Page 47 of While Angels Slept
He ignored her statement. “Where were you born?”
She didn’t like the look in his black eyes and a sigh of reluctance escaped her lips. But she answered. “Darland. ’Tis south of Rochester a few miles.”
“And your family name?”
“Du Bexley. My father was descended from an old Saxon line, nobility that dates back hundreds of years.”
“Is your father still alive?”
“Nay, my lord.”
“Any brothers? Sisters?”
“Nay, my lord. Just me.”
Geoff’s dark eyes glittered. He seemed to be enjoying the interrogation. “Val,” he said to his cousin, not taking his eyes off Cantia. “Go and procure us some refreshment. Lady Cantia and I will be in the solar.”
Val’s eyes widened. “But.…”
“Go, now. I command it.”
Val watched Cantia as her cousin held out his elbow to her. Her last glimpse of the pair was as they disappeared into the solar with Cantia’s reluctant hand on Geoff’s arm.
Val knew from experience that the only person who could helpCantia was Tevin. He was the only man who had ever been remotely able to control their erratic cousin. In fact, she shuddered to think how her brother was going to react when he found out Geoff had gone on the hunt and discovered the trove of ladies. More than that, Tevin’s feelings for Cantia were bound to unbalance the normally balanced man. Where Tevin had always dealt patiently with Geoff in the past, the event of emotion could see that drastically changed.
But he had to know. She was almost panicked to tell him. Just as she turned for the great hall with the intention of crossing through the kitchens and into the bailey, the entry door suddenly flew open and smashed back on its hinges. Val started as splinters of wood from the damaged door rained into the air. But even before she looked, she knew that Tevin had arrived.
Val barely had time to turn around as Tevin stormed into the entry and straight at her. The expression on his face was nothing short of murderous.
“Where did he take her?” he growled.
Val pointed towards the solar, grabbing her brother’s arm as he shoved past her. Somewhere behind Tevin, she saw Hunt and the big yellow dog. The child’s eyes were wide with fear and Val correctly surmised that somehow, Hunt must have gone running for Tevin the moment his mother had left the room.
“Tevin, wait,” she hissed. “You must calm yourself. No harm has been done yet. Cantia is fine. There is no need for violence.”
Tevin glared at her, his nostrils flaring. Val stared back at him. Having known the man her entire life, she knew what he was capable of. He had two distinct personalities; the calm façade that most saw, and the battle-mode warrior who was sometimes more animal than man. What she saw before her was the animal and she knew she had to soothe the beast or there would be blood at Rochester this night.
“Tevin,” she shook him, attempting to snap him out of his rage. “Cantia is fine, do you hear me? He has not harmed her. And you must maintain your calm above all else. If Geoff suspects you have interest inCantia, it will create more of a situation. He’ll see it as a competition. Youknowthis.”
His nostrils flared again, his obsidian eyes as black as night. “There will be no competition. I will kill him first.”
He started to move past her again but she dug her heels in. It was like trying to stop a raging bull. “Tevin,” she snapped softly. “Of course there is no competition. But listen to me, please. You must attend to this with calm and stay rational. Get through this situation with tact and then send Cantia away immediately. You cannot allow your relationship with Geoff to sour over her, for there is too much at stake.”
“Aye, there is too much at stake.Sheis at stake.”
Val grabbed his face, something she would have never normally done. But it was imperative that he focus on her and understand. “Nay, brother,” she shook her head slowly. “Everything is at stake. Geoff controls everything. And you must be calm, for this situation is far bigger than Geoff having discovered your lady.”
He was looking at her, though not entirely calm. “What do you mean?”
She smiled weakly. “Think about it for a moment. He has always been competitive with you. He has also always been threatened by you. He loves you and envies you at the same time. What do you think he will do if he suspects you are interested in Cantia and hid her away for your own purposes?”
He glared at her unsteadily. “I’ve no time for games, Val. Tell me what you mean.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “He is unmarried, Tevin. If he thinks you are intent to claim her, he can take the competition further than you can. He can marry her and do not believe for one moment that he will not simply to emerge the victor against you.”
Some of the color left Tevin’s face then. He stared at his sister a long moment before finally wiping a massive hand over his face, struggling for composure. “Dear God,” he breathed. “You are correct. You are absolutely correct. And he would do it, just to spite me.”
Val nodded, relieved he was coming to understand. “He loves you, but he loves himself more. He would marry the widow and see nothing but good-natured victory in it. He would laugh at you the rest of his life for it.”
