Offer. Tiberius wasn’t sure it had been one exactly, not until she named it that. It was at least as much a statement of fact. He did not think he was capable of giving chase just now. Even though Lyric had done much for him, by closing the worst of the hole through his leg.
It was strangely bittersweet, that she would refuse to run away. It could have put a clean end on this whole Orlesian mess – made a funny, self-deprecating story to tell. He’d let Lyric do what she wished and let his solicitors deal with clawing his money back from the other Nicolliers. Of course, it wouldn’t solve the immediacy of his heir problem. And it would certainly sting to have the last six years of his life written off as a waste of time.
Ah, well. Logically, she was probably nearly as tired as he was. Maybe the long walk back to the carriage sounded just as daunting to Lyric? She’d lost less blood but healing was, by reputation, a demanding art. Tiberius gingerly leaned back in the bed and swung his legs in. It felt untoward to start an argument in his shirtsleeves and breeches. He burrowed into the blankets, too tired to object to their humble surroundings. That brief, chivalric intention to let her have the bed to herself was fading fast.
“What responsibilities? They did not care for Mel and they do not care for you. We owe those vultures nothing.” When she did not jump to her parents’ defense, Tiberius was forced to reconsider.
“Shit. Let me guess: you’re already married to some poor fool in Starkhaven. We’re going back; I am going to cause an international incident after all.”
It was strangely bittersweet, that she would refuse to run away. It could have put a clean end on this whole Orlesian mess – made a funny, self-deprecating story to tell. He’d let Lyric do what she wished and let his solicitors deal with clawing his money back from the other Nicolliers. Of course, it wouldn’t solve the immediacy of his heir problem. And it would certainly sting to have the last six years of his life written off as a waste of time.
Ah, well. Logically, she was probably nearly as tired as he was. Maybe the long walk back to the carriage sounded just as daunting to Lyric? She’d lost less blood but healing was, by reputation, a demanding art. Tiberius gingerly leaned back in the bed and swung his legs in. It felt untoward to start an argument in his shirtsleeves and breeches. He burrowed into the blankets, too tired to object to their humble surroundings. That brief, chivalric intention to let her have the bed to herself was fading fast.
“What responsibilities? They did not care for Mel and they do not care for you. We owe those vultures nothing.” When she did not jump to her parents’ defense, Tiberius was forced to reconsider.
“Shit. Let me guess: you’re already married to some poor fool in Starkhaven. We’re going back; I am going to cause an international incident after all.”
06-13-2024, 03:29 PM
