She nodded in excitement.
“Then we should return to the meal.”
She nodded again, and Gabe presented his arm. Before she could put her hand through it, Michael rushed from the Great Hall. He searched the corridor with his eyes and when he saw them, he came toward them.
Gabe stepped toward his brother, placing himself before Eve protectively.
“What are you doing out here?” Michael demanded. “The morning meal is being served.”
“We were just returning,” Gabriel replied.
Michael’s gaze shifted from Gabe to Eve. He knocked a shoulder into Gabe’s as he stepped past him. “Good.” He offered his arm to Eve.
Eve glanced askance at Gabriel. She would have liked to return to the meal with him.
Gabe relented with a quick nod.
Eve put her good hand on the crook of Michael’s arm, but her eyes were on Gabriel as they walked by him into the Great Hall.
Michael held his head high as they entered the Great Hall and walked down the center aisle.
“You didn’t have to knock into him,” Eve murmured.
“I must remind him of his place. Younger brother.” He nodded to one of the noble women seated on a bench at one of the tables. “Guest at our wedding.”
The reminder didn’t miss her. She knew her place, too. “Still, you should treat him more kindly.”
“I told you not to invite him.”
“I had hoped the two of you could put whatever separated you behind you and become friends, become brothers.”
“That will not happen. Not as long as he monopolizes your time.”
“Monopolize…?” she echoed. Michael certainly didn’t want to spend any time with her. She kept her mouth closed, not wanting to fight with him here.
They rounded the head table and Michael led her to her seat. She sat, and he pushed her chair in, leaning forward to whisper, “I do not want you spending any more time with him.”
As he said the words, Gabriel walked into the Great Hall. Just seeing him sent a strange longing through her, a rush and a thrill. She mentally shook herself to concentrate on Michael’s words. “He’s your brother. How can you say that?”
“I’ve already explained how he might hurt you. And I don’t want to see that happening.” He took his chair beside her. “I also don’t want him coming between us.”
Eve watched Gabe sit down. Henry leaned over and spoke to him. Gabe glanced at her and nodded. If only it had been Gabriel who had saved her. If only he was the one sitting beside her now.
Gabe paused on his way back to his chambers. He reached into his jupon to retrieve the tapestry. An angel. She had thought of him as she made it. And he couldn’t stop thinking of her. She was beautiful and strong-willed. It should be him, he thought again. She should be his.
“What’s this?”
Michael ripped the tapestry from his hands.
Instinctively, Gabriel lurched for it.
Michael turned his back on Gabriel, looking at it. “What is it? A pig?”
“An angel,” Gabriel replied and settled back. If Michael knew how much it meant to him, he would make it harder to get.
“An angel?” Michael guffawed. “Trying your hand at embroidery?”
“No.” Gabe crossed his arms over his chest.
