“I must attend the Warringtons,” he said quietly. “Will you see to your sister’s comfort?”
Peyton could sense a good deal of tension between Alec and his father. She deliberately avoided looking at Thia, instead, choosing to gaze at her husband.
“My wife and I are planning on leaving for St. Cloven immediately, as pursuant to our earlier conversation,” he said coldly. “Since you have made it clear that I am no longer welcome at Blackstone, I am sure you will understand if I refuse to attend to your daughter.”
Brian looked as if he’d been struck; his eyes took on a strange expression of grief. “You suggested that you depart this night for St. Cloven, not I. I never ordered you to leave.”
“You did not have to. Your lectures and condemnations for my actions were enough.”
Brian put his hand out beseechingly. “Alec, please. I was angry at the time and did not mean….”
“Aye, you meant it. Every word. Good life to you, Father,” he glanced at his sister and a flash of anguish appeared in his sky-blue eyes. “Thia, you know where I will be should you ever need me.”
With that, Alec led his shocked wife down the remaining length of the corridor and disappeared. He tried not to think of his sister in the hands of Colin Warrington, but his father had made it clear that his hindrance was unwanted. He was forbidden to meddle, discouraged from assisting. And according to his father, his punishment for aiding Ali and Ivy was long in coming for his repeated disregard of Brian’s wishes. He was a man without an inheritance.
Alec knew he should attempt to help his sister, far more than his efforts to keep Peyton and Ivy from the Warrington clutches. Thia was his flesh, his only sister, and his heart ached for the plight he had brought down upon her. He cursed his father for lacking the faith to tell him of Nigel’s ultimatum; Ivy or Thia. Had Brian been honest with him from the first, then he could have acted accordingly. Instead, he had unknowingly reduced his father’s choice by one.
Aye, it was Brian’s fault. Let him wallow in his own weakness, then. It was no longer Alec’s problem to solve.
Her brother out of sight, Thia turned to look at her father questioningly, but Brian refused to meet her gaze. Instead, he hugged her tightly as if to break her.
“Come, Thia darling,” he said hoarsely. “We must seek your mother and tell her what I have done.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Peyton didn’t saya word as Alec loaded her onto her small palfrey, nor did she speak as he went about securing the caravan that would accompany them to St. Cloven. She continued to watch him closely, deeply curious as to what had occurred between him and his father. From the words that had been exchanged in the corridor, it was obvious that something severe had happened.
She’d not had the opportunity to ask him why he had been gone so long, leaving her alone to stew in her own fears, and after what had transpired with Thia, she had completely forgotten about his absence. But now, observing his cold manner and curt orders as he dealt with the servants, she would know what had happened between father and son.
She could stand her curiosity no longer. As Alec passed particularly close to her palfrey, directing a groom to better secure his Saracen stallion, she called out to him.
“Alec?” she hailed softly.
He turned sharply as if she had startled him, but his expression immediately softened. “What is it, sweetheart?”
She smiled weakly and politely beckoned him. Obediently, he complied and she immediately reached out to him. He took her hand and kissed it, although she could tell he was hurried.
“Are we to leave soon?”
“Aye, love. We are almost complete.”
She cleared her throat, eyeing the large traveling party.
“Isn’t your mother and father going to bid us farewell?”
His soft expression stiffened. “I do not think so.”
He turned to move away from her but she gripped his hand tightly and he was forced to look at her. “Why not?” she asked softly. “Alec, what’s happened between you and your father?”
He glanced over his group of horses and wagons. “Not now, Peyton. We will discuss it later.”
She refused to let him off so easily. “Unless you have had bitter, awful words with them, I would like to bid your parents good-bye. They have been very kind to me.”
“No,” he said flatly. When she opened her mouth to protest, he cast her a beseeching look. “Not now, Peyton. Please. Do not press me at the moment.”
She sighed heavily, with great disapproval, but complied. Alec kissed her hand again and released it, his focus returning to the impending journey. He hadn’t taken two steps from her when Lady Celine suddenly exited the castle, her wide blue eyes focused intently on her son.
Alec froze, his gaze riveted to his mother. Before he could recover his surprise, Lady Celine crossed the bailey toward him with great determination.
