“We saw her burn before our eyes, Da,” Cort said, a distasteful expression on his face at the memory. “Believe me… she is dead.”
Trenton was only marginally calmer at this point as he digested the information. Adela was dead… it was whirling around in his mind until the news finally began to settle, and then, he could only think of one thing –
He was no longer married.
Adela was dead!
“God,” he hissed. “Is it true? Is it really true?”
Dane nodded, seeing some of the color rush back into Trenton’s face. “Aye,” he said, grasping the man’s arm. “We went there to try and help you, Trenton. Although I find it distasteful to rejoice over a death, in this case, she brought it on herself. What happened to her was divine justice as far as I’m concerned.”
Trenton’s breathing started coming in short gasps and he turned towards Wellesbourne’s keep. The only thing on his mind at that moment was Lysabel, and Matthew, and before he realized it, he was on the run.
Trenton headed for the keep at top speed as his brothers and father shouted behind him, begging him to stop, but there was no sense in trying to stop the man. He was blinded by the news and by the fact that he was now a free man. He knew it and he wanted Matthew Wellesbourne to know it, too.
Free!
Trenton was just reaching the entry as Ranse emerged and the two of them nearly crashed into each other. Ranse had to grab hold of Trenton to steady the man.
“My lord?” Ranse said, greatly concerned. “Is anything wrong? Can I be of assistance?”
Trenton shook his head, pulling free of the man’s grip, and continuing on into the keep. Ranse watched him go with great concern and thought about going after him, but he was forced to step aside when Dane, Cort, and, finally, Gaston raced in behind him. It was step aside or be trampled. At that point, Ranse decided that whatever was going on involved the de Russe men only. If he was needed, his lord would send for him. He continued out to the stables.
Once inside the keep, Trenton made tracks right to Matthew’s solar door, throwing the panel open and charging in. Matthew was there, bent over the maps on his cluttered table, but when Trenton barreled in, he was so startled that he jumped out of his chair and nearly tripped over his feet.
“Trenton!” he gasped. “God’s Bones, man, what is the matter?”
Trenton ran right to him and it was then that Matthew saw the joy in his face, the light of a thousand candles lighting up his eyes and euphoria beyond words on his features.
“I’m free,” he breathed heavily. “I can marry her!”
Matthew had no idea what he was talking about, but Trenton seemed extremely agitated. He grasped him to keep him steady just as Dane, Cort, and Gaston thundered into the chamber.
“What are you saying, Trenton?” Matthew asked, concerned. “You are free? I do not…”
Trenton cut him off. “Adela,” he said, trying to catch his breath. “Lady de Russe. She has been killed. I am not married to her anymore. I am free to marry Lysabel!”
Everything became clear in that panting statement. Shocked and perplexed, Matthew looked to Gaston, who was just walking up on them, reaching out to peel Trenton off of Matthew.
“Lady de Russe is dead,” he said simply. “He has just received the news.”
Matthew stared at Gaston a moment before returning his attention to Trenton. He took one step back, and then another, and then turned back to his table. There were a million things going through his mind at the moment, not the least of which was the fact that he felt cornered. He had Gaston, Trenton, Dane, and Cort in his solar and he knew very well what they wanted. He knew the implications of this right away.
He didn’t like the pressure he was feeling.
“Trenton,” he finally said. “Get out. And take your brothers with you. Gaston, you will remain.”
That wasn’t the answer that Trenton wanted to hear and he opened his mouth to plead again, but Gaston shook his head, pushing him in the direction of the door.
“Go,” he muttered. “Wait for me outside.”
The expression on Trenton’s face was full of apprehension but Gaston patted him reassuringly, sending him and his brothers out of the solar. Dane and Cort had to practically pull Trenton from the chamber. When they were gone and the door shut quietly, Gaston turned to Matthew.
“Adela was killed in a fire, Matt,” he said. “Dane and Cort saw it happen, which is why they are here. They came to tell Trenton.”
