“It’s all right, my lady,” Brian insisted gently. “You are at Blackstone. All is well.”
Peyton did not quite comprehend him and moved to escape once more. Alec leapt in front of her and she visibly recoiled; then, slowly, her agitation lessened as realization dawned. A shaking hand moved to her face as she backed away from Brian, away from Alec, and pressed herself against the head of the bed. Her sapphire blue eyes were wide with disorientation as she gazed at the two men.
“What….why am I…?” she suddenly turned accusing eyes to Alec. “You abducted me! You tried to…!”
“I was returning you to the party when you fell and hit your head,” Alec said calmly.
“Fell and hit my head?” Peyton repeated with disbelief, wincing when her own loud voice tweaked her pained head. “You threw me over your shoulder like…. like an animal and I was forced to fight for my very life. I hit my head when I fell from your horse.”
Brian shot his son a suspicious look. “For whatever the circumstances, my lady, you are here now and I wish you to remain,” he refocused on Peyton. “How does your head feel?”
She blinked slowly, feeling an ache in her head the likes of which she had never experienced. To compound the problem, her stomach was rolling like waves on the sea. “Appalling, my lord. In fact, there is not one part of my body that is not revolting at this moment.”
Brian grinned faintly. “I do apologize. Alec has sent for the surgeon and he should be able to ease your aches.”
Peyton nodded, averting her gaze. She wished the two of them would simply go away and leave her alone with her illness, but they seemed intent to linger and stare. She remained huddled at the head of the bed, fearful to move and unwilling to look at either of them. She wondered where Ivy and Jubil were but did not dare ask.
When they were sure she wasn’t going to bolt from the bed again, Brian and Alec moved toward the chamber door.
“I have a hall full of guests to attend to,” Brian said quietly, glancing at Peyton’s red head. “I shall send your mother up when I find her.”
“Pauly should be here momentarily. Until then, I shall stay with the lady.”
Brian raised an eyebrow. “Only until your mother arrives. I shall expect you down in the hall thereafter to help me entertain the throng,” he thrust a finger at his son. “No lingering. You have neglected your duties all afternoon and I shall not be left to amuse the horde alone.”
When his father was gone, Alec closed the door and moved for the bed, cautiously eyeing Peyton. She looked pathetic and weary, curled up in a protective ball, and he felt a twinge of remorse for what had happened.
“A pity you will not be able to attend the party. My mother put a great deal of effort into the food and entertainment.”
She ignored him and he meandered closer to the bed, standing at the foot of the mattress as he gazed at her pale face. “Did the fall rob you of your manners as well?”
Her answer was to shoot him a cold glare before turning away. Undaunted by her rudeness, he perched himself on the edge of the bed and was amused when she stiffened. “I threatened to pry the truth from your lips once before. Do I need to pry an entire conversation forth in the same manner?”
Her head snapped to him. “If you had any manners at all, you would realize that I do not wish to speak with you. If you would go away, I would be most grateful.”
He raised his eyebrows slightly. “Are you always so disagreeable?”
“Are you always so annoying?”
“I asked you first.”
Peyton scowled and turned away. “Leave me alone.”
Alec fought off a grin and stood from the bed. “Never let it be said that I do not obey a lady’s wish,” he moved for the door. “I am sorry you are feeling so poorly, my lady. I shall leave you alone to enjoy your evening.”
She eyed him as he unlatched the door. “I shall enjoy it a good deal more when you have gone.”
He gave her a wry smile. “That is your choice. Good eve to you.”
He closed the door softly and was gone, affording Peyton the opportunity to stretch out of her huddle. Alec frightened her terribly, although she would never let on, simply because of his sheer size. He was far too large and quite frankly intimidated her. James had been the perfect size in her opinion, average of height with a lean, muscular build. He was the consummate complement to her petite stature. Alec was easily two of James, uncouth baboon that he was.
She’d barely known the man three hours and already she knew that she hated him. Not that it mattered in the grand scheme of things; her greatest concern now was that Lord Summerlin had undoubtedly discovered her secret and she was desperate to know his plans for her future. Angered that her perfect plan had been foiled by none other than Alec the Giant, it gave her yet another reason to hate him.
She was gingerly stretching out on the bed when the oak panel opened again. She jumped, immediately seeing that Alec had opened the door. But her hostility fled when Ivy and Jubil entered.
A young knight had hold of Jubil’s arm, for the woman was flying high with her divining potion and barely able to function. The knight sat her in a chair, eyeing the woman as if she were one of the great mysteries of the world. Behind them, severalservants brought in the baggage and quickly retreated from the chamber.
Peyton remained on the bed, watching the activity and feeling nauseous. As the servants quit the room, Ivy went to her sister.
