Page 26 of Hers To Command
“I don’t know what this villain told you to receive an invitation to my castle—”
“I invited him, Roald, and this is notyourcastle.”
Roald’s rage burned hotter. “Don’t play the fool, Mathilde. Ecclesford ismine.I am the only male left in the family. That makes me the rightful heir. So I order this Norman scoundrel to leave—now!”
Mathilde folded her hands in the cuffs of her long beige gown. “No.”
His anger seething, Roald gripped the hilt of his sword. “I am master here and I say—”
“No, you’re not,” that lout D’Alton said, stepping between them.
A mutter of discontent reached Roald’s ears and he half-turned. Where in the name of God had all those soldiers come from?
Turning back, he glared at his insolent cousin. “Will you dare to attack or imprison me after luring me here without my men?” he charged, sickeningly certain he’d walked into some kind of trap.
D’Alton’s eyes glittered with animosity, and his tone was as arrogant as always when he replied. “These men are here to ensure that you do not draw your sword, Roald, and offer violence to these ladies.”
Roald ran another contemptuous gaze over the Norman. “My cousins are obviously ignorant ofyourreputation at court.”
“I have ever conducted myself as a gentleman with women, whether high born or low, and you will not find one person who will say otherwise.”
Roald sniffed with disgust. “I can think of a few cuckolded husbands who would disagree.” He smiled at his cousin’s obvious discomfort. “What’s wrong, Mathilde? Didn’t he tell you how many men’s wives he’s seduced?”
“I am well aware that Sir Henry is not chaste,” Mathilde replied. “He made that very clear the first time I met him. But his past liaisons are none of my concern.”
“His past should be of great concern to you,” Roald replied. “I don’t suppose he told you about being charged with treason for conspiring against the king.”
Mathilde’s eyes betrayed her surprise.
“Since I’m here now, those accusations were obviously baseless,” D’Alton coolly replied, and he then had the audacity to regard Roald as if he were a bug he’d like to squash.
“Yet even your best friend believed you capable of such treachery,” Roald sneered. “You used to be considered a clever woman, Mathilde. What happened? Can’t you see he’s an untrustworthy, dishonorable rogue who seeks to marry for gain? Why else would he agree to come here?”
“What happened to me?”she demanded. “I ran afoul ofyou.You taught me about dishonor and deceit, Roald, and if there is an untrustworthy man here, I am looking at him.”
“Harsh words, my dear. You break my heart.”
“You have no heart—as you have no right to Ecclesford! My father’s will is clear about that, and as you can see, we are not without influential friends.”
Roald’s nostrils flared, and his face reddened. He wasn’t about to let this shrew think he was afraid of her, or the lord of Dunkeathe’s wastrel brother. “Influential? Is that what he’s told you? That man has no more influence than the king’s groom.”
“His family—”
“His brother may have some power in the Scottish court, but not the English, and his sister is married to some Scot of no account.”
“Her husband is a clan chieftain,” Mathilde said.
“So he has some standing—among savages.”
D’Alton laughed. “Your ignorance astonishes me, Roald—not that I ever considered you a font of wisdom.”
“Your audacity astonishesme,” Roald jeered in return. “You dare to stand here and pretend to have any influence?”
Mathilde had had nearly all she could stand of Roald—his scorn, his lies and his very presence. The sight of him was enough to sicken her, while the stench of his perfume made her want to retch. It took every ounce of her will not to bolt from the dais. “You may be the only male in our family, but my father left Ecclesford to Giselle and me.”
“You know as well as I your father was too ill when he changed his will for it to be valid,” Roald returned. “His wits were addled, and his older testament that names me heir should prevail.”
Mathilde came forward, glaring at him as if she would strike him dead with her eyes. “You know my father had good reason to change his will, and that he was well enough to knowexactlywhat he was doing.”
