Lady Trent (26 page)

“I take the slightest act of suspicion
seriously when it comes to your life.”

There was a time of silence.

“So, then, Pearce is no longer in
hiding.”

“But still falsely charged, and the girl will
not speak, protecting the guilty…out of her own guilt, it seems. I
have personally warned his accuser against pursuing his life. The
matter will be brought before the court in detail. But if anything
at all happens to him, he will die.”

“I have not witnessed Pearce’s livelihood
since my return.”

“He is with the scribes as of now. There he
is needed anyway. But as I was saying…this attack. Who do you
suppose the man was?”

“I don’t know.”

“Perhaps these events are linked
together.”

“That the attack was meant to keep me from
following you to Arlington? It is impossible to say for sure. But
it was successful in holding me up.”

Another stretch of silence and Jacob finally
answered his original question.

“Over the years there have been rumors…we
have all heard them…that Alfred was planning to attack…out of pure
vengeance. He’s probably the most foolish king to have ever sat on
the Roark throne. But we have grown accustomed to such rumors here
and there, and nothing has ever transpired following them. But now,
according to a chief Roark official, who is an advisor to Prince
Fredrick, there has been some dissention amongst the nobles, and
they wish to overthrow the king and place the prince on the throne.
The warning has been planted in the hopes we would be prepared
prior their attack, and overtake the king’s armies. They have
agreed to disclose the location of the king if he, by chance, went
into hiding. One suggestion was that we prepare an army and invade
Roark before Roark can invade us.” He suddenly stood. “So there you
have it, Sir Marcus, an explanation of my visit to Arlington, and a
very valid reason as to why I did not want to discuss it.”

It was a good reason. A very good reason.
Just like his was a good reason for keeping the truth hidden—to lie
to him directly when questioned. He planned to send a message to
the emperor describing what had occurred between the two spies, but
not this meeting between these supposed ‘officials’. Of course they
both knew that this could be counterfeit…a trap. Marcus was very
certain of the possibility. Jacob could have very well walked into
a trap. Even heavily guarded. Perhaps he should have taken this as
an opportunity to tell him the entire truth. But that would
possibly prove devastating in the end. Besides, he had no right to
do anything without the authority of the emperor who had already
decided it best Jacob did not know, preferring Marcus locate the
culprits, which he had failed to thus far do. He felt a surge of
both determination and anger. Damn whomever…the king, perhaps. It
would appear so. But someone else, he had the feeling, and going by
a few clues here and there was certain of it. There were more
people involved than the king although it was very likely he craved
revenge.

How he wished he’d had the opportunity to go
along with Jacob and hear these men out. Would they have allowed
it? Perhaps the man who’d attacked him had done so under the orders
of these ‘officials’. Had he been present, would they have
persuaded Jacob against it or demanded otherwise? He was just
curious.

And determined. Yes, he was sick to death of
chasing around men with no faces. Sick to death of feeling defeated
by the foes, whomever they were, no matter the number of them. And
he would discover them. Yes, very soon so help him…

******

The next morning, Jacob’s mood was back to
normal. Rachel was thankful. This was the day she would depart for
Orland, and she did not want to do so with any tension between
them. She wanted things to be normal…and they were.

She and Jacob ate together, and it was
obvious as they did so that they were both recalling that intimate
encounter from the night before, one that could have very well led
them into making love for the very first time. But, then again, he
preferred there be no wine involved if perchance the union ever did
take place, and she...well, she was beginning to not care one way
or another.

“I want to apologize for my actions last
night,” he at one point said. It was quite evident in his eyes that
he wasn’t really the slightest bit sorry.

“No need,” she told him. “I am not
offended.”

There was another space of silence. He
commented on how extravagant she looked. Yes, she had adorned
herself almost as a queen. Zaria had assisted in picking out her
gown. Tilly had rummaged through the generous assortment of
jewelry, choosing bracelets and necklaces of gold and
diamonds…earbobs, and a tiara, also of gold with rubies engraved
into it. She did look every bit a queen. Those she passed could
only hold their breath at first sight of her, and gape with an
admiration she noticed and appreciated, and that made her walk very
proudly.

“Perhaps you should have been wed to a king
opposed to a petty noble,” he joked.

“It isn’t too much, is it?”

“No, no, no…you are wise to present yourself
like this…if only the emperor could meet you now as you are. He
would be impressed. This is certainly not the image of the woman he
has heard about in times past.””

“What sort of man is he, the emperor?”

“Well, I suppose it depends. He can be quite
stern…but at the same time he is adaptable.”

“Is he old?”

“Yes, but he still has his senses about him.
He is possibly the greatest ruler New Ebony has known or ever will
for that matter.”

“I often wonder about his acknowledgments of
the conditions of Westerly…why he has done nothing to help it.”

“There is something that very few are aware
of, that I, myself, do not feel at ease mentioning, although I do
sense an urge to do so.”

She raised her glass, and simply held it
there, the rim so close to her lips. “What is it?”

“I can only say this, my dear, over the years
the question has arisen as to what should be done with Westerly,
and then how it had managed to succeed without proper government.
The name Rachel the Elder came up and it became rumored that you
were most responsible for keeping it as it was…a peaceful place
where the man or woman with little ability could actually live and
possibly contribute something to a community. So, you see, when he
heard that you and I would be wed, he was astonished. He had
already accumulated enough proof to feel a sense of respect and
gratitude for you.”

She felt as if he had not actually said what
he’d originally meant to. She thought on this answer, raised her
glass and took a sip of wine. She lowered it, still thinking on
what he’d just told her. “Well, then,” she finally said, “had I
known I was so respected I would have perhaps sent a message to him
opposed to you in regards to the monetary support the community
required.”

