“Elizabeth—”, he said.
“Don’tElizabethme.”
“What’s going on here?” Galoncryf said.
“I told you never again.” Elizabeth completely ignored her father. “Is that what you want…never againfor everything? Because that’s what you did by coming in here without me.”
Her father stood from behind his desk. “I demand an explanation at once.”
Drystan wanted to give one, but only to Elizabeth. The anger in her stance, the hurt in her eyes. She’d never looked at him that way before, but now wasn’t the time he could explain anything.
Galoncryf slammed his hand on the desk, and Drystan watched Elizabeth flinch. She’d never done that before either. She was fearless.
“You want an explanation?” Elizabeth turned on her father. “If I had to offer one: he’s protecting me again.”
“Protecting you?”
“Saving me perhaps. As he’s always done. Let me guess, he offered this chest, said it was ours, showed that the bauble is from the tapestry hanging in the dining room. All proof it was ours. Except you know the treasure laws, father. It may be our land, but he found it, and there’s no proof it was meant to be found. At the very least, he could have a portion, but I bet he didn’t offer that.”
Galoncryf opened his mouth and closed it, his eyes narrowing on his steward. Drystan knew if he was the only one in this room with Galoncryf, he wouldn’t have Elizabeth or an occupation after this.
“I hadn’t gotten to that part.” Drystan frowned at her.
“You weren’t to get to any part.”
She was magnificent. She was right; she didn’t need saving. And her rushing in here came with a blinding realization. She was saving him…for being a fool and coming in here first. He thought it a sound idea. All other times, his pleas or requests for securing the estate were rebuffed.
But all those times before he didn’t have her by his side. They were better together. How could he have made such a decision to try this alone? He knew she’d interrupt, knew she’d save the day, but he should have simply waited. Now she was here, and he had no doubt they’d be successful on persuading her father.
“I had a plan,” he said.
“Which was contrary to what we talked about?”
“It’s for her, isn’t it,” Galoncryf said. “That’s why you gave this to me.”
Her father’s words jarred something in Elizabeth, and she looked to him. His expression was one of calculation and…wonder. Like he had a puzzle he finally solved.
“I never trusted him, and he brought me this chest,” her father answered. “I knew there had to be a reason…and it’s you.”
Drystan tugged his jacket down. “The reason is Elizbeth doesn’t have to marry into the Evans family. She can make her own decisions.”
“Which you decided for me by coming in here,” she said.
“I was a fool.”
“In more ways than one,” her father said. “This conversation is all untoward. You can’t possibly be thinking you are suitable—”
“I’m only thinking this chest gives her a chance at a better marriage,” Drystan interrupted. “Not one not made of desperation. Evans’s land is hardly large enough to turn Galoncryf around.”
“He would make a sound match.”
“I don’t want him,” Elizabeth said.
Her father placed his hands on his hips, and Elizabeth looked as if she wanted to laugh.
“Nothing has been signed,” Drystan said.
“That hardly matters when that boy has had a bone to pick with this family since you hit him with the tackle.”
