He enfolded her in his arms, wishing he could tell her everything he was feeling. But Nigel Warrington’s smug expression and his father’s pants of grief prevented him from becoming too emotional. Instead, he forced himself to deal with the issue at hand, albeit with less conviction than before. It had almost been worth all of the agony and sorrow to hear his wife’s confession.
“Is there anything else you wish to reveal?” he asked quietly, feeling the scale tipping in his favor. “Any other revelations to upset and shock us?”
Nigel’s advantage was slipping. Two major disclosures had barely raised an eyebrow and he was struggling to maintain his edge. God’s Blood, he had as much as admitted to a murder and the results had been worthless. He had to make Brian pay!
The entire room was focused on him; Brian, the black savage, all three de Fluornoy women, Alec, and Toby. His palms began to sweat with sheer panic until another, last ditch attempt demanded release.
….Toby!
“Just one more,” he said, smiling thinly. “I understand Toby has never been told of his roots. Allow me to introduce myself, Sir Toby. I am your father, and the man you so recently thrashed is your half-brother. You, dear boy, are the result of a liaison between your mother and myself.”
Toby’s eyes widened, giving Nigel the reaction he had failed to procure from Alec or Peyton. He stumbled back, his eyes flying to Brian, silently demanding answers. But Brian refused to meet his gaze, and Toby knew without a doubt that Nigel spoke the truth.
Open-mouthed, he returned his focus to Nigel. “You? How… how… oh, God….”
Jubil had been huddling by the door with Ivy in stunned silence throughout the entire exchange. But when Nigel focused his venom on her sweet Toby, she thrust herself forward and clasped the young man protectively.
“Easy, sweetheart, easy,” she whispered soothingly. Toby was ashen with shock as he turned to her, but she simply smiled. “It matters not. You are a noble Summerlin, not a Warrington. You have always been a Summerlin.”
Toby stared at her, the pain of disbelief in his eyes. “Is…. is that what you were going to tell me?”
She maintained her smile, touching his face tenderly. “Would you have believed me?”
He shook his head unsteadily. “How did you know?”
Peyton and Ivy watched with astonishment as Jubil kissed him tenderly. The air between them, laced with shock though it might be, was charged with sexual tension.
“I have lived in this barony my entire life, sweetheart. Eventually, you hear everything there is to hear. Although you favor your mother greatly, you possess Nigel’s eyes. Eyes of blue steel.”
Toby rested his forehead against Jubil’s. His face was transforming from shock, to pain, to fury as he came to grips with his roots. Jubil murmured soft words to him, easing his shock, forcing him to calm. But Nigel did not afford him the opportunity to complete the process.
“Satisfied, my son?” he mocked. Somewhat fortified by Toby’s unguarded reaction, he turned to Alec. “And you, Legend. Are you satisfied? Do you have the answers you seek?”
Alec was gripping Peyton fiercely, knowing that as long as they heldtogether, nothing in the world could harm them. Peyton had always made him strong, but knowing she loved him fed him with the power of the heavens. Toby was controlled in Jubil’s embrace as Ali moved to his wife, drawing her against him. They were all whole, strong, and unbreakable.
He glanced over his shoulder to his father, still slumped in the chair. Their eyes met and Alec smiled weakly. Brian’s bluish lips returned the gesture.
“Is that what you were afraid of?” he asked softly. “I am hardly bothered by it. You really should have told me yourself and saved Colin the beating.”
Brian closed his eyes and two fat droplets pelted his pale cheeks. His huge hand batted weakly at the tears. Weakly, he nodded once.
“I would assume, then, that this was the reason why you changed your mind about the betrothals? Because Nigel threatened you with the release of dark secrets if you did not bend to his will?”
Again, Brian nodded. Alec’s heart was breaking for the fear the man must have suffered. “All is well, Da,” he whispered, returning his attention to Nigel confidently. “The House of Summerlin is still standing.”
There was no mistaking the look of defeat on Nigel Warrington’s face.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Nigel was underhouse arrest for having confessed to arranging the murder of James Deveraux. Colin, recovering from a severe pounding at the hands of Alec and Toby, was confined to his rooms. Alec never did receive a straight answer from him regarding Paul’s death, but he had not given up hope. There would be another time, another place.
Brian had recovered to the point where he was able to take sup with Edward and the rest of his family. Peyton’s pregnancy was all he could speak of and he kissed his daughter-in-law affectionately with every opportunity, much to her delight. All of the quarreling, the animosity, the anger that had constituted their lives since the day Peyton and Alec had been introduced was gone. She was part of their family.
It was hard not to celebrate their joyous reunion when, in fact, the very reason for their visit was a funeral. Lady Rachel had not joined the meal, as was proper since she was in mourning, but Peyton could not help but think of the plain woman who had not only lost a child, but her husband as well. Even though she did not know Rachel beyond a mere acquaintance, her grief on the woman’s behalf was nonetheless deep.
Pondering the subject of sisters-in-law, Peyton was fully aware that Thia had made herself scarce since their arrival. Brian and Celine were so excited about her pregnancy and the visit of the king that they hadnot mentioned their daughter and Peyton hadn’t thought to ask. Not that she particularly cared, but she was curious all the same.
“Would you look at Jubil?” Ivy, on her left, elbowed her sister in the ribs. “She and Toby haven’t taken their eyes off one another!”
