Chapter Twenty-Four #5
She gave him one last smile and blew him a kiss as she yanked the curtains open.
He heard her give an audible gasp and he stiffened, turning his attention to the hall before her.
Marcus Burton was standing in the middle of the corridor, staring at both of them quite emotionlessly.
His eyes glittered in the torchlight and Christopher could feel the disgust emanating from the man.
“Your wife is feeling ill, baron,” he said coldly. “She is returning to your apartments.”
Christopher pushed past Amanda and on into the hall. “Marcus,” he glanced at Amanda’s apprehensive face. “Lady Amanda and I were simply having a private conference, nothing more.”
Marcus spun on his heel. “Why should I care about anything you do, baron?”
Christopher reached out and grabbed Marcus, causing the big man to tense as if preparing for a fistfight. His cobalt-blue eyes were blazing with fury.
“It is not what it looks like, Marcus,” Christopher insisted in a low voice.
Amanda found her feet and slipped past the men without a word. Marcus eyed her with contempt, as if she were the castle prostitute. Then, he stopped trying to bank his anger and faced Christopher.
“You have got a hell of a lot of nerve lecturing me on the fidelity of marriage when you go out and find the nearest bitch to bed,” he seethed.
Christopher kept himself calm. “I wasn’t going to bed her, Marcus. She’s an old friend.”
“I know,” Marcus snapped. “I know exactly who she is. You had a relationship with her. Jesus Christ, it isn’t enough that you married the most beautiful woman in the realm?
You do not even have the decency to remain faithful to your wife, while accusing me of lusting after her. You hypocritical son-of-a-bitch.”
“Watch your tongue,” Christopher growled. “You know not of what you speak.”
“Then, pray tell me.” Marcus was agitated, trying to keep himself from physically attacking Christopher.
“I came out here looking for you because the wine has made Dustin sick. She vomited all over her surcoat and even now David and Deborah are taking her back to your apartments. And I find you alone with that French whore in a secluded alcove? What in the hell am I supposed to think?”
Christopher’s jaw ticked ominously. “I realize how it looks, Burton, but trust me when I tell you nothing went on. I swear on my oath to Richard that nothing happened between Lady Amanda and I.” His tone lowered to a husky growl.
“But since you seem to think the very worst, I will tell you my reasons for being alone with her. Lady Amanda and I did indeed have a relationship before I went on the quest. We parted ways shortly before I left, and she came to tell me that she found herself pregnant around the time I sailed with Richard. My son is four years old now, living with the Earl of Reivne in France,” he said, and found that repeating the news filled him with sadness and longing all over again.
“That, baron, is why I was alone with her. This is the first time I have seen her since I left with Richard and she felt I had a right to know, as the boy’s father. ”
Marcus looked back at him doubtfully, but sedate nonetheless. “You didn’t know she was pregnant when you left?”
“Of course not,” Christopher said. “If I had, I would now be married to Lady Amanda instead of Dustin. I would not have allowed her to bear my bastard in shame.”
Marcus’ hot stance cooled in mere seconds as the full impact of the explanation weighed down on him.
“I do not know what to say,” he lowered his gaze.
“I heard your voice and was about to pull the curtain back myself when Lady Amanda opened it. I saw you, and I saw her, and I drew the only natural conclusion I could think of.”
“I realize that,” Christopher said. “God only knows, I know exactly how it must have looked. But I assure you, the lady simply wanted to tell me of my son. That was all Marcus. Surely you know I care for Dustin a great deal. I’d never do anything to jeopardize my relationship with her.”
Marcus shrugged, off-balance, and ran his hand through his hair. “I know.”
Christopher began to walk, taking Marcus with him. “Is Dustin all right?”
“Sick to her stomach,” he replied. “She’s more upset about ruining the surcoat than anything.”
Christopher nodded, quickening his pace as they headed for the stairs.
“Chris, about everything I said,” Marcus offered feebly. “I didn’t mean it. I was angry.”
“I know you were, and you had every reason to be,” Christopher replied.
They took the stairs two at a time, reaching the dimly lit corridor on the second floor.
“I am sorry you never knew about your son,” Marcus said quietly, sounds echoing off the wall. “I can only imagine your surprise.”
Christopher nodded. “Shocked is more apt a term. And sorrow. Sorrow that I will most likely never know him,” he said, looking at Marcus. “This knowledge goes no further, Marcus. Not even David, and especially not Dustin. Agreed?”
“Absolutely,” Marcus nodded.
“Thank you,” Christopher said sincerely as they rounded the corner into the wing where he was housed. He knew that Marcus would take his secret to the grave, but he was still reeling from the news. But it filled him with an even greater love for the child Dustin carried.
He was denied one child, mayhap he could make it up to the next.