The Bride and the Brute(14)

He cursed silently as he kicked open the door to his temporary room. He swept into his chamber and began pacing from one end of the room to the other, his mutterings sounding like the grumblings of a caged lion. He didn’t have the solution! He didn’t have all the answers.

Why did Morse have to return now? His brother had been gone for three years, traveling through England, working as a mercenary. Reese had been angry enough when he had left, positive he would never see Morse again. After all, what did the boy know of warfare?

Before Morse left, Reese had tried everything to draw him into the close circle he and Nicole had formed, but somehow it had never worked. He had even offered Morse a parcel of Harrington land to rule as his own. But somehow that offer had insulted Morse greatly. He left Castle Harrington only days later. Morse had even refused Reese’s generous gift of coin to help him start off.

There had not been a more inopportune time for Morse’s return than now, before he had settled this situation with Jayce.

Reese raked his hands through his hair and whirled to face the setting sun, his thoughts turning to Jayce. She didn’t want Dylan to fight any more than he did. Then why couldn’t she have listened to me? Reese wondered. Why couldn’t she have stayed in her room?

“Women,” he growled.

Whatever the case, Reese knew he could not interfere in the battle. He had no desire to face his brother in a joust.

There came a demanding knock at the door. “Reese.”

Reese lifted his head to find Morse entering. His brother had been but a boy when he left the castle three years ago. But now he was a man. A surge of pride filled Reese. His brother would make a fine lord. Then, his eyes met the dark orbs of his brother, so different from his and Nicole’s blue ones. They were narrowed in fierce fury, his jaw clenched with anger.

They stared at each other for a long moment. The unease spread through Reese as if the three years had never happened, as if all the old discomfort had suddenly awaked from a deep slumber, still as ugly and awkward as ever. He cursed silently, wishing they could get along as well as he and Nicole did. “Where were we?” Reese finally said. “I think you were just about to tell me of your travels. I trust they were exciting.”

“Apparently not as exciting as what’s happened to you,” came the rejoinder. Morse drew himself up to his full height, but still was not as tall as Reese. Morse had to look up at his brother. “How can you permit her in your castle?”

“Her?”

“She has humiliated and insulted our family, kidnapping Nicole, forcing you into marriage,” Morse condemned. “You should have had her beheaded the first chance you got as retribution for our family’s honor.”

“Beheaded?” Reese almost smiled. “That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?”

“You make light of the situation while the tart drags our name through the mud. She has insulted us. I, for one, will not tolerate it.”

Reese’s jaw clenched. He felt an odd surge of resentment course through him. “She is no tart,” he retorted. “And as for dragging our name through the mud...” He locked eyes with his brother meaningfully. “It has survived far worse.”

Morse gritted his teeth, the insult not lost on him. “People are saying you are weak to have allowed Cullen to force you into marriage.”

Reese straightened. “I would have done anything to save Nicole.”

“You should have stormed the castle.”

“And by the time I found where they were keeping her, Cullen would have slit her throat. Nothing was worth that.”

Morse glared at him. “So, you wed and bedded the wench?”

Reese shook his head. “The marriage was not consummated.”

“But the sheets---”

“The only blood shed that day was mine,” Reese admitted. “I’ve started a letter of annulment. I will not be forced into marriage. But I will not behead a defenseless woman, either.”

Morse frowned.

“I’m not a fool.” Reese turned his back to Morse to gaze out the window. “So, you see, there is no reason for this joust to proceed.”

“Dylan challenged me.”

“Dylan is as impetuous as you,” Reese said. “Still, he will not call off the joust. I would appreciate it if you did.”

“Is that an order, m’lord?”

Reese heard the bitterness in his tone, the resentment. “No,” Reese sighed. “It is a request.”

“Then I will regretfully have to decline.”

Reese turned to Morse. “Dylan is no match for you. You’ll kill him.”

Morse smiled. “He never should have challenged me. Besides, I fight for the honor of the Harringtons.”