Chapter Five #2
That part was the truth, but Markus was still wrought with disbelief and the longer he looked at Trenton, the more suspicious he became.
“How did you know about it?” he demanded. “You only arrived yesterday. This cannot be a coincidence.”
The man was smarter than Trenton had given him credit for, but he knew Lysabel had lied to Markus for a reason.
He understood. Before he found himself defending himself against a very angry Markus, however, he sought to ease the man.
If he couldn’t ease him, then Markus de Aston could very well find himself gone the same way Benoit had gone.
Trenton wasn’t beyond disposing of the man simply to keep a secret safe, but more than that, he had to protect Lysabel in this situation.
Things were about to get nasty.
“It is, I assure you,” he said, half-truth, half-lie.
“I came to Stretford to visit Lady Lysabel, whom I have known since she was born. She has told me what her husband did to her and it was my pleasure to dispose of his body. Your hands may be tied to help the lady because you serve her husband, but I know no such restraints. The man deserved to die for what he has done to the lady and if you do not believe so, then I invite you to tell me to my face.”
It was a challenge, thrown down between two fairly seasoned knights, only Markus had no idea what Trenton did for a living.
So in this instance, it was more like a lion challenging a guard dog.
The dog had teeth, and knew how to use them, but the lion had claws that would gut the dog before he even realized what had happened.
The suspicion in the room turned into something appraising and unfriendly.
But Markus wasn’t stupid and he wasn’t reckless.
He knew the big knight was taller and heavier than he was, and from the look of the man, suspected he was more than deadly.
He wasn’t going to willingly enter into a confrontation with him, even if had been challenged, mostly because he happened to agree with him.
But he was still stunned by the entire situation and his gaze returned to Lysabel.
“Tell me that this is not a plot of some kind with de Russe,” he said seriously. “Tell me this wasn’t something that was planned.”
Lysabel shook her head. “I swear to you that this is not a plot of any kind. What happened with Benoit… it was nothing that I had planned. It simply happened.”
“And you swear to me upon your children’s lives that Benoit de Wilde is dead?”
“I swear to you with all that and more. He is dead.”
With that, all the air seemed to leave Markus as he hissed, exhaling until there was nothing left. He turned away from Lysabel to compose himself, struggling with the news he’d been given.
“My God,” he breathed. “He is truly dead?”
Lysabel watched him closely. “He is,” she said.
“Thank God, he is. And now I must go to my father and ask him what I should do. That is why I must go to Wellesbourne Castle, Markus. I want you to remain here and ensure that Stretford Castle is run smoothly and normally, and that everyone believes Benoit will return at some point. Until my father tells me what to do, it must be that way. Do you understand?”
Markus ended up over by the windows that overlooked part of the bailey beyond. After a moment, he took a deep breath and turned to her.
“I want to go with you to Wellesbourne,” he said. “Your father gifted me to Benoit, if you recall. I must know what he wishes for me to do now… now that Benoit will not return. Will you allow me to go with you, my lady?”
Lysabel nodded. “I will,” she said, “providing that you take your orders from Trenton. Not only is he the son and heir to the Duke of Warminster, but he is an earl by title. He is the Earl of Westbury, so by rank alone, you must take orders from him, Markus. Is that clear?”
Markus’ gaze moved in Trenton’s direction. “De Russe,” he muttered as if suddenly recognizing the name. “Warminster. I do not know why I have not made the connection before now. Gaston de Russe is your father?”
“He is.”
“Then I will willingly follow your command, my lord.”
Trenton simply nodded, pleased to see that he wasn’t about to have a fight on his hands with Benoit’s irate knight.
In fact, the man seemed rather dazed by the news and now was rather submissive with everything explained to him.
He recalled Lysabel telling him that Markus had no great love for Benoit, and that was clear in the man’s manner.
Serving the man had only been a duty. With that understanding, Trenton was eager to move forward with their intentions.
That’s what this meeting was about, after all.
“Then prepare an escort of men for Wellesbourne Castle,” Trenton told him. “I will trust you to select the best thirty men you have. The lady wishes to leave on the morrow, so make haste to arm and supply the escort. We will depart at dawn.”
Markus nodded sharply and made his way to the door, quitting the chamber without another word as he went about his duties.
It seemed as if, perhaps, he needed to be alone to think of what he’d been told, or at least that was the sense that Trenton got.
He went to shut the door behind the man, turning his attention to Lysabel when they were finally alone in the chamber.
“You only told him part of the truth,” he said quietly. “Do you not trust him to know all of it?”
Lysabel looked at him. “I do not want him to know your role in the situation,” she said.
“Markus is trustworthy, but I can see he is already wary of you. And you heard him – he wanted to know if it was some kind of plot between us. I will tell him the truth at some point, but not now. I… I do not want him looking at you as a killer, Trenton.”
He regarded her carefully. “But I am,” he muttered.
“Do you not know what I have been doing all of these years for the king, Lysabel? When I came for Benoit, that was not the first time I’d carried out orders such as that.
It is what I do for Henry – if he has enemies, it is my duty to eliminate them.
Whatever the king wishes, I carry it out. Shall I go on?”
She turned away. “Nay,” she said firmly. “And I do not care what you do for Henry. All I know is that you saved me, and I loathe that anyone would look at the situation any differently.”
He smiled at the thought. “So you did it so spare my reputation?” he asked. “It is noble of you, but unnecessary. My reputation is what it is. One more death will not break me.”
Lysabel shrugged. “To me, you will always have my utmost gratitude and respect. And I do not want anyone to think otherwise of you.”
Trenton thought that was most flattering, in truth. She wanted to protect what others thought of him, and that was rather endearing of her.
“I’ve never had a lady come to my defense before,” he said. “Stop it or you will swell my head. Is it possible you find me attractive now and not my brother?”
It was a leading tease and he had no idea why he said it, only that he wanted to see her reaction.
Was he looking for some kind of encouragement?
Some sign that he was making her feel warm and giddy, just as she was making him feel the same?
It was reckless, and he knew it, but he truthfully didn’t care.
Idiot!
But Lysabel fought off a grin. “I am not coming to your defense,” she said. “And I told you that your brother is the only one who has ever had my attention.”
“You do not like me better than Dane, not even a little?”
She rolled her eyes and turned away from him, but she was smiling now. “Stop pestering me, Trenton de Russe,” she said. “I have work to do.”
He saw her grinning as she left the chamber and he watched her go, standing in the doorway as she headed down the corridor to the mural stairs that led to the upper floors.
But she paused before she took that first step, throwing him a look that was both humorous and, he thought, rather flirtatious.
Then, she stuck her tongue out at him and bolted up the stairs, leaving him laughing softly.
And I find you most attractive, sweet Lysabel, against my better judgement…