The Dark One: Dark Knight (40 page)

     “Of course, husband,” Mari-Elle replied,
properly obedient.

     She started to back away, eyeing
Remington.  “Surely you are exhausted after your ordeal, mistress, and wish to
retire.  I would ask that you accompany me inside, as I am still unfamiliar
with these surroundings.”

     Gaston was not about to let Mari-Elle alone
with Remington and shook his head sternly.  “Nay, madam, I still have several
questions for Lady Remington before she retires.”

     Mari-Elle’s almost pleasant expression
tensed.  “Of course.”

     She turned and was gone in a billow of
purple satin, marching off across the inner bailey with angry steps.  Gaston
turned away but Remington watched her for a moment.

     “She knows, Gaston,” she whispered.

     “She does not know anything, but I would
wager that she suspects,” he said, watching the groom lead Taran away.  “She is
naturally suspicious.  ‘Tis perfectly very well for her to keep lovers, but she
is insanely distrustful of any woman I speak with.”

     “She keeps lovers?” Remington turned to
him, surprised.

     His eyebrow twitched ironically.  “Since
before we were married.”

     “Oh, Gaston.  How….” she almost said
‘terrible’ until she realized how it sounded. Embarrassed, she turned her head
from him.  “Do you truly have any questions or was that simply to be rid of
her?”

     He moved a step closer to her.  “To
Mari-Elle, a lover is simply a pet to amuse her for a while and then she moves
on to another.  I use the term loosely.  I could refer to the men as
sex-slaves, or the Fancy of the Day,” his voice lowered.  “You are, in every sense
of the word, my lover.  When I refer to you with the expression, I mean it from
the bottom of my heart.  There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of,
angel.”

     She shrugged, offering him a small smile. 
“I was about to accuse her of outrageous infidelity until I realized what a
hypocrite I was.  But I do not feel that way, Gaston. I know what we are doing
is wrong, but I love you so that somehow it must be right.”

     “It is right,” he said huskily.  “Love is
never wrong, angel.”

     She looked at him a moment, suddenly
wrapping her arms about her in the cool night.  “Have you ever loved anyone?”

     “Aye, verily,” he said shortly.

     She blinked; suddenly regretful she had
even asked the question.  He had answered so quickly, with such certainty, that
she suddenly felt second best and strangely belittled.

     Arik shouted at him and he waved his second
off a moment before turning back to Remington.  “Well?”

     “Well what?” she answered stiffly.  “I am
cold, my lord, if you will excuse me.”

     “Remi,” he said in a husky growl.  “Aren’t
you going to ask me who?”

     “Nay, my lord, for it is none of my
affair,” she said coolly.  “I will bid you good night, then.”

     She started to walk away but she heard him
laughing low behind her.  Puzzled, she turned to look at him; she had never
truly heard him laugh and her heart jumped crazily at his smile.  He had the
most beautiful smile she had ever seen and she suddenly realized she wasn’t the
only one who thought so.  That is, if the woman he had loved previously loved
him in return.

     Irritation and uncertainty swept her.  “Why
are you laughing at me?” she demanded.

     He continued to snicker, closing the
distance between them.  “Because you are jealous and I find it amusing.  No one
had ever been jealous on my behalf and I am flattered.”

     “Do not be,” she turned swiftly and marched
into the castle.

     He watched her go with a smile still
playing on his lips.  “Oh, Remi, do not you know who it is I love?”

***

     Mari-Elle was waiting dutifully in the
solar when her husband joined her nearly an hour later.  Truthfully, she was
fuming that he had kept her waiting so long, but acted nothing but the proper
wife. 

     “My lord, how kind of you to break off from
your duties for me,” she said.  “Would you care for some bread and cheese?  You
missed the evening meal and….”

     He put up a sharp hand to cut her off as he
moved into the room.  “Stop prattling, madam.  I have no desire to eat,” he
stopped in front of her and braced his legs apart, crossing his massive arms. 
“We have several serious matters to discuss and I would begin.  Firstly, why
are you even here?”

