Lady Trent (22 page)

“Even younger than I supposed,” he commented,
and before Rachel could scold him, he quickly continued. “She
misses you dearly. They all do. I assured them of your well-being
without making mention of your new status. I didn’t feel it my
place to tell them, so I merely explained to them that your
presence is for the time required here, which is hardly a lie, and
that they need not worry. They haven’t a clue that you are now a
wife and the lady of this wonderful city.”

“I suppose I had in a way hoped you would
tell them. I suppose I am a coward.”

“No,” he plainly argued. “You are anything
but a coward. If you fear anything it is disappointing them, which
is not entirely a fear at all. Having met these people, I am
certain they would be happy for you.”

“Tell me, how long did you stay?”

“Five days, in a small cottage not far from
the chapel. The mayor insisted it.”

“Oh, and how is he?”

“Old…like Agatha, very old.”

“But his health.”

“To be honest, I don’t know how he gets
around. He can’t see anything.”

“And my sisters…did you meet them as
well?”

“I’m not sure of who exactly I met…only that
it was the most relaxing five days of my life. The people there
live a simple life. It was refreshing, but I could not imagine
being the patron of such a place. Such simplicity would surely
drive a man to madness.”

“You will not be the first to have said
so.”

A peculiar, unique expression came over his
face, as if something was wrong, and he looked away, acting to
study a chipped nail.

“You have something more to say,” she
decided.

“Yes,” he quickly admitted. His eyes became
very compassionate, sincere. Just what exactly would he say? She
gave her head a slight shake. “What is it? Has…has there been a
death?” She hated to mention it, but it was the first thing that
came to mind.

“No, no,” he hastily corrected. “Nothing like
that. The community has actually grown by several people.”

Her brows came together. “There must be
something. I can see it in your eyes.”

“There is,” he admitted, “but I am somewhat
afraid you will take it the wrong way, misconstrue my actions,
maybe consider me out of line although I meant well. Truly, I
did.”

She gave her head a slight shake. “What are
you talking about?”

He paused a moment, studying his fingertips.
He finally lowered his hand and looked at her again, his gaze still
very sincere. “I was given a parcel of land by Duke Norton in
return for my services. Afterward, I took the deed to Duke
Berlin.”

“Duke Berlin,” she repeated after him. “He’s
a horrible little man.”

“The deed was valuable to him,” he explained.
“So I exchanged it with him for the deed to another parcel of land
that extends from the north and eastern borders of Westerly. After
presenting the gift from Jacob to your friends in Westerly, I also
presented the deed to this land.”

She was speechless. That land had been wanted
for some time now, just as Westerly had been sought after from
every angle. The town was so small, and the residents consistently
felt in danger of being placed into the hands of any one of the
three nobles surrounding them, specifically Duke Berlin who was
rumored to be a very callous and crude man.

“But…” She shook her head, easing back down
to sit on the bedside. “Are you sporting with me again?”

A lazy grin touched his lips. “No, milady,”
he assured, and she knew for sure he was telling the truth. She
visualized him handing over such a document to Agatha, the mayor
and the entire town. They must have been exhausted with gifts,
overwhelmed with these sudden blessings….blessings from the heavens
for sure.

He was avoiding her piercing gaze now, as if
a bit embarrassed by his good deed, a deed that had not been
requested or expected or even thought of for that matter. It’d come
to him on his own, and he’d done it…for her? To make her happy? To
make her appreciate the sort of fortune his endeavors could bring?
That she would not frown down upon his labors, but consider them
heroic and relevant?

“As we speak, they are likely surveying the
land, and considering the plans for it I left behind. The mayor and
the council and I sat together and I directed them, so to speak, on
the most suitable way to extend…..from the inward out. There’s no
danger along the borders. I have planted guards temporarily in the
case of incident. But the deal is sealed. The land is theirs, and
no harm will come upon them. If there are problems…well, they will
speedily be brought to my attention.”