Matthew sighed as he turned around to face Gaston. “And what? He thinks that is the magic that will change this entire situation?”
Gaston lifted his big shoulders. “He is hoping that will change your mind about his relationship with Lysabel.”
Matthew’s gaze lingered on the man a moment, indecision written on his face. “I told you that I have made a contract with de Troyes. I am not going to break it.”
That drew a reaction from Gaston. “But why not?” he asked. “Trenton is no longer encumbered and he loves your daughter. I am sure de Troyes is a good man, but Lysabel loves Trenton. It makes no sense that you would marry her to a man that she does not love, especially when Trenton has so much more to offer.”
Matthew cocked an eyebrow. “Does he?” he said. “Let us review what he has to offer, Gaston. He has been married three times, and all three wives have died. So I am to allow Lysabel to be his fourth? Moreover, I have never said anything about his occupation, not even to you, but the truth is that I agree with you. What he does for Henry is shameful. He is an assassin and you know as well as I do that he has a fearsome reputation, and not necessarily in a good way.”
Gaston could see his friend’s reluctance. He understood it, but it was starting to frustrate him. “But your daughter has changed him,” he said, pleading on Trenton’s behalf. “You said it yourself – Trenton is a changed man around her. That is what the power of love will do, Matt, and you know it as well as I do. We were both fortunate enough to marry women that we adore. Are our children not permitted to do the same?”
Matthew simply shook his head. Then, he hissed. “I hate that I am in this position,” he said. “I hate that I have offered Lysabel’s hand to an excellent knight with an excellent reputation, yet Trenton expects me to break that promise and turn my daughter over to him. He expects me to go back on my word to a man who has never done him any harm. And I hate that he has made you his ambassador – he knows that I cannot deny you anything. Is that fair to me?”
Gaston went over to him, putting his hand on the man’s shoulder. “I know you want what is best for Lysabel,” he said quietly. “And our opinions are the same when it comes to Trenton’s position with Henry. But you know my son – you know that he has a true and good heart.”
Matthew looked at him. “Does he?” he asked. “He was in here not a few moments ago rejoicing over the death of yet another wife. My God, Gaston, are wives so disposable to him that he has no hesitation over replacing one with another?”
Gaston’s jaw ticked. “Of course not.”
“My daughter has been through hell. What happens if Trenton tires of her? Will she be disposable, too?”
Gaston dropped his hand, looking at Matthew with a mixture of pain and sorrow. “Nay,” he said evenly. “And you are being unfair. You know how Adela treated him. You know the lack of respect or decency she showed him.”
Matthew calmed somewhat. “I know,” he muttered, running his hand over his graying, blond hair. “I am sorry I said that. I did not mean it. But this entire situation has me deeply torn. I must do what I feel is right for Lysabel. De Troyes is a stable, honorable man. He is not an assassin for Henry. He has not had three wives. He proves his loyalty to me every day that he serves me.”
“And Trenton has not proven his loyalty to you?” Gaston shot back softly. “Matt, he was with you for years, loyal to the bone. You are speaking of my son and not some knight we barely know. You know Trenton. You know he loves you. You know he is a good
man. Why must you make him seem less than what he is, in front of me, no less?”
Matthew looked at him. After a moment, he simply shook his head. “I am sorry, Gaston,” he said. “I truly am. I have always said that I love Trenton like a son, and I do, but not when it comes to my daughter. All I see when I look at him is a man who has had wanderlust; he has never been satisfied being in one place, or doing one thing, for too long. Trenton was always looking ahead, always moving. Even when he was married, he did not stay with his wife. He did not stay with Alicia for very long, did he? He was in London, or with you, a good deal of the time.”
Gaston nodded, although it was with reluctance. Nothing Matthew said was untrue. “He was young,” he said. “He was involved in his vocation. Alicia understood that.”
“Did she?” Matthew asked. “That is an honest question, Gaston. Did she really? Or did she simply tolerate it and let Trenton do what he wanted to do because she was an obedient wife?”
