Chapter Fifteen #3
Gaston looked away, a pensive expression on his face.
He coughed a few times, something that sounded wet and rough.
“I do not know,” he finally said. “But we are not speaking of one of them. We are speaking of my son and your daughter, who happen to love each other. Trenton is married to a woman he despises, and the feeling is mutual. Do our children not deserve to find their happiness together? I would like to see Trenton happy just once in my lifetime. I would like to know that the pain I have caused him has been healed.”
Matthew was once again reminded of Gaston’s frail health.
As the fire in the hearth began to blaze, he reclaimed his seat across from Gaston, his manner moody and subdued.
He wasn’t usually moody by nature, but being confronted with a situation he felt strongly about, and a dear friend’s illness, had him off balance.
“You are asking me to condone an affair,” he finally said. “Whatever feelings Trenton has for Lysabel, his intentions will never be honorable.”
“What do you mean?”
“He cannot marry her. Do you not think people will know that? They will talk and her reputation will be ruined. Is that what you truly wish for Lysabel?” He threw up his hand in exasperation.
“And what of my granddaughters? Do you think I can find suitable and honorable husbands for them when it comes time, knowing their mother is a concubine to a married man? Would you ruin their chances, too?”
Gaston heard the passion, the distress, in his friend’s voice. “Of course not,” he said. “Matt, all I am saying is that they are two people in love who should be permitted to make their own decisions. I loved a married woman, once, and I refused to let her go. Trenton has that same tenacity.”
Matthew cocked an eyebrow. “What are you saying? That he is going to defy me?”
Gaston hesitated. “I am saying that love will find a way, with or without your approval.”
Matthew didn’t like the sound of that at all.
Frustrated, he sighed heavily. “Gaston, you know I love you and you know I love Trenton, but I will not let him carry on a dishonorable relationship with my daughter. I do not want to say he is unwelcome here; I do not want to say that any de Russe is unwelcome here, but I must protect Lysabel and my granddaughters.”
“From what?”
“From something that can never be!”
There was that passion in his tone again. Gaston and Matthew had never been at odds and, frankly, Gaston couldn’t remember if they’d ever had an argument, but this conversation was one of the most volatile they’d ever had. Considering the subject matter, that was understandable.
“I can see your point of view, my friend,” he said quietly. “But in matters of love, there is no easy answer. You think that Lysabel will forget about Trenton if they are separated, but is that really true? Would you have forgotten about Alix so easily if your love for her had been denied?”
Matthew sighed once again. “I did not fall in love with a woman who was already married,” he said. “Though I fault you not for the circumstances with Remi, because surely, they were complicated to say the least, this situation is different.”
“How?”
“Because it is happening to my daughter.”
Gaston could see that there was no budging the man.
In truth, he wasn’t sure he had really been trying to.
He was merely pleading Trenton’s case. But he had hoped that Matthew would be a little more reasonable.
Still, given that the man felt tremendous guilt for the marriage to de Wilde, it was understandable that he was extremely protective of Lysabel’s future happiness.
He had to ensure his daughter found a happy and honorable life.
Not a life as the mistress of a married man.
“And it is happening to my son,” Gaston said after a moment.
“Your path with Alix was different, so you do not know what it means to love a woman who is legally bound to another man. You have no idea the pain of such a thing, so I do not expect you to understand. But I would hope that you would at least understand that not all things in life are clear cut, and not everything is as easy as you make it out to be.”
With that, he stood up, weary and somewhat disheartened at the course of the conversation.
Matthew was defensive, and probably had every right to be, but Gaston realized that he’d been looking for more understanding from the man.
The White Lord of Wellesbourne was a man of great compassion and wisdom, and he’d hoped that would carry over into Trenton and Lysabel’s situation.
But Matthew was only seeing it from a father’s perspective and nothing more.
Matthew didn’t let him get very far. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“To rest.”
Matthew blew out a deep breath. “Come back here,” he said. “Gaston, you and I have never had harsh words between us and I do not intend to start now, but this is something too important for you to just walk away.”
Gaston came to an unsteady halt somewhere over near the hearth.
“What point is there in me remaining?” he said.
“Your mind is made up. I cannot change it. But I will tell you that you may be headed towards heartache if you do not put love above the Wellesbourne reputation. It seems to me that is all you are truly worried about.”
Matthew stood up and looked at him. “That is not true and it is not fair,” he said. “I am worried for my daughter.”
“You were wrong the first time you chose her a mate. Why not let her make the decision the second time?”
It was an unfair dig, but it was the truth and they both knew it. Matthew eyed him a moment. “She is still my daughter.”
“And you are telling me that you know what is best for her better than she does? She is a grown woman with two children, Matt. She’s no longer the foolish young maiden you evidently think she is.”
“I will not let her be Trenton’s whore, Gaston.”
“Nobody is asking you to. They are not looking for your blessing, simply your understanding in the matter.”
Matthew was starting to feel cornered and, truth be told, irritated at Gaston.
It was true that he had no experience in loving a woman who was legally bound to another man, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know what was right and what was wrong.
As he stood there, pondering how to reply, the door opened and servants appeared with trays of food and drink.
Alixandrea was leading them in, smiling at her husband and his best friend.
“Gaston, I brought you mulled wine,” she said gaily. “I know how much you like it.”
Gaston’s gaze was on Matthew. It took him a moment to reply and when he did, he turned away.
“I am not thirsty,” he said. “Is there a place I may rest?”
The smile faded from Alixandrea’s face. “Of course,” she said. “The chamber you always use when you are here is being readied.”
Without another word, Gaston lumbered through the door, heading for the stairs that led to the upper floors. When he disappeared from sight, Alixandrea turned to her husband.
“What happened?” she asked, her eyes wide.
Matthew was feeling defeated. So very defeated. He didn’t like quarreling with his best friend.