Page 73 of His Betrothed
Chapter 20
“Thomas!”
Spencer was so caught up in the heat of Roselyn’s gaze that he was barely aware of Thomas, let alone who called the boy’s name.
But he recognized John Heywood’s voice immediately, although the anger in it was unfamiliar. John strode into the barn, staring at Spencer and his brother with an uneasiness he could barely conceal.
“He’s teaching me to fight,” Thomas saidexcitedly.
“That is kind of him,” John said in a clipped, tight voice. “But right now, Father needs you out in the orchard.”
Spencer watched Thomas leave, then turned to eye John. This hardly seemed like the same man who had courted Roselyn so gently—but that was when John thought he had no rival.
With a sudden stab of pain, Spencer realizedthat he reallywasn’tJohn’s rival, that Roselyndeserved so much more.
John folded his arms across his chest. “My brother doesn’t need your help, Thornton. He’s learned well enough here with us.”
Spencer reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head. “Every man could use a more refined technique, Heywood. He saw me practicing and asked me to work with him.”
“And why are you bothering to practice? You can’t even stand unaided.”
Spencerlowered his broken leg to the dirt floor, and leaned on his cane. “In case you have not noticed, there’s a war going on. I need to be able to defend myself, especially like this.”
He had meant no insult, but John took it as such, and drew himself up with anger. “Are you implying that I did not do my part against the Spanish?”
“No,” Spencer said calmly, but clearly the young man felt some degreeof guilt.
“I trained with the soldiers at the garrison, and I was ready to join them should we be invaded.”
“Good of you.”
John took a step forward. “Are you mocking me, my lord?”
Spencer rubbed his hand across his face—this wasn’t going at all as he wanted. “I meannothing of the kind. I’m glad you were here to protect Wakesfield—and Roselyn.”
John eyed him warily. “I don’t understand.”
“She obviously needs protection. She can do wild, foolhardy things without thinking.”
“Roselyn?” John said in bewilderment.
Spencer realized that John didn’t really know her at all, because she had so thoroughly succeeded in changing herself into this perfect, proper widow.
“You don’t think that running from our wedding was a bit impulsive?” Spencer asked dryly.
“I think it was intelligent.”
Spencer gave him a grudging smile, wondering what Roselyn was thinking about all this. He knew she was still here.
“Perhaps. But it caused her much grief, as well. I would hate for her to put herself through something like that again.”
“I won’t allow that to happen,” John said. “Unless you plan to interfere, my lord.”
Spencer wanted to be sarcastic, but the words wouldn’t come. He felt suddenlyold and tired, and knew time was running out for him. “No, I won’t interfere. She deserves to be happy.”
Buthadn’the been interfering these past weeks? His plan to arouse and then reject her seemed childish, the scheme of a man who thought only of himself. Now when he lookedat Roselyn, he wanted comfort, solace, but he had no way to ask—and no right to.
When John bid him good-night and leftthe barn, Spencer barely heard him. He suddenly felt alone, dreading returning to London in three days. For a moment he thought of abandoning his plans, of escaping into the wilds of the Scottish highlands where no one would ever find him.
