“I speak of theBishop of York,” Jane corrected. “You are good friends with the Archbishop of Canterbury. I am also acquainted with him. He does not share your prejudices concerning Catholicism and has been an active supporter of my school,” Jane replied calmly.
Ainsworth's eyes bulged, either from panic or rage. His face darkened.
“You would take the side of a man who was a vagrant and then an innkeeper's apprentice over your own blood?” he demanded.
“Jesus was a carpenter's son,” Horatio pointed out, “and associated with the humble, not the rich and powerful. Is there not a lesson there for you, Ainsworth?”
“These women are... whores!” Ainsworth screamed, “And you are a man who associates with whores! You are a fornicator and an adulterer!”
Without warning, he sprang across the room and backhanded Horatio across the face. Juliet actually screamed. It was an exclamation of pure terror, terror at what Horatio would do next. Ainsworth stood before him, breathing heavily, waiting. Horatio merely looked at him, without moving.
“Do you offer me insult, sir?” Horatio whispered.
“I do!” Ainsworth roared, “and stand ready to give satisfaction. Name the time and place!”
“Nowhereandnever,” Horatio replied flatly, “I choose to ignore the insult. I refuse your challenge.”
Ainsworth gave a snort. “You proclaim yourself a coward then?”
“I do. For I am deathly afraid that I will lose the woman I love if I kill you. For I will hang and Juliet will be alone. I am frightened of my anger. Frightened for your life. I choose to give in to my fear and keep my life. My future is more important to me than my honor. Or my reputation. So do your worst, Reverend. I care not.”
“Go, brother, and do not return,” Jane commanded, “and I may reconsider writing to the Bishop.”
Ainsworth hastened from the room, cursing them at the top of his voice and almost knocking down Graeme in his blind flight. Horatio moved to stand in front of Juliet. He took her hands in his own and then knelt.
“Juliet. Since you came back into my life with a hunt for a wayward mouse, I have loved you. I always will. In health and in sickness. In life and beyond. I am thankful for every moment spent with you and every moment to come. I love you desperately and with every fiber of my being. Will you become my wife?”
Jane clapped her hands together, tears welling in her eyes above a wide smile of joy. Juliet found herself bursting into sobs too, looking down at Horatio's handsome, noble face. Her Horatio.Her Duke.Hersavior.
“Yes, I will!” she cried, collapsing to the floor in Horatio's arms.
Ahuzzahthat almost raised the rafters of the inn came from Graeme who stood in the hallway. Jane joined in, applauding energetically. Juliet wiped her eyes, unable to see Horatio through the blur of tears.
He kissed her tenderly and for a long time. Such a long time that Jane and Graeme quietly left the room, closing the door behind them. Juliet and Horatio did not notice.
They had each other and needed nothing else.
The End?
