“Trust me, my lady. I shall not say anything incriminating in the least. Besides, I suspect his anger will be immediately doused when he discovers we have come to our senses and agreed to a betrothal.”
For the first time during the entire journey, she turned to look at him. “That, my lord, is a matter of opinion.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “I was under the impression that our decision was mutual.”
Her cheeks mottled a deeper red, remembering how, exactly, they came about that decision. Noting the pink color to her porcelain cheeks, Alec smiled a brilliant, broad display. He couldn’t help but laugh softly at her embarrassment, herbewilderment for a decision that was literally wrung out of her. Even with the animosity, the anger, the reaction to Ali, he wasn’t sorry he had practically forced her into submission. After pondering his thoughts the majority of the afternoon, he realized in spite of everything that he was quite pleased with the fire of the Lady Peyton de Fluornoy.
“There is no need for humiliation,” his voice was low, rumbling and warm. “I quite enjoyed our encounter in the forest.”
Peyton looked away from him, horrified with her scarlet cheeks. Odd chills raced through her at his tone, her anger with him dampening somewhat. Why was he so confusing? Cold and hard one moment, soothing and warm the next. She couldn’t hate him when his mood was calm and his manner soft, and her heart swelled strangely when she remembered their brief rendezvous under the canopy of trees.
The strange swell against her ribs almost made her smile, but she fought it. She had no idea what she was possibly feeling, or why. She was so confused she was barely aware of anything anymore.
CHAPTER FIVE
The gates ofBlackstone were already open as Alec and Ali guided their dancing steeds into the dusty bailey. Sharp sentries on the wall had spotted the distinctive silver charger from a distance and the announcement of the impending return had prompted Olphampa to urgently seek his liege. Just as Alec reined his horse to a halt in the immaculate yard, Brian came marching from the innards of the castle.
“Alec!” he roared. “Where in God’s name have you been?”
Alec dismounted calmly and pulled Peyton off with him. She was glad when he kept his arm on her as Lord Brian approached angrily.
“I am waiting, Alec.”
“’Tis a long story, Da. We will retreat inside and….”
“Nay!” Brian boomed. “Here and now. Where have you been? Where have you all been?”
Peyton shrank from the furious, loud voice, but Alec’s grip on her was firm and comforting.
“Very well, then, if you will stop shouting,” he said to his father. “You are upsetting the ladies. The story is simple, really; mother sent me to Lady Peyton’s rooms last night to escort herto the party, but the lady was feeling so poorly that I suggested we take a ride to clear her head. We lost track of time and paused to rest until dawn.”
“It is well past dawn,” Brian pointed out, arms crossed impatiently.
“Aye, it is. I did not say we set out at dawn to return, did I? I simply said we rested until dawn. The remainder of the time was spent hunting for Lady Ivy.”
“Lady Ivy?”
“She thought her sister had run away, afraid of the impending betrothal, and hastened to retrieve her. However, she became lost and when you sent Ali in search of our missing guests, we met up with him upon our return. I insisted on helping him hunt for the lady.”
“How did you know Lady Ivy was missing? After all, if you and Lady Peyton left before her sister’s departure, then how…?”
“Ali told us, of course. We found Lady Ivy at St. Cloven.”
Some of his bluster gone with the steady explanation, Brian looked to Peyton dubiously. It took every ounce of summoned courage for her to respond to him with a weak smile. He then took turns glaring at Ali and Ivy as if he did not believe his son’s excuse in the least, but he was wiser than to dispute Alec in public.
“As you say,” he motioned to his son, still doubtful of the story presented. “Bring them inside. Your mother has been frantic with worry.”
Gripping Peyton’s arm gently, Alec cast her a bold wink and escorted her toward the castle while Ali and Ivy remained behind in anticipation of the private family conversation that would undoubtedly take place now that Alec was returned. Ali knew that Lady Celine would vent her rage on her delinquent son and he had no desire to be caught in the crossfire. Instead, he took Ivy gently by the arm.
“I would be honored if you would allow me to introduce you to my parents, demoiselle,” he said politely.
His voice was amazingly warm, caressing even, and Ivy found herself gazing into his onyx eyes. The confusion she had tried to alleviate with aimless chatter earlier in the day had not abated; it was as persistent as a rash, though lessening somewhat. As time passed it was becoming easier to come to terms with the tolerance she was feeling for the dark soldier, but still, a faint puzzlement lingered.
Yet she met Ali’s inquisitive gaze. “I would like to meet your parents, as well.” She realized she meant it.
He smiled faintly, waging his own peculiar battle against her apparent tolerance. It was a difficult battle for self-protection that he, too, forced down as he gazed into her blue eyes. “My mother might even make a warm milk brew for your approval. She only prepares it on special occasions.”
Ivy looked at him curiously. “And what is the special occasion?”
