Claire Delacroix (31 page)

She knew well enough that Luc kept his word with a vengeance.

Could
he make her love him? The very possibility was both tantalizing and terrifying. Brianna already admired Luc, she already trusted him, she already knew she could rely upon him.

She already was haunted by his smile.

But more importantly, would Luc come to love her? His words made it sound as though he had no intention of doing so.

And that was troubling indeed.

Luc was not encouraged by the lady’s uncertainty, not in the least. Was there something here of which he knew naught? He had anticipated Brianna’s concern with regards to love and tried his utmost to persuade her that he took the issue most seriously.

But Luc did not trust her uncharacteristic silence, nor the way she looked into the distance and frowned.

What was Brianna thinking?

“Let me pass!” Ruarke pushed his way through the ranks of those watching. He glowered at Luc, no less at the man’s claim upon Brianna’s hand, then stormed closer. Luc straightened, preparing for a verbal assault. Indeed, each time he saw this man Luc liked him less.

“What is this?” Ruarke demanded. “I heard some nonsense that Brianna laughed.”

“ ’Tis not nonsense,” Luc retorted, not caring for the man’s manner. “She did and we shall be wed.”

“What?” Ruarke’s eye flashed angrily. “This cannot be! Why, this lady cannot wed the likes of you! You are not even a knight!”

“On the contrary,” Luc declared coldly. Well aware of the way the lady watched the exchange, Luc did not so much as flinch before Ruarke’s noisy display. “I have been a knight for nigh on fifteen years.”

He refrained from commenting upon Ruarke’s loose interpretation of those knightly duties. To Luc’s mind, the man had no place abandoning Tullymullagh in its hour of need, be he champion or merely a knight of the household.

And he did not like how quickly Ruarke had pledged his hand to Gavin. A man like Connor deserved greater loyalty from those beneath his hand.

Ruarke could have chosen to leave Tullymullagh, if only to make a point about the change of its lordship. There was no doubt that an able knight could find employ elsewhere and simultaneously keep his honor intact.

Ruarke blinked. “You do not dress as a knight.”

“Garb does not make the man.” Luc could not halt his cool and pointed assessment of Ruarke’s fine garb. Indeed, Luc was not surprised that this champion had absented himself while the keep was under assault.

Battle might have mired Ruarke’s fine tabard, after all.

The two men’s gazes held in silent challenge and Luc guessed suddenly that this knight had aspirations of claiming Brianna as his own bride.

He could not help but wonder what the lady thought of that.

Ruarke straightened angrily, apparently reading Luc’s
glance aright. “What of the other brother?” he demanded of Connor. “Was the wager not that the lady should wed whosoever made her laugh loudest?”

“Aye, ’twas!” Brianna insisted immediately. “Bless you, Ruarke, for recalling that detail!”

What madness was this?

Surely Brianna could not have affection for this man of so little merit? She was possessed of markedly good sense—why would it abandon her in this matter?

Luc looked to the lady in shock.

Indeed, he had his answer, and ’twas not the one he had expected. Luc’s pledge to win her heart meant naught, for the lady was already in love.

The very thought launched an ill tide in Luc’s belly. He abruptly released Brianna’s hand and stepped away, not wanting to interfere in this plan. Brianna looked to him with alarm, but Luc could not imagine what else she expected of him. He had made her laugh, he had declared his honorable intent, yet she had insisted upon spurning his suit.

A man of honor pressed no further.

Ruarke pounced upon Brianna’s hand when she hesitated and swept it possessively into the crook of his elbow. He fired a lethal glance at Luc, then summoned a charming smile for her alone.

“Come, my lady, come break your fast with me.”

“But …”

Luc was not surprised that Brianna did not appreciate having Ruarke make her decision for her. The lady was naught if not determined to see the course of her own mind.

Whatever foolish path it chose to tread. He still could not conceive of why she would have interest in Ruarke.

“But
naught
,” Ruarke declared, as though he scolded an errant child. “ ’Tis time you lingered with finer company
than this. And what of your embroidery?” Ruarke fairly dragged Brianna from the orchard.

Brianna cast an appealing glance over her shoulder from the periphery of the orchard, but Luc deliberately turned away. He would
not
rush to her aid in this. Brianna had chosen her knight and could no doubt see matters her way in the end.

Luc folded his arms across his chest and scowled at the River Darrow. Aye, he had been seven kinds of fool, indeed.

T
he kitchen portal slammed with vigor but a heartbeat after Brianna and Ruarke disappeared into the hall. Burke strode across the bailey, oblivious to anyone or anything in his path. Luc glanced up and acknowledged that he had never seen his brother so angered.

Then Gavin erupted in his favored son’s wake, his fist shaking in the air as he hobbled out into the bailey. “Go then! Go! You are no son of mine, Burke de Montvieux!”

“Fine!” Burke bellowed with a defiance Luc had never before witnessed in him. Luc’s eyes widened and he, along with most of the household, straightened to watch the exchange. “ ’Tis a shame I cannot purge the taint of your blood from my very veins!”

Gavin looked fit to explode and his face reddened dangerously. He pointed his finger after Burke. “I shall reclaim all of your holdings! I shall see that you do not inherit Montvieux! I shall lay claim to every coin that ever you have won if you do not return this very moment—on your knees, chevalier—and apologize.”

Burke pivoted and propped his hands on his hips as he glared back at his sire. “Take it and welcome!” he roared. “The price of your favor is too high!”

