Page 53 of A Knight for Gwenllian

Hooves were heard not long after, and all too soon Alexander found himself staring into his brother’s dark eyes, so similar to his own. He’d heard the comment enough times to ignore that the two of them were the spitting image of one another. Everyone kept telling him as much, as if thinking he would enjoy hearing of the family resemblance. He did not.

Hugh dismounted and planted himself in front of him.

“Alexander.” The slap on his shoulder was more akin to a blow, as usual. The man had always enjoyed impressing his physical superiority over his younger siblings. Unfortunately for him, when Alexander had become a man, he had grown to match him in height and build. Still, the old habit remained.

“Hugh.” Alexander could not bring himself to offer words of greeting he didn’t feel. “What are you doing here?” he asked instead, taking the parchment from his tunic. “The letter I just got said you would arrive on the morrow.”

“Oh, that. I changed my mind as soon as the messenger had been sent.” Hugh shrugged, as if it were hardly relevant. “You don’t mind, do you? But why should you? I can do as I please. After all, Audley is mine.”

Yes. Didn’t Alexander know it? Every time they met, Hugh reminded him that he was only here because he graciously allowed it. As a younger son without any inheritance, he was at the mercy of Hugh’s generosity. Still, he was doing better than Roger, who still lived at Hotwell, the family seat, totally dependent on his brother’s goodwill and even Colin, who was constantly given tasks usually more suited to a steward.

“Audley is yours, I’m only looking after it for you,” Alexander agreed. For now. But in the morning, they would discuss a way to change that and make his position more secure. “And your visit is quite propitious. There is a matter I would like to discuss with you.”

“Yes, yes, of course. All in good time. I’ve just arrived.” Another slap to the shoulder, even harder. “So, how have you been, then? Fucked any stable boys lately?”

Jesus.

Alexander stole a glance at Gwenllian, whose eyes had understandably gone wide at the question.

“I’ve never done that, never will.”

“So you keep saying.”

“Yes.” So why did he insist? “Let me introduce you to Lady Gwenllian,” he added, glad she was here to provide a distraction. Just like with Colin the previous year, her presence might help him bear with his insufferable brother.

“Lady what?” Hugh guffawed, causing Alexander to grit his teeth further. There had been such contempt in that word. “That’s an unusual name, is it not?”

“It’s not so unusual in Wales, where I’m from,” she answered with the aplomb he had come to love, sweeping a quick curtsy.

“Wales. Ah, I see. You must be the woman Colin mentioned. Weren’t you here last year also, when he visited?”

“I was.”

“Well. My brother must have taken a liking to you if you lasted a whole year. I’ve never known him to bother with a woman for more than a few days. But I cannot say I blame him. You are lovely.”

Every hair on Alexander’s body stood on end when Hugh gave Gwenllian an appraising, heated glance. He knew that glance. And he hated it.

Gwenllian had rarely been more ill at ease. Not only was the man looking at her as if he were about to devour her, but his presence had transformed Alexander into a different man, tense and remote.

He had told her the previous year that he didn’t get on with his brothers, and she could see that he had not lied. Not that she blamed him. Colin had been despicable. This one, Hugh, the eldest, appeared to be vile, looking at her as he would to a potential conquest, reminding Alexander, as soon as he’d arrived, who was truly master of Audley, asking him whether he had fucked his stable boys. Where had that odd question come from? She dreaded to think what the third brother, Roger, would be like. Not that she thought she would ever meet him. It was already an amazing coincidence that she had met two of them.

Amazing and unfortunate. Still, if her presence could help Alexander bear the visit, she was glad to be here.

“I’m hungry,” Hugh said slowly, and Gwenllian had the absurd impression he was not talking about food. She resisted the urge to shuffle closer to Alexander, who had gone as stiff as a lance.

“Let’s go eat, then. My lady, will you join us?”

The look he threw her was almost pleading. Her heart went out to him, and she congratulated herself on her decision to come to Audley today of all days.

“Thank you, I will.”

She accepted his arm, and together, they led the way to the great hall. It struck her that, in that moment, she looked like she was mistress of the place, welcoming a guest on her husband’s arm. For a moment, the illusion was very real, dizzying even, so vivid that it was hard to dismiss. It felt almost like a vision, a glimpse into the future. But how could that be their future?

She and Alexander would never marry. He had made that abundantly clear, and anyway, Audley was not even his, as his brother had so scathingly pointed out

A table was soon set up in front of the hearth and dishes brought. It was as if the servants had been preparing for the visit, but she knew Alexander had only received the news of his brother’s impending arrival a moment ago. But she shouldn’t be so surprised. Just like his father and uncle, he was such an efficient administrator, and he treated his people so well that they were ready to do his command at all times.

“What brings you here then?”