertwined, smiling. Spencer removes Alex's coat, and they take their seats, looking every bit the couple. His gaze hardens, and his anger simmers.
"The audacity to bring him here," Arthur mutters under his breath, glaring at the pair from across the room.
His mother took a bite of her bread and looked over at him. "She is entitled to dine, son."
Arthur's eyes narrow, but he says nothing, watching Spencer guide Alex to the dance floor.
"That is not dining. That is parading," he sneers. "That is celebrating at my expense."
"You've just avoided marrying a woman who obviously doesn't love you. I'd say that's cause for celebration as well, hm?" The Earl, his father, raised his glass as if toasting, but his son never chimed in.
Jennifer leaned toward him with a friendly smile. "We could dance. Would you care to dance?"
"I would not," Arthur snapped, taking another sip of his drink.
The Earl, tired of his son's brooding, leaned into his ear "The girl is lost, son. Don't lose your dignity over her. Hm?"
Arthur's eyes flick to Alex and Spencer again, a new determination hardening his jaw. He stands abruptly. "I'd be honored." He takes Jennifer's gloved hand, escorting her to the dance floor with a cold resolve.
On the dance floor, Spencer and Alex move with the music, oblivious of Arthur's presence.
Alex is pleasantly surprised at how smoothly Spencer leads her across the floor.
"You waltz?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
"My aunt was determined for us to have a little bit of culture. Taught us in the living room." Spencer grins as they glide, clearly at ease with her in his arms. "Didn't think it would ever come in handy, but here we are."
She looks up into his eyes, teasing, "I'm sure you danced your share of star-struck maidens in the ballroom at Norfolk. I'm suddenly wild with jealousy."
Spencer's lips curled slightly up. "Wild with it, huh?"
"Mad. Livid, actually. You're a cad. A libertine is what you are, sir," she teased haughtily.
He chuckled. "I don't know what that means."
She gives him a saucy smirk as he twirls her. "Well, I can assure you it's quite the insult."
Before Spencer could respond, Arthur stumbled into them, knocking both couples off-course.
The future Earl spun to face them, his eyes full of outrage. "Mind yourself, sir," he barks. "It means watch where you're going."
Alex immediately went to diffuse the situation. "It's my fault. Apologies." It was true. Arthur knocking into them on purpose was most definitely her fault.
And he vehemently agreed, "It is certainly your fault."
"Alright," Spencer had run out of patience. He took Alex's hand and pulled them away from Arthur, not wanting to engage with her ex any longer.
But Arthur, undeterred, pointed after them, yelling, "You will not turn your back to me, sir!"
The noise from the other guests crescendoed, and Alex's face flushed with embarrassment. She closed her eyes, wishing the ground would swallow her up.
Spencer's back stiffened, and in three quick strides, got in Arthur's face. He lowered his voice, the threat clear. "You've got about thirty seconds of bullshittin' me. Then I'm gonna mop the floor with you."
Without waiting for a response, he turned, walking back to Alex and then gently took her elbow, trying to pull her away from the escalating scene. "We should go," he mutters, his frustration mounting.
Alex dug her heels in "I will not allow him to shape the course of our evening."
Spencer gives her a pointed look. "What happened to hiding in our room for three weeks?"
"That was the girl in me. This is the woman."
He leaned in closer, a little smirk playing at his lips. "Oh, I'm dealing with the woman now." There's a hint of admiration in his voice.
"You certainly are," she says, dragging him back onto the dance floor.
A romantic ballad filled the air as they held each other close, Alex's face tucked into Spencer's neck, they swayed together to the gentle rhythm, blissfully.
The applause from the crowd is a distant sound as the song ends. Spencer helps Alex back to their table, the weight of their affection for one another hanging in the air.
Arthur watched them, his eyes flicking with increasing jealousy as they shared intimate smiles and laughter. As they consumed their dinner, he continued staring- and drinking, each gulp only fueling his anger.
Spencer stood to leave, holding his hand out to help Alex rise as well. They went to leave the room intertwined.
Arthur knocked back the rest of his drink, slamming the empty glass down on the table. Rising, he
An overindulged Arthur stormed across the dining room, furious, removing his gloves with purpose.
"Arthur? Arthur!" The Earl had no doubt of his son's intentions and feared for him.
At the raised voices, Spencer's back tightened as he turned to face his foe.
