Chapter Thirteen #2
Alixandrea felt some relief about that, but she was still shattered over the revelation of her daughter’s treatment.
But in that realization, she came to see why Lysabel would have fallen for Trenton.
Literally, the man had saved her. He represented a new life and a new hope to her, in more ways than one.
“Then you are all on the path to healing,” she said, squeezing her daughter’s hand again.
“I understand now why you hold Trenton in such regard. It makes a good deal of sense. But even so, he is not the man of your future. He has been kind to you, and he has made you feel safe and warm, but you must face the reality of his situation – he is married, Lys. Regardless of the fact that it is a bad marriage, it does not erase the marriage. I am not diminishing your feelings for him, but did you ever consider the long-term implications of such a relationship?”
Lysabel wasn’t as defensive as she had been earlier. Holding her mother’s hand, she was starting to feel comforted and even vulnerable in a sense. She knew she could be honest with her mother and the woman would be honest with her in return.
“You mean children?” she asked softly.
“Aye.”
Lysabel sighed heavily. “I am pregnant now, Mama,” she whispered.
“It is Benoit’s child, conceived the night he died during the terrible beating he dealt me.
Trenton knows of this and it does not matter to him.
He is willing to accept the child as his own, and love it as his own.
Only a man of great honor and of noble heart could do such a thing. ”
Alixandrea had to close her eyes, reeling from two doses of rather serious and intense news in a short amount of time. First Benoit’s abuse, and now a pregnancy. It was a struggle more than ever to hold herself together.
“A baby,” she murmured.
“Aye, a baby.”
“Your father did not mention this, either.”
“I have not told him. Unless Trenton did, there is no way he could know.”
Alixandrea was coming to think her daughter had been dealt a horrible lot in life. Lysabel had been such a bright, beautiful child, and they had always hoped for such great things for her. But the hopes of the parents had been dashed by the realities of a man Alixandrea had never liked.
In truth, she saw no point in telling her daughter her opinion of Benoit as she had told her husband.
She was coming to blame herself for not saying anything those years ago, but there was no sense in looking back.
It didn’t matter any longer if she had an intense dislike for the man; he was dead and gone now, and Lysabel now had a chance for a much better life with a man who deserved her.
But that man wasn’t Trenton de Russe.
Alixandrea was going to side with her husband in this case, now that she understood the entire situation.
To allow Lysabel to go with Trenton would be to condemn her to a life that would be dishonorable at best. She couldn’t allow her daughter to enter into such a relationship, but she also knew Lysabel well enough to know that to forbid her of such a thing, as Matthew had done, wasn’t the way to convince her.
Alixandrea had to be more subtle than her husband had been, but she was going to get her point across.
“There is no shame in the child you carry now,” she finally said. “It was conceived with your husband, who is now dead, so no man would find that shameful. But I will say something about this situation, Lys, and I will say no more, so please listen. It is important that you do.”
Lysabel looked at her mother seriously. “I am listening.”
Alixandrea patted her hand. “I understand that you love Trenton,” she said.
“We all love Trenton. I have known him for most of his life and we shall always be grateful to him for what he has done for you. He has given you the opportunity for a new hope in life, the hope of a new beginning for you and the girls. That is a remarkable thing.”
Lysabel smiled timidly. “I think so, too,” she said. “And I do want a new life… with him.”
Alixandrea nodded. “I know, sweetheart,” she said. “But I want you to think very carefully about this because it is important for you to see the situation from all sides. Will you do that?”
Lysabel nodded hesitantly. “I will try.”
Alixandrea smiled sadly, her gaze intense upon her daughter.
“I want you to put yourself in your father’s position,” she said.
“He is a great man, of great standing, and he has the respect of all of England. He is the White Lord of Wellesbourne, and that is a burden that he labors to maintain every day. He has worked hard for it. Now, imagine you are your father – you have seven wonderful children. But then, your eldest daughter decides that it is in her best interest to become the mistress to a married man. Now, the reputation your father has worked so hard for is blemished by your choice. Your father has an eye on a wife for your brother, James, but because of your decision to enter into a relationship that is considered dishonorable, the family of James’ potential wife rejects your father’s marriage proposal.