Her smile deepened, and she did not resist an
urge to hug him, placing her hands on his bare shoulders and
leaning inward, squeezing him tightly. “This makes me so very
happy.”

His eyes dazzled with a joy of his own. “This
ends in like manner as many of my endeavors. Mission building upon
mission. Now I have one other to accomplish. I am not so sure what
our emperor will think of this extending of Westerly’s borders. You
do know the land belongs to him. Still, he will likely leave it be
although an explanation of why I chose to enlarge a town that is
already despised will be demanded.”

Still smiling down at him, she stood, and
possibly in the nick of time. Jacob came through the door saying
“alive and well” with a voice probably not as loud as it seemed at
the time.

“Alive, yes,” Marcus agreed. “But well, no. I
will not be until I have avenged the situation.”

Rachel was pleased to see
Jacob
alive
and well, but he appeared a bit untouched by the sight of her. He
cast her one swift glance, one that reminded her of the
conversation they’d last shared. He turned his attention back to
Marcus to ask, “What happened?”

Rachel mindlessly slipped from the room,
colliding into father Nelson in the process. They both exchanged
apologies, and he, hearing the two men speaking in the room beyond,
chose rather to walk alongside her.

“I had heard there was an incident. I came to
see for myself.”

“Yes, a…an accident of some sort or…well, I
am not completely sure.” Was there actually a reason to lie?
Perhaps not, really, but she just had.

“Well, it sounds as if he is well…and also
Jacob. He has likewise returned safely.”

“Yes,” she agreed.

“Then I shall sleep well tonight. My prayers
were with them both.”

“As were mine.”

“Um, if I may ask…are you in good
spirits?”

She had done a terrible job of covering up
otherwise…yet continued the façade. “Yes, Father Nelson, I am
merely tired. That is all.”

“Then you will not mind if I speak with you
about some matter of importance. I had desired to do so these past
few days but found myself continually hindered. It seems this time
of year people are more in need of spiritual guidance.”

She continued to walk, her eyes to the floor.
“What sort of matter?”

“If you don’t mind,” he said, stopping before
a drawing room, extending an arm. She obliged, walking past him and
inside. He joined her, pulling the doors together behind them. “I
have a report for you.”

“A report?”

“It seems the residents of the Orland are
smitten with appreciation for you. They are planning an, um,
merrymaking event in your honor. Of course such a thing is unheard
of, and has never taken place to the best of my knowledge.”

“It is touching to hear it.” She searched her
mind, thinking back to Sir Troy’s visit. He hadn’t mentioned
anything along those lines. “Since when?” She found herself
asking.

“The prospect was brought to my attention
prior to departing Orland.”

“Sir Troy did not mention this to me.”

“There now, do not be troubled. It was well
that he brought it to my attention first. He asked that I take it
before Jacob. If properly conducted, I imagine it would be safe for
you to accept this invitation. Of course guards will accompany you
and see to it you are safe. I suppose Jacob will approve. In fact,
I am certain of it. No doubt he will be proud that they have taken
such a liking to you.”

“Perhaps he will join me.”

“Doubtfully so, my child,” he regretfully
replied. “For logical reasons he hides his face from the manor, as
would other of the Higher Nobles, only to secure the authority of
the lady. You see, upon meeting him they may very well see you as,
um, weak. You understand.” He studied her closely, eventually
raising a hand to her shoulder, a concerned look upon his face.
“Are you well?”

“Yes, I…I just think I need to rest. Perhaps
take a short nap.”

“If I may ask…how have you been? I have not
noticed you at the chapel in some time.”

“I have been well,” she assured him. She
offered a tired smile. Her wine had worn off and she felt like
sleeping. But how could she? She felt so overwhelmed. By the return
of her husband. By Marcus’s gift. By this new event.

The land. She could not help feel the joy of
the residents upon receiving it. Yes, she was all around
overwhelmed by it…by Marcus taking any such thing to mind. How
thoughtful of him, she decided. But why had he so sporadically done
so?

