"We'd be happy to, but, if you don't mind, we'll take a raincheck," Edward said. "We''ve got some lovely take out from a London restaurant. We thought we'd make use of the tea garden if you don't mind, and we'd have a quiet supper outside in the gazebo."
"That sounds perfect," Angus said.
"Angus," Edward said, "Fencing is one thing but actively training the way you like to do it, is a horse of an entirely different color. You train hard like you play hard. Do check with Robert before you do a great deal of rough housing, won't you? That kidney can take weeks to heal, I'm sure he told you. You do not need any more damage, and I know you haven't complained but even I can see you still have pain and fatigue from time to time. Do make sure he's given you leave to go back to the rough and tumble stuff before you get knee deep in it, won't you?"
"If it makes you feel better, fine," Angus said. "But if Pearl comes, she's not going to ask me if I feel up to it."
"That's different, and you know it. If the fight comes, then we'll face it together like we always do." Edward looked at Ruby and Marcus. "Do try to get him to keep his word, won't you? I'll get back to Pascal. He was just opening a bottle of some exquisite French champagne." He turned and went back to his side to help Simone prepare to take supper outside.
"He might have a point, though," Marcus said quietly to Angus. "And it won't hurt you to at least ask the question of Robert. You do not want the fight coming and you having to sit it out."
"I won't sit it out," Angus said strongly.
"You will if Robert does not allow you to go and sends us instead," Marcus said. That made Angus' blood run cold. The idea of anyone else fighting his fight for him unnerved him to his core. He didn't scare easily, but he was not going to let someone else do his mission for him. Suzanne had started it, and Angus was meant to finish it--not someone else. And it only made him more certain that he needed to make sure he could still do this, whenever it came.