“Do you regret you did not, and that you
requested it of me opposed to him?”

Her eyes sparkled. A small grin touched her
lips. “No, not at all.”

As they sat at the table, her things, which
had been packed that night and early morning, were delivered to the
carriage. They walked hand in hand and began their good-byes. His
embrace was comforting, and the touch of his lips a reminder of the
kiss they’d shared the night before.

She was then escorted to the carriage by
Nicholas, one of dozens who would travel along. Marcus was there
holding the door of the carriage opened for her. She stopped in her
tracks at the sight of him. “Sir Marcus,” she stiffly greeted, and
then all the more frank asked, “What are you doing?”

He looked her up and down before bringing his
eyes back up to meet and settle with hers. “Jacob didn’t tell
you.”

“Tell me what?” She demanded.

“He asked me to escort you to Orland, and to
be your companion for the event. Your safety is his number one
concern and you are certainly safe in my hands.”

She pulled the hem of her gown from the
ground, distracting her attention from him and stepped upward. He
took her elbow and she allowed him. He helped her inside. She felt
dismayed when he, too, got into the carriage and seated himself.
While he closed the door she peered at him.

“Should you not take part with the
guards?”

“I’m sure they will do well enough without
me, milady. Besides, Jacob requested I remain by your side so much
as able.”

The horses before them began moving and the
carriage gave a slight jerk as it too started forward. Rachel felt
very uncomfortable. Remembering her husband, she looked out and
waved as the horses trotted away, taking her further from him. She
peered out the window as they passed onlookers along the street,
many waving as they passed.

“You look very well-to-do,” he eventually
commented. “Extravagant.”

“You disapprove?” She raised a brow at him.
“Your eyes say otherwise.”

“And this expression of arrogance upon your
face…” he remarked.

“Do you take pleasure in scrutinizing me, Sir
Marcus? If so, you may find me giving you even more occasion to
take pleasure in doing so.”

He looked away, and she feeling as if she had
succeeded in besting him, did the same. There was silence, nothing
but the sounds of the guards calling out one to another, laughter
on occasion.

“I feel as if you have intentionally kept a
distance from me lately,” he eventually said.

“What do you expect?” She asked with the
raise of a brow. “Should I make it a point to speak with a man who
continually criticizes me and has since day one? You, yourself, are
a man of the world, yet you condemn me with every chance to do so.
You seem obsessed with my character and disturb me all around. And
your good deed confuses me. I find it troubling it has not been
declared to my husband. Therefore, I feared as time went on to
mention it myself lest he think something odd of it.”

“There’s nothing odd about it,” he said. “I
simply did a good deed. Is that no longer acceptable by your
standards?”

“Standards,” she quietly mocked, “As if mine
had anything at all to do with it. You reacted according your own
standards, whatever those are. I have yet to comprehend. Then again
I have not since entering the Great City been able to comprehend
you at all. Considering the circumstances…” She stopped and then
snapped at him, “Why did you agree to be my escort?!”

“Of all the years I have known him, I have
yet to turn down a request from him.”

“This should have been the exception.”

“When it comes to Jacob, there are no
exceptions. He makes his requests and I honor them. In this
instance I felt he was correct in saying you would not be safer in
the hands of any other.”

“You have too much confidence in
yourself.”

“Only so much as has been proven.”

“You bare proof of defeat on your chest.”

“Not defeat,” he corrected, “But mere
reminders that I can survive no matter the cost, and also of
several men whom this world certainly became better without. The
last will be no exception…in due time,” he added.

“For every man there is another who may
overpower him.”

“I much more fear the ability of a woman to
do the same.”

She was not sure what to say, so she too
diverted her attention to the scenery beyond her window. She felt
unsettled, and without thinking eventually asked, “What woman has
ever overpowered you?” To which he gave no reply.

Silence fell, and despite it the ride went by
quickly.

They arrived, and at the manor house her
things were transported to her quarters. She was kindly greeted and
guarded at all times. The entire estate was alive with excitement.
She stood out on the veranda, up above on a platform, completely
guarded, and applauded by the people.

This lasted a very long time, and did become
tiring, but it was also very uplifting, although she was not even
sure herself what to do with the energy she received from this
applause and admiration.

Some disagreements were afterward brought to
her attention, cases between the residents that had not been
resolved. As it was yet a bit early, she took this opportunity to
sit in the judgment hall and hear the matters. Those with these
sorts of issues were beckoned upon and brought before her. The
first an elderly lady who would not stop bowing.

She came down from her seat and took the
woman by the shoulder, urging her up.

“You needn’t bow,” she told her. “We are both
women, you and I. You, elderly. You have paid your dues, and if any
should bow it should be a youngster like me.”

This made the elder very happy, and the
onlookers. The room was packed. But it was guarded well. Only she
wondered as time went on. Where exactly had Marcus gone to?

******

Of course he was present, peering at her thru
a slit in the curtain overhead, looking down below. It was as he
watched that someone came up from behind, popping up at his left.
Roselyn. She, Tilly and Zaria had accompanied them to care for
Rachel and whatever needs she required.

Marcus loosed his gentle hold on the curtain,
turning his body so as to face her. She appeared very troubled by
something or another. But he didn’t speak. He simply waited for her
to do so first.

She took his arm, leaning inward to speak so
that only he could possibly hear. “I must speak with you, Sir
Marcus. It is urgent.”

“What is it?”

“Please, may we speak elsewhere? In
private?”

He glanced about, considering a place, and
discovered a room rarely occupied so far as he could
tell—especially now seeing as to how all emphasis was on Rachel and
her activities. He took her by the elbow and ushered her into the
room. He closed the door quietly and then turned for an
explanation.