Part 49 (2/2)

Alex stood, circling the desk to confront her. ”She thought she was helping you.” Alex grasped Caroline's elbow, turning her back to face him. She didn't pull away, though he felt the s.h.i.+ft, the slight straining of her body to escape him. Alex was not going to let her block him out. ”She thinks so highly of you. She thought you wanted to be a nun. She did it for you.”

Caroline shook her head, still not looking at him, her brow furrowed slightly.

”I will not have that on my conscience,” Caroline said, meeting his gaze finally. ”I forgive her but I cannot accept that people died for me.” She pulled her elbow firmly away and moved to the fireplace.

Alex felt the frustration rise. She was so like Rob. Rob could never understand why Alex pursued the blood feuds. Why Alex couldn't set it all aside, pretend as if it never happened. Rob had always been quick to forgive, slow to bear a grudge, ever willing to hear both sides of a story. Alex thought this the way of fools and dead men. He trusted no one until they earned it and was ever suspicious.

”You think what she did was thoughtless, cruel even, but she sacrificed everything to save you. She valued your happiness above all else-even her own. She was motivated by love.”

Father Jasper had been listening, one arm crossed over his chest, the other rubbing his mouth. He spoke suddenly, ”And what motivates you, lad, to defend her so fiercely. To beg forgiveness and understanding in her stead?”

Alex was appalled by the flush burning his neck. What answer could he give? That he'd debauched her? That he loved the impulsiveness she cursed, as it was what sent her into his arms? That he had become so attached to her he could not bear the thought of another man handling her? They both watched him expectantly.

”What do you mean?” Alex managed to say. He turned to the clothes on the desk and gathered them up.

”When you left here last,” Caroline said, ”you were out for blood. You vowed to make Wesley and Fayth pay. I believe you said of her... she is 'the sp.a.w.n even Satan won't claim.' Now you plead Fayth's case to me as if you were her barrister.”

Alex grunted.

”And he is red,” the priest said, pointing at Alex's ears. ”Look, he's turned crimson to the tips of his ears!”

Alex was gifted with one of Caroline's genuine smiles as she crossed the room, intent on his ears.

Alex ground his teeth in annoyance. ”Well? What say you? Will you accept her?”

Father Jasper and Caroline glanced at each other, exchanging an infuriatingly knowing look.

”What's the matter, lad?” the priest asked. ”Will she not accept you?”

Alex sputtered a vigorous denial and headed for Rob's bedchamber.

Caroline intercepted him at the door. ”Alexander, have you compromised my sister in your revenge?”

”What? I-What do you mean?” He'd never been so mortified in his life. He held Caroline in high regard and hadn't considered how he'd feel when she discovered what he'd done-Christ! If she told Rob...

”Did you rape Fayth?”

”No!” The word exploded out of him. ”I would never hurt her.”

”I see. So it was consensual.”

Alex turned away abruptly. ”I need to change and ready myself for the attack.”

Father Jasper stepped forward as Alex opened the door. ”It's not for hours-”

Alex slammed the door on the priest's words. This was a disaster. He would have to speak with Caroline of this sooner or later and then be confronted by Rob when she told him. b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l! Rob would thrash him. There was nothing for it but to offer for Fayth. He'd wanted to ask her to marry him ever since they'd made love, but he'd feared she would laugh in his face, just like Diana. He was only a third son-and a Maxwell, at that. She might willingly lie with him, but she would never willingly wed the Maxwell that had ruined her life. He needed time to convince her otherwise, but it looked as if time had run out.

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