“Do not ever accuse me of dodging my duty as a Wellesbourne,” he stopped short of striking his brother again; he simply stood over him and growled. “I have given more to this family, king and country than you can possibly imagine.”
Mark wiped the blood from his nose. “Your obligation is to protect your father, especially from himself.”
Matthew’s blue eyes were like ice. “You will not tell me what my obligation is.”
Mark just shook his head and turned away. Matthew called out to him before he got too far.
“Did I hurt you?”
Mark paused. “No. But it was a good hit.”
Lips pursed with regret, and a lot of disgust, Matthew went over to him and tilted his head up, peering up both bloody nostrils.
“You usually duck faster than that,” he grumbled.
“I did not see the fist until it was too late.”
“You are slowing down in your old age.”
Mark smiled in spite of himself. “And you are growing edgy in yours.”
“I am sorry.”
“So am I.”
They parted ways as they had done a thousand times before. Sometimes Matthew came away bloodied, but most of the time it was Mark. It had been thus since they had been small boys. All of the things they said and did to each other, they had made a vow never to part angry, and they never had. While Mark went to see to the army, Matthew made way for the keep.
The first stop he made was at his father’s chamber.
*
Alixandrea was fullydressed when Matthew came for her. He had expected to wake her, for it was shortly after dawn, but she was sitting by a brightly blazing hearth sipping warmed milk with nutmeg. When she saw him enter the chamber, she smiled brightly. Matthew nearly melted.
“This morning sees you well, I hope,” he said.
She nodded. “It does. And does it see you well, also?”
“It does.”
He went to pull up the small stool that sat against the hearth. He sat next to her, gazing at her beauty as if nothing else in the world existed. Had he been thinking with his rational mind and not his besotted one, he would have realized he was completely smitten. He’d known the lady four days and already, he could not imagine life before she came to Wellesbourne. It was as great as the difference between heaven and hell.
“I am glad you are awake,” he said. “It would seem that we must leave for London sooner than I originally planned. How long will it take you to be ready?”
She lifted her eyebrows. “I have hardly unpacked since my arrival. ’Twill simply be a matter of loading my cases onto the wagon again.”
“We do not need to take everything. Only those items which are necessary.”
“How long are we staying?”
“That is hard to say.”
“Then everything is necessary.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “We will be traveling swiftly and lightly. I cannot spare the time or manpower to lug around all of your worldly possessions.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he put up a hand to silence her. “Whatever you may leave behind, we can purchase for you in London if necessary.”
She gazed at him steadily before a grin spread across her lips. “Then I shall leave everything behind.”
“Everything?”
