Andrea Kane (37 page)

“T
RENTON? I’M HOME!” ARIANA
scanned the deserted hallway, then looked questioningly at Theresa. “I wonder where he is.”

“He wonders the same.”

“Pardon me?”

“Your husband needs you, pet. Find him.” Theresa’s probing black eyes conveyed a definitive message to her mistress. “Quickly, Your Grace.” She patted the volume in her apron pocket. “And bear in mind that ‘the virtue of adversity is fortitude.’”

A knot of apprehension formed in Ariana’s stomach. Theresa’s quotes of Sir Francis, her sage advice, were never without purpose. Hardship evidently loomed ahead: hardship that would take its toll, require all of Ariana’s inner strength.

Suddenly, locating her husband seemed imperative.

“Trenton!” She raced through the house, first upstairs, then down, colliding with Jennings outside the music room. “Jennings … where is the duke?”

“Why, I’m not sure, Your Grace. I haven’t seen him all afternoon. Perhaps he …”

But Ariana wasn’t listening. She’d already sprinted past the butler, her anxiety increasing by the second. Where could he be?

“Trenton …” The word lodged in her throat as she stood in the open chapel doorway. The back of Trenton’s dark head and broad shoulders were visible from where he sat, slumped in the first-row bench. “Trenton?” Ariana hastened up the aisle, touching him gently on the arm.

Slowly, Trenton turned his head, gazing up at her with dark, tormented eyes.

Her heart hammering, Ariana dropped to her knees beside him. “What is it?”

His expression never changed. “Why are you still torturing me? Haven’t you taken enough from me already?”

Ariana turned white. “Torturing you? What are you talking about?”

“About you. Whoever you are. Why have you followed me here?”

“Trenton … it’s me … Ariana.” She swallowed, battling the sheer panic threatening to envelop her. “I’ve just arrived home from Winsham. Baxter gave me the check. I’m fine. Everything is all right.”

Trenton drank in her earnest features, reaching out to caress her throat and shoulders, stroking down to her arms. “I hurt you,” he muttered, staring at her smooth skin. “Forgive me, misty angel. I vowed that night in the maze never to harm you. And I never intended to. Forgive me.”

“You haven’t harmed me … you’ve
never
harmed me. Trenton!” She seized the lapels of his coat. “What’s happened since I left Broddington? Why are you acting this way?”

“Did I bruise you?” he asked, massaging the gentle curve of her neck, frowning as he inspected the unblemished area. “No, thank heavens I didn’t. I can barely live with myself as it is. I don’t know how I could have withstood it if I’d marred that flawless skin.” Soberly, he kissed the curve of her shoulder. “I never should have forced you to marry me, misty angel. Never should have touched you. You’re far too fine and untainted for a destructive madman like me.”

“Stop it!” She seized his hands, her own fingers cold and trembling. “Why are you saying these things? What happened while I was away?”

“Ah, but you weren’t away. You were right here at Broddington. In the gardens. Directly in front of me. In my sight … in my mind. It was you. I didn’t know it, but it was. Once again I thought you were Vanessa, just as I did the night you freed your white owl. Only this time I hurt you. I nearly choked you. Who knows what I might do next time? What I’ve done in the past but can’t recall? What I’m
capable
of doing if provoked?”

“Listen to me.” Ariana was losing control—fast. “I’ve been at Winsham with Theresa. We just arrived home a few minutes ago. I don’t know who you saw, but it wasn’t me.”

“You’re so bloody beautiful,” he murmured, rubbing his thumb across her collarbone. “How could I confuse you with Vanessa?”

“Trenton … I love you,” Ariana replied desperately.

He went rigid. “Don’t say that again. Ever.”

“But—”

“Dammit, Ariana!” For the first time he reacted, coming to his feet in one savage motion. “I’m unstable, deranged, insane—the last person on earth to be worthy of your love!” He saw Ariana cringe, and his guts twisted in response to her obvious terror. Instinctively, he looked toward the altar, knowing that even prayer could no longer save him. “You’re frightened,” he told his wife bleakly. “You should be. I don’t know who I am or what I’ve done. Nor can I be certain of what I might do in the future. You can’t stay with me. … You have to go.”

“Go?” Ariana’s voice sounded wooden to her own ears.

“Yes. For your own safety.”

“No.” Tears filled her eyes. “I won’t … I
can’t
leave you.”

