“Mayhap later, darling,” Ivy cast him a flirtatious glance, one that surprised and amused her sister and brother-in-law. However, the promise only served to inflame her eager new husband.
“Later?”
She nodded coyly, turning with her grinning sister towards the manse.
Ali could hardly wait.
Later that afternoonwhile Peyton and Ivy were otherwise occupied, Alec took Ali on a tour of the compound. His ebony friend was mightily impressed by the workings of the complex and Alec expressed an interest in having Ali solicit new customers. Although St. Cloven was hugely successful, it could be even greater with an overseas market. Pondering that very question, the two men paced the floor of the storehouse as another lot of fruited ale was brought in from the brewery to age.
“How did your father react to your disobedience, Alec?” Ali asked him softly.
Alec’s head came up sharply and he focused on his friend. They had been speaking on foreign markets not a second before and now he found himself unbalanced with the change of subject. He wasn’t sure he wanted to speak of it yet, even to Ali. “Then, I take it, you disagree that Ireland would be a profitable market?”
Ali smiled faintly. “Not at all. The Irish are extremely fond of liquor. But I agree that you are in a great deal of trouble. You have not mentioned your father once since I have arrived and I can stand it no longer. What happened?”
Alec stared at him a moment longer before turning away, raking his fingers through his short hair. “Christ, Ali, do we have to talk about this now?”
“We do,” Ali said firmly, his smile fading. “What happened?”
Alec did not say anything for a moment. Then, he lowered his massive body onto a sturdy barrel and pondered his hands. “A bloody mess is what’s happened. After my elopement with Peyton and my subsequent abduction of Ivy, my father saw fit to disinherit me. But there is so much more to it than that.”
“What, my friend?” Ali pressed gently.
Alec threw up his hands in an irritated gesture. “When father changed his mind and dissolved your betrothal to Ivy, I questioned him as to his reasons. One minute, he was a staunch supporter of your union and in the next he was attempting to convince me that Ivy would be better off as chatelaine of Wisseyham. It was as if…. as if my father had been bewitched, somehow. I have never known him to show a weak moment, but suddenly he became a coward who went back on his word. I delivered Ivy to you because it was the right thing to do and I will never regret my decision. But what I did not know, or what my father neglected to tell me, was that Nigel Warrington hadgiven my father an ultimatum; since I had married Peyton and presumably stolen his son’s betrothed, Nigel bade my father to choose between Ivy and Thia for Colin’s bride.”
Ali, who had been listening closely, suddenly let out a hiss. “Which was why he appeared to have broken his promise regarding my marriage to Ivy. ’Tis only logical that he choose her over Thia, who shall probably never marry.”
Alec shook his head. “She most likely already is, to Colin no less. I do not understand why my father did not trust me with Nigel’s threat. Had I known, I most certainly would have made plans for my sister. As it was, I sealed her future the moment I took Ivy from Blackstone.”
Ali drew in a long, cleansing breath as he digested the statement. “I do not understand why your father should be intimidated by Nigel Warrington. For that matter, I do not understand why your father would even deal with him. Your father is his liege, not the other way around. He acted as if the king himself had delivered the choice of brides.”
“Warrington seems to be at the root of my father’s bout with cowardice. The moment contact was established between Nigel and my father, submission and weakness constituted my father’s character. It doesn’t make sense to me, Ali. You know my father is nothing of the kind. At least, I never thought so.”
Ali did not say anything for a moment. “Have you spoken with him since?”
“Nay,” Alec shook his head regretfully. “And there was an ugly scene with my mother the night Peyton and I left.”
Ali scratched his chin and pushed himself off the barrel that had been supporting his weight. Thoughtfully, he paced the straw floor. “I will send word to my father, then, and ask that he come to St. Cloven. He will be able to tell you what has happened since your departure.”
Alec almost looked pleased, feeling relief that he would soon be discovering the fate of his family since his departure. In lieu of an emotional response, he rose on his long legs and clapped Ali on the shoulder as both men moved for the great doors of the storehouse. “I am glad you are here, my friend. I have missed you.”
Alec did not want to talk about his problems anymore, which was fine by Ali. With all that Alec had sacrificed for his happiness, he was feeling tremendously guilty. He, too, was eager to change the subject.
“Do not kiss me,” he warned sardonically.
Alec laughed heartily as the bright midday sun swallowed them up.
*
Olphampa arrived atSt. Cloven three days later. Elegant Sula received Ivy as if she were her own flesh and blood, and even Peyton was blessed with a warm embrace. After a lengthy meal of fowl, mutton and boiled vegetables, the women retreated into a small solar to allow the men to converse.
Although Alec was perfectly willing to dance about with pleasantries before delving into the complex subject of his father, Ali was not. He rammed into the subject with the grace of a hurricane.
“I assume Lord Brian told you that he has disinherited Alec,” he said in a low voice. “Has he reconsidered his stance? And what of Thia? Is she married to Warrington?”
Olphampa gazed steadily at the two men, drawing in a thoughtful breath. “As far as I know, he has not reconsidered his stance, although he has said very little on the subject. And as for Thia, she is not yet wed.”
Alec looked surprised. “Why not?”
