Chapter Ten #3
“I will be with you indefinitely,” he said.
“It would seem that your father is uncertain if I am worthy of you so I have sworn fealty to him in order that I may prove my merit. I could not let him take you to London and on to a potential marriage contract, Douglass. I cannot and will not lose any hope of ever having you for my wife.”
Douglass’ eyes widened dramatically. “So you swore fealty to my father?” she repeated, astounded. “I… I cannot believe it. What about your brothers? Surely they did not want you to do this!”
“They did not, but they must learn to get on without me for now.”
Douglass was clearly astonished. She could hardly believe the man would give up everything he had worked for simply to follow her.
Romantic tales often told of men pursuing women to the ends of the earth, but she never truly believed it would happen to her.
Men often spoke of romance and passion but to see a demonstration of it as he had done amazed her.
The actions of the man spoke far louder than any words ever could.
“You would do this for me?” she asked in disbelief.
He nodded, wishing he could take her hand.
He very much wanted to. “I would,” he murmured.
“When I told you I wanted you for my wife, I was serious. I will do whatever is necessary to see that come to fruition. I will therefore be at your father’s side from now until the day I marry you, and mayhap even after that.
I will never let you out of my sight, Douglass, not ever. ”
Douglass smiled at him in a gesture of utter elation.
Her entire face was glowing. She, too, wanted to reach out and take his big hand but she dare not touch him with her father and brother watching, and especially Garran.
The situation had only just calmed between her brother and Tiberius.
She didn’t want to stir things up again.
“No matter what my father says,” she hissed at him, “I will not marry d’Vant. I will not permit it.”
Tiberius’ grin was a grateful one but he was interrupted from replying when Garran broke away from Bose and came near. He tugged on his sister’s sleeve.
“We must go if we are to make Wintercroft by this evening,” he said, eyeing Tiberius because he thought the man might be standing too close to Douglass. “Let me help you onto your horse.”
Douglass balked. “Can’t Tiberius help me?”
Garran nearly snarled. “Nay,” he said flatly, tugging on her arm again. “I will help you up.”
Douglass shrugged him off. “I can get on the horse myself,” she said, pushing him away when he tried to help her again. “Leave me alone, Garran. Go mount your own horse and leave me be.”
Garran made a face at her but he didn’t move away.
He remained with her until she deftly jumped onto her small horse herself.
She tried to push him away with her foot, then, and he had no choice but to move away.
Mounting his charger, he fell in beside his sister as she followed their father back through the avenue and onto the main road that headed off to the northeast. Tiberius brought up the rear, watching the woman with the spectacular golden-red hair when he should have been watching the area for threats. Douglass had his full attention.
As he watched her curly hair blow softly in the moist breeze that was sweeping in off the river, he couldn’t help but think on their destination.
Wintercroft. He’d been there before, many times in his youth, as Grayson de Winter had been Antoninus de Shera’s best friend.
They’d spent many a summer there as young children, visiting Davyss and his brother, Hugh, and Grayson and Katherine de Winter.
Lady de Winter was the sister of the Earl of Surrey, a slender woman who always wore a severe wimple that made her look rather frightening.
As a child, Tiberius had been afraid of the woman and she would give him treats to try and warm him to her, but to no avail.
In this day and age, he wasn’t afraid of her any longer but he had a healthy respect for her.
She ruled the House of de Winter far more than Grayson did.
Tiberius also wondered what Davyss was going to say when it was made public knowledge that Tiberius de Shera now fought for Bose de Moray and, subsequently, the king.
Tiberius was prepared for questions and perhaps even condemnation, but he was determined to stand his ground.
He suspected the condemnation might come from Grayson more than Davyss.
Grayson’s opinion of loyalty was that it could only be given once.
Given that the de Winter and de Shera families were so close, Tiberius felt much as if he were about to face his father with what he’d done.
He had to admit that he wasn’t looking forward to it.
But it was worth it. As his gaze lingered on Douglass’ head, he knew without a doubt that his actions had been worth it. He would get what he wanted in the end and that was all that mattered.
He would have Douglass.