Page 22 of Fortress of Snow

“She ran away from my protection and from the marriage that I was trying to arrange for her with the Earl of Brimley. She refused my provision, and I owe her nothing.”

A sudden thought came to him and Berenger asked, “Did you make an arrangement with this Earl of Brimley? Does he wish to marry Mazy?” If an agreement had been made, Mazy might yet have to marry this Earl of Brimley. His heart was in his throat as he waited for Baron Wexcombe to answer.

“As a matter of fact, the earl has already married someone else.”

Berenger was surprised at the depth of his relief.

“Is there another reason you have refused to take responsibility for her future and well-being?” Strachleigh looked incredulous, as if he couldn’t believe a brother would treat his sister this way. Certainly Strachleigh adhered to a noble code of conduct and morality that would forbid such a thing.

“For two days she was alone with a poor ploughman’s son.Anything could have happened. She could have done anything, and anything could have been done to her.”

Berenger was almost ready to shove his fist in the man’s face. “A loyal tenant of your father’s was with her for her protection, nothing more. They both say that nothing untoward occurred between them, nor did your sister meet anyone else on the road. It is very unchivalrous of you, not to mention cold and unfeeling, to accuse your sister and endanger her reputation this way.”

“I have no way of knowing whether what they say is true. How can I provide a husband for her when I cannot vouch for her virtue?”

“That is preposterous.” Berenger wanted to fight the man. It was on the tip of his tongue to offer to battle the man any way he preferred—sword, archery, jousting—as Mazy’s champion, but it would be too unfair, as the man obviously had never trained to fight. He was as soft and bloated as a bullfrog.

“Baron Wexcombe,” Strachleigh said calmly, “we ask that you would reinstate Mazy’s birthright. If you do not wish to offer a dowry, I am prepared to—”

“No, I will not reinstate her. She is rebellious and unwilling to do as she is told. Her reputation is beyond repair, besides the fact that she was indulged by my father to such an extent as to be unuseful as a wife. I wash my hands of her forever. I will not change my mind.”

You don’t deserve her as a sister, Berenger was thinking.She is too good for you if you cannot see her worth.Berenger’s handsclenched into fists as he struggled to control himself. At least Strachleigh was calm.

“It is unfortunate you feel that way. A young woman whose own brother and the head of her family rejects her is often mistreated and left to the vices of evil men. You are still willing to cast her off?”

“I am. She has made her own choice. And she has a brother, the son of her mother, who can be responsible for her.”

Again, Berenger struggled not to challenge the man to a sword fight.

Without staying any longer, he and Strachleigh took their leave of the coldhearted baron and his stone-faced wife and returned home.

***

Mazy glanced up at the sky. It was overcast, but the clouds did not look especially rainy.

After her last outing, when a badger hissed at her, she decided to take a walking stick with her before she went into the woods.

She thought about the conversation she’d had with Sir Berenger the day before, when he told her that he and the duke had been unsuccessful in convincing Warin that he should not disown her.

“You are not to blame,” Sir Berenger had said, gazing intently into her eyes as they talked behind the kitchen. “The baron is a hard-hearted man. Selfishness, no doubt, is his motive for not wishing to do right by you.”

Mazy hadn’t realized just how much she had been hoping Warin would give heed to the duke’s and Sir Berenger’s pleas to not abandon her. Her heart was heavy.

“I am grateful to you and the duke for trying. It was very kind and generous of you to take the time to go to him.”

“I cannot believe that man is your brother.” Sir Berenger huffed out a breath and ran his hand through his hair.

“Half brother. I did not spend any time with him, as he was nearly an adult when I was born. He lived at his mother’s estate that she inherited and left to him. My father and he did not have a very good relationship. I think Warin resented John and me because my father seemed to prefer us—and our mother. Father spoke of Warin as petty and small-minded and rarely saw him. So I suppose Warin has his reasons for casting me off.”

“But none of that is your doing. He should be a man and do his duty to his sister.”

“All will be well. And I know I must forgive Warin, but I could never trust him again. But all is well. My priest always said, ‘God has a plan and a purpose for everyone and everything.’”

But Sir Berenger still seemed almost distraught. “You know my sister and Strachleigh will always have a place for you here. You will not be completely destitute. You know this?”

“Yes, of course.” Mazy had smiled and reassured him. But she was less sure after she let herself feel the rejection and the weight of her half brother’s abandonment.

Lady Delia and the duke were good and kind, and yes, she knew she would always have food and a place to sleep at Strachleigh, but she wanted her own life. She’d imaginedtraveling with Father, then marrying a baron or some other wealthy person. But now she would probably never be able to travel, and her chances of marrying well were almost nonexistent. She would need to find some other plan for her life.