“And Emmeline was married to another when I met her,” Addax said. “You are well aware that all did not go smoothly for us in the beginning. Not at all.”
“Do not forget about Rhys,” Christopher said. “His wife was meant for another man. He had to die in order to marry her, but that is a story for another time. And Sherry and Christin were spies together. Do you think that went smoothly for them in the beginning? If you think so, you would be wrong. That was a very tense time, especially when I discovered their tryst.”
That was the truth and had everyone nodding at the memory. But it was Peter who spoke softly.
“The point is that most couples, in the beginning, have some obstacles to overcome,” he said. “Mayhap your rough meeting with Lady de Barenton means from now on, things will go more smoothly. You’ve already had your rough time.”
Essien shook his head. “I cannot be certain of that,” he said. “My initial introduction to Lady de Barenton is that she is a wildcat, unafraid when threatened. Does she know of this betrothal?”
Christopher shrugged. “I do not know,” he said honestly. “It was only just decided this evening.”
“Then she did not know about it this afternoon?”
“Nay,” Christopher said. “Why do you ask?”
Essien lifted his big shoulders. “I was thinking that, mayhap, she knew who I was when she attacked me,” he said. “Mayhap she was attempting to convey her displeasure at the situation.”
“She would not have known,” Christopher said. “Moreover, you said she explained why she attacked you. She thought you were abducting her daughter.”
Essien sighed faintly. He didn’t feel so drunk now. What he felt was trepidation, a fear of an unknown future. He still felt dazed because things had happened so quickly.Tooquickly. When he should have been protesting, fighting at the very least, he wasn’t. He found that very strange. All he could think of was that beautiful woman with the knee-length hair and those luminous eyes of dusky blue. She was exquisite in a world where that kind of beauty was rare.
He was feeling many things at that moment.
Confusion, mostly.
“Why me?” he finally said. “Why should you give this honor to me? You have many fine knights who have served you longer than I. You have sons that you should have chosen over me.”
Christopher shook his head. “My eldest is already married,” he said, glancing at Peter. “Curtis is the next in line and he is too young for a widowed woman with children. Most of my other knights are also married, but even if they were not, you are my choice for this great honor. You have greatness in you, Essien. It is time for you to show the world what I already know.”
Essien’s features suddenly turned soft with emotion. He seemed to be struggling. Perhaps it was the drink, but perhaps not. When tears began to fill his eyes, Addax put his hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“What is it, Es?” he asked softly. “What troubles you?”
Essien blinked his eyes quickly, chasing away the tears. “I… I do not know,” he said. “Suddenly those words touched something in me, almost as if they were a reflection of something I’d heard long ago. It was as if our father was talking to me at that moment. Truly, very strange.”
“Not so strange,” Addax said. “Lord Hereford is the only father you truly remember.”
Essien nodded his head, closing his eyes as he did so. “I know,” he said. “But he sounded like Father, the way I remember him from my dreams. There was an echo of King Amare in that statement.”
“I take that as a great compliment,” Christopher said quietly. “Es, if you do indeed consider me the only father you remember, then know this—I chose you for this great honor because you are worthy. You are also not yet what you will be. We will all watch your rise to greatness, and the world will learn your name, in time. This betrothal is the start of that rise. Will you accept that which is being offered to you?”
Essien took a deep breath and wiped whatever moisture was left around his eyes. “Do I have the choice of refusal, my lord?”
Christopher lifted his eyebrows as if that was exactly what he had expected. “I can force you,” he said. “But I will not. If yourefuse, I will accept it. I will not be pleased, but I will accept it, for I do not want a bitter man forced into mayhap the greatest earldom in England. You would not do the title, or the people, or the legacy proud. You would shame it with your resistance, and that is not what Mercia deserves. It deserves a man who knows the worth of the title and of his own legacy.”
Essien stood up, weaving a little as the alcohol sloshed around in his brain. “That is all I wanted to hear,” he said. “If you will not force me into this betrothal, then I accept it of my own free will.”
Christopher tried not to look surprised. He hadn’t expected that answer. “Then you will marry the de Barenton widow?”
“I will,” Essien said. “But if she attacks me during the wedding ceremony, I would expect you to protect me.”
Christopher snorted, breaking into soft laughter, as Peter and Addax moved to congratulate Essien. The man didn’t seem exactly pleased, but at least he wasn’t fighting it or resisting it. As long as he knew he had a choice in the matter, he would buy what Christopher had so eloquently sold.
If only the marriage itself would be so easy.
They were about to find out.
CHAPTER EIGHT
