Chapter Twelve
“Would you mind telling me why this notion of marrying my daughter has possessed you?” Deston was surprisingly hostile. “What else happened on the trip from London that I have not been informed of, eh? You two did not become closer that propriety allows, did you?”
Brandt kept calm. “Nothing more happened than what I told you,” he replied, “except that Wynny and I have grown quite fond of each other. I want her for my wife.”
Deston’s round face flushed with outrage. “But you are the Black Angel, for God’s sake!” he said. “I know what you have done in France with Edward. I know your reputation for ruthlessness and horror. What about all of those women and children you murdered? Well?”
Brandt stood his ground. “Such things happen in war.”
Deston wasn’t satisfied with the answer.
He began pointing fingers at Brandt. “You have used the chevauchèe strategy,” he hissed.
“Burning, pillaging, and looting farms and towns. That is all anyone can speak of. Burning everything to the ground and then stealing the spoils. Does that mean women, also? How many women have you stolen, de Russe, to fill your lusty veins?”
Brandt’s jaw ticked. “I do not steal women and I do not lust,” he said. “What I do is in the quest for Edward’s victory and I will be judged only by God. Wars are made in such ways, and victory is achieved because of it. But none of this has anything to do with my offer for Ellowyn.”
Deston threw up his hands. He was a passionate man as it was, now more passionate on the subject of his beloved daughter.
He was off-guard by the subject matter and defensive.
Although he respected Brandt’s military ability and valued the alliance, he did not want such a man for his daughter.
Too much about him was dark and frightening.
“It has everything to do with Ellowyn!” he said. “You are asking me for my life and my heart – you, a man who kills women and children and calls it warfare. Women and children do not fight you, de Russe. What you do is dishonorable!”
It was the magic word as far as Brandt was concerned. He would not be called dishonorable by anyone, not when he worked hard to uphold his knightly honor in a world that knew little. His manner cooled dramatically.
“As the son of a great knight, I should expect better treatment from you,” he growled.
“You are basing your entire argument on rumors and gossip, something that only women do. You never once asked me to explain the truth of the matter but instead insult me based on slanderous half-truths. I still hold the greatest respect for your father but for you, I now hold none. Anyone who would call me dishonorable without fact is a fool and you, my lord, are a blatant one. How on earth Braxton de Nerra could father someone such as you is beyond my comprehension.”
With that, he turned on his heel and threw open the solar door. He heard a yelp, realizing as he stepped out into the entry that Ellowyn had been standing by the door. He opened his mouth to apologize to her but her focus was purely on Deston. She cut Brandt off before he could speak.
“How dare you say such horrible things to him!” she hissed to her father. “You always considered yourself a fair and equitable man but I heard nothing fair or equitable when accusing Brandt of dishonor. How could you do such a despicable thing?”
Deston stood in the doorway, flushed and emotional. “Wynny, this is none of your affair,” he scolded. “Go away now. This is not your business.”
“Not my business?” she repeated, outraged.
“It is indeed my business because Brandt is the man I wish to marry. He is kind and compassionate and wonderful, Father, and I will not have you say such terrible things about him. You were not in France. You do not know what went on. Furthermore, Grandfather was there years ago and who is to say he did not do his share of terrible things? Did you not tell me once that war is full of terrible actions by honorable men? It is evident your words are empty and I am ashamed of you!”
Deston swallowed hard, refusing to look at de Russe at all. In fact, he turned back for his solar. “I will not discuss this,” he muttered. “De Russe, the men you asked for await in the bailey. You will leave before dawn.”
The door slammed, leaving Brandt and Ellowyn in sudden and terrible silence. Brandt looked at Ellowyn. He wasn’t sure what to say to her. She met his gaze steadily in spite of the fact that she was still quite angry. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm.
“He has denied us,” she said quietly.
“I know.”
“What will you do now?”
He sighed, shaking his head as he raked his fingers through his hair in thought. “I am not sure,” he muttered. “Leave before dawn as I have been instructed, I suppose. Your father needs time to cool his anger. Then I will try again.”
Ellowyn took a few steps towards him. Then, she reached out and took his hand. Their touch was filled with sorrow. Brandt brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.
