Chapter Nineteen #2
Markus grinned and shook his head. “Nay, Papa,” he said. “I do not need Emmalina when I have Amabella. It is my intention to marry her.”
Patrick blinked. That wasn’t the answer he had been expecting. “Amabella?” he said after a moment. “De Sauque’s widow?”
Markus nodded. “She is to be my wife,” he said. “She has consented. I cannot serve two masters and no offense intended, your grace, but I do not love you like I love her. She is also prettier than you are. I choose her.”
Edward didn’t quite know what to say. He didn’t appear angry, but he did appear frustrated. He looked at Patrick.
“Again?” he said. “This is happening again? Something tells me that de Wolfe knights are not meant to personally serve me.”
“That is not true,” Markus said. Then, he looked to Cassius, standing next to him with a stunned expression on his face.
“Cassius would make an excellent Lord Protector. He is one of the finest knights I have ever served with. Please consider my brother in my place, your grace. He is a de Wolfe, after all. He will serve you well.”
All eyes turned to Cassius. At least, all eyes except Patrick’s. He was still looking at Markus, still shocked by what he’d heard. As Edward moved to speak to an astonished Cassius, Patrick grabbed Markus by the arm and pulled him away.
“Markus,” he hissed. “What is this about? Have you gone mad?”
Markus smiled at his father. “I have,” he said. “Mad in love. And I have never been happier.”
Patrick was growing increasingly agitated. “But de Sauque’s widow? Lad, she is a woman with four children already.”
“I know.”
“She is a good deal older than you are.”
“She is ten years older than I am.”
Patrick’s eyes widened. “Markus, when I told you that I wanted you to marry, I did not mean an old woman with children,” he said. “There is an entire country full of young, lovely maidens who would be thrilled to be your wife.”
Markus’ smile faded. “Amabella is not an old woman,” he said. “You will never call her that again, Papa. I mean that. She is not some silly halfwit girl. She is a wise, reasonable, and beautiful woman in ways I never knew existed. She is exactly what I want in a wife.”
Patrick sighed sharply. “How would you even know? You have not entertained enough young women to know what you want.”
“Did you know what you wanted when you met Mama?”
That caused Patrick to falter. “You know that is different,” he said. “The circumstances of meeting your mother were different.”
Markus wouldn’t be put off. He knew exactly how his parents had met and the chaos that had ensued. “You married her against the will of the church and against the will of Poppy,” he said quietly. “Did your father give you the same lecture you are giving me?”
That shut Patrick up. He had, indeed, married his wife against the wishes and advice of his father, and there had been a major argument because of it.
In fact, he could remember that argument as if it happened yesterday and all of the things he wanted to tell Markus were the same things his father had said to him.
When he realized that, he began to feel sick to his stomach.
“Poppy accused me of being illogical about your mother,” he finally said. “That is the same thing I was going to say to you. But I know from experience that love knows no logic. Do you love her, lad?”
Markus nodded. “I do,” he said. “I do not know how it happened, but it has. I cannot and will not leave her, not even for Edward.”
Patrick sighed again, only this time, it was from resignation. He understood completely and there was nothing more he could say.
“Very well,” he said. “I did say that I wanted you married and you are complying. I suppose I should be grateful.”
Markus’ smile was back, and he put his big arm around his father’s shoulders. “Aye, you should be,” he said. “And you should be grateful that it is for love. You have met Lady de Sauque, so you know she is a beautiful woman.”
Patrick grunted. “A beautiful woman that Roget abused,” he said. “Lad, you’re not marrying her because you feel… pity for her, are you?”
Markus shook his head. “I am marrying her because she is the most remarkable woman I have ever met,” he said. “She is kind and sweet and mature… she is a woman, not a girl. And I very much want a woman.”
Patrick looked at him. “And the children? You will be assuming her family.”
Markus laughed softly. “And you will finally have grandchildren,” he said. “That should make Mama happy. And I already love them as if they were my own. They are bright, sweet, and intelligent. I cannot describe it better than that, Papa. This was meant to be.”
Patrick could see the joy on Markus’ face and, in that moment, he was no longer resistant.
He could see that Markus meant every word and it did his heart good to see his eldest so happy about such simple pleasures.
Markus had never been the simple type, so to see the transformation was quite astonishing.
He patted his son on the cheek before turning his attention over to Cassius in conversation with Edward.
Cassius was nodding firmly before Edward finally waved him away and the man headed off in search of his horse and possessions.
Patrick shook his head ironically.
“It looks as if at least one of my sons shall assume the Lord Protector position,” he said. “I must go speak to Cass. And then we shall take your lady and her children, and return to Berwick for a marriage. Your mother will want to plan the feast.”
Markus was greatly relieved. He had hoped this moment wouldn’t create problems between him and his father, and he was overjoyed to realize that his father was in agreement. It could have so easily gone badly.
But it didn’t.
Markus stood there, watching his father intercept Cassius and hug the man, so very proud of him and his new appointment.
It made Markus smile, knowing that Cassius would make an excellent Lord Protector.
But his joy encompassed more than that; it was in knowing that Cassius had a future, that his father was at peace with his eldest son’s decision, and in the knowledge that every day for the rest of his life, he would wake up next to Amabella, knowing the life he chose for himself was the best life possible.
No glory upon the fields of battle, or on the fields of Scotland, could come close.
As he stood there, something caught his attention out of the corners of his eyes and he turned to see Amabella standing on the steps of the keep, with Alfie and Ambra running down to the bailey.
Alfie was followed by his eight-man horse guard, who had been bottled up in the keep until this moment, and he watched as Alfie ran all the way across the bailey to Edward, who was wearing expensive regalia as befitting a king.
He saw, clearly, when Alfie pointed out his horse guard to the monarch.
King Alfie.
With a grin, Markus made his way over to Edward and King Alfie before Edward realized there was another usurper in Scotland.
Alfie probably had no idea who the well-dressed man was but considering he was infatuated with knights, he had targeted the strange man with the beautiful dress. That was typical Alfie.
And he loved the lad for it.
Markus spent several minutes explaining to Edward that Alfie was not a threat, and Alfie eventually retreated to the safety of the kitchen yard that he had helped protect.
Markus would remember this moment years later when Alfie found himself in the personal guard of Edward II, a protector of monarchs and a great knight in his own right, thanks to his father, Markus.
A great destiny, indeed.
It seemed that they were all destined to have one.