Trenton clenched his fists, summoning up all his strength. “Fine. Then I’ll leave you.”

“You’ll … what?” Ariana clutched the bench for support.

“I’ll pack immediately and be gone from Broddington by nightfall.” The pain in his wife’s eyes was nearly Trenton’s undoing, but he forced himself to stand firm—for Ariana’s sake. “You’ll lack for nothing; I’ll see to that. All of Broddington will be at your disposal, the servants advised to jump to your command.”

“I don’t care about Broddington!” Ariana burst out, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I care about you.”

For a split second Trenton’s features twisted with anguish. Then his expression changed to one of brittle resolve. “Don’t, misty angel. I’m not worth it.”

He turned and headed for the door, wincing at the sound of his wife’s quiet weeping.

Walking away was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

Dustin alighted from his carriage, grateful to have finally arrived at Broddington. The short drive had seemed endless, his mind filled with unanswered questions and uneasy doubts.

Ariana’s brief message had said only that Trenton was away for several days and, therefore, could Dustin possibly use this time to implement his plans for the sitting room?

It was what she hadn’t said that worried him.

Why was Trenton away? What was his current state of mind? Had there been any further unnerving occurrences?

Armed with the sitting-room sketches, Dustin came to find out for himself.

“Dustin! I’m so glad you could come.” Ariana greeted him in the hallway, a warm smile lighting her face.

Dustin saw beyond the smile, troubled by the dark circles beneath her eyes, the hollows in her cheeks that hadn’t been there last week. “I’m delighted to have been invited,” he said aloud, kissing her hand. “Am I to assume that the sitting room is to be totally transformed by the time Trent returns?”

A shadow crossed Ariana’s face.

This time Dustin didn’t pretend not to notice. “When is Trent coming home?”

“I don’t know.”

Dustin studied her pale face. “I’m aware that your marriage is none of my business. I apologize in advance for making it my business.” He caught her chin gently in his hand. “Did you have an argument?”

“No.” Ariana turned away.

“Sweetheart.” Dustin placed his hands on her shoulders. “I had hoped you thought of me as your friend.”

“I do.”

“Then let me help you.”

Ariana’s shoulders began to jerk convulsively. “I don’t even know where Trenton is.” She wept. “He’s been gone for three days; I don’t know what to do.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“Baxter came to see me, supposedly to make amends. He asked that I come to Winsham the following day. Evidently, he planned to repay a portion of the money he’d extorted from Trenton six years ago.”

Dustin started. “Trent told you about that?”

A shaky nod.

“I see.” Stifling his surprise, Dustin asked, “And did Baxter repay you?”

“Yes. I accepted the check, then came straight home. But apparently …” Her voice broke. “Something happened while I was away.” She managed to keep herself in check long enough to tell Dustin of Trenton’s bizarre behavior: his belief that he was mad and dangerous, his conviction that Vanessa had appeared before him, and his incoherent ramblings that suggested he’d confused Vanessa with Ariana.

“I don’t know what to do,” Ariana concluded in a shattered tone. “I’ve done nothing but think for three days, desperately tried to make sense of all this. Someone is tormenting Trenton’s mind. But who … and how? I want to help him; I’d do anything for him, with or without his permission. But how can I fight something I can’t even see and don’t understand?” She placed her hand over Dustin’s. “I’m sorry I summoned you. It was the coward’s way out. But I didn’t know where else to turn.”

Dustin’s heart wrenched, not only for Trenton, but for the beautiful, innocent girl who was his wife. “I’m glad you sent for me. Together we’ll solve this insanity, once and for all.” He squeezed her fingers. “As for Trent, we can both venture a good guess as to where he is.”

“Spraystone.”

“Exactly. That’s where he always goes when he’s in pain.”

Ariana turned. “I love him, Dustin. I want my love to bring him joy, not grief.”

“You’ve brought more joy back into my brother’s life than I ever dreamed possible. You’ve given him a reason to live again, to see beyond the pain and guilt of the past. Just the fact that he’d place your well-being above his own should tell you something about the way he feels about you.”

“I suppose it does,” she whispered.

“Come.” Dustin gestured decisively toward the staircase. “I think much better when I’m working. Let’s continue this conversation in the sitting room. I’m eager to see your reaction to my designs.”

