She came to a halt several feet away, her own eyes filled with tears for the woman’s loss. Alec held his mother tenderly, nothing like the angered son who had left Blackstone those weeks ago. Peyton remembered that he had told her of his mother’s habitual temper fits; quickly roused, quickly forgotten. Apparently, all was forgiven between mother and son and she was deeply grateful. She hoped the same mercy applied to her.
She did not have to wait long. In the midst of her turmoil, Celine caught a glimpse of blue satin from the corner of her eye and turned her full attention to the beautiful woman with the gorgeous red hair. Without hesitation, she opened her arms to her.
“Come here, Peyton dear,” she said softly. “I have not seen you in weeks.”
Tears on the surface, as they were these days, Peyton joined her mother-in-law in her weeping, thankful that their harsh words had been forgotten and sympathizing with her grief. Lady Celine had both arms around Peyton, squeezing her tightly, while Alec enfolded them both within his massive embrace. Ali discreetly stepped aside, moving to Ivy and Jubil several feet away.
“All will be well, Mother,” Alec repeated, his lips against Peyton’s head. “We have returned.”
Celine released Peyton long enough to look her in the eye, her soft hands grasping the young face. “How dare you stay away so long,” she whispered, wiping at her daughter-in-law’s tears. “Not a word, nor a message. I should spank the both of you.”
Peyton sniffled loudly, her eyes wide with confusion. “But… we thought….”
“We have been very busy, Mother,” Alec interrupted. His mother’s anger was forgotten so quickly that she probably couldn’t truly remember their argument; she was most selective in her recollections. When Peyton looked at him, perplexed, he simply smiled tenderly. “We have been busy creating another heir for the House of Summerlin.”
Lady Celine’s eyes widened with understanding and she burst forth again in sobs, this time of joy. She threw her arms around Peyton, causing the woman to begin weeping anew. Alec smiled, a weary gesture, his relief evident.
Edward and his retainers were standing by respectfully, pretending to disregard the touching scene. Alec caught a glimpse of his king and immediately moved to pry his mother and wife apart.
“Mother, our good king has come to pay his respects,” he turned Celine in Edward’s direction. “Kindly greet him and then you may return to strangling my wife.”
Celine, composing herself as a proper lady would, shot her son a reproving look. “Another remark like that and you shall know the true meaning of strangulation,” she moved towards Edward, the model of a perfect chatelaine. Her knees gave way in a practiced curtsy. “Welcome, Your Grace. Please forgive me my emotional display. I… ’tis only that….”
Edward cut her off gently. “No need to apologize, my lady. I quite understand.”
She smiled as she came up from her bowed gesture. “We had no idea to expect you so soon, Your Grace.”
Edward received her warmly. “Nor I, my lady. I was visiting your son when I heard of Paul’s unfortunate accident. Please accept my sympathies.”
Celine nodded graciously. “Thank you, Sire. If you would be so good as to come inside.”
As his mother led Edward toward the castle, Alec was suddenly aware that his father had not come out to greet them. Or Toby, for that matter. Celine and the king were engaged in pleasant conversation and he would not interrupt to demand trivial answers. Instead, he turned to Ali.
“See to dismantling the caravan and then take the ladies inside,” he grasped Peyton by the shoulders and kissed her tenderly on the forehead. “Go and rest, love. I shall seek you shortly.”
“Where are you going?” she demanded.
He seemed preoccupied. “To find my father. And to make sure the Warringtons are corralled during Edward’s visit.”
He stormed off, jogging across the compound and entering the castle through a smaller door. Peyton watched him wistfully.
Ivy came up behind her as Ali went about disbanding the men. “So we have returned to the den of vipers,” she said softly.
Peyton cocked an eyebrow. “The Summerlins are not vipers.”
“I did not mean the Summerlins. I meant the Warringtons.”
Peyton’s gaze lingered on the black-stoned structure. “Alec will see that they do not bother us.”
“What about his fat sister?” Ivy wanted to know. “She hates you, too. After that incident with the serving wench….”
Peyton glanced at her sister, recollecting that she had told her of the most distasteful event some weeks back. As always, she and Ivy had no secrets and she had sought reassurance that she had handled the situation correctly. She wanted to make sure that if Alec’s sister was intent on maintaining their hateful relationship, it would not be because of something Peyton did, or did not do. At the time, she had handled the circumstance as she saw rightly. Ivy had agreed.
“I can only pray that she has gotten over it,” she replied after a moment. “I should not like to be fighting her off at every turn.”
Ivy cocked a severe eyebrow. “Do not forget, darling. I am with you now. She won’t come within a foot of you.”
Jubil sauntered up beside them, looking amazingly lovely. Her faded blond hair was attractively arranged and her gown was clean and pretty. Her eyes were remarkably clear for a woman who had been entranced only the night before.
