Thomas braced himself. He refused to see Adelaide when he returned yesterday, pleading exhaustion, but Adelaide was smart– she knew he’d be seeing to his duties early this morning and she was going to intercept him. Knowing he couldn’t put off the inevitable, he simply headed for the tower with the stairs that led down into the bailey.
“Tell the men on the wall to keep an eye out for my father,” he said. “I want to know when he is sighted.”
Desmond nodded. “I will stay on the wall myself,” he said. “Not to worry.”
Thomas paused. “I thought you were exhausted after being up all night?”
Desmond shook his head. “Not after what you just told me,” he said. “I am eager for your father’s return, too.”
Thomas simply lifted his eyebrows in agreement and took the stairs, down the darkened tower and emerging into the cold, damp bailey. As soon as he hit the ground, he could see Adelaide coming through the far gate from the inner to the outer bailey. She was dressed in yellow, bright against the dawn’s shadows. He headed right towards her because, clearly, she was heading for him.
He couldn’t avoid her any longer.
“My lord,” she called out, her voice echoing against the stone walls because she’d very nearly shouted. “Welcome back. I came to see you yesterday when you returned but I was told you were not to be disturbed.”
They came to a halt in nearly the center of the outer bailey, but it was an uneasy halt. For every two steps Adelaide would take in his direction, he’d take a step away from her. There was about six feet between them and he refused to let her close the gap.
“It was a strenuous ride,” he said simply.
Adelaide was expecting more of an explanation. She looked at him, lifting her eyebrows with the beginning of that annoyed expression she so often had on her face. “And I trust your parents made it home safely?”
She said it rather sarcastically. Thomas simply nodded. “They did.”
“They did not even bid me farewell.”
He could have given her a nasty reply, but he refrained. “My… mother was not feeling well,” he said. “She simply wanted to get into the carriage and depart as quickly as she could.”
It was obvious that Adelaide didn’t believe him. She was becoming more annoyed by the second. “I see,” she said. “Now that your parents are back at Castle Questing, I must speak to you about the return of my father’s body to Kyloe Castle. It has been over a week, Thomas. I really must insist that we marry immediately and return his body to Kyloe for burial.”
“Define immediately.”
“Today.”
He shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “We will wait until my mother is feeling better and can return for the mass. As for your father’s body, it is my understanding that it is in a decent state since it is so cold in the vault. If we marry by the end of the week and return him then, that should be sufficient.”
His answer infuriated her. “Unacceptable,” she said, crossing her arms angrily. “It will be today.”
Thomas cocked an eyebrow at her. “I told you that you cannot have everything you want, when you want it,” he said, losing his patience. “I further told you that I will make the decisions when it pertains to us or any other matter of my house and hold. You do not have a say in these things.”
Adelaide’s face was starting to flush. “I have a say,” she hissed. “If you want this earldom, and I know you do, then you will do as I say.”
He smiled thinly at her. “I do not care about the earldom, nor do I care about you. I am only in this contract because our fathers brokered it. Please– if you want out, just say the word and I will be happy to release you from this burden. I beg you to release us both.”
That wasn’t the answer Adelaide was looking for. She was hoping to force him into obedience with her threat. Just as she was gearing up for a retort, the sentries on the walls sounded and Thomas was distracted. He turned for the gatehouse, trying to hear what the sentries were saying, as Adelaide snarled behind him.
“I amnotfinished,” she said, struggling to regain his attention. “Look at me, Thomas. I am not finished with you yet.”
He ignored her. The sentries seemed somewhat excited and Thomas began heading for the gatehouse. As he moved towards it, the ropes on the portcullis went taut and the massive iron grate began to lift. Overhead, Desmond shouted down to him.
“De Wolfe colors!” he shouted down.
Thinking it might be his father, Thomas quickly made his way to the gatehouse, leaving Adelaide where he left her in a furious mess. But Thomas was very eager to speak with his father so he stood at the mouth of the gatehouse as the portcullislifted, seeing the rider come down the road that led right into the gatehouse.
Immediately, he saw that it was not his father, but he did recognize Markus de Wolfe’s horse. It was a very big, black horse to support an enormous knight, and he stood aside as Markus charged through the gatehouse and reined his sweaty, weary horse to a halt. He ripped his helm off as Thomas approached him.
“Tommy, it’s grandfather,” he said breathlessly. “There has been an accident.”
Thomas felt a wave of shock wash over him. “What accident?” he demanded. “Where is he?”
