“There is. But if Lady Peyton marries the young Warrington pup, I will no longer have any reason to worry over the smoldering disharmony,” he eyed his son, almost guiltily. “And I never told you they appealed for her hand because I was selfish. I wanted the lady for you and as reluctant as you were I thought it best not to tell you she had other offers.”
Alec did not reply for a moment. When he did, it was in a tone Brian had never before heard. Like the voice of God. “She will marry me, father. I want her.”
Brian raised his head to his son. “You mean you want St. Cloven. Lady Caroline is heiress to Burghley Castle, a far sight larger than St. Cloven, and since her betrothed died of a fever last spring she is mateless. With a little persuasion I am sure….”
“You obviously misunderstood. I said I want Lady Peyton, not St. Cloven.”
Brian turned from him coldly. “The matter is closed, Alec. I have no more time for you; I must send out missives canceling tonight’s ceremony.”
Alec was beyond anger. His mind was literally swirling. Yet as muddled as his brain was, he knew one thing for certain; there was no doubt that Peyton would be his wife. Without so much as a hind glance, he quit the room.
The first person he came into contact with was Ali in the foyer. His friend’s face was grim.
“What happened, Alec?”
“Where’s Peyton?”
“Your mother and her sister took her upstairs. Damnation, what did your father say?”
Alec’s jaw ticked and Ali knew that was not a good sign. “Outside with me.”
The two men marched outside, crossing the massive bailey and passing into the stable yards. Alec did not stop until he hadreached his destrier’s stall and he was not surprised to realize that his anger had intensified during their short walk.
“Father plans to nullify the betrothal and I will not allow it. I plan to marry Peyton regardless.”
Ali let out a long hiss. “I have never known your father to over-react, Alec. But then again, I have never known you to destroy a room. What in the hell did she say that caused all of this?”
Alec eyed him a moment. “Nothing of consequence, for it was all a gross misunderstanding and I shall regret my actions until the day I die. God forgive me for harming her, however unintentionally.”
Midas, Alec’s huge silver warhorse, poked his head out of his stall and nibbled at Ali’s hair. “I know you did not mean to injure her. But she was quite hysterical and your mother was beside herself. Frankly, I am shocked by the entire event, for I have never known you to….”
“Enough, Ali. I know my mistake and I shall forever grieve my lapse. But what remains now is that I cannot allow my father to marry her to another.”
Ali shook his head, snorting ironically. “At first you did not want her. And now you refuse to let her go? Most puzzling, my friend.”
Alec’s jaw ticked and Ali watched with amazement; he had never seen Alec so emotional. “What do you plan to do?”
“Explain my actions as best I can and then marry her,” Alec replied quietly.
Ali leaned back against the stall, shoving Midas’ great head away. “You intend to force her into this marriage? Do you want St. Cloven so badly, Alec?”
Alec raised an eyebrow, staring pensively at his boots. “Nay, I do not want the manor as badly as I want its lady. I cannotexplain my feelings, Ali. All I know is that I must have Peyton as my wife. I think…. I think I need her.”
“You need a woman who incites you into acts of destruction?” Ali peered closely at his friend. “I have never known you to act in this manner. Obviously, she is very beautiful, but I fail to see why you need to marry her. It’s not…. not because her hair is the color of Peter’s, is it? Do you somehow see your brother…?”
“Christ, no,” Alec waved him off irritably, pacing aimlessly to Midas’ great head and tickling the horse’s silk nose out of pure habit. “Oh, hell, Ali. I do not know why I need her. But I do, and I shall have her.”
Ali thought on his words a moment. “Very well, then,” he said decisively. “So you will marry her. What do you plan to do now?”
“I must talk to her,” Alec mumbled, staring at his horse as the animal nibbled at the wood of his stall. “And then I will spirit her away to Ely where we shall be married. Tonight.”
“Tonight?” Ali lifted his eyebrows.
Alec was silent a moment, deep in thought. Then he straightened, facing his friend. “Go to my bower and grab a large satchel and stuff it with anything you can get your hands on; clothes, food, anything else you can manage. I shall walk around to the window and you will drop the bag to me. Then, you will go and retrieve Peyton and bring her down here to the stables. Make sure Ivy does not come with you; I want Peyton alone.”
“And then what? You plan to remove her to Ely? What if she makes a reluctant bit of baggage on the back of your horse? She shall alert the entire fortress and your father will have your head for trying to abduct her.”
“She shall not be reluctant, I promise you. Now go and do as I have asked; I have no time to waste.”