“The sitting room is aired out and ready, and I’ve had tea and scones sent up so you can eat while you work,” Theresa announced, descending the stairs. “I’ve also left samples of the fresh flowers the duchess specified in her notes, so you can visualize them in the finished room.” She disappeared toward the kitchen.

Dustin nodded approvingly at Ariana. “That was a clever idea, asking Theresa to gather those flowers.”

“I didn’t. In fact, I never even mentioned them or showed her my notes.”

“Then how …” Dustin broke off, grinning. “Never mind. I must admit, baffling as she is, I like your Theresa more each time I see her.”

“When all is done, the help of good counsel is that which setteth business straight.” Theresa issued the proclamation from far down the hall.

“Sir Francis again?” Dustin asked Ariana, his eyes twinkling.

“None other.” Ariana smiled through her tears. “I believe Theresa returns your affections. That says a great deal about your character.”

“Now if only my drawings live up to my charm and my appetite.”

Carefully, Ariana dried her eyes. “I don’t doubt for a moment that they will.”

“Shall we go up and see?”

“They’re perfect!” Ariana knelt on the sitting-room floor, sketches spread out all around her. “Oh, Dustin, they’re exactly what I had in mind.”

“Good. Because I’ve taken the liberty of purchasing the furniture you described. It will be delivered this week.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.” Ariana’s eyes glowed with gratitude. Clearing her throat, she broached what she hoped would be the greatest surprise of all for her husband. “There’s just one more thing.”

“Which is?”

“You mentioned that your father’s personal things are stored at Tyreham. How would you feel about having them sent to Broddington to be displayed in the sitting room?”

Dustin smoothed his mustache, his expression clouded by ambivalence. “Truthfully, I don’t know how Trent will react to any of this, Ariana, least of all to so blatant a testimonial to our father. There are some reminders that still tear him apart, some memories he may never be ready to face. I just can’t predict what his response will be.”

“I’ll take the responsibility … and the risk.” She stood, went to perch on the edge of the desk. “It would mean a great deal to me.”

“Then we’ll give it a try.” He attempted a smile. “The worst Trent can do is fume and shout.”

Ariana lowered her gaze.

“It
is
the worst he can do, Ariana,” Dustin pressed gently.

“I know. I never believed otherwise. But, obviously, someone else does.”

Dustin leaned back in the chair, folding his arms behind his head. “Let’s explore this, beginning with all Trent’s overt enemies, their motivations and what they would gain by mentally torturing him.”

“I gather quite a few people hated him after Vanessa died.”

“They wouldn’t if they knew the truth,” Dustin returned without thinking. Abruptly, he fell silent.

“Dustin,” Ariana said with quiet understanding, “I know what happened between Vanessa and Trenton. As well as what didn’t happen. I also know that her actions, her death … and Baxter’s thoughtless greed … were responsible for your father’s sudden passing. You don’t have to shield me any longer.”

“Trent told you all that?”

“Yes.”

Dustin whistled softly. “You clearly mean more to my brother than even
I
realized. He’s never opened up and shared that information with anyone other than me. His pain … his guilt … were too deeply embedded.”

“I understand his pain. But his guilt is so unfounded! He tried everything to protect your father!”

“Yes, but Trent blamed himself for having instigated the scandal.” Seeing Ariana’s perplexed look, Dustin sighed. “You already know what happened. What you may not know is this: My father disliked and distrusted your sister from the first. He’d evidently had ample opportunity to observe her over several London Seasons and was convinced that she was a faithless fortune hunter. He adamantly advised Trent to stay away from her … for his own sake, and for the sake of the family. Trent didn’t take kindly to the invasion of his personal life, nor did he agree with Father’s assessment … at least not until he’d seen firsthand what Vanessa was capable of. By then it was too late. Trent’s never forgiven himself for not heeding our father’s warning. He’s convinced that if he had, Father would still be alive today.”

“I see.” Ariana swallowed. “I never thought I could feel such contempt for my own family. It seems I’m learning otherwise.”

Dustin’s deep blue eyes softened with compassion. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

“So am I. Sorry that Baxter and Vanessa ruined Trenton’s life. Sorry that I wasn’t old enough to restore it. But I’m old enough now, Dustin.” She folded her hands tightly in her lap, raising her chin with solemn determination. “I can’t rectify the past, but I can remedy the present
and
ensure the future. I intend to do just that; for Trenton’s sake. Which brings me to a grim reality: I don’t think we can dismiss Baxter as a suspect in the unsettling events of the past few days.”