Love & Reputation (HC #3.5)

4: Brothers at Arms

By the time the sun rose the next day, Alex was dressed and pulling his boots into place. It was not that he'd slept poorly – the bed had been too downy to allow for anything less than a wonderous night's sleep – but he knew his best chance was to leave the house before any of the guests rose. He pressed himself to his feet, eyeing his riding coat and immediately deciding against it. He was already celebrating having made his escape when he opened and found his father waiting on the other side.

James Kilroy was a thickset, dark-skinned man with deep wrinkles around his eyes that told anyone that noticed them that his smile was habitual. Even now there was a twinkle in his eye as he pinned with son with a look of mild reproach.

"Not sneaking out already, are you m'boy?"

Alex ran his tongue across the edge of his teeth; he did not see the point in answering that. "I thought to go on an early ride," he said, gesturing lamely at his riding boots, "before the festivities recommence in earnest."

James clapped his hands between them, his mouth stretching into a grin even as Alex cast an alarmed look down the corridor with the noise. "What a coincidence – I was planning the very same! You won't mind if I join you?"

Alex could not prevent a huffed laugh escaping from under his breath, and he rolled his eyes at his father. He stepped out of his room, pulling the door closed quietly behind him. "Could I stop you?"

The older man just winked at him, scratching at his heavily bearded chin.

They walked the hallway in companionable silence, eventually emerging into soft daylight. Alex's eyes fluttered closed as he took in a deep breath, feeling some of the tension fade from his shoulders. That was until he was jostled by a rather firm pat on the back.

"C'mon, Alex, let's not keep the horses waiting."

James strode away confidently, leaving his son frowning in his wake. It was unlike his father, he thought as he followed more cautiously, to rush anywhere. In his days as steward, he had favoured the 'slow and steady' approach, thoughtful and intentional to a fault. Alex had not expected to make it to the horses for another half hour or more because of his father's usual pace.

The man disappeared around the building, and as Alex stepped after him, he stopped still. Now he knew the reason James Kilroy was rushing.

Four horses were saddled and readied, gathered in the small courtyard that bordered the stables. Their reins were held, not by grooms as he might have expected, but by two finely dressed blonde gentlemen that smiled widely as James approached.

"We thought we might have to head off without you, James!" The slightly younger of the two joked, offering the reins of a white mare as she butted her head against the man's shoulder.

The other blonde smiled at James' approach, but his attention flicked over the man until he found Alex frozen in place behind him. "So you managed to get him out of bed? Bravo indeed."

James must have made a low comment, because both of the other men let out matching chuckles.

The elder met Alex's gaze again, his voice pitched louder. "Come on, brother. Let's go for a ride."

Alex would have denied – loudly – that it was stubbornness that kept his approach slow, but the clench in his jaw said otherwise. He swallowed down his hopes for a peaceful ride, and levelled an even smile at the men as he drew near.

"Peter," he said by way of greeting, nodding at the younger man who had already handed his second horse off to their father. He returned the smile and the dip of his head, before moving quickly. With his left arm, he reached out and grabbed Alex by the nape of the neck, pulling him into a rough hug that was filled with various slaps and thumps. When he pulled back, even Alex was grinning slightly.