laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Dim light touched on the handsome features of the eldest son of the count as Thomas heard the single knock, then turned to see his personal man-at-arms enter with his younger brother right behind. “Morning gentlemen,” he smiled.

“Brother,” Garrett nodded politely as he closed the door behind him while Wesley moved to begin helping Thomas get dressed for their trip. “I hope you’ll be back in time for the celebration, you know how mother gets about her New Year’s events.”

Smiling, the tanned, strong face turned back to the dresser before him and picked up a small, ornate box and raised it towards his brother. Opening the small lid, he revealed the sparkling diamond ring within. “For Susan. I’m going to propose to her,” brown eyes rose to his brother. “and I’d like you to be my best man.”

“I’d be honored,” Garret smiled, then glanced back to the ring. “That’s beautiful.”

“So is she,” Thomas closed the box and returned it to the top of the cherry wooden top as Wesley moved to him, jacket opened and Thomas slipped his arms in. “I just hope she says yes.”

“How could she refuse you? You’ve been courting her for some time now.” Dark brown hair, well groomed, framed an equally strong face that seemed to be a trait of the Rigossenn family.

Shrugging his shoulders, Thomas turned towards his younger brother as his arms raised to accept his weapon’s belt which he buckled, a beautifully ornate hand guard gleamed on the rapier at his left side. A gift from his father when he graduated the military college two years prior. A tradition among the nobility.

“You’re still going on this hunting trip? Best be back for the celebration or mother will have your hide,” Garrett playfully warned.

“I will, not to fear brother.” Thomas raised a strong hand to his brother’s shoulder and patted it, then walked passed him, leading both out of his bedroom. This annual hunt was his time to enjoy the peace of the forest that their father had taught them how to hunt with dogs as well as train them with the wheellock. Out and away from the farms, there was no threat of hurting anyone else and Thomas strove to bring back a boar for dinner. Another moment of pride for the eldest and heir to Stamford’s ruling familly which had stood for nearly three hundred years. A noteworthy pedigree that would stand the test of time, he vowed.
As they approached the bottom of the stair, light green eyes turned to Garrett, “You’ve the bigger job of keeping Alison out of trouble anyway. The best of luck to you,” he chuckled.

“My thanks,” Garrett replied sarcastically, then sobered as Thomas and Michael neared the foyer to the front entrance to their palace home. “Good hunting.”

“See you when we return, and have the servants load up the woodbin for dinner.” Sunlight warmed his skin as the twenty-three year old descended the wide, stone steps to their awaiting horses, mounted up and rode towards the main gate with an explosion of clacking hooves off of stone.