“Sure, what’s up?” Alex asked. Quickly as he could manage, he finished his bread and polished off his cheese.

  “If… if we’re alone… am I… can I kiss you sometimes? Or just hug you?” Nannie muttered. Her voice sounded almost sick with herself, but also deeply needy.

  Holy shit. Did I break her?

  “Of course. I think I’d like that. Should I assume you don’t want to do that around the others?” Alex asked.

  “No. Not at all. No,” Nannie said firmly.

  “And your question?”

  “Oh. Do you really think you can save the horse fuckers? You’re only taking our cavalry, engineers we have horses for, and the mounted infantry,” Nannie said. “That’s only about… six hundred soldiers and a hundred engineers, isn’t it?”

  “Can I save the clan?” Alex mused aloud. “No. I can’t.

  “But I think I can make a difference with that number. I think I can knock them on their asses and send them scurrying around.

  “Though to be honest, that’s why we have the rest of the soldiers we can spare following behind. And that light cavalry mercenary company we’re hiring on top of that. Hopefully they’ll arrive the day after we do, or the day after that.

  “It’ll be hard to deal with their own light cavalry otherwise.”

  Nannie nodded at that. “Which is why we’re bum-rushing to Tilly and then to Ridge, ahead of the troops. To get their heads straight and get them walking.”

  Alex didn’t say anything, as Nannie had the right of it.

  He wasn’t really looking forward to seeing Mary, either. He wasn’t visiting for pleasure, which he had promised he’d do when he came to call on her.

  This time, he was only there to tell her to give him what troops she could spare.

  ***

  Alex stepped into the private chamber the gate guards of Tilly had brought him to. His own guards had broken off and remained outside the keep.

  He’d had it done as a courtesy, and out of respect to Tilly and its guardsmen.

  Alex wasn’t about to forget who had ridden to his rescue with his wife—none other than Baroness Tilly.

  Nannie had come into the keep with him, but she now waited outside the doors.

  “Count Brit,” said Mary’s niece, curtsying deeply to him from the center of the room. “It’s a pleasure to see you.”

  Her hair was a bit lighter than her aunt’s, probably dirty blond if he had to peg a name to it. She had the exact same green eyes as Mary, though, along with the same figure and build.

  Standing upright, she gave him a beautiful smile, showing she was just as pretty as her aunt, if not more so.

  She looked every bit the woman that her aunt did now. Gone was the girl he’d met on the battlefield as his prisoner.

  In a full-length dress that flattered her, she was the picture of femininity.

  Whatever childishness she’d had before was gone. Racking his brain for her name, Alex smiled and bowed shortly to her.

  By the time he reached out for her hand, he’d managed to dredge up her name from the black abyss that was his mind.

  “Alanna, you look positively radiant,” Alex said with no falseness. Taking her hand in his, he bent his head over it and kissed the back of her wrist.

  “You’re a cad, Count Brit. You’ve already wooed poor Auntie into swooning at your name. Are you trying to add me to your collection?” Alanna said, the smile on her face turning mischievous.

  “Hm. I think your aunt would murder me, but your beauty might be worth it,” Alex said, standing up. “Though I do need to speak with your aunt. Is she well? I admit I expected to be greeted by her, but I’m equally delighted to have been given such a gift as your presence.”

  “Count, you’re terrible,” Alanna said, her smile becoming a grin. “You really are flirting with me, just like Auntie said you would.”

  Alex chuckled and then sighed softly.

  “Your aunt?” he asked, dragging the topic back.

  “She’s… unwell.” Alanna’s tone dropped. “She’s taken to her bed to recover. She became ill yesterday morning.”

  Hm. She knows more than she’s saying.

  “Would you please ask Mary if I can see her? I wouldn’t push if it wasn’t important.”

  Alanna nodded and departed.

  She came back in under a minute. Far sooner than Alex had expected.

  Which meant Mary had said to send him in immediately, or to send him away.

  “Auntie will see you. Would you please come with me, Count?” Alanna asked, indicating back the way she’d come.

  “Of course.”

