She nodded. “I will explain how I met you and your request for a meeting.”
“Will he ask what it is in regard to?”
“No, business is left to men and he would not expect you to have discussed it with me.”
“I must go,” Burke said, regretful he couldn’t spend more time with her and learn more about his brother. “One more thing. When did you last see Cullen, and how was he?”
“Before he was moved from Mewers—” She stopped suddenly. “I saw you at Mewers. I had learned that Cullen was to be moved and hoped to see him before then, but he was already gone when I got there. You were there in search of him that day?”
“My group freed the young lad hoping he’d provide us with information. I had wondered why you stared at me.”
She smiled. “When I first saw you I thought my eyes played tricks on me and that Cullen walked free. Then I realized it was my heart that had played tricks on me.”
Burke took her hand and squeezed gently. “Cullen will walk free, and perhaps I can be persuasive enough to convince your father that I’m a land baron, which makes Cullen one. Would he consider agreeing to his daughter marrying a land baron?”
Alaina crossed her arms over her heart. “With all my heart I pray he would, but my father is a stubborn and vindictive man, and the man he wishes me to wed is a very powerful duke.”
“It’s worth a try,” Burke said. “I will see you tomorrow at—”
“Just before noon. I will convince my father of the importance of the meeting, telling him how wealthy you are.”
“I’m glad my brother found love with you and glad I’ll have you as family.”
Alaina squeezed his hand before releasing it. “I’m so very glad you’re here to help your brother. Until tomorrow.”
She hurried off, and Burke made his way back into the forest where Storm and Tanin waited for him while William and Philip continued to keep watch.
“Lady Alaina was receptive to my questions,” Burke explained once they returned to their campsite. “She and Cullen fell in love and planned to run off together. She took ill and her father found Cullen and now makes him pay for loving his daughter while the earl intends to wed her off to a duke.”
Storm shook her head while pacing in front of Burke. “He’s looking to make powerful connections through marriage. I wouldn’t be surprised if the duke helped him to get Cullen imprisoned in Weighton.”
“I’m meeting with the earl tomorrow,” Burke said, standing firm in anticipation of Storm’s objection.
“It will be a waste of time,” Storm said and sank to the ground to sit.
“I agree,” Tanin said, resting against an old rotting stump.
Burke sat beside Storm, the blue of her eyes swirling like an impending storm and warning of her concern. “Why?”
“The earl is looking for power and the only way of obtaining it is through the marriage of his daughter. No amount of money will match that.”
“She’s right,” Tanin said. “I fear you waste your time.”
“What other choice do I have?” Burke asked, and watched as Tanin sat straight up and stared with wide eyes at Storm.
“Don’t even tell me you’re considering it,” Tanin warned, his eyes fixed on Storm.
Burke looked over at her, and in the depths of her blue eyes he could see a plan brewing like a storm that was about to rage and consume everything in its path.
“You know as well as I do, this meeting will go badly,” Storm said and turned to Burke. “You can’t meet with the earl. We must find a way into Weighton to free Cullen. It is the only logical solution.”
“I can be persuasive,” Burke argued.
“It’s not about persuasion,” she argued. “Besides, I still lead this group and my decision is final, and I say there’ll be no meeting between you and the earl.”
“It’s my choice,” Burke said firmly.
Storm shook her head. “No, it’s not. Your foolish move could not only cost my group dearly but it could cost your brother as well.”
He’d hear her out since he respected her opinion, but he’d be damned if the final choice would be hers. “How so?”
Storm looked to Tanin and he answered.
“The earl is a vindictive man—”
“Lady Alaina said the same.”
“Then listen to her for she speaks the truth,” Tanin said. “He has been the cause of suffering and countless deaths, and even of ones he claims to love. He had Lady Alaina’s mother confined to an institution, claiming she was insane. She killed herself after there only a month. He then married again and found a way to get rid of her when he insisted she was barren. He has gone through four wives and now looks for a fifth to give him the son he so desperately wants.”