And he particularly liked Roi.
“Roi,” Magnus said with satisfaction, reaching out to grasp him with both hands. “My deepest condolences on your son. Please know how heartbroken my entire family is on his passing.”
Roi forced a smile. “Thank you,” he said. “It has been difficult, of course, but for today, I have put my mourning aside. My mother says that Beckett would be happy that I have remarried, so I am focusing on the good. And today is very good.”
Magnus grinned. “Is it?” he said. “Good. Then please accept my heartiest congratulations, old man. My father sends his regrets that he was unable to attend. He has sent us instead.”
“I am sorry he was unable to come,” Roi said. “I hope he is not in ill health?”
Magnus and Aeron passed glances. “He’s not well,” Magnus finally said. “In fact, he sent me with a message for your father. Where is he?”
Roi pointed back to the collection of men several feet away. “Over there,” he said. “Shall I fetch him?”
Magnus shook his head, his dark eyes seeking out Christopher amongst the crowd. “Nay,” he said. “I will find him.”
Roi put his hand on the man’s arm as he started to walk toward the group. “I am sorry for your father, Magnus,” he said, looking to Aeron. “I am sorry for both of you. Maxton of Loxbeare is a great man. That is how I will always remember himand men like him, no matter how old they become or how failing their health. They will always be those men I grew up admiring.”
Aeron smiled weakly. “He always liked you a great deal,” he said. “Truthfully, he wanted to come very much, but my mother would not let him.”
Roi understood that. He understood aging parents and the dynamics of such things. “May I ask what is wrong with Maxton?” he said. “Is it something to be cured?”
Aeron shook his head. “Nay,” he said quietly. “Apoplexy. A few months ago, he awoke one morning and could not move one side of his body. The physics tell us that he will not improve. It is simply a matter of time until… Suffice it to say he will not improve.”
Roi sighed sadly, putting his hand over his heart in a show of grief for the health of Maxton of Loxbeare. “I do not think my father knows,” he said. “He’s not said a word to me about it.”
“He does not know,” Magnus said. “No one really does. My mother did not want anyone to know, but my father is growing worse, so she has given me permission to tell your father. As I said, I come with a message for him.”
Roi swept his arm in the direction of the group of men, and both Magnus and Aeron continued on to find Christopher. That left Roi standing with Tiegh, and he looked at the man, distress on his features.
“Please tell me that your father and mother are faring better,” he said.
Tiegh nodded. “My father is in good health, thank you,” he said. “My mother also. They spend their time with their grandchildren these days. My sisters have fifteen children between them, so the keep is full of screaming children. My father also wanted to come when he received the missive from your father about your marriage, but traveling is difficult for himthese days. He is old, Roi. I volunteered to come instead because I wanted to see you and meet your new wife.”
Roi smiled weakly. “And you shall meet her,” he said. “I will go with you to take the horses over to the stables because she is in the keep with her parents. Her father is the Earl of Cheltenham, you know. She is the heiress, which means someday, the title will be mine.”
He meant to boast because Tiegh was one of those people who boasted about anything and everything, so Roi wanted to gain the upper hand. But there was humor to it, especially when Tiegh appeared absolutely appalled at the prospect.
“To the devil with you, de Lohr,” he scoffed. “I shall never bow down to you, even if you are an earl.”
Roi chuckled. “Careful, lad,” he said. “I may have to flog you in public for that.”
“You will have to catch me first.”
Laughing, they took the horses, including the two left behind by Magnus and Aeron, and headed across the road. There were soldiers at the gatehouse to take the animals for them, but Roi continued inside with Tiegh, crossing the bailey just as Diara and Robin were coming from the entry.
“Ah,” Roi said as they met the pair at the bottom of the stairs. “Lady de Lohr, this is my dear friend, Tiegh de Dere. He has just arrived at my father’s summons. Tiegh, this is my wife and her father, Lord Cheltenham.”
Tiegh greeted Robin first, as was protocol. “My lord,” he said to Robin, then dipped his head to Diara. “Lady de Lohr. It is a pleasure to meet you both. My parents send their regrets for not having attended the wedding, but they also send their warmest felicitations.”
Diara came off the steps, taking Roi’s arm. “Thank you, Sir Tiegh,” she said. “From where do you hail?”
“Berkshire, my lady,” Tiegh said. “I was born there.”
“That is lovely country,” Diara said. “I traveled through there once when I was a child. Remember, Papa?”
She turned to her father, who nodded. “I do, indeed,” he said. “We stayed at a hunting lodge belonging to Lord Marlborough before continuing on to London. Who are your parents, Sir Tiegh?”
“My father is Sir Achilles de Dere, Lord Caversham,” Tiegh said. “My mother is the former Susanna de Tiegh of Aysgarth Castle.”
