Chapter Eleven #2
Mathias conceded the point. “You are correct,” he said.
“However, in my defense, there has not been the opportunity and your daughter and I have only recently spoken of such things. It was not the proper way to go about the situation and I offer my apology. However, now that we are face to face, I will tell you now that it is my intention to marry your daughter. At present, I will be able to provide quite well for her as a smithy’s wife and in time, she will have all of the titles and wealth that I can provide for her when my titles and lands are restored.
Of this I have no doubt. I assure you that my intentions are quite honorable. ”
Saer watched the man as he spoke, his body language and the fact that he never once broke eye contact.
That spoke of respect. It eased him somewhat but not completely.
He was still having a difficult time swallowing everything.
It was too much for him to absorb at the moment and he finally waved a dismissive hand at the group.
“I must think on it,” he said. “I will give you no answer today.”
“But soon, Father?” Cathlina said, wiping the last of her tears from her eyes.
Saer whirled on her, pointing a stern finger. “That is enough from you.”
Cathlina frowned as Mathias stepped in. “I understand and respect your need to think on my request,” he said, giving Cathlina a squeeze so she would remain silent. “I also trust that you will make the right choice. I will eagerly await your word.”
Saer only shrugged. Tate caught Sebastian and Kenneth’s attention, silently ordering them from the tent with a nod of his head. When they left, he turned his attention to Saer one last time.
“I trust I will not need to come running back here to prevent you from beating your daughter,” he said. “If it happens again, I will take her with me back to Carlisle. I will not let you harm her because you are angry. Is that clear?”
Saer looked at Tate as if the man had hurt his feelings. “I was not beating her,” he said. “I was spanking her for her insolence. She needed it.”
Tate cocked an eyebrow. “A technicality,” he said, his voice low. “I do not approve of hitting children, no matter how insolent they are.”
Saer, feeling emotionally exhausted and defeated, simply turned away. Tate’s attention lingered on the man before turning to Mathias and Cathlina.
The pair was huddled together, the hulking presence of Mathias wrapped around Cathlina. She looked so small and fragile in his arms. Tate touched her affectionately on the cheek before turning to Mathias.
“You have a tournament to finish,” he said softly. “I would suggest you go and prepare for the second round.”
It occurred to Mathias that he’d not spoken to the man since Sebastian had mentioned Tate’s knowledge of his deception. He tried not to look too contrite. “Was I that obvious? I thought I did rather well at concealing my identity.”
“You did a fine job,” Tate agreed. “But you forget how well I know you. Your move of hitting me on the helmet in the first pass confirmed what I already suspected. Go, now. I will make sure Cathlina is taken care of.”
Mathias looked down at Cathlina, swathed in his enormous embrace. He quite honestly didn’t want to let her go but knew he had little choice. Leaning down, he kissed her very sweetly on the cheek before releasing her. Then he looked at Tate.
“If he touches her again, I will kill him,” he said simply.
Tate knew he meant it. He’d seen what Mathias could do in battle and had no desire to push the man. So he nodded.
“He understands that,” he said quietly. “Give me my cousin and be on your way.”
“You will take her to the lists where I can see her?”
“I will.”
Mathias’ gaze lingered on Cathlina a moment before kissing her hand gently and quitting the tent.
Cathlina watched him leave, her entire being focused around him and the memory of him.
She couldn’t focus on anything else. When she finally shook herself from her trance, she caught sight of the grin on Tate’s face.
She smiled, embarrassed, silently acknowledging all of the sweet and giddy things she’d been thinking. He laughed softly.
“If you are ready, my lady, I will take you over to the field,” he said.
“Nay,” Saer said from across the tent. “I want to speak with her first.”
Tate’s smile faded as he looked to his cousin. “Go ahead,” he said. “I shall wait right outside the tent.”
Saer turned to look at him with as much defeat in his expression as Tate had ever seen. The Axe he’d known all those years looked old and tired. Children growing up and resisting parental directives had a way of doing that to people.
“No need,” he said wearily. “I just want to speak with her a few moments. I will bring her over to the field myself”
Tate cocked an eyebrow. “You will not beat her.”
Saer shook his head, resigned. “I will not beat her.”
“Swear it?”
“I swear”
“Then I will see you over at the field.”
Mathias won the joust later that day without his favored lady in the lists.
Once he realized what had happened, he went to Tate with a plan and begged the man to help him.
The whole story about Henry de Beaumont and fighting for the Scots came in to play, and Tate was more than willing to listen.
Had he not loved his wife so much, it would have been difficult for him to understand Mathias’ willingness to sacrifice everything for the chance at a new life with the woman he loved. As it was, he understood completely.
Tate was not hard to convince, and an appropriate scheme was hatched.