Gaston lifted his shoulders. “I cannot know, but it is true that Trenton was away from her much of the time.”
“And Iseuld?”
“He was hardly married to her at all before her father killed her.”
“And now Adela.” Matthew shook his head. “Gaston, I love Trenton. I do. But I love my daughter more. When it comes to Lysabel, we are speaking of my flesh and blood. My first born. How can I entrust her to someone with Trenton’s history and reputation?”
Gaston was starting to feel defeated. He was coming to see that no amount of pleading was going to change Matthew’s mind and for Trenton’s sake, he was already devastated for it.
“So you are telling me that your excuse throughout this entire situation, the fact that Trenton was married, is not the real reason for your reluctance at all,” he said. “It goes much deeper than that.”
Matthew sighed sadly and averted his gaze. “Possibly.”
“Would you trust Trenton with her life?”
“Without question.”
“Then why not trust him as her husband?”
Matthew didn’t say anything for a moment. He was weary, and confused, and torn over the entire circumstance. Slowly, he moved around his table, lowering himself wearily into his chair.
“If I do not let Lysabel marry Trenton, will it change things between us?” he finally asked.
Gaston looked at him. “Nay,” he murmured. “You are still my brother. But I would be lying if I said that I would not be hurt because Trenton will be hurt. Matt, you have the power to change his life. You hold the key to his happiness and I am afraid if you do not permit him to be with the woman he loves, it will change him forever. I fear for him.”
Matthew was feeling defeated, so very defeated. “If you were me, what would you do? If this was your daughter, and you know everything there is to know about Trenton, what would you do?”
Gaston hesitated. “I have never said that I do not understand your reluctance.”
“That was not the question.”
“I know.”
Matthew leaned forward on the table. “Then you make the decision for me. If you truly feel that your son would be the best possible husband for my daughter, then you make the decision and I will abide by it, because I am tired of fighting you and the entire de Russe clan on this. I am not willing to let this situation damage my relationship with you but I fear that is what is going to happen if I continue to refuse. So to you, Gaston, I say this – you decide. And be honest about it – make the decision with your head and not your heart. If you feel Trenton would be a good husband for Lysabel, then decide their future.”
Gaston just looked at him.
He honestly couldn’t bring the words to his lips.
“What do you suppose they are saying?” Cort asked.
Trenton, Dane, and Cort were lingering in the foyer area outside of Matthew’s solar, waiting for Gaston and Matthew to emerge. Trenton was leaning against a wall, his head bowed, and Dane was looking at the man with some concern. After a moment, he moved away from Trenton, closer to Cort, and lowered his voice.
“I do not know,” he said. “But if we thought Trenton’s problems were over when Penleigh burned down and took Adela with it, then we were sadly mistaken. I want you to stay here. I will return.”
Cort looked at him curiously. “Where are you going?”
Dane held a hand up for the man to keep his voice down because he didn’t want to stir up Trenton, who was wallowing in a mood Dane had never before seen from him. There was something painfully dark and brooding to him. Just as he opened his mouth to reply, he saw a servant move through the foyer with a tray. Upon the tray were cheese bread, fruit, and something steaming in a pitcher. He could smell it; spices of some kind. It was mulled wine.
Women liked mulled wine.
Dane had an idea.
“Stay here with Trenton,” he whispered. “Do not let him leave. I will return.”
Cort nodded, watching Dane head off across the foyer, following a servant as the little woman disappeared into a darkened corridor. Trenton, too, noticed Dane leaving.
“Where are you going?” he called after the man.
He caught Dane just as the man was entering the corridor. He lifted a casual hand. “The privy,” he said. “Or… something. I will return shortly.”
With that, he was gone, vanishing into the darkness as Trenton stood there with a frown on his face. Cort, who had been told to keep Trenton in the foyer, went to him.
