86-Seeing Red

Marianne Dashwood slept fitfully. Her fever was still too high, her skin burning to the touch. She threw her body around as if in pain, a silent scream twisting the beautiful features of her face. Pale and sweaty, the middle girl of the Dashwood family lay in the large bed, fighting for her life.

Colonel Brandon was pacing the hallway outside the door of his invalid love. How long it had been he couldn't say, morning had broken, that much was obvious, but the hour was unknown to him. He hadn't slept since he had carried the young woman home. He didn't think that he had felt his heart beat for some time now, the fear of losing the only woman he could ever truly love was too great. He had been sending up quiet prayers of her recovery since the doctors first diagnosis. Nothing had changed, but nothing had worsened.

Just as Brandon felt his legs want to give out underneath him, there was a voice in the foyer. He knew it instantly.

"How dare he?!" Brandon roared in his head, he didn't want to alert Marianne to the fact that Willoughby had come to visit.

He threw himself down the stairs, skipping several steps, the only thing keeping him on his feet was the  desire to kill Willoughby. Before the former courter could speak a word to the Colonel, Brandon had grabbed his enemy by the scruff of his hair and dragged him back out the front door. With all his might, he threw Willoughby onto the gravel walk.

"He dare you step foot in this house!" Brandon spat.

Willoughby picked himself up off the ground, brushing the gravel off his clothe his hands had been badly scarped on the rough gravel, but he did nothing to stem the blood.

"I just wanted to know she was okay. I need to know!" Willoughby didn't make eye contact with the colonel.

"Need?" Colonel snarled, "Then know this: She will, despite every opposing effect you have. She will heal and move on and she will find true happiness in the arms of another man. One more worthy than the toad you are!"

Willoughby straightened himself at the insult. "Toad? Despite? You think I want her to be like this?" He pointed towards the house, his fury and rage boiling over. "You think this is what I wanted? You think this is what I planned?"

"Yes!" Brandon answered. "You gave every indication of loving that girl, she trusted you and loved you back as I have seen no woman love before, and at the first chance of fame and fortune you turned her out into the cold. You are a filthy excuse of a man, and I am ashamed to claim you as the same species as me!"

"You know not of what you speak!" Willougby roared. "I had my reasons. I had no choice! There were forces agaisnt me that prevented me from marrying her, as I had intended. I love her, Colonel, and I wish no harm to befall her. Believe me when I say, I would rather die in her place!"

"I believe nothing that comes off that forked tongue of yours! You knew your past, knew your character, and yet you thought to take another innocent child and ruin her. Your soul is black and yet you toy with her heart none the less! Cad! You speak of love, you know nothing of the meaning of that word!"

"Don't dare to presume to know me! I had nothing but the best intention concerning her!" Willoughby retorted.

"The road to Hell is paved with the best intentions!" Brandon returned.

Willoughby was about to respond when he caught himself. He gave his nemesis a look, the passion of his anger disappearing with the realization of Brandon's love for Marianne. "You love her." He said, quietly and disbelieving.

Brandon didn't answer immediately. "Yes." He said at last, in a quiet voice.

"That is why you will not let me see her!" Willoughby's passion and hate had returned with indignation.

"You blustering idiot!" Brandon shouted, exasperated by the idiocy of the man before him. " I refuse you admittance because the sight of you will only make her worse. You made you choices in life and you will reap those fruits for years to come. Everyday when your bride sees that you hold no love for her, but that far away look in your eye, the tell tale sign of love lost, she will curse your name and make your life the living Hell you deserve. Go now! Go, before I loose all control and run you through like the dog you are!!!"

"You have insulted me in ways I have never been insulted. You have called me a cad, a dog, and a deceiver of women. I will have my revenge, I will be allowed to defend my honor and family name!"

"Name your place." Colonel Brandon hissed menacingly.

"Right here, right now. A sword in my hand and an open field to chase you around is all
I need."

"Your blood will soon flow over this ground, and then Miss Dashwood will be avenged.

The two walked towards the field towards the back of the estate. They took their places, opposite eachother, and drew their swords.

"I am truly sorry to do this." Willoughby stated. "Your death will pain Marianne more, but it is necessary."  

"Do not try to pull me into your childish games. Draw your sword and begin."

With metal drawn the two men began their gentleman's dance. Their blades whipped through the air, whistling and singing. They were both very accomplished swordsmen, the dance lasted for nearly twenty minutes. Both parrying and dodging, lunging and blocking. They used every skill and trick they knew, and finally Colonel Brandon wore the youth down. Willoughby's want of discipline had left him lacking in the lesson to conserve energy, and he soon tired. One particular lunge from the Colonel was too fast for Willoughby to deflect and it found it's mark in the soft flesh of Willoughby's  shoulder. With a cry of pain and surprise, the youth dropped his blade. Without hesitation, Brandon brought the blade up under Willoughb'y throat, holding the sharp tip against his jugular.

"I could kill you now." Brandon said in between trying to catch his breath. "But I will not. I find the punishment your bride will reign on you to be much more satisfying than a quick death."

Willoughby didn't look up at the victor, his gaze seemed stuck to the ground, his shame making his eyes heavy. He knew, whether he would admit it or not, he knew that he had used Marianne for his own amusement and selfish reasons. He had known from the beginning that she would never have been an acceptable bride, but he pursued her anyways.

"I am what you say, Colonel. I am the lowest of low. I have no right to be here, to see her."

Brandon sneered at the sniveling creature before him. "Be a man. You disgust me, everything about you wreaks of weakness. I am through with you, but if I ever see your face around here, or anywhere near Miss Dashwood, then I will slice you in half and feed you to my dogs, do we have an understanding?"

Willoughby said nothing, his head was lowered to the ground, his tears of shame staining the ground in front of him. Colonel Brandon returned to the house, only to see Elinor quietly slipping back up the stairs.

"Wait!" Brandon called out.

Elinor did as he asked, her eyes were red from crying and her face drawn from lack of sleep.

"I saw, just now, what has happened." Elinor said quietly. "Between you and Willoughby."

Brandon sighed deeply, "I'm sorry if I have offended you, Miss Dashwood, but I could not let such behavior go unpunished. Once before I have met that man in the field, but we returned unscathed, this time it could not be. If you feel compelled to tell you sister, do so, but I wish no harm to her emotional well being."

"Sorry?" Elinor gasped. "That man deserved more than what you gave. He has possibly ruined my sister forever! I would wish him dead, but it isn't Christian. I am glad to see some sort of revenge taken on him, some justice for my sister!"

"She is not ruined, please don't say so. You, Elinor, are more aware than you let on. You know how things stand, between myself and your sister."

Elinor gave her friend a soft smile. "I do, and I can tell you that your chances are not ruined. I will not tell my sister of Willoughby's visit until she is stronger. Thank you Colonel for all you have done. Bringing our mother here has surely saved her life. Her fever broke but a moment ago."

The Colonel's heart soared to the rafters at this news. She was out of danger now, and she would mend. In body as well as in heart.