“That is not good.” Arsenius peered at his sire and waved as he slowed his destrier. “Papa, we bested the rebels and won the battle.”
“I would not be too sure about that.” The elder Titus frowned. “Come to my tent, as we have much to discuss.”
Just then, the King shouted at some unknown, unfortunate soul. “We are not pleased that several thousand rebels marched to our doorstep, unimpeded, and we would have blood in recompense.”
“Hurry.” Father flicked his fingers, and Arsenius led his horse to the back of the line. “Step inside my temporary accommodation, as I require privacy.”
“What is wrong?” Curious, Arsenius glanced at his cousin, who arched a brow. “We successfully defended London against the Cornish attackers. Why is the Crown angry?”
“Do you really need me to answer that question?” On a table, Father rolled up a map, tossed it aside, grabbed a chair, and sat. “I suggest you take your ease, my son, as what I have to say will, no doubt, shock you.”
“Aye, sir.” For as long as Arsenius could remember, when Father used the general reference, storm clouds loomed on the horizon. “Am I in trouble?”
“That is putting it mildly.” Father rolled his eyes. “And when your mother finds out what happened, my neck will be in peril.”
“I do not understand.” Glancing at the younger Titus, who shrugged, Arsenius revisited the events of the day; sifting through his actions in search of an unintended err to explain his sire’s gloomy demeanor and avoid a date with the executioner. “If I offended His Majesty, in any way, I will apologize.”
“You mistake my meaning.” With a sigh, Father bent, opened his trunk, and retrieved a bottle, and Arsenius realized the situation was grave if it drove his sire to drink. “Given your heroic performance on the battlefield, in defense of the realm, the Crown has bestowed upon you an earldom and a prosperous seigneury in Cornwall.”
“What of my deeds, which were equally courageous?” Titus inquired. “Is my sacrifice to be ignored?”
After a healthy draw from the bottle, Father wiped his mouth and said, “The King also bequeaths a wife.”
“Great abyss of misery.” Titus burst into uncontrolled mirth. “But you may take your reward, as I covet it not.”
“I would not be too quick to delight in Arsenius’s difficulty.” Father scratched his jaw. “As the King bequeathed the same to you.”
“What?” Titus flinched.
“Now who is laughing?” Slumping forward, Arsenius propped an elbow on the table and cupped his chin. “But Mama will never support a union in which she had no say in the selection.”
“Trust me, between your mother and His Majesty, I would rather confront the King, as naught scares me more than Desi’s temper.” To Titus, Father said, “And Atticus may kill me, when we apprise him of the not so felicitous developments, given he and Isobeau are to host the weddings at the Lair.”
“Well that should be interesting.” Arsenius reflected upon that gem of brilliance and shuddered. “Thither could be violence.”
“No, that will not happen.” Father pinned Arsenius with a steely glare. “Whatever their station, our future in-laws will be De Wolfes.”
“I understand, father.” Arsenius glanced at his cousin, who blanched. “But at present they remain the enemy.”
ABOUT BARBARA DEVLIN
Bestselling, Amazon All-Star author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, DE that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite. Barbara writes heartfelt historical romances that feature flawed heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero, before they find their happily ever after. Barbara earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.
Connect with Barbara Devlin at BarbaraDevlin.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, The Knightly News. And you can find a complete list of books on Barbara’s Amazon Author Page.
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Twitter: @barbara_devlin
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