Luke opened his mouth to answer, but Mel hooked her arm around his. “Yes, thank you for bringing Nessa back to me. We are all happy she is safe.” Mel’s chin was uplifted, and there was a glint of challenge in her eyes.
Nessa could not win and had no desire to compete against her sister. She turned away and headed for the keep, moving through the hallway and passed the well-wishers she knew so well. She entered the keep and Anna rushed by her, leading her into the spiral stairway where she paused.
“Your wound,” Anna reminded her.
Nessa touched the back of her head. She wanted to see her father. She hadn’t known he was here. Anxiety prickled along the nape of her neck. He hadn’t come to greet her return. “I’ll have the physician look at it later.”
Anna bobbed a curtsey and led her up the stairs into the hallway that led to her father’s solar.
If he was here, why hadn’t he come for her? It didn’t make sense. She paused at the door as Anna moved away down the hallway. Why hadn’t he sent men after her? She reached out for the handle, but paused. She had always known her father favored Mel. Everyone did. Even Luke. And why shouldn’t they? Mel was beautiful. Nessa swallowed. She just didn’t want to know her father had purposely not tried to save her.
“Come in! Stop lurking in the doorway.”
His command sent a wave of dread through her. She eased the door open. The sight that greeted her froze her to the spot. Her father lay in his bed, a cover over his body. His face looked pale and gaunt.
“Nessa?” He sat up and held his hands out to her.
Like a small child, she bolted into the solar, launching herself onto his bed and into his arms. When he hugged her, all her trepidation and fear vanished. “Father!” she cried, pulling back to look at him. “Are you hurt? Why are you abed?”
He bridled and hung his head. “Hurt in battle. I awoke just two days ago. Nessa...” He stroked her cheek. “Child. Are you hurt?”
Nessa shook her head and a lock of blonde hair fell forward. “No. How were you hurt? Did you --”
He leaned forward, ignoring her concern. “Is it true? Did you go with Urien of your own free will?”
Shocked, Nessa scowled and sat back on her heels. “I did it to save Mel. He asked which one of us was Melwyn.” She shrugged. “Mel looked so terrified. I couldn’t let him hurt her. So I said I was Mel. I thought he was going to take her for ransom. And you know how Mel is. So... delicate. She would never have survived.”
“You did it to save her?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t let him take her.”
Her father yanked her against him into a tight hold. “You are the bravest of us all.”
Surprised at his praise and embarrassed, Nessa squirmed in her father’s hold. “No, Father. I just didn’t want him to hurt Mel.”
“Mel would have been fine. She always is.” He took her hands into his and looked into her eyes. “He never sent a ransom note. What did he want?”
Nessa shrugged. “He was taking me to the caves.”
“Those caves along the coast?” her father asked, surprised.
She nodded.
His brow furrowed in disgust. “Lord help us. He’s mad. I would never have found you. I thought he was returning home. Thank God for Luke.”
Nessa smiled, unable to hide her admiration. “He was wonderful,” she admitted, remembering how brave Luke was. “One of Urien’s men wounded him and he still fought Urien to save me. He made sure I was safe every step of the way. He protected me. He saved me. He’s changed very much, Father, from when we were young. He’s stronger now and --”
He chuckled low in his throat.
Nessa stopped and looked at him in confusion.
“You speak of him as though you adore him.”
“I do, Father. He saved me.”
“Yes. Yes, he did.” He patted her hand. “He is the closest thing I have to a son.” He looked up at her. “Ness, would you have him as your husband?”
Startled, Nessa froze. “Luke?” she asked. Her father nodded. Her mind refused to understand her father’s question. Marry Luke? It was what she had dreamed of since they were children laying together and looking at the twinkling stars in the night sky. And now, after their kiss... Her husband! The joy and excitement slowly drained. How could she do that to her sister? How could she take Luke away from her? “What of Mel?”
“I would find another match for her. What say you, Nessa? Will you marry Luke?”
