Antillius looked him in the eye. “She wanted something from me and I wanted something from her,” he said. “She was willing to pay the price, although I understand that it was only to save you and your men. It was not because her heart was in this decision. She made it because she had to.”
Gaetan was increasingly concerned. “Be plain, Antillius. What bargain was made?”
Antillius continued. “You will recall that I offered my daughters to you and your men this morning,” he said. “You will recall why. My people are a dying race and I explained to you how important it was for my daughters to bear sons, strong sons, to continue our family. I am a desperate man, de Wolfe, but you already know that. When you and your men left this morning, there were no takers to my offer, so the lady agreed that there would be at least one taker.”
Gaetan didn’t like the sound of that at all. “What could she possibly agree to?”
“I agreed that I would allow you to marry Lygia in my stead,” Ghislaine said hoarsely. She was looking at the ground, unable to face him. “I told Antillius that I would insist you marry Lygia so that at least one of his daughters could bear sons from a man of new blood. And your sons will be the strongest and greatest of them all.”
Gaetan was horrified at the mere suggestion. “How could you agree to such a thing?” he demanded. “That you would give up –?”
Ghislaine cut him off as she burst into tears. “I had no choice!” she said. “If I did not agree, then they would not help you, and if they did not help you, you would die. Your men would all die. Do you not understand, Gaetan? I did it because I love you. I would rather have you alive and married to another than a dead memory of my life that could have been. I did it to save your life!”
Gaetan was beside himself. He looked at the top of Ghislaine’s head as she stood there and wept before turning to look at Antillius. For a man that had only gratitude in his expression just moments before, now there was only hatred as he faced off against the man he’d considered an ally.
“How could you make such a bargain with her?” he hissed. “You have put her honor on the line and now mine with your unreasonable demands. How in God’s name could you manipulate her like that? Because she loves me, she agreed to your demands. Only a vile man would take advantage of a woman like that.”
Antillius was faced with a very angry warrior. Not that he expected otherwise. He was torn between defiance and remorse.
“When your family is dying off, see if you would not make a deal with the devil to save them,” he said quietly. “I am sorry, de Wolfe. I truly am. But that was the price of my assistance. If you have any honor in you, you will abide by the lady’s bargain.”
Gaetan had never felt more hollow, more devastated, in his entire life. He understood Antillius’ point of view; he simply didn’t agree with the man’s methods.
“So you would force me into a marriage with your daughter, knowing that I love another woman?” he asked, incredulous. “Surely there is another way.”
Antillius was deeply pained by the grief he’d brought about. “I wish there was. This morning, I asked you if you would be willing to marry your men to my daughters but you evidently refused and did not have the decency to tell me. Therefore, I must do all I can to provide at least one of them with a good husband and to ensure the survival of my family. Please forgive me, de Wolfe, but this is something I had to do.”
Gaetan simply stared at the man. As a warrior of consummate honor, Gaetan was a man who stood by his word. He had never broken his word, not to anyone. Even though he’d not made this bargain, Ghislaine had and, if he didn’t go through with it, he would be destroying her credibility and his right along with it.
Oh, God… is it really true? Must I do this?
He was, therefore, at a loss; he couldn’t even look at his men, knowing they heard the real reason behind the unexpected help they’d received against Alary. It was heartbreaking in so many ways because now they, too, knew his honor was on the line. They were watching him to see what he would do. Would he refuse? Or would he keep a bargain that would destroy his emotions as well as Lady Ghislaine’s? His honor, especially in front of his men, was the most important thing to him. His men had to know he was unbreakable, no matter what the cost.
Realizing he had no choice, he turned away from the group, still holding Ghislaine’s hand.
“Give me a moment, if you will,” he muttered. “I must speak with Ghislaine.”
Antillius watched the big man as he turned away, pulling a sobbing woman up against him. He almost called out to them to apologize again but he thought better of it. His apologies meant nothing. If he was truly sorry, he would have broken the bargain himself but he wasn’t willing to do that. As he stood there uncomfortably, listening to the lady’s weeping, a deep voice spoke.
“There is no need for Gaetan to marry your daughter, my lord.”
Antillius found himself looking at Aramis, the man who had defended his daughters against the Men of Bones. He rather liked Aramis, in fact.
“Unfortunately, there is,” he said to him. “Mayhap it is not the most savory bargain, but you will not interfere.”
Aramis shook his head. “I must,” he said. “If you are looking for a husband for Lygia, please consider me instead of Gaetan. I would consider it an honor.”
Antillius looked at Aramis in surprise. In fact, even Gaetan came to a halt, having heard his knight’s offer. “Aramis?” Gaetan said hesitantly. “Nay, man… you cannot do this.”
Aramis turned to look at Gaetan, his dark eyes glimmering with warmth. “Do what?’ he asked. “Marry a lovely accomplished woman? Are you so selfish that you would try to keep me from every beautiful woman in Mercia? I am quite serious, Gate. I spent time with Lygia and her sisters last night and Lygia is a lovely woman. I would consider it an honor to marry her in your stead.”
Gaetan’s mouth popped open in shock as he looked to Antillius, who was looking at Aramis with equal shock. But somewhere amongst the disbelief, hope and joy sprang forth. “Is this true?” Antillius asked. “You would actually… but why did you not say anything before now?”
Aramis cocked a dark eyebrow. “When has there been the opportunity, my lord? We have had very little time to speak that was not full of death or panic.”
He had a point. Antillius looked to Gaetan, who was heading back in his direction with his attention solely on Aramis.
“Truly, Aramis?” Gaetan asked, astonished. “You would do this?”
Aramis looked at Gaetan. “Aye, I would.” His gaze moved to Ghislaine, who still had tears on her cheeks even though her sobbing had come to an abrupt halt. He smiled at her. “Sometimes when you love someone, you would do anything to make them happy. Is that not so, Lady Ghislaine.”