Chapter 24
Twenty-four
The wooing and winning of Miss Harriet Brewster had begun and perilous times awaited anyone who bollocked up the same.
Sam raked his fingers through his hair, made certain he was covered properly in era-appropriate clothing and weapons, then faced the doorway of his bedchamber.
That chamber had been overrun by a slew of nephews the night before, but he imagined that had been on purpose.
He looked at the small litter of children scattered on various pallets on the floor, most of them rousing themselves to assault another day with mischief on their minds, and hoped his father had a better lock on his trunk than he’d had in times past. He left his bedchamber before he was enticed into leading the charge to discover the truth, then pulled the door quietly but firmly closed behind him.
He walked down the short passageway that led to the great hall, relieved to find it free of interfering relatives yet less happy to note it was missing the woman he was most interested in finding.
His sire, though, was standing with his back to the fire, looking contemplative.
Sam decided that breakfast could wait for a bit until he’d enlisted his sire’s aid in dealing with those who might want to thwart him in his desire to have Harriet to himself.
He joined his father in his standing and warmed up a bit. Castles were chilly no matter the time of year.
“The ladies?” he asked.
“Out enjoying the sunshine in the garden,” Nicholas said with a smile. “Surrounded by guardsmen, of course.”
Sam wouldn’t have thought anything else, but he nodded just the same.
He was also tempted to immediately go find his lady, but he hesitated.
He had spoken with his father at great length about many things over the years, but it felt different at the moment.
He was hardly a child any longer, but there was something a bit odd about thinking to become responsible for another human in the person of a glorious faery.
If she would have him.
“How goes the wooing, my son?”
“If I could have her alone for more than a heartbeat or two, I might make more progress.”
“I understand from Connor that you were on the roof yestereve for quite a bit longer than a pair of heartbeats.”
Sam shot his father a look, had a bland look in return, then settled for a scowl.
“It felt like but a moment or two.”
Nicholas put a hand on his shoulder. “Trust me, Sam, I understand. I have lived with your mother now for many years, yet it feels as if I just clapped eyes on her yesterday. I daresay you’ll need to be more creative about avoiding your siblings.”
“But not you or her sire.”
“Well,” his father said with twinkling eyes, “we’re the vanguard. You might want to deal with us more carefully.”
“You’re doing this to torture me, aren’t you?”
Nicholas shrugged. “’Tis tradition. Your grandfather put me through absolute hell whilst I was about the work of wooing your sweet mother and you know what he did to your uncle Robin. ‘Tis best that your lady feels as though you did a proper amount of work to win her.”
“Her father seems to be enjoying it,” Sam said.
“Her father is having the time of his life,” Nicholas said with a brief laugh, “more particularly during our lengthy stays in the lists. I’m going to need a series of naps to recover after you take him back home.
” He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. “How goes the rest of your life, Sam?”
“Absolute chaos most of the time,” Sam said, sighing deeply. “Matches to be made, ghosts in my kitchens, being stalked by Jackson Kilchurn who I daresay would very much like to continue to repay me for the morning after his wedding.”
“Among other things, no doubt. And your adventures on stage?”
Sam couldn’t help but smile at his father a bit. “We’re doing A Midsummer Night’s Dream this year, if we can manage it.”
“Interesting choice,” Nicholas said thoughtfully. “Your lady should be playing Titania.”
“So I’ve told her,” Sam said, making himself a mental note to repeat that to Harriet when they had a moment’s peace.
The fact that his father had most of Shakespeare’s major works memorized was something else to think about when he perhaps had a wide selection of pastries in front of him and time on his hands.
“Tell me again how you met her and how it was that you were so fortunate instead of your brother?”
Sam settled in for a proper natter. “Theo was off seeing to a bit of business in 1657 and forced me to go take his place at a gathering of writers of mysteries. I went to hide behind a bloody tree to escape those lads and lassies who I’m quite certain would give any reasonable thug in our day the shivers with their plots and schemes and ran directly into my lady.
She was hiding behind the tree as well, though she was merely assessing the field of battle.
” He paused. “I was avoiding it altogether.”
“Understandable,” Nicholas said, wide-eyed. “And then?”
“I thought she was a faery.”
