Page 83 of The Darkland

Again, Lionel nodded. “The last I heard they had both survived into old age,” he said thoughtfully. “They are still alive but very old, and I have heard tale that they both had gaggles of descendants. In fact, Wellesbournehas sons that serve our king and I believe de Russe’s sons have conquered half of the known world.”

The women grinned. “It is a wonder anyone survived that battle,” Lily said as she collected her sewing. “I am so glad you did, Father. You were not married to Mother at the time, were you?”

Lionel shook his head. “I was barely twenty years and one when Bosworth was etched into the annals of history,” he said. “I did not marry your mother until I was well past thirty years and she was sixteen years of age. It was an arranged marriage, and advantageous. All good marriages are. Lily, your marriage is also a contract marriage.”

Lily nodded, stabbing at the material. “But I happen to like my future husband,” she sighed. “I am fortunate. But Mara is even more fortunate; she and Kirk love one another. Father, you loved Mother, did you not?”

Careful, Lionel told himself. He could see a window opening and he was about to climb through. He was extremely cautious as he proceeded in the minefield between pleasant conversation and life-changing information.

“I did,” he said softly, his gaze on Mara. “I learned to love her. She was a good woman and I was very fortunate. But she was not my first love; no. First loves are not meant to last. They are the loves that teach us what it means to feel for someone and to adore them. That way, the second time around, it is much easier.”

Mara was listening with interest in between brush strokes. The conversation was engaging and flowing easily. She had no idea he was setting her up for the kill.

“How long where you married?” she asked innocently.

“Over twenty years,” he told her. “I miss her. I miss the companionship and the affection. It is something I never imagined I would have again, with anyone. But it seems that I was mistaken.”

Lily looked curiously at her father. “What do you mean?”

It was the obvious question, one that Lionel was looking for.Now is your chance, he told himself.Be careful!

“Since your brother died, I am without an heir,” he told his daughter quietly. “You know this, and you know how I have lamented the fact. All I had was to go to Michael but instead, it will pass to you and your husband, and the House of le Vay will cease to exist. That has always deeply saddened me, as I have wished that your mother and I had been blessed with at least another son to carry on the name. It is a prayer I have had since your brother died but one that has gone unfulfilled until now.”

Lily was still looking at him curiously. She set her sewing down. “Be plain, father,” she said. “Has something happened?”

Lionel stood up; he had to. He was too close to the lovely faces and when he delivered the news, he didn’t want to be so close that he couldfeel Mara’s tears. He paced away from them, across Lily’s lovely sitting room, and paused by the lancet window overlooking the bailey.

“Something has happened indeed,” he said quietly. “It would seem that I have been presented with a marriage proposal and it is one I intend to accept. I understand that this young lady, the bride that has been offered to me, has a suitor but she must understand that marriages are not made of love and dreams. They are made of politics and breeding and standing. I will offer this young lady the barony of Wyresdale, of course, and all of the wealth related to it. All of this I will offer her; she will never want for anything. Do you not think she will be amiable to such an offer?”

He turned to look at the young women as he said it. Lily nodded, as did Mara. In fact, both girls looked very sincere in their response.

“The young woman will be most fortunate, Father,” Lily insisted. “I am very happy that you have received the offer. But you said that she has a suitor?”

Lionel nodded, coming away from the window as he moved back in their direction. “A knight,” he said. “An infatuation, I am sure. It will pass. What I offer her is much more substantial.”

Lily’s brow furrowed. “That is true; it is,” she said hesitantly. “But… but what of her feelings? If she has a suitor, she must care deeply for him. Have you not considered that?”

“Of course I have,” he said. “I have considered her feelings fairly and I hope dispassionately. Although I am not unsympathetic, I am sure she will understand that marriage to me will be best for her. She seems to come from an impoverish family so the wealth she will acquire when we marry is beyond her dreams. In the end, her suitor will fade from memory because she will know that marriage to me was the right choice. It is the reasonable choice.”

Lily was more confused than ever. “She is impoverished?” she repeated. “How in the world did you come to an agreement with a bride who carries no dowry?”

Lionel was very serious. “She does not need a dowry,” he said. “She will provide me with a son and that is worth a thousand dowries. Make no mistake; I am agreeing to this marriage because it is my chance to have a son, another heir. Lily, as much as I love you, you are my daughter. A man needs a son. I marry again to have one so that the le Vay name will not die. In exchange for a son, I will make this young woman wealthy beyond her wildest dreams.”

Lily didn’t know what to say to all of that. In fact, she was rather embarrassed that Mara had heard all of it. Her father’s thoughts were deeply personal;toopersonal to be spoken in front of a mere acquaintance like Mara. When she looked at Mara, rather apologetically, she could seethat Mara’s attention was on Lionel. She held a rather innocent expression, as if the passion of Lionel’s words truly had no meaning to her. She didn’t know the man at all, so her opinion of his feelings was superficial at best. Lily returned her attention to her father.

“Then I am happy for you,” she finally said. “Who is this young woman? Do I know her?”

Lionel nodded. “You do,” he said softly, his gaze finally trailing to Mara. “You are sitting at the table with her.”

Lily’s eyes widened as she looked at Mara, but Mara had no immediately reaction. She had just completed a brush stroke on her half-finished painting so her focus was on her art and not Lionel’s words. But the words eventually sank in and her head came up, looking at Lily and seeing the woman’s shock.

When Mara saw the look on Lily’s face, it began to occur to her that she was the only other woman at the table and surely Lionel would not be speaking of his own daughter.Impoverished. Her suitor, a knight. All of these clues began to go off in her mind like lightning hits and the paint brush clattered to the table.

“What… what’s this you say?” she looked at the man with horror. “Surely… surely you do not meanme?”

Lionel nodded patiently. “I do,” he said, almost apologetically. “Edmund de Cleveley, your guardian and the man entrusted to look out for your welfare, as offered you in marriage to me and I have accepted.”

Mara just stared at him. “That is not possible,” she said flatly. “It is not true.”