Chapter Five
The gates of Blackstone were already open as Alec and Ali guided their dancing steeds into the dusty bailey.
Sharp sentries on the wall had spotted the distinctive silver charger from a distance and the announcement of the impending return had prompted Olphampa to urgently seek his liege.
Just as Alec reined his horse to a halt in the immaculate yard, Brian came marching from the innards of the castle.
“Alec!” he roared. “Where in God’s name have you been?”
Alec dismounted calmly and pulled Peyton off with him. She was glad when he kept his arm on her as Lord Brian approached angrily.
“I am waiting, Alec.”
“’Tis a long story, Da. We will retreat inside and….”
“Nay!” Brian boomed. “Here and now. Where have you been? Where have you all been?”
Peyton shrank from the furious, loud voice, but Alec’s grip on her was firm and comforting.
“Very well, then, if you will stop shouting,” he said to his father.
“You are upsetting the ladies. The story is simple, really; mother sent me to Lady Peyton’s rooms last night to escort her to the party, but the lady was feeling so poorly that I suggested we take a ride to clear her head.
We lost track of time and paused to rest until dawn. ”
“It is well past dawn,” Brian pointed out, arms crossed impatiently.
“Aye, it is. I did not say we set out at dawn to return, did I? I simply said we rested until dawn. The remainder of the time was spent hunting for Lady Ivy.”
“Lady Ivy?”
“She thought her sister had run away, afraid of the impending betrothal, and hastened to retrieve her. However, she became lost and when you sent Ali in search of our missing guests, we met up with him upon our return. I insisted on helping him hunt for the lady.”
“How did you know Lady Ivy was missing? After all, if you and Lady Peyton left before her sister’s departure, then how…?”
“Ali told us, of course. We found Lady Ivy at St. Cloven.”
Some of his bluster gone with the steady explanation, Brian looked to Peyton dubiously.
It took every ounce of summoned courage for her to respond to him with a weak smile.
He then took turns glaring at Ali and Ivy as if he did not believe his son’s excuse in the least, but he was wiser than to dispute Alec in public.
“As you say,” he motioned to his son, still doubtful of the story presented. “Bring them inside. Your mother has been frantic with worry.”
Gripping Peyton’s arm gently, Alec cast her a bold wink and escorted her toward the castle while Ali and Ivy remained behind in anticipation of the private family conversation that would undoubtedly take place now that Alec was returned.
Ali knew that Lady Celine would vent her rage on her delinquent son and he had no desire to be caught in the crossfire. Instead, he took Ivy gently by the arm.
“I would be honored if you would allow me to introduce you to my parents, demoiselle,” he said politely.
His voice was amazingly warm, caressing even, and Ivy found herself gazing into his onyx eyes.
The confusion she had tried to alleviate with aimless chatter earlier in the day had not abated; it was as persistent as a rash, though lessening somewhat.
As time passed it was becoming easier to come to terms with the tolerance she was feeling for the dark soldier, but still, a faint puzzlement lingered.
Yet she met Ali’s inquisitive gaze. “I would like to meet your parents, as well.” She realized she meant it.
He smiled faintly, waging his own peculiar battle against her apparent tolerance. It was a difficult battle for self-protection that he, too, forced down as he gazed into her blue eyes. “My mother might even make a warm milk brew for your approval. She only prepares it on special occasions.”
Ivy looked at him curiously. “And what is the special occasion?”
His eyes twinkled. “Why, making your acquaintance, of course.”
She was thoroughly puzzled. “Making my acquaintance is a special occasion?”
His smile faded as he thought on the question. She truly had no idea the extent of it.
“Aye, demoiselle, it is.”
*
Lady Celine was in Brian’s solar. When her son entered the room, she flew into a rage and rebuked him for his irresponsible actions.
The more Brian attempted to explain the circumstances, the more upset she became and Peyton stood by, stunned, as the woman admonished Alec as if he were a naughty child.
Alec remained quite calm in the face of his mother’s rage and Peyton was positive she saw the corners of his mouth twitch with humor.
Lady Celine’s fury continued for several long, agonizing minutes, but as her tirade began to die somewhat, she turned her attention to Peyton.
Startled to find herself the focus of blazing sky-blue eyes, she was expecting to be dealt a measure of Alec’s treatment and braced herself for the reprimand.
Instead, Lady Celine surprised both her son and his future bride by pulling Peyton into a protective embrace.
