Page 248 of Historical Hotties
“Very well,” he said, putting his hand over hers as it grasped his arm. “We shall face this together, then.”
He could see that his response surprised her. She’d been prepared for him to deny her, to shrug off her worth. But he didn’t. She continued to grip his arm as Rotri and Domnall came to within a few feet of them. Before Thor could speak, she put out a hand to stop them.
“Come no closer,” she said. “You are not welcome here, Uncle. What do you want?”
Rotri and Domnall came to a halt, looking between Caledonia and Thor, but they were mostly looking at her.
“Praise the saints that we have this moment to speak,” Rotri said, sounding sincere. “We’ve not seen each other in a long time, dear niece. I’ve sent word to you, but you have never responded.”
Caledonia was hard. “There is a good reason for that,” she said. “I do not wish to speak with you, Uncle. I want you to leave me alone. Do you not understand that?”
Rotri extended his hands imploringly. “How can I leave you when your father asked me to watch over you?” he said. “It was your father’s wish that I become your guardian should anything happen to him. That is what I must speak with you about.”
Caledonia’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Whatareyou talking about?” she said. “I am a grown woman. I do not need a guardian.”
“You are a young woman with a vast fortune,” Rotri said. “Of course you need a guardian to help you manage it.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “You mean that you’ve found another way to try to get your hands on my money,” she said. “It will not work. I do not need a guardian and you cannot make me.”
“What’s this?”
The question came from behind Thor and Caledonia. Everyone turned to see people coming in through the cathedral entry, with Gage de Reyne leading the group. The question had come from him, but Henry and his courtiers, including Daniel de Lohr, were behind him. In fact, many people were coming in and Rotri looked a little startled by it, but the moment he realized the king was approaching, he began to call out to him.
“Your grace!” he said. “Your grace, I must speak with you! This marriage between my niece and this… this knight must not go forward. I have the right to forbid it!”
“He does not,” Caledonia said flatly, shouting because her uncle was. “He is only trying to gain control of the Tamworth fortune through his lies.”
“I am not lying!” Rotri shouted at her.
But Caledonia waved him off. “My father knew you were a liar,” she said. “Why do you think he kept you at arm’s length and only gave you a small allowance at the death of your father? You and Domnall spend everything you have and then some. And now you want the Tamworth fortune!”
“Me?” Domnall entered the conversation. “Why am I being dragged in?”
Caledonia turned on him but Gage was there, putting himself between her and her pestering relatives.
“Enough,” he said, putting out his hands in a gesture of silence to both parties. “You will not behave like common rabble in front of the king. Now… what is this all about?”
Rotri started to speak but Gage shut him up, turning to Caledonia instead. “My lady?” he said politely. “Would you enlighten us?”
Caledonia eyed her uncle angrily before replying. “When Thor and I entered the cathedral, my uncle and cousin were here,” she said. “I do not know how they knew we would be here, but they must have been waiting for us.”
Gage lifted a dark eyebrow. “And they ambushed you?”
Caledonia nodded briskly. “In a sense,” she said. “They have been trying to force a marriage between my cousin and me and have done everything in their power to push the issue. This is just another tactic in their latest war to gain the Tamworth wealth.”
Rotri started to protest, but Gage shut him up with a pointed look. “You will have your turn, de Wylde,” he said before returning his attention to Caledonia. “Why did they come this time, my lady? To stop the marriage between you and my son?”
Caledonia’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Rotri. “With more lies,” she said. “My uncle says that my father wished for him to be my guardian, but that is simply not true. My father would have never requested such a thing.”
Daniel came to stand next to Gage, listening to the situation. He knew Dordon distantly, but he’d never had any direct interaction with him. What he’d heard about him, however, wasn’t flattering.
“You are a little old for a guardian,” Daniel said, interjecting an unbiased opinion into the mix. “Women your age and older usually do not have guardians, so even if your father requested such a thing, it is a ridiculous suggestion. Moreover, your uncle would have to show proof. Does he have proof?”
“I do!” Rotri would no longer be silenced. “I have sent a servant to my seat to retrieve the missive. Until it can be brought back here and examined, there must be no marriage.”
“How old is this missive?” Daniel asked. “When was it sent to you?”
That had Rotri showing the first signs of hesitation. “A few years ago,” he said evasively. “But it clearly states my brother’s wishes when it comes to the Tamworth properties.”
