Called out by the Earl of Hereford, Harald turned red with rage and embarrassment. “Because I have no sons to carry on my name,” he said to Christopher. “You have six. I have none. My wife could only produce a daughter and she, in turn, has only had daughters, so it is not outlandish to request that the man marrying my daughter, purely for the Mercian title, take my family name. I have a right to ask that my family be continued.”
“I am not marrying her for the Mercian title, my lord,” Essien said as the tension in the room escalated. “Truthfully, I do not care about the title. I would take her without it.”
Harald rolled his eyes. “God’s Bones, lad,” he said. “That is a stupid thing to say. I simply want my family to live on through my name. Is that so difficult to understand?”
Essien remained cool. He didn’t say anything, choosing to let the silence weigh heavily. That was enough of an answer as far as he was concerned, because he didn’t like the fact that Harald de Efford was not only trying to force him into some ridiculous agreement about his name, but he was also belittling his daughter. The entire conversation had been about belittling Catalina.
As if she meant nothing at all.
Essien was going to change that.
“My lady,” he said, tearing his gaze away from Harald and looking at Catalina. “What is your wish? If you wish to keep your family name as our own, I will not agree. But if you’d rather become an honored member of the House of al-Kort, the royal family of Kitara, I would be most honored by your worthy addition. The choice is yours.”
Catalina had been sitting there with her head down, ashamed by her father’s behavior, but Essien’s soft words had her lifting her head to look at him.
“You… you are asking my opinion?” she said, stunned.
He nodded. “There is no more important opinion in my world, not now,” he said. “Whatever you wish, we shall do.”
Her mouth popped open. His answer only seemed to intensify her surprise. She looked at her father, red-faced and angry, knowing what he wanted her to say, silently conveying that she’d better do as he wished. But this was the moment when Catalina de Efford de Barenton was no longer under the control of her father. He didn’t want her, and now, she surely didn’t need him. And she didn’t need that damn name.
This was the moment.
“I do not want the de Efford name,” she said, returning her attention to Essien. “It has only brought me shame and loneliness and sadness. Why should I want to perpetuate it? Ourmarriage will see me take your name, Essien. I will become Lady al-Kort and may I always be a tribute to you and your family.”
Essien smiled, feeling proud. Probably prouder than he ever had in his life, in a different way. This wasn’t about pride in his accomplishments or pride in his lineage. This was pride in a beautiful young woman telling him that she wanted to be part of his life, part of his heritage.
He was deeply touched.
“As you wish,” he said. Squeezing her hand, which he had never released the entire time they’d been in the solar, he turned to Christopher. “When may we be married, my lord? The sooner, the better.”
Christopher, too, was experiencing some pride. Essien, the youngest Kitara brother, the one more apt to scream, fight, kick, rage, or weep, was showing some remarkable maturity, both emotionally and spiritually. Addax had always been the dignified one and Essien had always been the unpredictable one. But in this moment, Essien had shown his true mettle.
Christopher could not have been more pleased.
“Let me send for Dustin and tell her we wish to have the mass soon,” he said. “But don’t you plan to compete in the mass competition today?”
Essien shook his head. “I already won the tournament,” he said. Then he looked at Catalina. “I think I have something better to do than beat on some fellow knights.”
Catalina laughed softly, gazing into his eyes. Christopher watched the pair, thinking that, at this point, they probably didn’t even realize there were other people in the chamber. He had to laugh to himself, because this was not the Essien he’d informed about the marriage only yesterday.
This was someone else.
“Very well,” Christopher said after a moment. “I can see where your priorities lie.”
Essien simply nodded, grinning at Catalina, and Christopher gave up trying to get the man’s attention. He went to the solar door again and opened it, intending to send a servant for his daughters, but he could see that they were still in the entry. He’d told them to go away but they hadn’t gone far, which was typical of that pair. They were obedient when they wanted to be.
“You two,” he called to them, motioning them over. “It seems that we are to have a wedding today. Can you find something appropriate for Lady de Barenton to wear if her garment is not yet cleaned of the bloodstains?”
The mention of a wedding had Brielle and Christin gleeful. “Of course!” Christin said. “How much time do we have?”
“Probably about an hour,” Christopher said. “Whatever you are going to do with her, do it quickly. Lady de Barenton?”
He was catching Catalina’s attention as she sat in the chair, holding Essien’s hand. Dutifully, she stood up and, still holding his hand, walked over to the door where Brielle and Christin were. Christopher ushered her through the door, into the waiting arms of his daughters, but he had to hold Essien back because the man was following her. He literally had to pull their hands apart, snorting as he did so, and pushing Essien back into the solar as his daughter whisked Lady Barenton away. Shutting the door, he bolted it and went over to the large table that held his writing kit and papers.
“Now,” he said, “I am going to draw up the marriage contract with the terms agreed upon by Lord Eckington. Essien, while I do this, you should come to know your wife’s father a little better. You can start by telling him just what you think of his attempts to manipulate you earlier. You are not permitted to be rude, but you are permitted to speak your mind. Go ahead. I will sit here and write up the contract.”
Essien looked at Harald, who was gazing back at him with a somewhat defensive expression. And with good reason—inChristopher’s opinion, Essien hadn’t said anything that wasn’t deserved.