     Slammed, Mari-Elle sat quickly in the
nearest chair and folded her thin hands.  “I…I missed you, my lord.  We have
been apart for so long that I longed to see you.”

     His brow furrowed.  “You
missed
me? 
Please, Mari-Elle, if you are going to make excuses, then try to think of
believable ones.  I want the truth, madam.  Why are you here?”

     “I told you the truth.” she insisted.  “My
lord, I have had ample time to think on my life and I realize how I have
grievously wronged you,” she looked down at her hands pathetically.  “I have
been a terrible wife, I know, and I have prayed seriously on the fact.  I wish
to make amends, Gaston.  I want to be a true wife to you.”

     He had known her far too long to believe
anything she said.  “’Tis too late for that,” he said coldly.  “You ruined your
chances thirteen years ago.”

     He went instantly wary when tears appeared
in her eyes.  “Can you not forgive me, my lord?  I was young and foolish and
knew naught the treasure I had in you.  I am so proud of you and your
reputation, my lord.  As is Trenton.”

     He found himself angry that she had pulled
his son into this. “Trenton is naught to do with you, madam.  You birthed the
lad and for that I shall always be grateful, but you are no more a mother to
him than I am a father.  Yet to my son, I will make amends. But not with you.

     Her hand flew to her face and the tears
started.  “Why must you be so cruel when I am trying to apologize for my sins?”

     “Confess you sins to God, madam, for he is
the only one who cares.  I do not.  Furthermore, you will gather your household
together and leave Mt. Holyoak no later than the day after tomorrow,” he raised
a stern eyebrow at her.  “Is that clear?  You are not welcome here at my keep.”

     “But I am your wife.” she suddenly shot
back, much more like the Mari-Elle he knew.  “How can you disregard me like
rubbish?”

     “Easily,” he responded.  “Since you treat
me the same way.  You will return to Clearwell and you will stay there, for I
am giving it to you.”

     She was preparing to hotly respond when his
last words suddenly caught her attention.  “Give it to me?  What are you
saying?”

     “Just that,” he said.  “I will give you the
title to Clearwell and three-quarters of my wealth.”

     She stared at him, wondering what in the
world was going on with the man.  Had he suddenly lost his mind?  Clearwell was
worth an enormous amount, and with the added gift of wealth, the numbers were
staggering.  She swallowed, her tears vanishing.

     “Why would you do this?” she asked in a
hoarse whisper.  “I do not understand.”

     For the first time, he uncrossed his arms
and moved to the chair opposite her, feeling the heat from hear the hearth.  He
watched the flames for a moment.

     “Mari-Elle, we have never had a marriage. 
It has been a contractual obligation,” his voice was quiet.  “My father and
your father betrothed us when we were six years old and we had met only three
times before a priest joined us in matrimony.  The only thing of value that has
resulted from this union is Trenton.  The rest I have tried sorely to ignore.”

     She watched his face, thinking him terribly
handsome but far too large for her taste.  He met her gaze.  “Are you happy? He
asked.

     “Happy?” she repeated as if the concept had
never occurred to her.  “I…I suppose so.”

     “Then that is another way in where you and
I are different,” he said.  “I am tired of living this life, Mari-Elle, and I
am tired of hating and resenting you.  I want out.”

     “Out? What do you mean?” she asked in
alarm.

     “I want to end our marriage,” he answered
calmly.  “I will leave you well supported and you will want for nothing, and
all I ask is that you agree to an annulment.  I will walk away with Trenton and
one-quarter of my wealth.  You will get everything else.”

     Her eyes widened as his words sank in. 
Annulment.  My God, if he had asked her three months ago, she would have agreed
without hesitation.  She would have been free and very, very wealthy to pursue
her loves and interests.  She was suddenly angry with him for not having
suggested this sooner.  True, the church frowned upon divorce, but an annulment
was different.  There were all sorts of excuses that could be used, and with
Gaston’s connection to the crown, anything was possible.

