“Who made it for you? Your betrothed?” he taunted. “Is she five summers old?” Michael smiled condescendingly with mockery.
“Your betrothed.”
Michael’s laughter ceased quickly, and he studied the tapestry. “Now I know you are lying. Eve can’t embroider.” He whirled back to him. “I don’t see why you have to provoke me. You have everything you want. I heard about your jousts. Undefeated, is it?”
Gabe shrugged. “Defeated once, last year.”
Michael nodded, looking him over from head to toe. “That’s an impressive feat, little brother. And yet, you came here. What is it you want?”
“Want? I haven’t seen you in…” He took a deep breath. “A long time. I wanted to spend the Yuletide with you.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed. “And there is nothing else?”
“What do you think I want?”
Michael looked down at the tapestry in his hands. “An angel.”
“Michael, I missed father’s burial last year. I didn’t want to miss your wedding, too. You are the only remaining family I have.”
“There are no hard feelings between us?”
“Hard feelings? Why would there be?” But the old resentment coursed through him, tightening his jaw and the muscles across his shoulders. “After what you did.”
Michael handed the tapestry back to him. “I’m doing you a favor. I’m marrying her so you don’t have to. You would have been tied down, unable to compete in the joust you love so much.”
“I compete in the joust to forget what you did.”
“Would you change places with me?” Michael demanded.
The question caught Gabe off guard and he hesitated. Then, he realized Michael was challenging him. Michael believed he would never agree to change places and asked the question. Realizing his mistake, Gabe opened his mouth to answer.
“I thought not,” Michael replied smugly. “Don’t hold this against me, ever. I did it for you.” Michael turned away, striding off down the hallway.
Eve stared at her father as he sat in a high-backed chair before a warm fire, the fire’s red glow washing over him. He had summoned her to his chambers. Usually, that meant she had done something he was angry about. As she walked down the hallway to his chambers, she tried to figure out what she had done, going over the day’s events. Nothing came to mind and now, she stood before him with trepidation.
“I saw you watching him.”
She didn’t know what he was referring to and remained silent.
“At the morning meal. I saw the way you stared at him.”
“Who?”
“Sir Gabriel.”
Dread slithered through her. She didn’t think she was staring, and she definitely didn’t think her father had seen the secret glances she cast toward Gabe! “He is a guest. I didn’t stare.”
“You barely touched your meal.”
“I wasn’t hungry.”
“You’ve always been hungry before.”
“Perchance it is the coming Yuletide or my marriage.”
“You are betrothed to Michael.”
“I know –”