“I am sorry,” he said. “I wish this had turned out for the better.”
Ellowyn was deeply grieved. His touch made it worse. She clasped his big hand in her two soft, warm ones.
“I do not want you to leave without me,” she said, her throat tight. “I am afraid I will never see you again.”
He kissed her hand again. “Of course you will,” he promised. “This is only a small setback. It is not the end.”
She was starting to tear up, wiping at her eyes. “My father is very stubborn,” she whispered. “I am afraid he will never give in. The more you press him, the more he will dig in.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
She gazed up at him, eyes brimming. “I will go with you when you leave on the morrow,” she said. “We will be married at the first church we come across and that will be the end of it.”
He wasn’t surprised by the suggestion. Truth be told, he had been thinking the same thing but wasn’t sure she would agree. “You would defy your father?”
“I would. For you, I would do anything. I cannot stomach the thought of being separated from you, not even for a moment. Please, Brandt, let us leave here and never look back.”
He gripped her hands tightly, kissing them gently. He gazed into her eyes as he caressed her fingers.
“Sweetheart, you must understand that defiance of that magnitude would render you separated from your family, perhaps for eternity,” he said softly. “I cannot stomach the thought of being separated from you, either, but I am not sure defying your father’s wishes is a good idea.”
“He would forgive me, eventually,” she said with a shrug.
“My father only has one child that he recognizes. He has disowned my brother but he will not disown me. If he does, then he is the fool you have accused him of being. Perhaps… perhaps all of these years I have been viewing him through the eyes of an adoring child. Now, I view him through the eyes of a grown woman and I do not like what I see. I cannot believe he would say such things to you without basis.”
Brandt sighed, still caressing her hands.
“They are not entirely without basis,” he muttered.
“Your father was correct in some aspects. I use ruthless tactics to gain my wants and the wants of Edward. I have looted, burned, and pillaged. I have killed innocents. It does not give me pleasure to say that, but it is true. They call me the Bringer of Death for a reason, Wynny. You must not be fooled by romantic notions. I have killed my share.”
She gazed up at him, her expression even. “I realize that,” she said. “I do not have silly romantic notions. But what you did, you did in the course of war. War does not always protect the innocents. I am sure you did not go out of your way to kill them, did you?”
“And if I did?”
She averted her gaze thoughtfully as Brandt watched her anxiously.
“I cannot change the past, I suppose,” she finally said, looking up at him.
“But perhaps… perhaps for the future, you would reconsider killing those who are helpless, even if it is in the name of the prince. Would you at least consider it? I would like to think that you are a man of mercy, Brandt.”
He regarded her a moment. “Perhaps,” he said softly. “But the idealistic concepts of chivalry on the battlefield are unrealistic. Chivalry can get a man killed. We must do as we must in order to survive and achieve victory.”
Ellowyn cocked her head. “That is logical thinking.”
“It is indeed pragmatic.”
They gazed at each other for a few moments as Brandt continued to caress her hands, buried deep within his massive mitts.
“I will go with you,” she whispered. “To the Devil with my father.”
He sighed. “I am not entirely sure that is wise.”
“If you do not take me with you, I will simply follow you. It is your choice, in your caravan or behind it.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You would, wouldn’t you?”
“Aye.”
He sighed, long and slow. He might have even rolled his eyes at her.
But beyond that, he didn’t put up much of a fight.
He wanted her with him, too, in the very worst way.
The feel of her, the visual sense of her, filled him up like nothing he had ever known before.
Already, she was becoming what was most precious to him.
“Very well, then,” he agreed. “Be ready before dawn.”
She grinned. “And we will be married at the first church we come across?”
“Do you know any nearby?”
She nodded firmly. “In Levens,” she said. “It is a mile or so to the east.”
“Then that will be our first destination on the morrow.”
She giggled happily, throwing her arms around his neck.
Brandt responded by wrapping his big arms around her, hugging her so that her feet dangled more than a foot off the ground.
Then he kissed her, warm lips against warm lips, tasting her sweetness as if he had been starving for it all his life.
If he didn’t know better, he might have suspected the love he had never known was already upon him.