Briar already knew that she would, but she pretended to consider. Ivo would be cross with her, but surely he would understand when she explained to him that she had only wanted to help? And he would be pleased with her, wouldn’t he, when he was friends again with his brother? It would all be worthwhile, then.
She nodded her head.
“So, you will come? Tomorrow?”
“Aye, Sir Miles, I will come to my father’s house tomorrow.”
He smiled with relief, and took her hands warmly in his. “I thank you, lady. Ivo cannot thank you, yet, so I will do it for him. And I thank you with all my heart—”
“Briar?”
It was Mary’s voice, beyond the tapestry. Briar pulled away, moving toward it, saying, “My sister is looking for me...”
“My brother will not let you come and meet me, if you tell him of our plans. He will stop you, lady. Be aware of that.”
“Sir Miles—”
Just then Mary lifted the stiff cloth aside and peered into the alcove at them. She frowned, eyes going suspiciously from Miles to Briar. “Briar? I want to go home now.”
“Of course.” Briar shot a warning glance over her shoulder at Miles. “Thank you for your compliments, sir.”
Miles bowed, his gray eyes like quicksilver. “Remember what I have said, lady.”
“I will.”
Mary was still frowning when they returned to the hall. “Ivo is looking for you,” she said. “I told him I would find you. I saw you go into that room, but I did not tell him so. You were very sly. What are you playing at, Briar? He is to be your husband, and yet you go off with other men.”
A lecture from Mary! Briar felt bemused. Who would have thought it? Clearly her younger sister was growing up.
“You don’t understand,” she began, but Mary wouldn’t listen.
“No, I don’t! And I don’t want to. You are so lucky, Briar, and yet you play with fire. I do not want to know why you would want to spoil all the good things that have fallen in your lap. Mayhap you don’t deserve them.”
“Mary!”
Mary pulled away from her outstretched hand, flushed and angry and upset. “Ivo is waiting for you. Go to him, Briar. I will be there in a moment.”
Briar stared at her sister’s back, more bewildered than angry. When had Mary grown a temper? And why had she exploded with it now, almost as if she were... jealous?
With a sigh, Briar went to find Ivo.
He was standing by the door—no doubt planning to escort her home. Of course he was. How could she have thought he would have forgotten her? She was carrying his child, and he would smother her with attention if it kept her safe. Fate had brought their lives into collision, and whatever this feeling was that kept them together, it was strong. Ivo, despite his odd behavior since he saw Miles, would never hurt her. Briar owed it to him to force a reconciliation between him and his brother.
It was the least she could do for him.
She looked as if she had been telling secrets. There was something about the expression in her hazel eyes, the flush of her cheeks, the curl of her lips. Ivo realized he didn’t trust her, and it frightened him. His belly clenched.
“Where were you, Briar?” He tried to ask her gently, but his voice came out harsh and demanding. Like a captain ordering his troops.
She ruffled up, shooting him a sideways glance. “I was speaking to my admirers, Ivo.”
“Are they many?”
“Aye, legion!”
“Briar—” He had gone too far; his fears for her safety had eroded his good sense. It was Miles’s fault. Miles had always managed to destroy his equilibrium. Now he was working on corroding Ivo’s feelings for Briar, and he was not even there.
“Do you not think I sing well, Ivo?”
