Page 95 of A Duchess to Unravel
“Oh, would you stop.”
Upon hearing Tristan’s voice, both of them broke away from the kiss and turned their heads, finding him standing in the doorway.
“I am glad you are feeling better, Harleigh,” Tristan grunted, “But you and I are still at odds.”
Alistair moved to sit up, but Theo pressed him back down to the bed and then stood.
“No, you are not,” she commanded, raising a pointed finger toward her brother. “If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at me. I kept the threats a secret as well. Alistair has done nothing but try to protect me and give me what I want.”
Alistair and Tristan both looked at her, shocked.
“I lied to you because I wanted some semblance of control over my life,” Theo went on, her tone adamant. “I know you love me, Tristan. I know you tried to protect me too. But it was Alistair who let me be who I truly am. Who ultimately protected me in the end, even if he did send away the wrong man at first. So, if you’re going to row with anyone, you will have to row with me.”
She lifted her chin defiantly in the air and clenched her fists. “I already took down one man today. Am I going to have to make that two?”
For a moment silence filled the air, then Tristan leaned to the side to peer over at Alistair.
“Good heavens, is she always this demanding?” he asked.
Alistair nodded.
“Oh, yes. Frightening, isn't it?”
“A bit,” Tristan agreed, turning his eyes back to his sister.
“Something tells me I would not survive a fight with you.”
“You are quite right,” Theo replied, giving an assertive nod.
“Very well,” Tristan said, moving further into the room. “Let us have no more brawling today. If I promise not to hit him, will you give us a moment?”
Theo looked unsure, but Alistair reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“We will be fine,” he promised her. “Would you please fetch the surgeon? I want to find out when I can go home.”
Theo gave her brother another warning look, but she begrudgingly nodded and turned back to Alistair to kiss his forehead.
“I shall be right back,” she promised, then left the two of them to talk.
“I love her,” Alistair stated as soon as she shut the door, “And trust me, Tristan, I will never make a mistake like this again.”
Tristan rubbed his lips together as he shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded.
“You truly mean it? You love her?”
Alistair nodded.
“In a way I never thought I could love anyone,” he confessed.
“And you will keep her safe?” Tristan asked.
“With everything I have,” Alistair swore.
Tristan took a step toward him, then a step back. Then with a sigh, pulled a hand out of his pocket and extended it to Alistair.
“Then I suppose we should work on being friends then,” he admitted, “For Theo’s sake.”
Smiling, Alistair accepted Tristan’s handshake.