“Furthermore, Alec, you should know better than to force a delicate lady into the wilderness where God only knows what sort of horrible catastrophe could befall her. Wild animals, bandits…. and you do not carry a sword, dear, and it would be difficult to protect her. Did you not think of her safety when you suggested taking her from the protective innards of the keep?”
Alec looked at Peyton and she was shocked to see his gaze soften. “The lady can take care of herself, mother.”
“Ridiculous!” Lady Celine snapped. “I will hear no more of your nonsense, Alec. Get out of my sight; I am too angry to deal with you at the moment.”
Alec raised an eyebrow faintly and did as he was told. “Take good care of my wife, mother,” he said softly as he strolled past Celine.
Celine’s eyes widened with surprise as her gaze found her husband. Brian, sputtering with shock, stopped his son just as he cleared the doorway. “Alec? What’s this you say?”
Alec paused, turning to his stunned parents with faint amusement. “Why so surprised? Are you not pleased that I am doing as ordered?”
“Yes, of course, but….” Brian turned to Peyton, amazed to see that she was completely calm. “He…. informed you, my lady?”
Peyton nodded. “He did, my lord. And I have agreed.”
Brian’s amazement increased. “You have? Well…. of course you have!” he suddenly laughed loudly, from relief and joy. “A wise decision, both of you. What a pleasure it will be to have relations to the de Fluornoys. By this time next year, I shall have a grandson!”
Peyton blushed furiously as Alec grinned. “One step at a time, Da. We have not been married yet.”
“Soon!” Brian exclaimed, suddenly taking Peyton into his arms and kissing her loudly on the cheek. “Soon! And…. oh, my, you do taste nice. Alec, I cannot tell you how very pleased I am.”
They were laughing at his enthusiasm as well as his comment regarding Peyton’s flavor. Lady Celine wrapped her arms about her new daughter and hugged her gently as Alec came back into the room. Peyton, rosy with the compliments and excitement, met his gaze shyly and he smiled at her.
“As am I,” he responded softly. “I appreciate your insistence in the matter.”
“I am glad you think so,” Brian put his hand on his son’s shoulder and pushed him to the door. “We have many plans to make, Alec. I should like to see you married before the end of the week,” he suddenly paused. “But what of the other sister? Did…?”
“Ask Ali,” Alec stopped him. “He shall not dispute you in the matter.”
Brian smiled again, broadly. “I am pleased to see that you two are not intent on fighting me anymore on this matter. ’Tis time you both realize that I know what is best for your respective futures.”
Alec’s gaze never wavered from Peyton. Clasped against his mother’s breast she looked uncomfortable and uncertain, yet there was an excited flush to her cheeks. He was pleased that she was not intent on ruining his parents’ delight with declarations of her hatred for her future husband.
As he gazed into her lovely face, he reiterated his earlier thoughts; he did not want her to hate him.
Strange that for a man who never wanted a wife, he was willing to accept this particular woman with a good deal of ease.
He hoped that whatever animosity had occurred between them earlier would somehow slip away into forgetful oblivion.
He was more than willing to forget their bitter words.
“I must send for Ali and Lady Ivy,” Brian muttered with excitement, distracting Alec from his thoughts as a servant dashed off. “We must celebrate. And, God’s Blood, I have forgotten Olphampa and Sula. I must….!”
“I shall send for them, dear,” Celine smiled at her husband. “You will sit and calm yourself before your chest begins to ache.”
Celine exited the room, but not before swatting her six-and-a-half foot son on the behind as if he were a wayward child. Peyton hid her grin as her future husband did not so much as move a muscle in response to his mother’s spank. Apparently, he was accustomed to Lady Celine’s gestures.
“Wine!” Brian suddenly boomed as if he had just remembered the secret to life. “Only the finest reserve will do. I must retrieve it this instant!”
He darted from the room, mumbling to himself and snickering at Alec as he moved past his son. The room was silent but for the sounds in the bailey as Alec meandered toward his father’s massive oak desk, cluttered with vellum and broken quills.
“My father is not usually so excitable,” he remarked.
Peyton perched herself on a silken chair. “Is your mother always so abusive?”
Alec lifted a blond eyebrow. “Aye. She used to beat my brothers and I daily when we were young. She was a firm believer in discipline.”
Peyton looked at him curiously. “Brothers? But I thought you had only one brother.”