Brandon shifted his stance, preparing to intervene, as Kate spoke
again. “That draft belongs to Gabrielle. You will return it at once.”
“Or what?” Louvel’s smile turned dangerous.
Kate visibly suppressed a shiver as the pirate towered over her, but she did not back down. “Or I will make you.”
Brandon understood her motivation: She deplored injustice and refused to impotently stand by while Louvel committed violence against the weaker sex, particularly a woman who was her friend. But while the threat brought out her natural passionate nature, her intervention was foolhardy, given Louvel’s savage nature…as was her boldness in seizing the bank draft from the pirate.
As fast as a snake striking, he grabbed her wrist with one hand and reached for her throat with the other, as if intent on strangling her.
Brandon lunged foward, but Kate acted first by twisting away, then yanking her arm from Louvel’s grasp, and in one smooth motion, raising her knee to his groin in a punishing blow.
The pirate doubled over in pain, groaning. With clenched fingers, Kate stood over him, braced for retaliation. But Louvel sank to his knees, struggling to breathe, no longer an immediate threat.
Her male relatives had taught her how to defend herself even against a lout of superior strength, Brandon remembered.
By then, however, several servants had heard the commotion and come running. Now they were gathered at one end of the corridor, gawking in shock at the spectacle of their master being publicly humbled.
In another moment Louvel recovered enough to lift his head, giving a view of his enraged features. He was livid—a woman contesting him in his own home, making him lose face.
Stepping in then, Gabrielle quietly dismissed the servants, who wisely scurried away.
Fire still flashed in Kate’s eyes, but evidently realizing she had gone too far in confronting Louvel, she inhaled a breath and made an effort to soften her approach. “If you must know, monsieur, I had your own welfare in mind as well as Gabrielle’s. I wished to provide her with a dowry. It is customary for a bride to bring a financial stake to a marriage.”
His furious gaze narrowed on her, although he still panted for breath. “What the devil…are you talking…about?”
“Gabrielle wishes to marry you.”
“Marry?” He turned his head to stare at the Frenchwoman.
“Yes, marry,” Kate insisted. “She happens to love you. I am almost certain you hold her in affection. If not, that is your choice. But you have no right to mistreat her.”
Louvel continued to eye Gabrielle while he fought to recover his voice. “Is this true?” he finally asked.
The beauty ducked her head rather shyly. “I confess it is so.”
“Why did you…say nothing before?”
“Because I feared how you would respond.”
Kate waited another moment to let Louvel absorb this new intelligence, then said more kindly, “Allow me to point out that with these funds, she will have a choice whether or not to remain with you. If you are wise, you will propose to her without delay. Although why she would have you as her husband after this is beyond my understanding.”
Louvel shot Kate a deadly glare, which again set Brandon on edge, ready to leap to her defense. He disliked how she was provoking the pirate; she well knew that Louvel was a dangerous man to have as an enemy. Once he made sure Kate was safe, he was going to give her a good tongue-lashing.
At the moment, however, Louvel seemed more fixated on his mistress. “Forgive me, chérie. I acted out of anger.”
Gabrielle returned a soft smile. When she helped him to his feet, Kate spoke yet again.
“Well then, we will take our leave and allow you to sort out your feelings for each other. Thank you again, Gabrielle, for all you have done to make our stay as pleasant as possible. And to you, Monsieur Louvel, for allowing me to properly lay my family to rest.” She hesitated, then added, “I will deliver this draft to the bank in Royan where it will be waiting for you when you choose to claim it.”
The pirate gave Kate another dark glance, but his attention was chiefly for Gabrielle. Judging by his intent gaze, perhaps he was considering a marriage proposal after all.
When Kate joined him, Brandon ushered her down the corridor to the front entrance. For the first time in several minutes, the protective fear that had gripped him eased and his rapid pulse began to slow. But his own ire increased in direct proportion to their distance from Louvel.
Brandon felt his jaw lock with the effort of holding back the chiding he wanted to give her. However, he forced himself to wait until they were out of earshot, when they were descending the front steps of the house.
“That was foolish in the extreme, defeating Louvel in front of witnesses,” he said through ground teeth.