In time, the same thing happens for Thomas and William.
No one wants to have the Wellesbourne name because it is tarnished.
What I am saying is that your decision, although it seems to be the right one for you, can have lasting effects on the entire family.
The shame will not only be yours, but all of Wellesbourne, and your father’s good reputation will be lost. Is that what you wish for all of us? ”
Lysabel was looking at her mother, greatly distressed. “Of course not,” she said tightly. “But why can I not be happy, Mama? Why can I not be with a man of my choosing?”
Alixandrea leaned forward, kissing her daughter on the forehead. “You can be happy with a man of your choosing,” she said. “But not this man. He is already taken, sweetheart. You must do what is right, for all of us.”
With that, she squeezed her daughter’s hand and stood up, smiling gently at her as she walked away, heading back to her granddaughters who were still fighting over the pink flowers. But one word from Alixandrea stopped them and, together, they followed her from the garden with a servant in tow.
Lysabel watched her daughters and her mother leave, her mind still lingering on what her mother had said.
The woman had a way of putting things that made sense, even if Lysabel didn’t want to accept it.
She really couldn’t argue with the logic because everything her mother said was true.
Her decision to go with Trenton was a decision that would affect them all.
Her father had tried to tell her that, but she didn’t want to listen.
She had accused him of being selfish when the truth was that she was the selfish one.
It wasn’t only her life she would be ruining, but her entire family’s lives.
Oh, God… must I really give Trenton up?
Lysabel hung her head, thinking of Trenton, of the life she wanted with him so badly.
She could feel it slipping away, this idea of a perfect world where Trenton and her daughters were the center of it.
A world of ponies and babies and joy and love…
did she really have to give it all up? Had she been living in a fool’s paradise, after all?
The mere thought was making her sick.
Lysabel lost track of time as she sat there, pondering the situation.
The servants who had been tending to the flowers had moved to the other end of the garden, pruning and cutting, but still she sat, mourning for the life she so badly wanted.
As she sat there, staring at the dirt, she heard the gate next to her open.
Casually, she turned to see Ranse de Troyes entering the garden. He spied her immediately since she was sitting so close to the garden gate and he smiled politely when their eyes met.
“My lady,” he greeted. “I do not mean to disturb you, but I was looking for Lady Cynethryn and Lady Brencis.”
Lysabel pointed to the southern gate. “My mother took them out of the garden that way,” she said. “They left a little while ago. Why? Is there something I can help you with?”
His smile grew. “I found two ponies they can ride,” he said proudly. “I heard how disappointed they were when their own ponies came up lame, so I searched the village and found two very nice ponies that they are welcome to ride.”
Lysabel had to grin at him. “But they already have two ponies,” she said. “Now they need two more?”
He shrugged. “It is only a loan,” he said. “They can ride the ponies until their animals heal. They have been having such fun with them that it is a shame to see them so disappointed.”
Lysabel laughed softly. “You are a tender heart,” she said. “You must have children of your own if you are so sympathetic to them.”
He shook his head. “I do not,” he said, his smile fading. “At least, not a living child. My wife died in childbirth last year along with my daughter.”
Lysabel’s smile vanished. “I am so very sorry,” she said sincerely. “I did not know. I have not been to Wellesbourne in a few years, but the last time I was here, I am not sure if you were serving my father yet or not. Forgive me for not remembering.”
He waved her off, his manner easy going.
“Not to worry, Lady de Wilde,” he said. “I do not expect you to remember every knight under your father’s command.
I came into your father’s service six years ago, and I believe you have come to visit Wellesbourne once during that time, but we have not been formally introduced.
I am Ransom de Troyes, your father’s captain. ”
Lysabel nodded politely, eyeing the tall man, with long, muscular arms and legs, and blond hair to his shoulders. He was a handsome man and seemingly quite friendly. She’d seen him around since her arrival, especially in the feasting hall, but she didn’t know his name. It simply hadn’t come up.
“And how do you like serving my father, de Troyes?” she asked.