     But she thought of the babe growing within
her, the child that had made her menses cease and even now cramped and fatigued
her greatly.  She was terrified of physicians, who made an abortion out of the
question, and she certainly did not want to face life with a bastard child.  Nay,
as much as it pained her, she would have to refuse his offer solely on the
basis of her honor.  She did not want gossips spreading rumors of her
infidelity, bearing a child out of wedlock.

     She lowered her gaze.  “As generous as you
are being, my lord, I must refuse.  I would remain married to you.”

     “Why?” he asked, his voice louder.  “I do
not want to be married to you.”

     She swallowed hard, a pained look on her
face.  “And I do not blame you for all of the grief I have caused you, but..”

     “Grief?” he shot out of his chair,
clenching his big fists as he swung away from her.  “My God, Mari-Elle, you
have caused me more than grief.  You have given yourself to every pretty
peacock that catches your eye, and I ignored you because I cared not for you in
the least.  As long as you were discreet, I looked the other way.  I cannot
count the men you have whored with; shaming and disrespecting our marriage you
are suddenly so intent on maintaining.  I cared not for your liaisons until you
bedded with Richard and threw it in my face with every chance that arose,” he
turned to her, his jaw flexing.  “I could live with your gigolos, and I could
live with your lavish spending.  But you humiliated me to the core when you
slept with our king.”

     Her eyes were wide, uncertain.  “Is that
why you betrayed him at Bosworth and fought for Henry Tudor?”

     “Among other reasons,” he mumbled, running
his fingers through his thick hair to slick it back.  It had been a long time
since he had allowed himself to get worked up over Mari-Elle’s indiscretions
with Richard.  He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm.  “I want to end
this marriage, Mari-Elle.  I know we would both be a far sight happier.”

     She looked at her hands, mulling over her
thoughts.  “I cannot,” she whispered after a moment.  “For Trenton’s sake, I
cannot.  I want to be your wife, your lover, and your friend.  I promise I
shall work hard, Gaston, I won’t fail.”

     “There is nothing to fail at; it is already
dissolved.  I do not want you, Mari-Elle.  I have had enough of you in my life
and I simply wish to be rid of you. I believe my offer is most generous.”

     “It is, my lord, but I am not interested,”
she said, raising her face to him.  “I shall not agree to the annulment.”

     He gazed down at her.  “Do not force me,
Mari-Elle.  The consequences will be severe.”

     Her head came up sharply.  “Is that a
threat?  You would murder me to obtain your freedom?”

     “I did not mention murder,” he said
evenly.  “I simply suggested that you not force my hand.  I am more powerful
than you could possibly comprehend.”

     She was shaken and unbalanced.  She
remembered her vow when she had first come to Mt. Holyoak; she must be smarter
than her husband. 
Think, think!

     “Then you force me to make another
confession, Gaston, although I was fully intent on sparing you,” she said
softly, trying to appear sorrowful.  “I do not want your pity, but I can see
that I must be truthful.”

     He was fully annoyed; another lie.  “What?”

     She sat back in the chair, her gaze on the
hearth.  “I…I am dying, Gaston.  I have an ailment that strikes down so many
women, a most private ailment.  I do not know how much longer I have to live;
neither does my physician.  I am simply trying to make good of my life with the
time I have left, with you and with Trenton.  You would not deny me a last
request, would you?”

     He cocked his head.  “Really, Mari-Elle. 
Do not think to play on my sympathies, for I have none.  Dying, lying and all,
I want you out of my keep within two days.  And I will have my annulment.”

     Her first reaction was to screech at him
but she held her temper; she thought her dying excuse to be quite clever,
however, quickly thought of.  And she intended to use it to her full
advantage.