She wondered as she shortly after paced the
floor of her chamber, recalling the news, her reaction. She now
felt for some reason as if she was fully prepared to tell them the
truth.

She clasped her hands gently together and
stared down at them, recalling the feel of Marcus’s skin. She
raised her palms to inhale his scent. Yes, there was a scent.
Something unique

She dropped her hands and went out to the
balcony and just stood there, staring up at the heavens, and then
closing her eyes inhaling the scent of rain. The wind was blowing.
The sky had become cloudy. There would be a storm. A strong one,
she hoped, for then she could rest well.

She felt a light drizzle and held out her
hands to capture some droplets of rain. And she rubbed her hands
together, wiping away the sensation of Marcus’s skin, and the
scent, if indeed there had been one to begin with.

And it did storm. Nobody disturbed her…and
she slept.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Dearest Agatha

I must write to tell you of certain changes
that have taken place. I hope my friends and sisters will
understand and not resent this decision I have made. If the news
has yet to reach Westerly make it known that I am now the wife of
Jacob Trent. Yes I have married the lord of the Great City which
was his request all along. Guilt eats at my insides as I write
because I did not make it known sooner. But whenever I would begin
to express this in a message to you I have refrained because of
guilt to begin with. I did not wish to disappoint any of you. I
hope you are well. I also hope to send someone soon to advise in my
stead. Please tell my friends and my sisters that I am well and
that I miss them and that I love you all dearly always as myself.
Truly, Rachel.

She passed the message on to Darius
personally. He would be sure to deliver it to the proper messenger.
She wished she would have written it sooner. Marcus could’ve
delivered it for her personally.

He stuck around, whether for the sake of his
healing wound or some other cause she could not say. But her
opinion of him made a gradual shift. She went from ecstatic and
relieved to curious and suspicious. She ultimately found herself
disturbed by this sudden act of benevolence. Of course he had
proven a point, but why to this extent, and why had he not told
Jacob about it? No, it was not mentioned…not even with time as she
waited for it to be. And after so much time had passed, she found
herself keeping silent as well lest Jacob think something peculiar
of it. So the good deed had turned into some horrible secret that
she could not figure out for the life of her. But he would hear of
it, become leery of them both for not mentioning it. She just shut
her mouth against speaking it, and her mind from thinking about it.
She would deal with the situation whenever it actually
occurred.

A few very uncomfortable days came and went
following both of the men’s return. Jacob hardly spoke to her at
all. Not that he was cruel or rude. He simply avoided her.

So one evening she decided to invite herself
to his table where he’d the past few evenings dined alone. The
guard announced her, and Jacob stood, wiping the corners of his
mouth with a handkerchief as she entered.

“Jacob,” she greeted with the slight bow of
her head. His eyes swept over her once and again. She had chosen
something perhaps less than suitable to wear—a long, silky gown
that revealed more of her frame than she had up until that moment
exposed. Zaria had insisted upon it. She had noticed the tension
between them, had possibly caught on to the fact that she and Jacob
had not consummated their marriage vows. No matter the case, she
believed in the use of feminine charm to bring closure to any
opposing situation…and to assist one in getting their way. She was
quite certain the use of sensual charm could remedy any discord
between a man and woman. Rachel did not argue or fight with her. It
was very possible that she was correct. She was quite close to
finding out.

“Rachel,” he softly greeted, gradually
standing to his feet. In a bit of a daze he came closer. “Are you
well?”

“Yes,” she guaranteed, keeping her chin up.
Who would’ve thought a relationship could be so complicated.

“I had not received an invitation to dine
with you,” she started, “so I created one of my own. I hope you do
not object.”

Slowly but surely a gentle grin touched his
lips. “How could I?” He raised his hands, touching the palms of
them to her shoulders, running them down her arms, and then bent
his head and gave her the most passionate kiss yet. He then took
her hands, as if disposing of all the desire the kiss had aroused,
and dropped a light kiss upon each of them. Still holding to her
hands, he stepped back to take another look at her. “You look
utterly stunning,” he complimented.