Nicholas sighed. “You and Montgomery …”
“Where do you think I first learned of them?”
His father elbowed him in a friendly fashion. “Well, those of us with a bit more maturity and experience knew from the beginning what Pippa’s origins were, though I’m not entirely sure your uncle doesn’t still have his doubts.”
Sam smiled. “Of course he doesn’t.”
“He’s a hopeless romantic,” his father said with a snort, “so who knows what rolls through his empty head?”
Sam couldn’t argue with that first bit, at least. He looked over the great hall for a moment or two, then back at his sire. “You and Mother are happy, aren’t you?”
“Blissfully,” Nicholas said sincerely. “I understand what she gave up for me, and I’ve done everything possible to see she’s never regretted it.”
“I don’t think she ever has, Father.”
Nicholas smiled briefly. “One can hope. I think we may have to make a journey to the Future at some point, just so I can be the one off-balance for a change. I suppose we’ll have to tag along with your great-grandmére Mary after she’s made a visit and is ready to return home.”
“She is formidable,” Sam said with feeling.
“Very,” Nicholas agreed, “which perhaps bodes well for you and all your dancing through time, though I’ll leave you to work out with your lady how that looks going forward.”
“Can you believe we’re having this conversation?”
“If I had a piece of gold for every time I’d thought the same, I would have more in my coffers than the king himself. At least I’ve given up shaking my head over it. I think it’s given your uncle Robin a permanent noise his neck.”
Sam didn’t doubt that. If he had a piece of gold for every time he’d caught his uncle shaking his head over some paranormal oddity or other, he would already have had that Aston Martin safely garaged in London.
He took a moment to admire the glorious arch that stretched from one side of the hall to the other and the lovely tapestries that lined the walls and was grateful for a father who had done such a smashing job of treating his wife like a precious jewel that deserved the most exclusive setting possible.
He took a deep breath, then looked at the man who had raised him with such high expectations.
“I want to ask her to wed me.”
“I know.”
“I don’t know if she’ll have me.”
His sire only smiled. “You’re tolerable enough, I daresay.”
“I will treat her well.”
“Samuel, you’d best treat her better than merely well.”
Sam nodded briskly. “Point taken.”
“I’ll see Lord Harold installed comfortably in my solar later and you can plead your case. I’ll stay, if you like.”
Sam smiled in spite of himself. “You may, if you like. I have the feeling both of you have lengthy speeches for me.”
“Nay, son, I trust that you’ll do me proud. Your lady’s sire might require some convincing, but I’ll be there to refill his wine whilst he rakes you over the coals. What are you driving these days?”
Sam couldn’t help but smile a bit not only at his father’s change of subject, but his choice of subject to change the conversation to. His father was, as he would have told anyone who would listen, an absolutely brilliant lad and possibly the single coolest person he knew.
“An Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio,” Sam said, wishing he’d thought to snap a picture. “Only 500 horsepower, but I still have to take it to Germany regularly to get it out of second gear.”
“I am going to come drive it before I’m too old to enjoy it,” Nicholas said grimly. “Don’t sell it yet.”
Sam smiled and nodded firmly, then felt his smile fade. There were times the passage of time was … He took a deep breath. “Will you, Papa?” he asked quietly. “Come see us, I mean?”
Nicholas smiled. “Your great-grandmother Mary is still traveling and she’s older than Queen Eleanor was when she passed into memory. I think I have time yet.”
“But,” Sam said, “still. I want you to come sooner rather than later. We’ll come and fetch you, if you like.”
Nicholas put his arm around Sam’s shoulders briefly.
“Not to worry, my lad. We’ll find our way there, and I’m sure you’ll return home just as often.
” He cleared his throat, slapped the back of Sam’s head affectionately, then again took up his stance of clasping his hands behind his back and warming his backside against the fire.
“Do you need my vast stores of wisdom for any other questions?”
Sam cleared his throat roughly, not because he was overcome by a wave of emotion, but because the flues needed to be cleaned. He was fairly certain Zachary had the same problem in the Wyckham of the Future, so perhaps there was nothing to be done about it.
“I want to be able to do this,” he said, then he had to clear his throat again. “Coming home and going back home to the Future.” He paused and looked at his father. “How do I do that?”
“You just do.”
“It seems chaotic.”