Page 26

“H ow was last evening? Rough?”

The question came from Sinclair as Payne made his way onto the field as the sun began to rise.

Today, he was scheduled for swordplay with Sinclair’s class because his own class was transitioning into Ming Tang’s teachings and they were with him this morning.

That freed Payne up to assist Sinclair, who was the master swordsman of Blackchurch.

Assisting one another in their respective classes was usual for the trainers, helping to cross-train every warrior who came onto their fields.

Not strangely, Payne wasn’t feeling much like training this morning.

Sinclair’s question made him grin.

“The whole damnable day was rough,” he admitted. “Though I’ve not seen any of my family in ten years, no one has changed a bit. Not my mother, not my younger brother, and certainly not my middle brother. Not him.”

“What is wrong with your middle brother?”

Payne snorted softly. “Declan is his name,” he said. “He’s still the same idiot, but a dangerous idiot.”

Sinclair chuckled. “You do not get on with him, then.”

Payne shrugged. “I would if he were any less of a greedy bastard,” he said. “But Declan has always wanted what I have. And it hasna changed.”

“What does he want now?”

“Everything,” Payne said. “My title, my lands, my money. Everything I’ve rightfully inherited from my da.”

Sinclair shook his head. “What title?”

Payne smiled weakly. “I’ve not spoken tae anyone but St. Denis and Creston and Cruz since meeting my mother on the road yesterday,” he said. “I forgot that I’ve not even spoken tae ye about what’s happened.”

Sinclair shrugged. “We figured you’d tell us when you were ready,” he said. “You know we were watching from the woods yesterday when you met up with the pirates.”

Payne laughed softly. “So I was told.”

“We saw a small figure hit you.”

Payne pointed to his purplish left eye. “That?” he said, laughing. “A love tap.”

“Quite a tap, I’d say.”

Payne couldn’t disagree. “True,” he said. “What’s happened is this—my father died recently and my mother came tae tell me that I’m now the Earl of Lismore. The person ye saw hit me yesterday was, in fact, my bride.”

Sinclair’s eyes widened. “Your bride ?”

Payne nodded. “Aye,” he said. “Ye’ll not believe this, but she’s a daughter of King Sancho of Portugal. My mother captured her off the coast of Aragon, and when my father died, she decided that I needed a princess for a wife. I married her this morning.”

The second bit of stunning news in as many minutes. Sinclair was astonished. “A royal bride?” he said. “Payne, that’s astonishing. And you… now you’re the Earl of Lismore?”

“So it seems,” Payne said. “Quite honestly, I’m still overwhelmed by it all. That was not what I was expecting yesterday when my mother came tae call. But that is what has happened and I have much tae think about now. A future tae plan.”

Before Sinclair could reply, Fox and Kristian made an appearance.

They came to help with the swordplay class, like Payne had, and Sinclair blurted out all that Payne had told him before Payne could even get it out of his mouth.

He watched Fox and Kristian’s expressions when they realized the big Scotsman in their midst was not only an earl, but had taken a royal wife. Kristian grabbed him by the arm.

“A princess for a wife?” he gasped. “ You? But you always swore to me that you would not marry until you were too old to stand!”

Payne snorted. “I know.”

“You told me you would have several wives because you would need all of them keep you warm in bed!”

“If she does her job right, one will be enough.”

Kristian started laughing, as did Sinclair, but Fox remained stoic. He was the serious one out of the group, a man who had grown up in a royal household and had been a royal knight before he came to Blackchurch. He didn’t seem at all jovial about the situation. In fact, he seemed quite concerned.

“Let me understand these facts as they have been presented,” he said. “The woman you married is a Portuguese princess who was a captive of Bloody Maude?”

Payne nodded. “She was.”

Fox put a hand on his belly, looking sick. “And you did not marry her with royal approval?”

Payne shook his head. “Her father is dead and her nephew currently sits on the throne,” he said, suspecting what Fox was leading up to.

“Fox, ye worry too much. She’s not close tae her family.

In fact, she was married tae the Duc de Tarragona until last year when he passed away.

Ye may as well all know the truth of it, something my mother doesna know, so please dunna share this with anyone other than our group.

It seems that the Duc de Tarragona was not only involved in legitimate trade, but also had a fleet of pirate ships.

His legitimate ships would deliver goods and then the pirate ships would sweep in after the delivery was made and steal it.

At least, that is how it was explained tae me.

