Roi still wasn’t sure how he felt about the news. “If she tends to the poor, then she must have a compassionate heart,” he said. “As for the rest—her father told me she had other suitors, but he did not tell me she had a reputation for being overly friendly. Does she tease men? Is that what she does?”
Westley shrugged. “I do not know,” he said. “But better to avoid someone like that, I suppose. Let her marry someone else.”
Roi shook his head at the irony of it all, running his fingers through his hair. “We havenotavoided someone like that,” he said flatly. “In order to spare any of you marriage to Cheltenham’s daughter, I assumed the role myself. With Beckett gone, the most logical replacement is me. I am fulfilling the contract.”
Westley and Douglas’ eyes widened to epic proportions. “You?” Westley said. “You are marrying that girl?”
Roi was starting to lose his patience. “I am marrying the Earl of Cheltenham’s daughter,” he said. “When the earl passes on,I will inherit the title and the lands. Cheltenham will be mine. This is a marriage of political and strategic importance, and it ismymarriage, so if I ever hear you repeat those stories about the earl’s daughter, I will throttle you myself. Am I making myself clear?”
Westley nodded, fearful of his older brother even though he was an equal match for him in a fight. “Aye, Roi, of course,” he said. “I am sorry I said anything at all. I am sure she is a very nice lady. I hope.”
Douglas slapped a hand over Westley’s mouth and pulled him out of Roi’s range, but Roi had no intention of taking a swipe at his youngest brother. In fact, he had very much the same thought.
I’m sure she is a very nice lady. I hope.
He had the distinct feeling that his life was about to change—drastically.
“It is of little matter,” he muttered. “It is done. We have the alliance, and I will have the money and titles and the hope for more sons from my new wife. No one can replace Beckett, of course, but it would be nice to have sons to pass my title and wealth to. A man needs a legacy, after all. I thought mine had died at Selbourne Castle, but it seems that it has not. I am being given a second chance.”
“That is a good way to look at it, Roi,” Douglas said. “If there is anything we can do to help…”
“There is,” Roi said, turning to him. “Beckett is supposed to be arriving at Pembridge any day now. I’ve told Kyne and Adrius to send him straight to Lioncross, so would you ride to Pembridge tomorrow and await my son’s body? I would consider it a personal favor if you could give him an escort to Lioncross because I intend to remain here, at least while Cheltenham is here.”
Both brothers nodded. “Absolutely,” Douglas said. “We will leave right away. Mama is still at Pembridge with Adalia and Dorian, is she not?”
Roi nodded. “I left her there with the girls,” he said. “We are fortunate Pembridge is less than a day’s ride away, especially where Papa is concerned. He has done much traveling in the past several days. I do not want it to wear him out.”
“He’s strong,” Douglas said. “But you… I am worried about you, Roi. First the death of Beckett and now an unexpected marriage? That is a great deal to happen to one man in such a short amount of time.”
Roi smiled weakly at Douglas. “I will survive,” he said. “There is nothing I can do about Beckett except mourn him for the rest of his life. As for the marriage… the more I think on it, the more I am pleased with the opportunity to have more children. That is how I must view the situation. I must see something positive in this horrific circumstance.”
Douglas smiled sadly, patting him on the shoulder. There wasn’t much more that either one of them could say. The wheels were in motion, and Roi was committed to fulfilling the contract his son could no longer fulfil. As a good father, it was his duty. They all knew that, and it made them respect him all the more. Through his pain, Roi was doing what needed to be done.
That was the sign of the strongest of men.
As Westley headed off to the stables to prepare for the journey to Pembridge, Douglas remained with Roi, following him into the chapel of Lioncross Abbey, where Roi selected just the right spot for his son’s final resting place. Near the rear of the chapel, behind the altar, there was a spot near the lancet windows. As Douglas stood off in the shadows, Roi stood in that spot, seeing the view his son would see for eternity. Feeling the air from the windows that Beckett would feel.
Or not feel.
For a moment, Roi forgot about the new wife, about Robin and his petulance, and about his world that had so suddenly and brutally changed. He thought of his son, from the little boy who liked to collect bugs to the young man who was so skilled at combat. Roi had the privilege of fighting a battle with his son, just once, a small skirmish that was not worth mentioning, but he’d experienced that father’s pride that he would never feel again with Beckett. All of that was lost when Beckett had been unseated from his horse and landed awkwardly on his head. Roi knew he wasn’t the first father to lose a son, but, by damn… it certainly felt like it.
It felt as if his world had ended.
At least, the old one had.
Standing in the spot where Beckett would be spending eternity, he finally allowed himself to feel the grief that he’d been wrestling with since he first received the news. For Beckett, he wept. For the son he lost, he let the agony fill him. Just this once, he let it wash over him. It was a farewell on the most basic parental level, and it was the most painful thing he’d ever experienced.
From the shadows, Douglas wept with him.
CHAPTER FOUR
Cicadia Castle
Diara couldn’t believeher ears.
In fact, she plopped down onto the bed behind her, staring at her mother as if the woman had just grown another head.
Stunned was an apt word.
