WolfeStrike (De Wolfe Pack Generations #2) - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,52

that for your daughter?”

Blayth eyed him unhappily. “He made her a promise.”

“And he broke it,” Tor said flatly. “I would not want that kind of man for my daughter. That was a complete and utter show of Steffan’s true colors – a coward and a liar. In fact, when I took his body home, his father apologized for his son. Gilbert de Featherstone was greatly distressed at Steffan’s behavior. It seems that his son has been a ne’er-do-well all his life, arrogant and ambitious. Not even the man’s own father showed any great regard for him. And you still want him for your daughter?”

Blayth cast Tor a long look before rolling his eyes and averting his gaze. “I do not,” he said. “But I wanted the privilege of punishing him myself.”

Tor’s eyes twinkled with mirth when he realized exactly why Blayth was angry. “Is that what this is all about?”

Blayth grunted dejectedly and Tor burst into soft laughter. Then, Tor put a big arm around his uncle’s neck and kissed the side of his scarred head.

“I love you very much, Uncle Blayth,” he said. “You have the same thoughts as all the rest of us.”

“Inflicting pain on those who offend our women?”

Tor continued to snort. “Exactly.”

“He deserved everything I could do to him.”

“He did. But I must say… Isabella does not seem too upset about all of this.”

Blayth shook his head. “She is not,” he said. “She and Matha had a long, detailed conversation on the day that Steffan fled. Matha convinced her that she doesn’t want such a man because he would only bring her heartache. Isabella agreed. Truthfully, she seems most relieved about it now.”

Matha was what the de Wolfe grandchildren called Jordan de Wolfe, wife of William. She was still alive, though extremely elderly, and was the matriarch of a great and powerful family. Her word was law, no matter how powerful her sons were, and she was deeply loved by all. In truth, Tor wasn’t surprised to hear that his grandmother had been involved in Isabella’s change of heart.

In fact, he was glad for it.

“There seems to be a history of men being punished for wronging the women of our family,” he said. “I recall a story about Poppy and Uncle Alec. He was sweet on Aunt Katheryn before they started courting and although she was sweet on him, she evidently would not give him any indication. Do you recall this story?”

Blayth was smiling reluctantly. “I do not believe so,” he said. “One of the many things I do not remember from long ago. What happened?”

Tor pulled his uncle along as he began heading towards the great hall. Now that the crisis was averted, they were going to drink.

“From what my father told me, Alec decided to make Aunt Katheryn jealous, so he called upon one of the de Reyne women,” he said. “You know the ones – from Throston Castle? Beautiful women with dark hair and pale eyes. Anyway, Alec went to mass at their church and made sure he was seen with the eldest daughter. Just for show, mind you, but word got back to Poppy and from what I hear, he made Alec pay dearly with help from my father and you, Troy, Atty, and Tommy. You do not remember this?”

Blayth was trying very hard to, but he eventually shook his head. “I wish I did,” he said. “I would have liked to remember beating on Alec, the big dolt. Poppy would have spared nothing to make sure Alec was properly punished.”

Tor shook his head, grinning. “Poor Uncle Alec,” he said. “All he wanted to do was make Aunt Katheryn jealous and all he ended up doing was angering Poppy and the de Wolfe brothers. I heard that Uncle Kieran had to step in to save him. The way Matha tells it, Kieran tried to hide Alec until Poppy’s anger cooled, but it did not work. Poppy found him and took his pound of flesh.”

“How did he do it?”

Tor was laughing again. “He told my uncles that they couldn’t use their fists or weapons, and whatever they did couldn’t draw blood or leave marks that couldn’t be covered by clothing, so they tied him up in a stall and took turns spanking him. Somewhere in the midst of that, Poppy produced a big paddle and they yanked his breeches off and took turns paddling him. I am hesitant to say this, but I was told that you lathered Alec’s head and shaved it