Jax cleared his throat softly. “Do you not wish for wine and food first?”
“Nay,” he said. “Why? Is it terrible?”
Jax shrugged. “I suppose it will be disappointing, but it is not the end of the world.”
“Whatis it?”
Jax looked at him. “I saw Teviot tonight,” he said. “He spoke to me of Audrie.”
Cole put a hand up quickly. “Stop right there,” he said, interrupting his father. “That is exactly what I wanted to speak to you about.”
“What about her?”
“I do not want to marry her, Papa.”
Jax stared at him a moment before sitting back in his chair. “Interesting,” he said. “Because she does not wish to marry you, either.”
Cole’s eyes widened. “She doesn’t?” he gasped. “Why?”
“She’s evidently fallen in love with a son of Sunderland,” Jax said. “She wishes to marry another man and Teviot was very concerned that you would be upset by it.”
Cole quickly got over his shock and shook his head emphatically. “I am not upset at all,” he said, “because I wish to marry another woman.”
“You?” Julian piped up. “Getmarried?”
Jax shushed his younger son. “Seal your lips,” he hissed before looking seriously at Cole. “What’s this? You truly wish to marry, Cole?”
Cole nodded, a glimmer of mirth in his eyes. “I do,” he said. “I wish to marry Lady Corisande de Bourne, Alastor’s eldest daughter. I do not quite know where to start with this… one day,I met her and in the next, I was in love with her. She loves me, too, and we wish to be married.”
Both Jax and Julian were looking at Cole in shock. Julian’s mouth was actually hanging open. He looked at Jax, who was having difficulty processing everything– his career-oriented, emotional eldest son wanted tomarry?
He could hardly believe it.
“But… when?” he finally said. “How? Isthatwhy you went back to Castle Keld after I sent you to Alnwick?”
Cole nodded. “I went back to see her,” he said. “I know this all sounds very strange coming from me, but I assure you, it is the truth. I have Alastor’s permission, but I needed to settle the situation with Audrie first. But now it looks as if there is nothing to settle. Corisande is a wonderful woman, Papa. I know you will love her as I do.”
Across the table, Julian grinned and held out a hand to his brother. “Congratulations, Cole,” he said, grasping his arm and giving him a shake. “I could not be more pleased for you, truly. Is she beautiful with big breasts?”
Jax side-eyed his lewd son. “You told us you were going to keep silent, Julian,” he said. “Shut your lips or leave the table. Your brother and I are speaking.”
Julian picked up his cup and put it to his mouth, contrite. “If you are nasty to me, I shall tell Mother.”
“If your threat is a real one, I will find the Northmen tomorrow and sell you to them,” Jax said, lifting an eyebrow. “You can spend the rest of your life rowing one of those longships as they throw fishbones at you.”
Cole started laughing. “Leave him alone, Papa,” he said. “He is a foolish whelp, but he is our foolish whelp. Aye, she is beautiful, Julian. The most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.”
As Julian looked pleased, Jax seemed to be more contemplative. He was still quite surprised by everything. As theserving wench came and brought more food and drink, his gaze lingered on Cole as the man gulped his wine and took a helping of bread.
“Are you sure about this, lad?” Jax finally asked. “This seems rather sudden.”
Cole shoved bread into his mouth. “I met her when we brought Canmore to The Keld,” he said. “Papa, she exhibited such courage that day. Canmore took her hostage and she was calm and composed… I suppose that was when I realized I was interested in her. She impressed me greatly and that admiration has only grown. She is also de Bourne’s surgeon and I have asked her to join us this evening for the meal.”
Jax’s brow furrowed. “A surgeon?” he repeated. “A woman surgeon? She’shere?”
Cole nodded. “She is,” he said. But he could see the disapproval in his father’s expression. “I know what you are thinking. I, too, am grossly opposed to a woman surgeon, but it was not my right to make her stay behind at The Keld. Alastor is her father and he wished for her to come. Evidently, her mother was also a surgeon. It seems to be a family tradition.”
Jax clearly didn’t approve. “A woman surgeon,” he muttered. “It is reckless and irresponsible to bring a woman to battle.”
