Pride and Percabeth

Chapter Seventeen

One of the events which took place during the fair was a foot race which the young men of the village competed in. The young women placed bets on the lads of their choice. Some of them gave their beaux special favors, such as ribbons and handkerchiefs, to wear during the race.
Percy and Jason had been among those who ran in the foot race. Miss McLean gave Jason a white ribbon from her hair which he tied around his upper arm. Dona Reyna made a big show of giving Percy a set of garnet rosary beads- he imagined this was another attempt at making Jason jealous.

That bounder, Captain Castellan, also ran in the race. He approached Miss Chase and asked a favor of her. Blushing, she gave him an embroidered linen handkerchief trimmed with lace, which he stashed inside of his waistcoat.

Percy did not care who the wretched girl chose to bestow her favors upon but why Castellan of all people? The most infuriating thing about the whole affair: Castellan won the damned race.
"I should confront him about it," Jason said. His coat was off and his shirtsleeves were rolled up. He pushed a log up off of the ground and tried to keep it standing up. "Miss Chase is staying at my family's home and is under our protection. It's our duty to protect her honor."
Percy fired his pistol at one of the targets that had been set up on the front lawn.
"Is that what you'd like to do to Castellan, eh Jackson? Shoot him for moving in on your lass?"
"I wouldn't waste a bullet on a scoundrel like him," Percy replied, firing another shot. "Or over a shameless hoyden like her."
"My parents were right to send that bounder away. He could only spell trouble for a young lady."
"How are things between you and Lord Skye?" a sweet, female voice asked from behind a rose bush.
Jason pulled a small spyglass from his breeches pockets and pointed it in the direction which the voice came from. Miss Chase and Miss McLean strolled down the oak shaded path along the front lawn.