Without warning, Arthur slapped the gloves across Spencer's face. The audience gasped.
"I challenge you," Arthur snarled at Spencer.
A pissed off Spencer shoved Arthur back, sending him into his father's arms.
"Enough!" The Earl barks, glaring at his son. "This is not the place for this! Have you no wits about you?"
Arthur, belligerent, doesn't back down. "He knew of my engagement. He has defiled my honor."
He shrugs off his father's grip and faces Spencer. "You are challenged, sir. Choose your weapon."
The room is silent, all eyes on Spencer as the challenge hangs in the air. Spencer takes a long, steadying breath before closing the distance between them. He leans in, his voice low and dangerous. "This your son?"
The Earl, caught between duty and anger, can only nod. "He is."
Spencer looks at him, his eyes cold. "I kill for a living. You do not want him to fight me."
The Earl's face tightens with regret. "No, I do not."
"Then control him." Spencer stands tall, his grip tightening on Alex's hand as he pulls her away.
They tried to leave the room, but Arthur's voice rang out once more. "You defile my honor and then abandon yours! You are no gentleman, sir!"
He became more crude, more aggressive. "Go, go run away with your whore. Run away with your fucking whore!"
Spencer halts, his body going rigid with anger. Alex, fearful, closes her eyes. "Please don't…"
But Spencer can't let it go. He turns and with lightning speed, punches Arthur square in the face, sending him sprawling to the floor.
"Challenge accepted," Spencer looked forward to it now.
Arthur got to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, spitting, "Choose your weapon."
Spencer steps forward, his voice a low growl. "You choose. I couldn't care less."
"To the deck!" Arthur announced his words like a death sentence, and then strode off.
"Arthur! Arthur!" The Earl's voice cracked with desperation, his wife crying behind him, but his son didn't stop.
Spencer tried again to escort Alex out, but the Earl blocked their path, glaring at Alex. "What a lovely mess you've made of my family."
Alex stands still, close to tears. Spencer's jaw tightens, but before he can respond, Alex squeezes his hand, silently begging him not to engage.
With a final, biting remark, the Earl walks off. "And what an embarrassment you've become to yours."
Alex's heart sinks. Spencer pulls her close, his hand at her back, urging her to leave. "Come on."
Alex felt sick over what had just occurred, and terrified over what could come next.
On the deck, the moonlight reflecting across the ocean behind them, Alex and Spencer stood near the railing. They were surrounded by gawking strangers, her ex fiance's family amidst that crowd, where Arthur swung his sword efficiently, practicing to kill her new husband.
A uniformed man came over and handed Spencer his sword.
"Have you experience with a sword?" her voice shakily asked Spencer.
"Never held one," he calmly rolled up his sleeves.
Oh, dear God.
Alex shook her head in despair, "Arthur is an expert swordsman." She takes his hand, "Spencer, his words mean nothing. There is no dishonor in refusing to fight."
"If he's doing this shit on day one. How do you think he's going to be on day fifteen?" he replied while wrapping his knuckles. "Might as well get it over with."
He seemed terribly unconcerned.
It didn't soothe her.
Spencer kissed her then, hard and full of passion, before wrenching his lips away. She wanted to cling to him, desperately. This was wrong, all wrong. It shouldn't be happening.
Arthur stood on guard a dozen feet away. Spencer stopped in front of him, his sword lazily hanging by his side.
Thinking him unprepared, Arthur charged him. But Spencer just stepped to the side, easily dodging it, and punched Arthur in his smug face, simultaneously taking his sword from him, his bandaged hand around the blade.
Their audience gasped as he tossed his opponent's weapon aside, by Arthur, who was sprawled on the floor.
Assuming the duel was over, Spencer turned his back on the fallen man, and went back to Alex.
Her eyes widened, "Spencer!" she warned.
Spencer spun around and used his sword to block the blade that was about to come down on his back. Then he sideswiped Arthur's feet out from under him with his leg. Taking his sword again, he dropped it by his head this time.
He waits a beat, and as he'd expected, Arthur didn't stay down, but launched up at him.
Spencer punched him again before he came to a full stand. The crowd gasped more.
Before Arthur got up again, Spencer dropped on top of him. Wanting this over, he punched him three more times, until he saw his eyes roll back. With every hit, the audience cried out. But it was the Earl's parents crying that stopped him.
