Claire Delacroix (4 page)

Even knowing that, Luc could not cease his staring.

“She is a beauty,” he whispered in wonder, without even meaning to do so.

“I suppose.” Burke shrugged with an indifference that Luc found hard to match. “But beauty is as beauty does.”

Aye, ’twas much Luc’s own conclusion and reassuring to have Burke give the thought voice. He glanced at his brother. “But you will still wed her when she chooses you?”

Burke flicked a telling look Luc’s way. “You presume much, Luc.”

“Do not be so modest, Burke.” Rowan’s murmured comment barely carried to their ears. “If she has not the wits to make a sensible choice, no doubt there are those who will make the decision for her.”

Rowan looked at Luc and that familiar roguish twinkle
glinted in his dark eyes. “She will choose neither a farmer nor a bastard rogue, of that you may be certain,” the man continued. “Nay, Burke, ’twill be you burdened with the duty of deflowering this beauty.”

The very thought made Luc’s heart clench in a most unexpected manner. What was wrong with him? Women never had such an effect upon him. Had he caught some ague upon the ship?

That
would be another inconvenience to lay at this lady’s feet. Luc’s lips thinned grimly, and he looked back to the perfection of the princess. To his own surprise, annoyance toward his brother Burke stirred to life within him for the very first time in all his days.

’Twould be Burke who would meet this beauty at the altar; Burke who would bed her; Burke who would look upon her lovely face for the rest of her days. It did not seem right that Burke did not appreciate her allure.

As Luc would have done.

That thought brought Luc up short. How could such senselessness invade his thoughts? He folded his arms across his chest and glared at the lovely noblewoman, deeming her responsible for addling his wits.

Brianna looked over to the brothers with open curiosity. She would not even glance at him, Luc well knew. Aye, she would weigh her choices by their outward appearance, caring naught for the inner man. ’Twould be Burke’s evident wealth and success that would draw her eye, Luc knew it.

What he did not know was why that troubled him so.

The lady looked at Rowan and smiled with a politeness that wrenched Luc’s heart. She looked at Burke and he was certain her gaze brightened with the surety of the choice she must make.

Then she glanced at Luc. A jolt ripped through him as
their eyes met. Her full lips parted ever so slightly and Luc had the distinct sense that they were the only two in the hall.

And Brianna smiled, the gesture curving her lips as slowly as dawn slips over the horizon. Luc could not bring himself to look away.

’Twas suddenly cursedly warm.

Luc knew well enough that he was not a handsome man, though neither was he that hard upon the eyes. He was tall enough and his shoulders were broad enough, though his features lacked the chiseled perfection of Burke’s profile.

Indeed, Luc was possessed of a grand nose.

And a shock of white, white hair above his right brow. Pyrs had called it a mark of uncommon fortune; Gavin dismissed it as a curse. Otherwise Luc was dark of hair and blue of eye and not particularly distinctive to his own thinking. ’Twas clearly the oddities of his appearance that held the woman’s gaze.

Perhaps he should have accepted Burke’s offer of finer garb.

“Ladies and lords, damsels and knights,” Brianna began, her voice pitched lower than Luc had expected. ’Twas quite a pleasant voice, actually, and hinted at a cleverness unexpected.

The assembly applauded politely, but Luc could not move. Indeed, it seemed Brianna addressed him directly, though Luc could not imagine why.

’Twas Burke she would choose, after all. And he would be glad to see the matter resolved.

“I bid you welcome to the keep of Tullymullagh,” Brianna said with a minute nod at Luc. “And I hope the hospitality of the hall has not failed you.” She held his gaze for a long moment, as though inquiring after his own treatment and Luc found himself nodding ever so slightly.

Her smile broadened as though she were pleased and Luc’s heart skipped in a most unexpected way.

Aye, a chill from the ship. It could be no more than that.

“On this day, many have gathered in the hopes of witnessing a wedding, but I fear I must disappoint you all.” Brianna smiled into Luc’s eyes, a vision of feminine softness, as though inviting him alone to indulge her.

And he was sorely tempted to grant this princess whatever she desired. Luc scowled at his own gullibility. An agitated murmur rippled through the crowd and he belatedly understood the princess’ words.