“He shall return,” he said, thinking to change the subject very quickly so Trenton didn’t try to follow. “Would… would you like to hear of our conversation with Adela, Trenton? We spoke with her at length before the fire started. You might be interested to know what was said.”
In fact, Trenton had forgotten about Dane rather quickly because Dane did what Dane wanted to do, and Trenton had learned long ago not to worry over the man. Somehow, Dane always returned in one piece, so there was never any reason to worry. But Cort’s words had his attention and he turned to his younger brother.
“I saw the two of you riding from Deverill the night before we departed for Wellesbourne,” he said. “I was standing with Mother on the steps to the keep and we both wondered where you and Dane were going. I suppose I know now.”
Cort nodded, but it was timidly. “You are not angry with us, are you?”
Trenton shook his head, putting a hand on the young knight’s shoulder. “That I should have brothers who love me so much touches me more than you can know. I owe you everything. But I want you to swear something to me.”
“Anything.”
“You did not kill Adela and lie to me about it, did you?”
Cort shook his head solemnly. “We did not, I swear it.”
That gave Trenton some relief. Honestly, he’d wondered. He knew the hatred between his family and Adela, so anything was possible.
“That is good. But she really is dead?”
“I swear on my oath that she is. I saw her go up in flames myself.”
Trenton dropped his hand, rubbing his eyes wearily. “I believe you,” he said. “Now, you can tell me about the conversation you had with her.”
Cort did.
Dane’s instincts were good.
The mulled wine was, indeed, for a woman, and as he slipped in behind the servant into a small but lavish solar, he immediately saw Lysabel seated on a chair near the window. Even though he hadn’t seen the woman in years – at least ten or more – he knew it was her on sight. She was still the same bronze-haired, blue-eyed lass that he’d known as a child, only now she’d come into her own.
She was beautiful.
“Lysabel?”
His voice made her look up, startled, only to see someone she didn’t instantly recognize in the chamber with her. Dane could see the fear on her face and he hastened to reassure her.
“You do not remember me,” he said. “It is Dane – Dane de Russe.”
A ripple of recognition rolled across Lysabel’s face
and her eyes widened. “Dane?” she gasped, coming towards him. “God’s Bones… I did not recognize you!”
Dane grinned. “We have grown old, you and I,” he said. But then he quickly added, “But you have only grown more beautiful. I did not mean to say that you were old.”
Lysabel laughed and, in that instant, Dane could see what had his brother so enamored. She was stunning.
“When did we last see one another?” she said. “I think it was here, at Wellesbourne, several years ago. I do not think my oldest daughter was even born at the time. My parents’ wedding anniversary celebration, wasn’t it?”
Dane shrugged. “I honestly do not remember,” he said, frowning. “Probably because I had too much wine for the duration of the celebration. I do not remember the days leading up to it or the days following it for the most part, but I do remember seeing you there. And your sisters, too. How are Rosamunde and Emeline?”
“Well,” Lysabel said, grinning. “You had them dreaming about you, Dane. They all wanted to marry the handsome de Russe brother.”
Dane puffed up. “Of course they did,” he stated firmly. “All women do. Except for you… I hear that you are quite fond of Trenton.”
Lysabel sobered dramatically and she quickly averted her gaze. “Did Trenton tell you that?”
“Aye.”
Lysabel frowned, her good mood gone. “You will understand if this is something I do not wish to speak of to you, or to anyone else for that matter.”
Dane had seen her expression before, on Trenton when he spoke of the sad ending their love story was facing. She didn’t need to confirm anything. Her feelings were written all over her face.
There was anguish there.
“I understand,” Dane said, “but I must speak of it. It is very important.”
Lysabel closed her eyes. “Dane, please…”
He cut her off. “Lysabel, Trenton told me the entire situation,” he said. “He told me that he wants to be with you and when he told your father, the man banished him.”
In spite of her vow not to discuss the situation, Lysabel found that she couldn’t help it. An ironic snort escaped her lips.