Corisande nodded, wondering if what he said was true. She wasn’t entirely sure Gaia had any character but, at the moment, her sister was the last thing she wanted to think of. She wanted to think about Cole and the evening to come.
She’d have to deal with Gaia soon enough.
“I will try,” she said, turning for the tent opening. “And I will see all of you on the morrow.”
“Wait,” Ares said. “I will escort you.”
Corisande let her eldest brother take her by the arm and lead her out of the tent. They turned in the direction of the surgeon’s wagon, across the muddy meadow that she’d traversed with Cole. She had a feeling Ares had more to say about the situation with Cole, out of earshot of his father and brothers, so she eyed the man as the crossed the moonlit grass.
“Well?” she said softly. “What is it?”
Ares grunted at his perceptive sister. There wasn’t much he could keep from her, one way or the other.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Cori?” he asked. “With Cole, I mean. He is a de Velt and there are those who will always look at that family with distain and fear.”
Corisande looked up at him. “Do you?”
Ares shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “I understand Jax de Velt. I understand why he did what he did and I do not judge him for it. I’ve no intention of holding one man to another’s sensibilities, but not everyone thinks the way I do. Be aware that bearing the name de Velt may cause some… obstacles.”
Corisande could sense that he was genuinely trying to be helpful. “Not that the name de Bourne and being descended from the Bloodaxe haven’t been obstacles enough, eh?” she said, giving him a smirk. “I appreciate your concern, Ares, you know I do. I respect your opinion in all things. But Cole is a decent and honorable man, and I am very fortunate that he wishes to marry me. I believe we will have a good life together, no matter what his name may mean to some people.”
Ares could see that she wouldn’t be discouraged. Not that he expected she would be, but he had to make sure she understood. Therefore, he simply smiled at her.
“I hope so,” he said. “And if you thought I was rude to Cole, I will apologize to him. But until you two are legal wed, it is my duty, as your beloved older brother, to ensure you are kept safe from an amorous suitor.”
She laughed softly. “So you do not think I can smack him on the nose if he becomes too bold?”
“I would hope you would kick him somewhere else instead.”
Her laughter grew. “He is rather big,” she said. “I might have to kick terribly hard and I do not want to ruin our chances of having children.”
Ares rolled his eyes. “You should not speak on such things, you sassy wench,” he said. “God’s Bones, you are unrestrained.”
She sneered at him. “You started it.”
“I did.”
He started to laugh because she was. They were just passing by some de Lohr tents when a figure appeared, walking in their direction. Peter de Lohr came into view, smiling at the pair beneath the moonlight, but his gaze eventually moved to Corisande.
“I thought I heard chatter back here,” he said. “Good eve to you, my lady.”
Corisande looked up at the blond, handsome young knight with the bright blue eyes. “And to you, my lord,” she said. “I am sorry if our conversation disturbed you.”
He shook his head. “It did not,” he said. “But confidentially, I am bored to tears sitting with my father and uncle.”
“Then go entertain yourself elsewhere,” Ares said. “You are bright and inventive, de Lohr. Think of something.”
Peter sighed sadly. “Alas, they will not let me out of their sight,” he said. “All they want to speak on are battle stories I have heard a thousand times. They are old men and have no idea how to have a good time.”
“Just what good time did you have in mind?”
Neither Corisande nor Ares had asked the question. It came from Cole as he suddenly appeared from behind a de Bourne tent. He headed towards them, like a panther stalking prey. Only he wasn’t stalking Corisande or Ares, but the rather oblivious Peter.
The man had no idea just how close he was to a de Velt beating.
“Greetings, Cole,” Corisande said. “Ares was escorting me back to the cooking area.”
Cole smiled faintly at her, but his attention swiftly turned to Peter, who had no idea why Cole was looking at him as if he wanted to throttle him.
“Good eve, Cole,” he said, puzzled. “I was just telling Lady Corisande that sitting with my father and uncle has me bored to tears. I was going to hang myself simply for something to do.”
“Nay,” Cole rumbled, taking a step towards him. “Let me hang you.”
“Peter,” Ares said as he let go of Corisande and put himself between Cole and Peter. “I shall take pity on your boredom. My brothers and I were about to start a game of chance, so you can join us. Bring the de Lohr millions with you. I want your money and I want it tonight.”
He began to drag Peter away, who literally had no idea why he was being manhandled or why Cole looked as if he wanted to kill him until Ares explained the situation to him later, for his own safety. As Cole stood there and watched him go, he felt a gentle hand on his arm.
“He was perfectly polite,” she said, sensing why Cole was up in arms. “You truly have nothing to worry about.”
Cole still wouldn’t look at her, watching Ares and Peter disappear into the de Bourne tent. “You are correct – I do not,” he said, turning to face her. “But he does. I must have a talk with Peter to ensure he does not enter another man’s territory.”
Corisande fought off a grin. “Am I your territory?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “If he takes another step in your direction, he is going to find out the hard way.”
She couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore. Wrapping her hands around his big forearm, she began to pull him towards the surgeon’s wagon.
“You have nothing to worry about,” she assured him again before changing the subject. “My father wanted to tell me that he will give permission for our marriage provided you settle the situation with Audrie de Longley. We happen to have my brothers’ approvals as well. Therefore, we are practically betrothed.”
As she had hoped, her diversion worked. Cole looked down his nose at her, a smile playing on his lips. “Then this is already the best day of my life.”
“Truly?”
“Truly.”
She smiled up at him before laying her cheek against his arm affectionately. “Mine, too,” she said. “My father also says that I can sleep in town tonight. But I told him a little lie.”
“What lie?”
“That I was going to bring Gaia with me,” she said. “Let me be clear – I am not going to bring her. But I told him that so he would not think I was sleeping alone.”
Cole almost said what he was thinking, but he refrained. You will not be sleeping alone. But he didn’t mean it in the lewd sense, that he’d only rented a room for her simply to take advantage of her. He didn’t mean that at all. But he wasn’t going to leave her alone in a town surrounded by over seven thousand men. He intended to stay with her and watch her sleep simply to make sure she was safe.