Stephen glanced at Alyx, saw her eyes shoot fire. “You have my permission to take an ax to him,” he said amiably. “Alyx, could you fetch us some food? I may die of hunger soon.”
As soon as they were alone, Raine turned to his brother. “Why have you come? Surely you want more than to step between my wife and me.”
“Someone should,” Stephen snapped. “Her heart is in her eyes. Can’t you forgive her? She doesn’t know our ways, and women have such strange ideas about honor. I hear you haven’t seen your daughter. She looks like you.”
Raine refused to be swayed. “Why did you bring Chatworth?”
“For the reason I said: he wants to train with you. The King won’t like your training one nobleman to fight another. And what is this I hear of your raising an army of criminals to overthrow the King?”
Raine guffawed at this idea. “What liar told you this?”
“Pagnell of Waldenham told King Henry this. Hadn’t you heard? I thought Alyx came to warn you of this. The King’s ears are being filled with lies against the Montgomerys.”
“Alyx hasn’t seen fit to warn me,” Raine said.
“And I’m sure you sat down and asked her nicely why she deserted her child and the comfort of Gavin’s house to come live near you in this cold forest.”
“I neither need nor want your interference in my life.”
Stephen shrugged. “I remember a few kicks I received when Bronwyn and I had problems.”
“And now all is sweetness and light with you, is it?” Raine asked, one eyebrow raised.
Stephen cleared his throat. “We do have . . . ah, a few disagreements now and then, but generally she learns the true way.”
“I’d like to hear Bronwyn’s version of that,” Raine said before changing the subject. “Have you seen Miles?”
Stephen was saved from answering by the appearance of Alyx bearing a tray, Joan behind her with a second tray. Stephen didn’t want to tell Raine that his problem with women was mild compared to Miles’s.
As soon as Alyx realized that Joan was going to make a fool of herself over Stephen, she sent the maid out. The meal was an awkward one, the first Raine and Alyx had shared since she returned to the forest. Stephen did nearly all the talking, entertaining them with stories of Scotland.
“And you should see my son,” Stephen boasted. “Already Tam has taken him riding and he can’t really sit up yet. You and I weren’t on a horse until we could walk. And how is your daughter, Alyx?”
For the first time in two weeks Alyx let herself think completely about her daughter. “She is strong,” she said dreamily, “short and healthy with a lusty cry that made Judith’s son cry, too.”
“Protective of his cousin, no doubt,” Stephen said. “She has your eyes.”
“You saw her?” Alyx came off her stool. “When? Was she healthy? Had she grown any?”
“I doubt if she’s changed much since you’ve seen her, but I agree about her voice. Do you think she’ll be able to sing?” He turned to Raine. “She has those dimples you got from Mother’s family.”
“I must see to the camp.” Raine stood so suddenly he nearly upset the food Alyx had brought. Quickly, he left the tent.
“He’ll come around,” Stephen said confidently, smiling at Alyx’s tearing eyes.
* * *
Alyx tried not to think of Raine’s constant anger and instead turned her attentions to Brian Chatworth. He was a miserable young man, his eyes black with a deep, burning hatred, and he never smiled nor seemed to find pleasure in anything. Alyx could not persuade him to talk or to confide in her about any subject. Her questions about where he’d been for the last several months since Mary’s death were met by silence.
Alyx gave up after a while and left him to the men on the training field. As for Raine, he neither looked at nor spoke to the boy and spent most of his time with Stephen.
After Stephen had been in camp for three days, Joan came to Alyx.
“I think they’re fighting,” Joan said excitedly.
“Who? Not Raine and Brian Chatworth?”
Joan’s voice was impatient. “Of course not! Lord Raine and Lord Stephen have gone deeper into the forest, and one of the guards has reported loud voices coming from there. Everyone’s planning to go and watch.”