“You were bidden to choose a spouse from my sons!” Gavin declared, stepping into view for the first time. The steward frowned, but Gavin shoved his way to Brianna’s side.

Luc was not surprised to see that his father’s rough manner had changed little. He took a half step forward, but the lady gave Gavin a quelling look.

“Which does not ensure the wedding be performed on this day,” she declared with resolve. She tossed back her veil, the move revealing the end of a blond braid, then fixed the trio of brothers with a bright glance.

And she looked again to Luc. His mouth went dry to be so singled out. “I will take no man to wed who has not proven himself to me,” Brianna declared. “As I know naught of the three of you beyond your pedigree—” her expression and quick glance to Gavin made her opinion of that clear “—I can only grant a fitting test of your suitability as spouse.”

The murmur became a growl as the assembly exchanged comments on this unforeseen development. They had come for a wedding and were to be cheated of it.

But Luc found himself surprisingly intrigued. Perhaps he had been too quick to condemn the lady’s intellect.

And that alone was most interesting.

Brianna raised her voice with determination over the rumbling, clearly not one to be cowed by dissent around her. “I challenge you each to go forth into the world and bring me a gift that will persuade me of the honor of your intent.”

A
gift?
Luc’s dawning estimation of the lady dropped like a rock falling from a cliff. Trust a spoiled woman to base her choice on the richness of gifts!

“A gift?” Gavin roared. “You cannot do this thing! You cannot change the arrangement!”

This time, Brianna’s glance was positively scathing. “I will
not
wed a stranger, especially one with no regard for me.” She pivoted to glare at the brothers anew, her words spoken with crisp authority. “I bid you bring me a gift that will make me laugh. He who makes me laugh loudest and longest, I shall willingly take as my husband.”

The crowd gasped as one, then broke out in excited chatter as the princess swept regally from the hall.

A gift to make her
laugh?

Luc blinked in astonishment and his opinion of Brianna changed course yet again. ’Twas unexpected indeed.

Brianna was not the foolish woman Luc had expected, even if she was careless about interfering in the lives of others. Indeed, her request showed not only wit but a rare determination to affect her own fate. Few women would have been so bold as to make such a demand.

The last of Brianna’s maidens disappeared up the stairs just as Gavin came to life. “You cannot do this thing!” he raged.

A silver-haired man shook his head and stepped regally into Gavin’s path. “ ’Tis already done,” he said simply.

“I am the new Lord of Tullymullagh!” Gavin bellowed, launching into a characteristic tantrum. Rowan rolled his eyes. Gavin’s manner was in marked contrast to the composed and gracious man who opposed him. “I am in charge
of this keep! And I demand that your daughter return to the hall. I command her to make her choice this very day from my three sons!”

The older man shook his head with quiet resolve. Indeed, a faint shadow of a smile lurked upon his lips. “My daughter will do no such thing.”

This then was the king Gavin had ousted.

“I shall compel her to do my will!” Gavin pushed past the former lord of the keep. The old king fell back against the wall, clearly surprised by Gavin’s forceful move, though his eyes blazed with anger. The steward swore and dove to steady his master, even while Gavin darted up the stairs.

Steward and former king glared disapproval as Gavin muttered unpleasantries. The last of the maidens looked back, squeaked and lunged skyward. She disappeared through the portal.

And the door closed behind her with a resounding slam.

Gavin fell upon the wrought iron handle just as there was a click of a bolt sliding home. The old king unsuccessfully tried to hide his smile, though the steward did not even try. Rowan chuckled outright.

Luc could not help but be amused himself by the lady’s foresight. ’Twas not often that anyone bested his sire. Indeed, ’twas not often that anyone even tried, for Gavin’s lust for vengeance over the smallest slight was renowned.

’Twas clear the lady Brianna did not guess the manner of foe she engaged. An unexpected protectiveness surged within Luc, but he shoved it aside, knowing such sentiment had no place here.

He was, after all, a knight no longer. Damsels in distress had best look elsewhere for their champions.

And, no doubt, this lovely lady’s champions were legion.

