“Mathias’ exile will not last forever,” he said quietly. “I will speak with the king to that regard. Mayhap it is indeed time to forgive and forget those events which tore this country asunder.”
Saer looked at him. “But what if young Edward will not forgive?” he said, shaking his head. “Tate, if we were speaking of your daughter, would you allow her to marry a dishonored knight, knowing what kind of life that would mean for them? As a father, I want the best for my daughters and even if de Reyne was not a dishonored knight, I would have extreme reservations about allowing my daughter to wed him.”
“Why?” Tate asked softly.
Saer began to grow agitated again. “Because the man fought with the enemy and very nearly cost us our lives,” he said. “Would you letyourdaughter marry him?”
Tate nodded before the question fully left Saer’s mouth. “Knowing the character of the man as I do, I would be proud for my daughter to marry him.”
Saer grunted and turned away, eyeing Mathias, his daughter and even Kenneth and Sebastian. He had a tent full of knights, seasoned men who had shaped the course of the country, but he was torn and despondent. He couldn’t decide if it was truly because of Mathias and all he had once stood for or if it was because he didn’t want to lose Cathlina. His little girl had become a woman and he’d hardly noticed.
“Then you must allow me to think on this,” he muttered, looking at Mathias. “All I have heard is from my daughter stating that she wishes to marry you. You have not come to me, as a man would, and spoken to me of her.”
Mathias conceded the point. “You are correct,” he said. “However, in my defense, there has not been the opportunity and your daughter and I have only recently spoken of such things. It was not the proper way to go about the situation and I offer my apology. However, now that we are face to face, I will tell you now that it is my intention to marry your daughter. At present, I will be able to provide quite well for her as a smithy’s wife and in time, she will have all of the titles and wealth that I can provide for her when my titles and lands are restored. Of this I have no doubt. I assure you that my intentions are quite honorable.”
Saer watched the man as he spoke, his body language and the fact that he never once broke eye contact. That spoke of respect. It eased him somewhat but not completely. He was still having a difficult time swallowing everything. It was too much for him to absorb at the moment and he finally waved a dismissive hand at the group.
“I must think on it,” he said. “I will give you no answer today.”
“But soon, Father?” Cathlina said, wiping the last of her tears from her eyes.
Saer whirled on her, pointing a stern finger. “That is enough from you.”
Cathlina frowned as Mathias stepped in. “I understand and respect your need to think on my request,” he said, giving Cathlina a squeeze so she would remain silent. “I also trust that you will make the right choice. I will eagerly await your word.”
Saer only shrugged. Tate caught Sebastian and Kenneth’s attention, silently ordering them from the tent with a nod of hishead. When they left, he turned his attention to Saer one last time.
“I trust I will not need to come running back here to prevent you from beating your daughter,” he said. “If it happens again, I will take her with me back to Carlisle. I will not let you harm her because you are angry. Is that clear?”
Saer looked at Tate as if the man had hurt his feelings. “I was not beating her,” he said. “I was spanking her for her insolence. She needed it.”
Tate cocked an eyebrow. “A technicality,” he said, his voice low. “I do not approve of hitting children, no matter how insolent they are.”
Saer, feeling emotionally exhausted and defeated, simply turned away. Tate’s attention lingered on the man before turning to Mathias and Cathlina.
The pair was huddled together, the hulking presence of Mathias wrapped around Cathlina. She looked so small and fragile in his arms. Tate touched her affectionately on the cheek before turning to Mathias.
“You have a tournament to finish,” he said softly. “I would suggest you go and prepare for the second round.”
It occurred to Mathias that he’d not spoken to the man since Sebastian had mentioned Tate’s knowledge of his deception. He tried not to look too contrite. “Was I that obvious? I thought I did rather well at concealing my identity.”
“You did a fine job,” Tate agreed. “But you forget how well I know you. Your move of hitting me on the helmet in the first pass confirmed what I already suspected. Go, now. I will make sure Cathlina is taken care of.”
Mathias looked down at Cathlina, swathed in his enormous embrace. He quite honestly didn’t want to let her go but knew he had little choice. Leaning down, he kissed her very sweetly on the cheek before releasing her. Then he looked at Tate.
“If he touches her again, I will kill him,” he said simply.
Tate knew he meant it. He’d seen what Mathias could do in battle and had no desire to push the man. So he nodded.
“He understands that,” he said quietly. “Give me my cousin and be on your way.”
“You will take her to the lists where I can see her?”
“I will.”
Mathias’ gaze lingered on Cathlina a moment before kissing her hand gently and quitting the tent. Cathlina watched him leave, her entire being focused around him and the memory of him. She couldn’t focus on anything else. When she finally shook herself from her trance, she caught sight of the grin on Tate’s face. She smiled, embarrassed, silently acknowledging all of the sweet and giddy things she’d been thinking. He laughed softly.
“If you are ready, my lady, I will take you over to the field,” he said.
