Page 18 of Staff of Nightfall

“No,” Lady Belanger said, her accent thickening. “You’re too young—”

“I’m twenty-one!” Adelaide protested.

“And how old is he?” Lady Belanger flung her hand toward Regulus.

Regulus pulled his shirt back on, grimacing at the ache in his side. “I’ll be thirty in two months.”

“Thirty!” Lady Belanger gripped the arms of her chair. “Why—”

“Piahre,” Alfred patted her arm. “They’re closer in age than we are.”

“That’s different.” Lady Belanger slumped back in her chair.

“How is it different?” Adelaide waved her hands. “Father had five children and was thirty-two when he met you. You were twenty!”

“Fine, but we hardly know him.” Lady Belanger huffed. “We met Gaius before he asked to court Minerva. And then he courted her for several months before he asked for her hand. And you’ve been through a trying ordeal. This could be manufactured emotion—”

“My lady, with respect, I knew I loved Adelaide long before the events of the last few days.” Regulus put his arm around Adelaide, trying to remain as friendly as possible without backing down.

“Gaius was afraid of Father turning him down,” Adelaide said. “He wanted to ask sooner. Minerva told me as much. And I wanted to marry Regulus before any of this happened. Father...what do you think?”

Alfred paused before answering. “I think you risk being shunned by society if you marry a bastard and a mercenary.”

“He—” Adelaide started, but her father held up his hand. Regulus’ gut twisted with the sting of Alfred’s bluntness.

“Your mother and I raised you not to live your life in narrow-mindedness. Let’s review what I know about Regulus. I know his past. I know he caused you pain and put you in danger.” Alfred stood and clasped his hands behind his back as he turned away from them. “Yet I know that he has repeatedly put himself at risk for your sake. He has shown a concern for your safety, and a protectiveness for his friends. I know that you love him, and I can see he loves you. I know he makes you happy and you trust him.”

Alfred faced them with a sad smile. “And I trust you.” He looked at Regulus. “But I have two questions for Regulus first. And I want your complete honesty.”

Regulus inclined his head. Nerves made him twitchy, like he should be fighting or ready to fight. With a slow exhale, he focused on looking unconcerned and honest.

“Why did you become a mercenary?”

The direct question was like a punch to the gut. His arm slipped off Adelaide as a jumble of emotions overcame him. Through the glass of Adelaide’s window, he watched a flock of small birds fly in a mass, like a black wisp of cloud.

“Why does that matter?” Adelaide asked. “He was a warrior. Like you.”

At least that explained why she had never asked. Unlike most people, she heard mercenary and assumed warrior—not brigand.

“No, Ad.” The gentle sadness in Alfred’s voice hurt worse than if he had flat-out accused Regulus of being dishonorable. “I served my king. For duty and honor and to protect my family and friends. I need to know why he fought.”

The birds dove into the sprawling branches of a massive oak. Perhaps the truth would help—at least they would know he wasn’t just a treasure-hungry, blood-thirsty barbarian. Her father was right to ask. But the truth would highlight his other flaw.

“He’s a good man,” Adelaide said. “And so are his men. They’re honorable—”

“I asked Regulus.” Alfred tapped his fingers against his crossed arms. “And his silence is rather loud.”

Regulus sighed. He focused on Adelaide, on the way his heart ached for her companionship. “You deserve the truth.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter—”

“Yes. It does.” He picked at some lint on the covers. “My guardian—a distant cousin—reviled me. I lived with him for twelve years, and he took every chance to punish me, to mock me, to remind me my birth was an unfortunatemistake.But I endured for the hope that after I was knighted, I could go home. Or at least somewhere I could be accepted.” He worked his jaw, ashamed of what a naïve idiot he had been.

“A couple weeks before my knighthood ceremony, my father sent a note and a gift.” He smiled ruefully. “It was a sword. Plain and unassuming, but expertly made. The note said he was proud and wished me the best, but he wouldn’t attend my knighting.”

Adelaide placed a hand on his thigh. He shrugged.

“I hadn’t really expected him to come. But I had hoped.” Regulus shifted, studying the twisting carved posts of Adelaide’s bed. “About a week later, Dresden and I were out for a run. Three men attacked us. We weren’t armed, but we fought them off and caught one.” He paused.

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