All the same, ’twas clear that though she might be willful, this noblewoman had much experience in seeing her own
wishes rule the day. Luc glanced over the hall, intrigued at how many were caught in the snare of her desires.

But he would not join their numbers.

Indeed, her challenge had ensured that Luc be gone from Llanvelyn even longer than expected. Should Burke linger over this task, Luc might not be able to return home before the spring. The very sowing could be interrupted. Not one harvest but two could be jeopardized!

Curse the woman for her demand!

Gavin shook the handle of the door. “I demand admission to these chambers! I insist that the lady Brianna choose her spouse immediately!”

Gavin pounded on the heavy oak door to no avail as the whispers rose to a crescendo in the hall. Finally, Luc’s father turned to confront the sea of upturned faces, his face turned ruddy with embarrassment.

“She has locked the door,” he confessed unnecessarily.

“Aye,” the former king agreed without surprise. “And she will not descend before your agreement.”

A chuckle rippled through the assembly and Luc noted how many eyes shone with interest. Truly, they had witnessed more than expected on this day. Gavin stalked back down the stairs like an unhappy toddler and glared at the former king.

He looked over the assembly and his lips thinned before he confronted the old king anew. “I will wait her out! She cannot stay up there forever!” He pounded his fist into his other hand. “I will not permit this disrespect!”

“She can remain there for quite a while,” her father said mildly. “Brianna oft lays in provisions before staging such a feat.”

Gavin’s face turned yet more red. “This insolence is intolerable! Her deeds are a direct violation of King Henry’s will!”

His eyes narrowed dangerously and he took a step closer to the old king, his voice low with threat. “Perhaps hearing that her sire was in the dungeons would prompt the lady to change her mind.”

The old king inhaled sharply, but he had no chance to speak.

Burke cleared his throat and all looked at him as one. “The king did grant her the right to choose,” he commented smoothly.

Gavin glared at his prized son. For his part, Luc was amazed that Burke should encourage the lady’s whim.

Brianna had found an unlikely ally, indeed.

But Burke glanced mildly over the assembly. “And I remind you all that King Henry, after all, did not specify that Brianna make her choice on this very day.”

Luc blinked. Could it be that Burke truly did not want to wed this beautiful woman?

Gavin’s lip curled. “Do you then accept the whim of a mere woman as your command?”

Burke shrugged. “I see little harm in the lady’s test of character. Indeed, whoever wins her hand might well gain her heart as well.”

The old king beamed at this chivalrous sentiment. Luc watched his father noting this glance and saw that man’s mind change in a heartbeat.

“If Burke declares the challenge a just one, then the lady’s challenge will stand,” Gavin declared.

“To the quest!” the old king called with decided vigor.

“How good to know that you still can do no wrong,” Rowan murmured with no small measure of irony. Burke ignored the comment. It had always been thus between these two, but Luc bore Burke no ill will.

Indeed, he would not have wanted the burden of fulfilling
Gavin’s lofty ambitions, a burden that Burke carried so effortlessly.

Hundreds of fists punched the air in that moment, the gathered souls stomped their feet and applauded their approval.

“To the quest for a bride!” they roared, no doubt delighted at the tale they would have to recount to others. Several minstrels already huddled together, one plucking a tentative tune on his lute.

“To the bride quest!”

The hall erupted into cheers, the assembly forming an avenue of their own accord for the brothers to depart. They began to chant, their eyes bright upon the brothers as they clapped together.

“The bride quest! The bride quest!”

Gavin fixed his sons with a stern eye. “Away with you, then!” he cried with a wave of his hand. “Search far and wide for a trinket to make the lady laugh!”

The chanting grew yet louder and Burke bowed low to both Brianna’s father and his own. Luc followed suit, though he noted Burke’s easy grace with unfamiliar envy. Luc even began to consider what might tempt the lady to laugh before he caught himself.

Marriage was not on his agenda, after all, no matter how clever or lovely the lady Brianna might be.

Aye, the sooner Burke returned with his prize, the better to Luc’s mind. He forced himself to think of crops and harvests and matters of good sense—as dull as they were in comparison to a certain blade-bright princess—as the threesome strode through the cheering throng and out into the courtyard.