Peyton convulsed with laughter the entire walk across the bailey. When they reached the nearly-deserted stable yard, Thia silently led her into the same bank of stalls where Alec had first made love to her. She entered the warm stable, reliving the sweetest of memories as Thia drew her deep inside.
“I hope you do not mind that I insisted on such privacy,” she said quietly. “I thought it would be better this way.”
“And you are correct. I agreed with everything you said about Alec. And more.” She settled herself on a large bale of pressed hay.
Expectant silence filled the dim livery. Peyton gazed at her sister-in-law, waiting for the woman to begin speaking. But Thia seemed very ill at ease, not at all comfortable. Peyton took the silence for natural nervousness.
“I am glad you suggested that we talk,” she said after a moment. “You and I have not exactly been on pleasant terms and I have always been sorry. Alec thinks so much of you.”
Thia felt as if Peyton had driven a dagger into her heart. She wanted to curse and reject the woman in one breath and declare her apologies with the next. Her inner turmoil bubbled like a simmering cauldron, simply waiting for the heat to increase andinduce an explosion. She was positive Peyton would be able to sense her treachery.
“He is my only living brother,” she whispered lamely. “I think… I love him a great deal.”
“As do I,” Peyton agreed fervently. “Which is why I want things to be right between us, Thia. I do not want to live the rest of my life at odds with you.”
“I know,” Thia nodded, fidgeting with her skirt. “I… I suppose I was envious of you when you first came to Blackstone, because I could see the way Alec was looking at you and I thought mayhap he would forget about me. He has always been my dearest friend.”
“I realize that. But you were so terribly hostile that I naturally reacted in the same manner simply to protect myself. I never meant for it to go as far as it did.”
Thia cocked an eyebrow, much in the same fashion as her older brother did. “You mean when I nearly beat you senseless? I can honestly say that I wanted to kill you, Peyton. Mayhap I would have if Toby hadn’t come along when he did.”
Peyton wasn’t uncomfortable with the declaration; she had suspected as much. “You fight fairly well. As it is, I have had ample practice against my own sister and was able to defend myself,” when Thia cracked a thin smile, she continued. “I will be completely honest and tell you that I wasn’t spying on you. I was looking for Alec and got lost. It was never my intention to invade your privacy.”
Thia scratched her neck nervously, avoiding Peyton’s gaze. She could barely speak on the subject that had been a part of her life for so many years. “No one knows. At least I thought no one knew,” she met Peyton’s gaze guiltily. “Did you ever tell Alec the real reason behind our fight?”
Peyton’s smile faded. “No,” she said without hesitation. So what if it was a lie. She could see that Thia was terrified ofher brother discovering her true lifestyle and had no desire to damage their fragile peace. Later, Alec himself could explain to Thia that her choice in lovers made no difference to him.
Thia lowered her gaze, moving toward the stalls and drawing Peyton’s attention away from the shadow lingering in the recesses. Colin had been with them since they had first entered the livery, but the longer they conversed, the more Thia was in favor of telling Peyton to run for her life. The violent internal struggle increased rapidly.
“Alec was betrothed once before,” Thia said, diverting the subject in an attempt to mask her anxiety. “A very powerful family; the de Courtenays. But after he killed Peter and refused to bear arms, the family petitioned the church and had the contract dissolved. ’Twould seem that they did not want a coward in the family.”
Peyton looked surprised. “He never told me.”
Thia shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”
Peyton examined her hands thoughtfully. “Was he… did he care for his betrothed?”
Thia pursed her lips, remembering. “I was only seven or eight years old at the time. As I recall, Lady Genisa de Courtenay was a very pretty girl who was mad about my brother, but he showed little interest in her. In fact, I have never known him to show much interest in a woman until he met you.”
Peyton was fortified by the reassurance that Alec had never possessed feelings for another woman. Slowly, she rose from the bale of hay and wandered near the stable door, gazing out across the compound.
Behind her, the shadow moved closer. Thia saw Colin moving toward Peyton and was seized with panic; God, how she wanted to tell the woman to run! Colin made eye contact with her and she nearly swallowed her own tongue, biting off the scream that rose within her throat.
Run, Peyton, Run!
“Have you spoken with Alec since our arrival?” Peyton asked softly, unaware of the lurking danger behind her.
“Nay.”Run, Peyton, Run!
Peyton smiled, gazing up at the three-quarter moon. “We are expecting a child late spring. He is convinced it is a boy. I think all men want boys. Personally, I think a girl would be a lot less trouble.”
Dear God, Thia thought wildly.She is pregnant!How can I allow this to happen…? “The world would be a far better place without men in it,” she stammered. “I am pleased to hear of your fortune.”
Run, Peyton, Run!
Colin loomed closer. Thia saw with horror that he clutched a large club, or blade; she couldn’t tell in the dim light. Terror swept her as she wondered if he was intent on killing the woman before her very eyes.
“I prefer to think of it as a gift from God,” Peyton replied softly, feeling the soft autumn breeze caress her face. “With the expectation of the child, I would like to hope that Alec will completely recover his grief and his dignity. He has suffered so.”