It seems that Astria—my wife—was involved with the pirates as well as the legitimate business.

She’s a fiery woman, fearless in manner.

Tae answer yer question, Fox, she has no relationship with the royal family that she has told me of.

According tae her, she is quite on her own. ”

That didn’t seem to ease Fox much. He still looked concerned. “Marrying a woman of royal blood by force will see you executed,” he said seriously. “I do not want that to happen to you.”

Payne shook his head. “Please dunna worry over me,” he said.

“I know ye’re only thinking of my life, but the situation is far more complex.

I’ve only given ye the main facts of the matter and I’ll tell ye more when we have the time, but for now, that is the situation.

Denis and Sebastian are fully informed. I intend tae stay here and continue my duties, but at some point, I will need tae return tae Scotland and see tae my lands. ”

There didn’t seem much more to say, especially since they had a class facing them. But Sinclair had something more to speak on and wanted to make sure Fox and Kristian knew.

“There’s something else you should know and it does not seem as if Payne is going to tell you,” he said. “Evidently, he has a brother serving with Bloody Maude who covets Payne’s titles. We must be cautious of any Matheson brother who comes around, looking for Payne.”

Payne knew they were only watching out for him and he appreciated it.

Was he truly concerned about Declan? Probably not, but he also hadn’t seen his brother in ten years.

He didn’t know just how ruthless the man had become, so vigilance wasn’t a wasted effort when it came to Declan.

But he’d rather wished Sinclair hadn’t said anything, because it made him feel as if he couldn’t handle Declan on his own.

And he’d always been able to handle him.

“Speaking of being cautious,” he said, pointing to the assistant who was warming up the class. “Have ye noticed that Anteaus is as good as ye are with a sword, Sin?”

He was changing the focus deliberately, and the three men glanced over at Anteaus de Bourne, an assistant trainer from a very fine northern family who was, indeed, as good as Sinclair was with a sword.

Almost, anyway.

“Of course I have,” Sinclair said. “And do not change the subject. I am concerned that your brother covets your title and property. He is a pirate, Payne.”

“I know.”

“Killing and stealing is his vocation.”

Payne put a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I am well aware,” he said, giving him a pat. “I love ye for worrying over me, Sin, but it is unnecessary. Declan will keep his distance. Soon, he’ll be back out tae sea and I’ll probably never see him again.”

“He’s your brother,” Sinclair said. “Of course you’re going to see him again.”

Payne shook his head. “ Ye’re my brother,” he said quietly, a twinkle in his eye. “Ye are, and Fox and Kristian and the rest are. Ye’re all my brothers. Declan and I may be related by blood, but that’s all. That’s where it stops.”

Sinclair nodded, a smile playing on his lips as he turned his attention back to the recruits. “I’m sorry that your brother is in blood only,” he said. “But you have the rest of us, and we make a loyal bunch.”

“Ye do,” Payne said, removing his hand from the man’s shoulder. “Speaking of loyalty, ye have a class tae teach and I have a wife tae return tae, so let’s get on with it.”

They did. Payne was about to collect a sword from the collection Anteaus had brought out, but he was distracted by someone calling his name. As Sinclair and Fox and Kristian went to start the class, Payne found himself being summoned by St. Sebastian, who was waving an arm at him.

Payne went to meet him.

“Good,” St. Sebastian said. “I wanted to catch you before you started with your tasks. Do you have a moment to speak, Payne?”

Payne nodded. “Of course,” he said. “How may I be of service?”

St. Sebastian seemed to grow uncomfortable. “I come with a message from my father,” he said. “Not me, mind you, but my father.”

“What’s the message?”

“He wants to know when your mother is leaving.”

Payne had been expecting a message of that sort, just not so soon. He could see that St. Sebastian, a truly likable man, was uneasy asking it. He held up a hand to relax the man’s nerves.

“Very soon, I’m sure,” he said. “I married the Portuguese princess this morning and that was the only reason my mother came tae Blackchurch, so I’m certain she’ll leave immediately. Tell yer father not tae worry.”

St. Sebastian looked surprised. “You married her?” he said. “My God, Payne, that was very fast… wasn’t it?”

Payne couldn’t disagree. “It was,” he said. “But it is done and Bloody Maude has no more reason tae remain here, so I’ll make sure she leaves.”

St. Sebastian nodded, but he eyed Payne hesitantly. “Are congratulations in order?” he said. “I do not wish to congratulate you on something that is not to your liking.”