But Alex, suspecting she was referring to other men, didn’t want to hear any more. His expression drew hard and intractable. “I know everything I need to know. My mind will not be changed. Besides, it is too late for that anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean the matter has already been decided. The king has given his permission, and unless you can think of a good reason why you cannot marry me—one that you wish to share with him—we will wed as soon as I return from Scotland. The first of the banns will be read on Sunday morning.”

The flush drained from her face. She was pale as she stared at him with an expression that made him feel as if he’d just stabbed her in the back. “You have arranged this without my consent?”

Alex winced—a tad guiltily—at the betrayal in her voice. But it wasn’t like that. “After what happened, I did not anticipate that I would be without it. I sought the king’s permission because I thought I might need his help in convincing de Beaumont—not because I thought I might need it to convince my bride.”

“Convince? You mean force!”

He tried to keep a rein on his temper at the scoff, but it wasn’t easy. His jaw hardened. “Call it what you will, but the king is looking forward to it, and I do not intend to disappoint him.”

“Sir Henry will be furious. What did you have to promise the king to get him to agree?” Her anger turned into a sneer. “Or perhaps you offered him something else? The king has an eye for handsome knights, does he not?”

Alex ignored the taunt—even if it was regrettably true. But he sure as hell hadn’t pandered to the king’s particular tastes. “Edward has a weakness for love-thwarted stories and enjoys being cast in the role of the facilitator.”

“That is all?” she said disbelievingly. “He is willing to risk Sir Henry’s anger to write a pretty tale?”

Alex shrugged, but not without a certain amount of discomfort. “I did agree not to pursue any claims on your inheritance until after the war.”

The betrayal in her gaze cut him to the quick. “I see. How thoughtful of you to decide my future without consulting me.”

He dragged his hand back through his hair. Bloody hell, it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. He knew she might need some persuading, but he sure in the hell hadn’t expected her to react like this. He wanted her to be happy, damn it. Like he was. Because despite everything that had happened, he was happy. “It wasn’t like that. Besides, the war will be over soon anyway.”

“You sound so certain, but for all you know, it could go on for years.”

Not if he had anything to say about it. “It won’t.”