Picking up Arthur's sword with one hand, and the back of his collar with the other, Spencer dragged him across the deck. At the Earl's feet, he tossed both the sword and his son.
Without a word, Spencer turned his back on the crazy family, going to Alex. She eagerly stepped into his arms.
Little do they know, Arthur has put his hand on the handle of his sword once more.
The Earl stepped on it as he tried to lift it, "Enough, son!"
Arthur glares at his father. Growling, "I did not yield," as he struggled to his feet. His angry eyes now locked on Alex and Spencer embracing.
To everyone's astonishment, Arthur then reached into his coat, and drew a pistol.
The audience shrieked as he pointed the barrel at Spencer's back, yelling, "I do not yield to you, you Yankee scum!"
Alex saw him first. "Arthur, no!" she launched herself at Arthur's chest. She grabbed Arthutr's forearms and shoved them up to the sky just as the shot rang out.
"Alex!" Spencer called out in concern.
He tried to find a way to intervene that wouldn't get Alex- or anyone else- shot as the former couple wrestled with the gun, Arthur backing Alex up against the railing as they struggled.
Soon, Alex, being weaker by size, was knocked out of the way, sent crashing to the deck.
Arthur lifted his pistol again, seemingly at her, and her heart shot to her throat.
But then he quickly turned to aim it at Spencer who was charging at him.
Before Arthur could get off another shot, Spencer booted Arthur in the gut, sending him flying into and over the railing.
Arthur's scream faded as he fell down into the deadly abyss amidst everyone's shrieks and gasps- Arthur's mother's wail being the loudest.
"Arthur!" The Earl called out for his son in despair, running over to where he fell from, looking over the rail and down to where his son's body now resided.
It is then the captain and several of his men came out in droves. "Man overboard! Ready the lifeboats!" One carried a rope tied to a red and white buoy, and tossed it over the rail for Arthur, even though they knew surviving a fall from that height into the water was not likely.
It was the Earl's son. They had to try.
"Arthur!" The Earl kept yelling his boy's name over and over at the sea.
The Captain strode over to Spencer and Alex, who were also peering down over the rail looking for Arthur.
"To duel is illegal, sir," the Captain states firmly.
"I didn't choose it," Spencer retorted.
"Arthur pulled a pistol," Alex informed in a hoarse voice. "They saw," she points at their audience, "They all saw!"
The Captain turns to face them, "Who will speak on his behalf?"
When no one spoke a word in Spencer's defense, he turned back to him. "To the brig with you, sir."
Alex stepped in between them, "No! My husband threw down his sword. Arthur pulled a pistol on an unarmed man!"
"Says you."
"Yes, says me," she straightened her back, looked him right in the eye, "On my honor, I say it."
The Earl overhears this, and interjects angrily, "Honor? You dare to speak that word in front of me? What honor do you have!? Where is the honor in your actions!?"
The Earl then focused on the Captain, "Arrest this man!" he demanded. Two men instantly come over to grab an arm of Spencer's.
"Stop!" Alex yelled, trying to get in the way.
The Earl pointed at her, spitting mad, his red face bellowed, "Captain, I demand this woman be remanded to her quarters until the ship reaches port in London!"
With a silent motion from their captain, the two sailors begin dragging Spencer off. "Let's go,"
"No," Spencer growls, wanting to fight, but knowing it will only make things worse, he resisted the urge.
"No! Please, don't take him!" Alex cried, trying to go after him, but the Captain held her back.
"No! Let me go!" She screams, kicking her legs, fighting the larger man, "No! Spencer! Nooo!"
Spencer never took his intense gaze off Alex as they dragged him out of sight.
The captain let go of her once he was gone.
Panting, Alex runs over to Jennifer, and grabbed both her hands, "You say you are my friend, prove it now. Tell them the truth." she pleads, "Tell them what you saw. Please, please…"
Her friend's tears gave her the courage to go against the Earl. "She speaks the truth. Arthur refused to yield even after Spencer had withdrawn," Jennifer quietly confessed.
The Earl was having none of it. "Stop speaking, I will not hear it!" He gets in the captain's face, "Remand the girl to her quarters, sir. Or do you forget my title?"
The Captain reluctantly says, "Take the lady to her quarters," to one of his crewmen.
When one reaches for her, Alex rips her arm out of his grasp, "I need no assistance." Head held high, she walked herself off the deck.