“It doesn’t,” she snapped, fighting off the melancholy and focusing on her annoyance instead. She faced him and put her hands on her hips. “Are you going to return to your father and tell him what we have done?”
He raised a slow eyebrow. “Nay. You are going to tell him.”
Her jaw hung slack with surprise. “What?”
He rose and she was startled anew by his size. “You will be my guest at the party tonight and will be given the chance to explain your actions to my father personally.”
“I will not!” she retorted hotly as he moved toward her. “If I return to Blackstone, it will be kicking and screaming all the way!”
“If you so choose.” He was still moving toward her.
She backed away from him, frightened and angered. “You will not lay a hand on me, Alec Summerlin! You will be sorry!”
He actually smiled. “Nay, lady, I guarantee I will not be sorry. But you will be.”
“How dare you threaten me! If you so much as…!”
He suddenly bent over and grabbed her about the waist, throwing her over his shoulder as if she weighed no more than a child. Grinning, he carried his struggling burden back to the waiting party.
“Ali, the ladies will be returning with us to Blackstone,” he said pleasantly, eyeing Ivy. “Lady Ivy will be your guest at tonight’s party.”
Ali turned his helmed head to the blond sister, thinking her to be quite lovely without the dark circles and gray skin. “My pleasure, my lord.”
But Ivy scowled at him. “I shall not be anyone’s guest! We are going home!”
On Alec’s shoulder, Peyton’s struggles increased. “Defend yourself, Ivy! Do not let him force you!”
Ivy took her sister’s advice and shoved Ali hard enough to cause him to lose his balance. Another kick to the stomach had him stumbling off the road, almost falling down a slight decline. She dashed toward the wagon to spur the team onward, but Ali regained his footing and was upon her before she could carry out her mission.
Clutching the struggling buxom woman against him, he turned to Alec. “This will prove to be an interesting evening.”
Alec smirked in humorous agreement and turned to his destrier, preparing to mount with Peyton slung across his shoulder. Peyton, however, had managed to upright herself somewhat and boxed his left ear sharply. Alec winced. “Unwise, lady. Another infraction and I shall tie your hands together.”
Jubil was staring at him quite dreamily, unconcerned that her nieces were being abducted. “Plant your hand on her bottom, my lord. She shall stop soon enough.”
This time, Alec listened to her. He raised his eyebrows. “Is that so?” Without hesitation, he smacked Peyton soundly on thebehind and she yelped. But, true to Jubil’s word, she ceased her struggles purely out of shock.
“Jubil!” she cried miserably. “You traitorous cow! Stop helping him!”
“Do not listen to her, Jubil,” Alec said, his lips twitching with mirth. “I demand you continue to aid me.”
“As ordered, my lord,” Jubil sighed.
Peyton’s struggles commenced once again as Alec mounted and she accidentally kicked the charger in the neck, causing the animal to bolt. Alec’s attention was diverted as he fought to control the steed and Peyton saw the opportunity she had been waiting for; prying herself free of his confining embrace, she managed to twist from his grip. But momentary glee met with harsh reality when she realized the horse was extremely tall. There was nowhere for her to go but down.
Peyton fell like a stone before Alec could grab hold of her. In a burst of stars and sharp pain, the world abruptly went black.
CHAPTER THREE
It was nearlydusk by the time Alec returned to Blackstone. The celebration had already begun and Olphampa waited in the bailey nervously as the great gates swung open to admit the incoming party. He rushed forward to meet them.
“Alec! Ali! What happened?”
Alec did not answer; his face was emotionless as he dismounted his steed and moved to the wagon. Ali dismounted as well, instructing the servants to stable the horses and store the wagon when it was emptied. Olphampa watched the orderly chaos around him, baffled by what was going on. Curiously, he peered into the rig.
Ivy was perched like a lioness over the prostrate form of her sister. Alec stood at the foot of the wagon, his great hands on his hips.
“Has she regained consciousness?” he asked.