  Alex looked around as Alanna led him into what was clearly a much more private area of the keep. There were paintings of Tilly family members, he assumed, along with banners and even some decorations that looked like heirlooms.

  Stepping beside a door in the corridor, Alanna opened it and gestured inside with a smile.

  “If I don’t speak with you later, Count, it was a pleasure seeing you,” Alanna said, letting her eyes travel from Alex’s head to his feet, and back up.

  Wow. Ok, that’s… forward.

  Keeping a straight face, Alex walked into the room and gave it a once-over.

  It was Mary’s bedroom. He’d seen it once before when they’d retreated here for the day to enjoy one another.

  Mary was sitting upright in her bed. Baroness Tilly.

  She had the covers up to her hips and was clearly dressed in a nightgown. It looked as if she hadn’t left the bed for a while.

  “Come to see your baroness again?” Mary asked with a smile.

  “I did indeed. Though it seems I won’t be able to sneak into your bed today. Maybe I’ll have to resort to carrying you off and turning you into a concubine after all.” Alex moved over to the side of her bed. “I do need my baroness, after all.”

  Her smile grew wider as he came over.

  Sitting down on the edge of her sheets, Alex immediately leaned over and kissed Mary gently. He pulled back after several seconds, then took her hand in his and squeezed it.

  The baroness turned a deep scarlet color.

  “What do I owe your visit to? As much as I’d love to believe you came only for me, I know for a fact how busy you are. Your wife keeps me apprised of the comings and goings at court,” Mary admitted.

  “First… how are you? Your niece said you were unwell.”

  Mary opened her mouth, then closed it. With a strange smile, she clicked her tongue.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said. “It’s morning sickness, and I missed my time of the month.”

  Oh.

  But… I don’t think she’s the type to lie around willy-nilly. Which means it’s… mine?

  “I ask this not to be offensive, but to be sure of the situation,” Alex said, leading up to his tactless question. “You’re pregnant with my child, right?”

  Mary’s eyes went flat for a second, and he could practically see the panic written all over her face.

  “I’ll be a good mother to the baby,” she said quickly. “I won’t ever admit to anyone it’s yours. I’ll just… raise the child without it knowing who its father was.

  “I’ll sign anything you want. Any denial, any formal surrender of titles. Anything.”

  Why is she panicking?

  Alex wasn’t really sure what was going on here, but it seemed like Mary had lost her composure.

  Then he realized why.

  Her child would be first born of his line.

  This is a good way to bind her to me forever, as more than just a vassal I sleep with. I can turn her into a wife with this, couldn’t I?

  “Mary,” Alex said softly, squeezing her hand. “I expect to be a part of the child’s life. I’ll recognize it as mine, but I do have to withhold titles for the time being.

  “Unless you’d be willing to become Countess of Brit?”

  Mary blinked once, her eyes lost in his own.

  “You won’t make me take Mother’s Bane? Wait, Countess?” she asked, her mind clearly not quite caught up yet.

  “No Mother’s Bane. And yes, Countess. Anna told me a while ago she wouldn’t mind having you as a second wife. She doesn’t seem to want to claim the title herself, either. I think she’s keeping it open as a trade option.”

  Mary’s brow furrowed, licking her lips.

  Ah… seems like she doesn’t want me as a husband.

  “Alex, you’re a good man. And I wouldn’t mind being your wife. I think it’d be lovely, but… I’m… enjoying being a baroness. I’m in control and no one tells me what to do,” Mary said, leaning against the headrest behind her. “My liege lord seems to care for me and puts no restrictions on me. Even if he does threaten to turn me into a concubine sometimes.

  “I want to remain Baroness for now, but… I wouldn’t say no to marrying you otherwise.”

  Alex nodded at that. He could understand her rationalization.

  “Alright. We’ll leave it there for now. Though I might actually abduct you and turn you into a concubine in a few years. Maybe I want you as Countess more than you want to be Baroness. But then again, I could always just leave you as Baroness and marry you anyways,” Alex said with a grin. “Now on to why I came. I’m going to be leading a war against the Xer clan, bordering the south of Ridge.

