Stephen winked as he released her, turning back to Raine. “I’ve come a long way, brother. Will you offer me no refreshment?”
“And what about him?” Raine motioned toward Brian.
“He may come, too,” Stephen laughed. “He can help me disarm you. And you, Alyx, will join us?”
“If I am invited,” she said, looking directly at Raine.
“I invite you,” Stephen said, as he threw an arm around Alyx’s shoulders and started forward. “Follow us, Brian,” he called over his shoulder.
“Are you always so courageous?” Alyx asked, looking up at Stephen.
Stephen’s face was serious. “How long has he been like this?”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“Unsmiling, angry, glaring at everyone. This isn’t like Raine.”
She thought a moment before she answered. “He has been this way since Mary’s death.”
Stephen nodded once. “Raine would take it hard. That’s one reason why I brought Brian. They are very much alike. Brian is eaten with hatred for his brother. And what of you? My brother’s black moods don’t frighten you?”
“He thinks I’ve betrayed him.”
“Yes, Gavin and Judith told me.”
Her voice became louder. “He won’t listen to me. I tried to explain, but he sent my letters back unopened. And he won’t listen to Gavin, either.”
Stephen squeezed her shoulders. “Gavin will always think of Raine and Miles as children. Raine and Gavin can’t be in a room two minutes without arguing. Stay with me and I’ll see if I can make him listen.”
Alyx gave him such a radiant smile that Stephen laughed. “My Bronwyn will have your heart on a platter if you keep looking at me like that. Can you really sing as well as Judith says?”
“Better,” Alyx said with such confidence that Stephen laughed again.
They stopped before Raine’s tent and Stephen muttered something about wasting money that Alyx didn’t understand. Rather like a sulky boy, Raine followed them inside and, after one malevolent look cast at Alyx, turned to Stephen. “What has caused you to travel so far south? Have those Scots tossed you out?”
“I came to meet my new sister-in-law, of course.”
“She would prefer that you were a Chatworth.”
/>
Stephen paused, Raine’s helmet in his hand. “I cannot allow you to say such things,” he said quietly. “Don’t cause a quarrel between us. Do you plan to disown me because I have brought a Chatworth to your camp?”
“You are my brother,” Raine said flatly.
“Meaning that you trust me?” There was laughter under his voice. “Tell me, brother, what bothered you the most, that your wife talked to a Chatworth or that she dared to talk to any handsome man?”
“Chatworth!” Raine said loudly, with a glance at Alyx, who was studying her fingernails.
“Did I ever tell you the trick Hugh Lasco played on me?” Stephen knelt to unbuckle Raine’s leg protectors.
As Stephen began to tell some long-winded, slightly unbelievable tale, Alyx watched Raine. After a while she began to understand Stephen’s point. Stephen had believed all manner of low-minded things about his wife, and as a result of his mistrust, he’d almost lost her.
“Alyx,” Stephen turned to her suddenly. “Are you in love with Roger Chatworth? Are you contemplating leaving Raine for him?”
The idea was so ridiculous that Alyx laughed—until she saw the smoldering light in Raine’s eyes. “Roger Chatworth deserves to die for what he did to Mary but not at my husband’s hands. He’s not worth seeing Raine hanged for his murder.”
For a moment Alyx thought Raine might be listening to her, but the moment passed as he sat down on the cot and began removing the cotton pads that protected his skin from the steel armor. “Women have glib tongues,” he murmured.