Luc blinked in astonishment. He had never seen his brother angry; he certainly had never suspected Burke would defy their father. But Burke swivelled and stalked to the stables with nary a backward glance. Gavin seemed sufficiently stunned that he fell silent, even while the assembly burst into excited chatter.

A jingle of trap announced Burke’s return but a few moments later. He rode his black destrier out of the stables, heading directly for the gates with nary a glance to either side. Luc noted his brother had loaded no saddlebags and left with only his garb, his blade, and his steed.

He looked again. ’Twas unthinkable that Burke spurned Gavin’s approval.

But that was precisely what Burke did.

Gavin hastened forward and raised his voice to a bellow. “If you leave this place without seeking a fit gift for the princess, I shall never speak with you again!”

Burke spat on the stones of the bailey. “There is a loss in my life!” he retorted.

While Gavin sputtered, Burke touched his spurs to his steed and rode through the gates, apparently oblivious to the storm behind him. Luc marvelled that patient, dutiful Burke had finally been pushed too far.

“I shall see you destroyed!” Gavin raged too late to be heard by his departing son. “I shall see you penniless!” He jumped up and down in his impotence. “I shall see you unwelcome in any keep in Christendom!”

But Burke was gone.

’Twas but a moment later that Gavin realized the truth. He wandered to the gate like a man in a daze and stared down the unfurling road.

Hoofbeats faded from earshot, yet Gavin still stood, staring through the gaping gate. He was clearly stunned by this
development. Finally, he slumped to sit on the outside of the gatehouse.

The gossip in the bailey erupted with a vengeance. If his father intended to await Burke’s return, Luc had a feeling Gavin would be waiting a very long time.

Connor of Tullymullagh had not only witnessed the fleeting wonder on his daughter’s visage when her laughter faded, but he guessed the import of that look. Aye, Brianna resembled her dame strongly in that moment, and Connor recalled well enough what Eva had had in mind when she turned that soft-eyed glance upon him.

It had always been followed by a confession of the most sentimental kind.

And Brianna had turned that glance upon Gavin’s eldest son.

Connor watched Luc assessingly, the pair’s heated exchange echoing in his ears. The younger man was sorely wounded by Brianna’s denial of his pledge, though he fought to hide the truth.

Aye, there was passion aplenty between those two, that much could not be denied. Their very confrontation made Connor feel young again, sending a recollection of the early misunderstandings he and Eva had shared.

Aye, in those days, he had been a man of war, unable to tell a fine lady exactly what troubled his heart. In time, Eva had taught him much—and she had learned to read what Connor dared not put into words.

But on the way, there had been battles aplenty. As painful as they were, the reconciliations—Connor’s smile broadened—the reconciliations were nearly worth the price.

Connor knew Brianna had found her one true love, even if she was not prepared to admit the truth as yet. He liked well that the man in question was one of rare honor. He had
noted Luc’s intercession for Ruarke, noted his resolve in both denying to follow Brianna’s will and in defying his own sire.

No wonder Brianna had not laughed at Burke’s pups. Stubborn child. His lips curved with affection, Connor took a step farther into the orchard, lending chase to the man who would govern Tullymullagh in his stead. Connor realized as he walked that this Luc had labored to save these forgotten trees and his heart swelled a thousand-fold.

Eva’s dream was being restored. Tullymullagh would prosper beneath Luc’s hand, Brianna would bear sons to make the hall ring with laughter.

Connor’s smile broadened. “You will be good tonic for her,” he charged softly when he reached the younger man.

Luc merely shrugged and frowned. “With all due respect, that seems unlikely, sir.”

But his gaze trailed tellingly to the portal.

“Aye? How so?”

Luc nodded toward the keep. “Her heart, it seems, is securely held by your former champion.” His lips thinned. “ ’Tis not my place to steal what he has fairly won.”

“Nay,” Connor said with resolve. “Brianna does not love Ruarke.” He enjoyed Luc’s surprise.

“But she must. She chose to leave with him.”

Connor shook his head. “I know Brianna enough to know she was but startled.” He leaned against a tree and ran his hand over its pruned bough. “You have labored long here. The trees have not had such good care in years.”

Luc strode closer, his brow as dark as thunder. “What do you mean that she was startled?”

Connor met the younger man’s gaze. “I saw her eyes and I know my daughter well. She does not love Ruarke, though there were times when I wished heartily that she would.”

Luc held Connor’s gaze for a long moment. “But she protested long.”

Connor scoffed. “And this surprises you?” He let a smile spread over his face and clicked his tongue. “I thought you knew her better than that!”

Luc chuckled and shoved a hand through his hair. Connor watched, liking how that man’s resolve dawned anew. “You are certain?”

“She did not intend to laugh,” Connor said firmly. “I have no doubt of that. And she is but learning to accept that all cannot go her way.” He shrugged. “ ’Tis my own fault for indulging her, I suppose, but you already have taught her a great deal. She cares for you, Luc Fitzgavin, and your pledge won you much. Do not blame Brianna for being startled that all happened with such haste.”

Luc heaved a sigh and shook his head. “She fooled me,” he admitted and Connor chuckled.

“ ’Tis the way of women everywhere,” he confided easily, the pair sharing a grin. Connor straightened and looked the younger man in the eye. “Pursue her, Luc, pursue Brianna as you intended, and she will be your own.” Connor tapped Luc on the shoulder. “I know it well, just as I know that the match will be a good one.”