Chapter Thirty-Eight #3
Christopher understood a lot in that tirade.
David simply didn’t understand what it was to love more strongly than anything else on earth, a love that was forgiving and divine and complete.
Marcus wasn’t the issue here; it was David.
David was jealous, perhaps feeling alone and left out, and he could not accept it.
“What’s happened is that I have fallen in love with my wife and child and for the first time in my life, I am truly happy,” Christopher replied softly.
“David, I am sorry if you cannot understand that. Mayhap if you take a wife, someday you will understand. But my loving Dustin and Christin in no way diminishes my love for you. Perhaps you are trying to drive a wedge between Dustin and me simply because you feel left out of my life. Marcus, although you have always been jealous of him, is just an excuse.”
David tried to glare at him, to hold his edge, but it was rapidly slipping. It always amazed him just how insightful his brother was. “Are you going to kill me or not? Get on with it.”
“Do you hate my wife?” Christopher asked.
David looked confused. “I…she’s made you weak, and….”
Christopher shook his head. “Answer me. Do you hate her?”
David’s chin went up. “Aye.”
Christopher studied his brother’s face. “And when did you discover this? There seemed to be no problem until Christin was born.” He took a few steps closer and slammed the sword away from David’s hand.
“You are jealous. You are jealous because I have a beautiful family and you do not. And you are trying to destroy it. Christ, David, why would you do this?”
David faltered, stammered. “It was only after Christin was born that I began to see what was truly going on. We had all been blind to it until she presented you with a dark-haired daughter. We did not want to think the worst until we saw the proof with our own eyes.”
“There is no proof because nothing ever happened,” Christopher said sharply.
“As I told you, Dustin’s mother had black hair.
There is no mystery to it. You are the one who is being blind, David.
I never expected this of you, little brother, and it pains me greatly.
I always thought you were my greatest supporter. ”
David’s hurt became evident in his face and he lowered his gaze, moving slowly to pick up his sword. “Kill me if you are going to.”
Christopher was devastated that his brother was being so stubborn. He was having a difficult time accepting all of it.
“You will not apologize?” he asked.
“Nay,” David said firmly. “I am not the one who is wrong.”
Christopher ground his jaw, irritation and fury sweeping him. His obstinate brother was leaving him with no choice whatsoever.
“So be it,” he growled. “I will not kill you, although God knows I should. You are my only brother and the bind of blood saves you from certain death. But I will exile you from Lioncross forever. You will never again be allowed near me, or my family, and you are banished from my service as Richard’s Defender.
I care not where you go or what you do because you no longer exist to me.
Get out of my sight, David. I want nothing more to do with you. ”
He turned on his heel and left David standing in the courtyard, his young face a mask of rage and grief. Death would have been preferable than his brother’s rejection. Within a half hour he had packed his things and was gone.
Christopher watched his little brother from the solar that used to be Lady Mary’s.
His twisted heart grieved him deeply and his torment was unimaginable, alternately raging and cursing his brother for his violent, sudden actions and then wondering why he did not have the foresight to see the storm coming.
He and David had always been so very close, as if they could read one another’s thoughts, but this time Christopher had had no idea what David had been thinking and he was overridden with shock.
When David’s white charger exited the gates, Christopher allowed himself the privilege of hot, bitter tears.
“He is going.” Dustin stood in the doorway, having seen David load his destrier and turn for the gates. She went in search of her husband and found him in the private little room that her mother had favored.
Christopher’s back was to her and she stood there a moment, wondering if she should leave him alone when she suddenly saw his shoulders heave. Shocked, she moved into the room and her ears met with a muffled sob.
Dustin rushed to him, throwing her arms around him and pressing herself against his back. She felt a warm hand gently grasp her arms and beneath her embrace, he began to shake with sobs.
“Oh, Chris,” she murmured soothingly. “My love, my sweet husband, I am so very sorry. Please do not cry.”
His sobs were unbridled, like a child’s, and Dustin’s face was soon wet with her own tears.
She felt so guilty, so helpless, and so pained with his grief.
She blamed herself for David’s departure one moment, yet knew the next moment she had done nothing.
She continued to hold her husband tightly and croon to him soothingly, hoping she would be able to comfort him somehow. His deep tears cut her to the bone.
He continued to stand by the window and weep and she allowed him time to grieve before pulling him away from the sill and sitting him in a chair.
She then sat on his lap and cradled his great head against her breast, caressing him tenderly until his crying ceased.
Even after he stopped, they continued to sit together for an endless eternity, lost in their own thoughts and both devastated from the loss of a brother.