If there was only a way.
*
Peyton awoke toAlec’s pale face. The room was dark but for a small fire in the hearth to ward off the cool dampness and she immediately sat up, rubbing her eyes. He smiled weakly at her.
“It’s nearly time for supper, love,” he said softly.
She gazed at him sleepily, Jubil’s potion still working. Absently, she touched Alec’s cheek and looked about the room. “Good Lord, how long have I been asleep?”
He covered her hand as it touched his face with his warm palm. “Several hours. How do you feel?”
“Tired,” she yawned. “I feel as if I could sleep for days.”
“Eat first. We will retire early tonight, I promise.”
She nodded and yawned again, noticing for the first time how drawn and tired Alec appeared. He helped her from the bed silently, none of the usual warmth in his expression. In fact, he seemed unusually withdrawn.
“What’s wrong, darling? You are quiet.”
He glanced at her, preparing to evade her question but thinking better of it. She would find out soon enough and it was unfair not to prepare her for what was to come. He motioned her to sit at the vanity, and as she picked up her horsehair brush he spoke.
“My father reconsidered his position on the marriage of Ali and Ivy. ’Twould seem that Nigel Warrington was able to convince him that a marriage between Ivy and Colin would be most beneficial for Ivy’s sake, and my father agreed.”
The horsehair brush clattered to the ground in mid-stroke and Peyton bolted from the bench. “No, Alec! She cannot!”
He put his hand on her arms soothingly. “I know, love, I know,” he said patiently. “This is why I spirited your sister out of Blackstone and delivered her to Ali not two hours ago. They should already be married by now.”
In his grasp, Peyton relaxed so violently that she nearly collapsed and Alec crushed her against his hard chest. “Oh, Alec,” she breathed. “Why has this happened? Why did your father change his mind again?”
“I do not know,” he admitted honestly, caressing her. “But I knew that I could not allow the marriage to take place. Needless to say, my father is livid.”
She looked at him, her eyes soft. “Did you tell him what you did?”
“He guessed; the man is no fool, especially after our elopement. Furthermore, the Warringtons are outraged and the mood in general is strained.”
Peyton gazed at him a moment, moving to stroke his stubbled cheek. “You did this for me.”
He met her gaze, blue on blue. “And for Ali and Ivy. How presumptuous of you to imagine that I would risk my hide for you alone.”
She grinned and kissed his cheek sweetly. “Thank you, my Alec. From the bottom of my heart.”
He kissed her palm and released her, moving for the pewter ale pitcher near the window sill. She continued to watch his movements, those of a man with a good deal on his mind, and she was grateful that he would risk himself for the sake of her and her sister. She was only just becoming to realize the depths of the man she had married and furthermore realizing just how fortunate she was. A man she had sworn to hate, once. A man she could never hate.
“Where are Ali and Ivy now?” she asked softly.
“Truthfully, I do not know. I told them to stay out of sight for several weeks and then contact me at St. Cloven. If I know Ali, he shall most likely sail to France and wait there.”
“Why?”
“To get Ivy out of England,” he turned to her, cup in hand. “Since their marriage will only be considered common law, it is imperative that he remove her from the country until the situation stabilizes. Technically, the Warringtons can claim Ivyas stolen property and Ali could be thrown in the vault as a thief.”
Peyton gasped, her eyes wide. “They would not!”
He smiled wryly. “From the noise going on in the great hall, I would not be surprised if the Warringtons declared war on all of us. They’re righteously outraged, as is my father, and all of the anger is directed at me.”
Peyton digested his words, turning away and feeling a good amount of guilt. She knew Alec had acted on her behalf no matter what he said. Aye, she was equally to share in the blame and she knew it. The most logical solution would be to return to St. Cloven immediately and remain until the climate cooled.
“Then we should leave for home right away,” she said softly. “The sooner you are removed, the sooner tempers can ease.”
