Page 83 of Wolf's Bane
“Yes, I think we can agree on that,” Godwin answered. “For reasons I don’t understand, my daughter has her heart set on you. I shouldn’t be surprised. You were always together as children, thick as thieves.”
“Peapod,” Alek said. Amalie had called them that, her peas in a pod.
“If I allow…no, I know you will tell me that there is nothing to allow. A poor choice of words.”
“You need Solenne’s forgiveness, not the other way around. I am not a child for you to scold or discipline.”
“You don’t think I know that?” Godwin snapped. “She was ill with that fever. I thought I could lose her and the last words we exchanged were hateful.” He rubbed at the eyepatch again. “So, yes, I need Solenne’s forgiveness and she won’t do that until we are on speaking terms.”
“We’re speaking now.” Yes, he was being obstinate and rather enjoying Godwin’s face redden with frustration.
“Did you bite Solenne?”
“No, I did not,” Alek answered.
“The family is largely resistant to the curse, but it is contagious. We’re not a lucky lot, either. If you bite her—” Godwin stared at him with his one eye.
“I know the risk. I would never.”
“And that other beast?”
“Laceration from the claws. Nothing else. Did you not discuss this with Dr. Webb?”
Godwin nodded. “I need two reassurances from you. One, you will never bite her and you will behave with decorum until the wedding.”
“If I give you my word, you’ll…tolerate my presence?”
“Insolent cur,” Godwin muttered. He lurched to his feet. “If you behave like a gentleman and do not chew my daughter or sully her honor, then I will treat you like a gentleman.”
Alek held Godwin’s gaze, listening to the man’s heart. It beat rapidly and his breaths were even. He sensed no dishonesty.
“Agreed, but I cannot make Solenne forgive you. Her mind is her own.” He held out his hand, and they shook.
Solenne
Respectable ladies did not listen at doors. Fortunately, Solenne could never be bothered with appearances.
As heavy footsteps approached the door—she recognized her father’s gait—she scurried away and ducked into a nearby door, which happened to be a linen closet. Lavender and soap made her nose itch, but she patiently waited until Godwin’s footsteps vanished.
She entered the library, finding Alek holding a glass of dark liquor and staring at Tristan.
“Horrid, isn’t he? Poor Tristan,” she said.
He grunted assent then said, “We shouldn’t be unchaperoned.”
“Nonsense, I’m having a brandy. You’re having a brandy. We just happen to be in the same place with the brandy. It’s hardly scandalous.” She poured herself a measure of what she assumed was brandy and took a drink. “Ugh, that’s awful. You like this?”
“I never made that claim,” he said with amusement in his voice.
“Waste not, want not,” she said, downing the rest of the brandy before she could think better of it. The liquor seared a trail down her throat and warmed her gut. “We should ask Papa to give Tristan a proper funeral pyre and return his ashes to his family. It’d be, you know, a symbol of forgiveness and…” She groped for the correct word. “Wow, that is rather strong. I think brandy is growing on me.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Alek said, taking the bottle from her hand.
“Marvelous.” She frowned. She had never been the type of person who proclaimed things to be marvelous. That was Charlotte. She was more the frown in vague disapproval and mutter under the breath sort of person. Perhaps brandy was not for her. “What did Papa want?”
“You know very well as you were listening at the door the entire time.”
She grinned, unable to help herself. “Papa is trying to make amends.”
