Christopher nodded. “He and Curtis came with us,” he said. “Roi… I must ask before Curtis comes in, but the horse that Beckett was riding when he was killed… Curtis fears it is the one that you purchased from him.”
Roi nodded. “The big Belgian warmblood,” he said. “I gave it to Beckett for his birthday.”
Christopher lifted his eyebrows, an expression of regret. “Your brother is outside punishing himself over that,” he said. “He fears you may hold him responsible. Whatever happened, Roi, I hope you understand that it was not Curtis’ fault.”
Roi stood up immediately. “Of course not,” he said. “I must go to him. Where is he?”
Christopher held up a hand. “He will be in shortly,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure there would be no bad blood between you two.”
Roi shook his head, genuinely perplexed. “Between Curtis and me?” he said. “No brothers are closer than we are. I would never blame him for something that he had nothing to do with.”
“Good,” Christopher said sincerely. “You will tell him that, please.”
“Of course I will.”
Christopher was clearly relieved. The last thing he needed was for his sons to be at war over an accident. As they waited for the food, he went to see if there was anything left in the pitcher.
“Where is the horse, by the way?” he asked. “Is he returning home with Beckett?”
Roi shrugged. “I would assume so,” he said. “I don’t really know. But if you are thinking to ask for it, the answer is no. I am going to sell that horse to someone I do not know and be rid of it. I do not need a constant reminder of what has happened.”
Christopher couldn’t disagree with him. As the door to the solar opened and servants began entering with trays of food, Christopher moved over to sit with his son as Dustin went to direct the servants.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?” he asked. “Anything else you need?”
Roi shook his head. “Nay, Papa,” he said. “Just having you here is a great comfort. But mayhap… mayhap you can have West arrange for a fine crypt for my son, something to bury him in. I’d like to place him in the back of the chapel at Lioncross, where the windows are. I would like some light to fall upon him in the morning when the sun rises.”
Christopher smiled faintly. “I think that can be arranged,” he said. “But mention of the chapel brings up something else.”
“What is that?”
“You asked if Beckett could be married there this summer.”
Roi nodded. “I mentioned that to Mama,” he said. “Robin le Bec was adamant that our children marry this summer, andnow I have the unhappy duty of telling the man there will be no marriage. While I am certain he will be grieved, he will also be furious. He has been counting on this marriage for two years.”
Christopher held up a hand. “I will handle le Bec,” he said. “I know the man. He is greedy, but he is not heartless. It is possible that I can appease him with another de Lohr offspring.”
Roi frowned. “My son’s memory is so easily pushed aside with another de Lohr son?” he said. “Is that a reminder that I only had one son and Curtis has several? That Myles has…?”
Christopher shut him down quickly. “I did not mean it the way it sounded,” he said. “Forgive me for being clumsy. I simply meant that I would be willing to offer the man whatever he wishes in order to keep our alliance. I hate to sound callous, Roi, but that must be considered.”
Roi knew that, though he didn’t like to hear it. “All I care about is the loss of my son, not some damnable alliance,” he said. “Nay, Papa, I will send word to Robin myself. This must come from me. It was my son, after all. I am his father. I will do my duty.”
Christopher didn’t press. Roi had always had a strong sense of duty, and he wasn’t about to shirk it, even in his moment of grief. That showed his strength of character, and Christopher was proud of his son in an overwhelmingly difficult situation. But he also thought that the man was rather calm for someone who had just lost a son—until it occurred to him that Dustin had spoken to him first. In private. Mother to son. Like salve to his spirit, she’d apparently worked wonders.
He was glad.
As Christopher pondered life for Roi now without his son, and without a wife, Dustin brought over a couple of bowls with bread and cheese and stewed fruit. She gave one to Roi first, then to her husband, as the solar door opened again to admit Curtisand Westley. While Westley went straight to Roi and put his arms around the man, Curtis hung back, mired in uncertainty.
Curtis and Roi were born so close together that it had always been the two of them, like twins. They’d even fostered together. He’d never been without his brother in his entire life, except for the times when Roi had gone off to fight for Henry. But even then, Roi would return and it was as if they’d never been apart. The bonds were unbreakable.
So Curtis hoped.
Roi sensed that. He didn’t even have to see his brother to know the man was there. He lifted his head from Westley’s embrace to spy Curtis over near the door, looking at him with apprehension and grief. Gently pushing away from Westley, Roi went over to Curtis as the man stood there and trembled.
“Roi,” Curtis breathed softly. Then his face began to crumple. “I am so sorry. Forgive me, brother. Forgive me for my role in all of this. If I could…”
Roi put his hands on his brother’s face, stilling him. “This was not your fault,” he said huskily. “It was no one’s fault. That beautiful horse is simply a dumb animal that had no ill will towards Beckett. I do not want you to feel guilt over this, Curt. If you do, that will end now.”
