Haunted Knights (Montbryce~The Next Generation Historical Romance) Read Free Page A

shaft , erection , arousal , but his mind went blank.
    Damned if he could recall the Latin words he and his brothers had bandied about with great hilarity in their youth. Latin would have sounded more dignified somehow.
    “Let’s not mince words here,” Mathieu interjected. “I am as distraught as anyone at my brother’s distress, but if it is permanent, Belisle will fall to me or my children anyway.”
    Denis strode to stand nose to hip with the brother he had never felt close to. “Unless you die first.”
    Mathieu braced his legs and looked down his nose scornfully. “You think Papa will give Belisle to you?”
    Denis shook with rage. Why had he threatened Mathieu? He had been driven by an instinctive need to defend Adam, not a desire for control of Belisle. How had their amiable relationship come to this?
    Antoine came between them, his voice tired. “We cannot allow this disaster to tear us apart as a family. Mathieu, you know Denis has no designs on Belisle, as Denis knows you want only to secure the succession. What has happened is God’s will. We must all bend to it, including Adam.”
    ~~~
    Antoine de Montbryce blinked away tears and hoped that when he opened his mouth to speak, sorrow would not choke off his words. He had never imagined he would be forced to ask his eldest son to renounce his birthright.
    He gripped his wife’s trembling hand. His daughters, Bernardine and Florymonde clung to each other by the hearth, sobbing quietly. His youngest son, Mathieu, and his stepson, Denis, flanked the women, one holding his head high, jaw clenched, the other with stunned disbelief evident on his swarthy face.
    Adam stood by the hearth in the gallery where they had shared many happy family gatherings. He shifted his weight nervously. Did he suspect what was about to befall him? Was his torment not great enough? He turned to the fire as his father approached.
    Antoine swallowed the lump in his throat and put a hand on Adam’s shoulder, turning him so they were face to face. “Look at me, mon fils .”
    Adam obeyed. Antoine saw the torment in his son’s blue eyes. He prayed for strength and hoped his words would penetrate Adam’s deafness.
    Adam narrowed his eyes to stare at Mathieu, then at Denis. He held up his hand. “I know what you intend to say, Papa, and I agree I am no longer suited to the role of heir.”
    Mathieu took a step forward, but Antoine waved him off. This had to be done, but he would do it. Adam’s gaze seemed fixed on his father’s mouth. Was he hoping to read there words of reassurance that Belisle had not been taken from him? It broke Antoine’s heart he could utter no such denial. He resisted the temptation to raise his voice. “You are a courageous man, Adam. You must trust that what has happened to you will not be forever. You may recover your hearing, and your—”
    He kept his gaze fixed on Adam’s face. “Perhaps both maladies are temporary. But the succession must be secured.”
    Adam squared his shoulders, clenched his jaw, and fisted his hands at his side. “ Mon père , I accede to your wishes. It is evident I will never sire children. Belisle needs heirs, and I am now only half a man.”
    Denis flinched, his brow furrowed.
    Adam strode over to Mathieu and embraced him. “You will make a fine Seigneur for Belisle, brother. In these troubled times a warrior needs all his abilities. Belisle deserves better. It deserves you.”
    Mathieu returned the embrace, but seemed at a loss for words. Bernadine and Florymonde sobbed louder as Adam hugged each of them in turn before returning to his father. Raking his hands through his hair, he rasped, “I have decided to leave Belisle, make a new life, and learn to live with my deafness.”
    Sybilla came to him and cradled her son’s face in her hands. “But why must you leave us? Why not stay here, regain your health with the help of those who love you?”
    Adam’s eyes filled with tears. “I am aware you love me, but your