  “I was hoping to bring you with me for that lovely mind of yours, and some of your troops, though it seems I can’t do that now. Can’t have you endangering our child.”

  Mary gave him a smile and squeezed his hand. “You really don’t care that I’m pregnant? You want to be in the baby’s life?”

  “Yes, I do. Stay on subject, my pretty Mary, or I’ll call for a carriage and abduct you immediately.”

  Mary sighed and chewed at her lower lip.

  “As much as it pains me to say this, because I fear my niece has designs on you—take Alanna and what troops we can spare. She can act in my stead. She’s as smart as I am, though I fear she might be a bit more crafty. I’ll remain here,” Mary said.

  “Mm. That’ll work,” Alex said. So long as he had someone from Tilly’s line, it’d be workable.

  “If possible, stay out of her bed? She’s young and for whatever reason has grown a case of hero worship for you,” Mary said. “She’s also said some rather forward things to me about you.”

  “No promises. She looks a lot like a beautiful baroness I’m chasing. Think she’d be more willing to be a concubine or a wife?” Alex said playfully, leaning in close to Mary.

  “You’re a cad, my Alex,” Mary said, then kissed him. “Can you stay for a little and show your dumpy not-so-barren widow your attentions?

  “I’m feeling rather healthy today and just a little lonely. Maybe if I remind you of what your baroness can do willingly, because she cares for you—and that she’ll only be a brief horse ride away—you’ll ignore her niece while on campaign.”

  ***

  Alex gently closed the door behind himself and adjusted his tunic. Mary was certainly far more energetic each time he visited her.

  Walking back the way he’d come, Alex thought on what to do next.

  He needed to get into the wilds with his troops by tomorrow. They needed to be moving on Xer as fast as possible. The longer the enemy held the capital, the more they could build up defenses.

  “Count, you’re all done with my aunt?” Alanna asked, closing the book in her hand. She set it to one side and stood up from the couch she’d been sitting on.

  “Yes. I’m afraid she’s unwell, and my news wasn’t exactly positive,” Alex admitted. “Though, I must ask you for a favor now.”

  “Oh? And what could I give to my count?” she asked, the corners of her mouth curling up.

  “You’ll be coming with me on a campaign,” Alex said, coming to a stop in front of her.

  “I’m… going on campaign with you? In what role?” Alanna asked. She looked curious, and it seemed her mind was already whirring along. “I doubt Auntie would allow me to be your camp woman, so I assume I’m going in her stead as Baroness of Tilly.”

  “That you are. I need you to bring what soldiers Tilly can spare who have horses. We’re looking for mounted troops only right now. Others that you can spare, without horses, will leave when the main body of Brit’s army arrives.”

  “Interesting.” Alanna’s hand came up to cup her chin.

  “We’ll be moving to attack the Xer clan. The ruling family’s princess came asking for aid, and I’ve accepted her request,” Alex said.

  Alanna’s eyebrows came together sharply at that. “Auntie said you’d never take a deal that you didn’t have the better of. I take it we’re going to have a new baroness in the county?”

  Alex only smiled at her.

  Well, isn’t she interesting?

  Though… she could have just as easily joined her great-uncle, Count Frenis. Why is she here?

  “I’m going to leave immediately. Your aunt said your general could handle the troops by tonight and have them moving. Will you be joining me or going with your soldiers?” Alex asked.

  “Going with you, of course. Give me but a few minutes to pack and have my mount saddled,” Alanna said, spinning on her heel. “I’ll see you in the stables.”

  Alex shrugged his shoulders and left the private room.

  Nannie was seated in a chair nearby, a book propped up in her lap.

  Such a diligent student, my bloodthirsty Five.

  Her eyes flicked up to him at the sound of the door closing. A half second later, her face broke into a smile.

  “Master,” she said. “We done? Good to go?”

  Walking over to Nannie, he bent down over her and kissed her. Seconds ticked by as he lightly trailed his fingers along her cheek. Ending the kiss, he eased back and tapped her nose with a finger.

