Her anger, her desperation, was gaining speed. Her eyes darkened, bright with tears. “How could you trade my son away?” she hissed.
“I did not trade him away, Remi,” he said quietly. “I agreed to the term, but only to gain the signed consent. Guy only did it to drive a wedge between us. He knew how you would react.”
She turned away from him, tears spilling over. “Does my contract bear that term? Must I agree to it, too?”
“Aye.”
“And if I sign it and we go back on the term and bring Dane to Clearwell, can the church come and take my son away?” her voice was a shaking whisper. “Can they return him to Guy?”
“He will not be with us at Clearwell,” Gaston said softly. “When I take Dane from Mt. Holyoak, I will take him to another house to foster. He will never be with us at Clearwell.”
“How can you do that?” She turned to look at him deliberately. “If Guy is legal guardian, with all say in his future, you will have no decision in his future whatsoever.”
He swallowed hard; she saw it. Then, he stood, removing his helm and scratching at his scalp. Apparently he had no answer, and it angered and scared her all the more.
“You are asking me to relinquish all rights to my son,” she hissed in desperation. “You are asking me to give him over to a man who is a beastly monster. There is no telling what he would do to Dane without me and my sisters there to take his aggressions out on. Gaston, I would rather remain married toGuy than see that happen. I will not give up my son. Not even for you.”
He looked at her. His face was expressionless except for the naked, raw pain in his eyes. It seemed to reach out and grab her, matching the pain in her heart.
“I cannot believe you said that.”
“And I cannot believe you would disregard my son’s welfare simply to obtain your wants. Do your own desires mean so much to you that you would cast aside an eight year old boy who worships the ground you walk on?”
“I love him, too, Remi. You are not being fair,” he said quietly. “Obviously, I do not intend to honor that particular term. I did not realize it would create such a conflict between us.”
“Oh? And just how do you intend to hide my son from the church and his legal guardian? Keep him hidden in the vault for years until the matter is forgotten? Or send him far away so that I will never see him again?” Her insides were eating themselves out, her emotions raging. “You are asking me to sign a binding contract, one that can literally be enforced. Do you not think that Guy would make our lives miserable for years using his leverage with Dane? We will never be rid of him.”
“I am not concerned with it,” he repeated. “If I was, I would not have agreed.”
“You had no right to agree,” she said coldly. “I will not allow it. I will not surrender my son.”
His heart was breaking in a million pieces. “Those were his terms, Remington. All or nothing.”
“Then I choose nothing,” she whispered. “Gaston, I love you more than life itself. I suppose if it were to come down to it, I love you more than my son. But I will not give up the very reason that has kept me living until I met you. You ask too much.”
His face was ashen. “You do not mean that.”
“I do. Every word. There will be no annulment,” she whispered. “Since you are keeping Mt. Holyoak, I will not seek sanctuary with Dane. He can stay and foster with you. But I will seek it for myself. I will not go back to Guy, and I will not marry a man who would knowingly give away my son.”
He sank into the nearest chair with a thud. His eyes were wide with disbelief. “Remi, you can’t mean any of this. Think about what you are saying.”
“I have,” she couldn’t look at him; her pain threatened to tear her apart.
“You would hate me for loving you so much that I was willing to do anything?” he asked hoarsely. “You are not being fair, love, in any of this. I would not knowingly give Dane up, but I do not see where we have any choice. I still do not believe we are giving him up. He will be sent away to foster somewhere, out of Stoneley’s reach.”
“By whose authority?” She swung around to him, tears wetting her cheeks. “When I sign that contract, I sign away my rights. I cannot order my son away to foster; only Guy can do that. And I swear to you, he will not. He shall keep my son with him, if only to torture me and he knows it.”
Gaston gazed back at her, hearing her words over and over, I cannot believe you anymore; No annulment; I will not give up my son, not even for you.
“What would you have me do, Remi?” he asked softly. “Return to Guy and tell him that you will not agree to his last term?”
She couldn’t think anymore; her mind was fogging over with despair and confusion. Her stomach was starting to lurch again and she felt faint.
“Go away, Gaston,” she whispered. “I cannot think anymore. Just… go away.”
The pain, the anguish of yesterday was nothing compared to the pain and anguish he felt at this moment. “I love you, Remi. More than anything, I love you.”
Hot tears spilled down her cheeks as she faced the wall. “Go away and do not come back. I do not want to see you anymore.”