  “We have to wait for the baroness’ niece. Mary’s unable to travel right now. Tell you more about it later,” Alex said. “We’ll be heading out for Ridge shortly.”

  Nannie gazed up at him in a strange way. Then she jerked once, coming back to herself.

  “Oh. Yes, Master. Yes,” Nannie said. Then she stood up, her book held loosely in one hand.

  “I’ll carry that for you, Five,” Alex said, taking it from her hands. “I must say, I’m proud of you for working so hard to learn to read and write.”

  Nannie watched him silently.

  She’s still figuring out where this new mentality of hers fits.

  “Can I kiss you again?” she asked suddenly.

  “Sure, but we need to get going and this isn’t a very private place. Your kisses so far tend to get kinda heavy real fast, my Five,” Alex said with a grin.

  Chapter 5

  Alex was practically letting his horse walk itself. He flipped over the dispatch on top, closing it. As he set the other dispatches in his hands back into his lap, he paid almost no attention to the grounds they were crossing.

  “This is for Walter. Give a copy to Alanna Tilly and Amy Ridge when they arrive,” Alex said, holding out a letter to Riley. In the end, Alanna had apologized and stayed behind when they’d left. Apparently, her aunt wished to discuss something with her. “Normal delivery. Have it sealed.”

  “Of course, Master,” Riley said happily. She’d caught up to him as he’d left Ridge for the Xer clan lands along with Quinn, Sylvia, and Valeria.

  Carla had remained with Anna. She was attempting to hire bodyguards for Anna, and a third one for Alex.

  So far, the prospects weren’t very good.

  Finding good help—who will take oaths like the ones we give, are capable of the job, mentally prepared, and fit Anna’s standards—is not easy.

  Picking up the next dispatch, Alex flipped it open and began reading it quickly.

  “This goes back to the duchess. It’s our writ that we’re moving to pacify the Xer lands on behalf of the princess,” Alex said, handing that one over to Riley again. “Fast courier, sealed, and then sealed again in a second envelope.”

  “Yes, Master,” Riley said, taking that one as well.

  “You don’t have to reply every time, One,” Valeria purred from his left. “He knows you’re paying attention.”

  Riley must have made some type of hand gesture, because Valeria and Nannie started laughing.

  Lifting his head, Alex caught Riley smiling at him, blushing furiously.

  “What?” Alex asked, then looked to Valeria.

  She was wearing one of her riding dresses, taking on her role as his camp woman again.

  “Nothing, Master,” Valeria said with a grin. “That’s between me and One.”

  When he looked to Nannie, he found no help there either.

  She only smiled at him and pointed forward. “Watch the road, Master.”

  “Hm. You’re all in this against me, aren’t you?” Alex said, looking back down to his letters.

  “Of course, Master. How else are we supposed to have fun? It’s the Numbered versus their master,” Riley said easily. Happily. “We don’t win often, but we win enough.”

  To his left, he caught Valeria smiling to herself. A real smile. He had no doubt she was contemplating how to get what she wanted out of him.

  “I think Five would sell us all out in a heartbeat to be with Master tonight,” Valeria said.

  “True, she does seem unquestionably attentive to him,” said Sylvia. “I wonder… did he win her over in the same way he did you, Three?”

  Valeria coughed once and fell silent, the smile still on her face.

  Ah. Sylvia and Valeria like to spar. Same way Carla and Nannie do, I bet.

  Turning to Riley, he smiled at her.

  “For what it’s worth, One, I thank you for your attentiveness to me. I appreciate it. Remind me to reward you later in whatever way you see fit,” Alex said.

  “Of course, Master. Of course,” Riley said, leaning toward him while still in her saddle.

  She’s such a tender thing.

  “Alright. It’s been fun, my Numbered, but I need to ease up and go talk to Dan, Drew, and Quinn,” Alex said.

  “You’re not actually going to go talk to that rotten bitch, are you?” Nannie grumbled.

  “Who, Quinn? Yes. This is her realm we’re saving, after all. Four, Three—would you mind coming with me?

 

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