“Then I will make a proposal,” she said. “You have asked for a girl under my guardianship, but I cannot give this to you because although I am their guardian, their families alone have the authority to broker a marriage. I do not have that power. What I do have, however, is the power to offer you the Earldom of Axminster in exchange for peace. I am not beyond childbearing age and this could be a business arrangement and nothing more. Moreover, it would unite Axminster and de Honiton and create a large empire. Life at Axminster can continue as it has, with me at the helm, and you may live at de Honiton and continue your life as it is. As your wife, I will bear children for you and, God willing, a son. A son with de Kerrington blood who will inherit Axminster from you. This is a powerful offer I give you, Jerome. Consider it.”
Jerome’s eyes widened. “Axminster?” he repeated. “You…youwill marry me and give me Axminster?”
“Axminster will go to our children.”
He blinked, startled, as if he still couldn’t believe the offer. He looked her over, from her feet to the top of her wimpled head, and began to nod.
“A striking offer, my lady,” he said. “You are a handsome woman, to be sure. A reasonable woman. But how old are you?”
That was a question Isabel didn’t like to be asked, but she supposed he had a right to know.
“I have seen forty years,” she said. “As I said, my childbearing days are not over, but the older I become, the more they wane. If we are to marry and have a son together, it must be soon. But surely a wife of my experience and wealth will be much better than a silly young girl. You want a wife with wisdom, do you not?”
For the first time since he entered the solar, Jerome’s mood seemed to improve. He was no longer shouting or demanding. His features weren’t tight with grief and rage. He seemed…pleased. His expression lightened as he realized what a truly generous offer she was giving him.
“Your wisdom is unmatched, my lady,” he said. “You do not have to extol your virtues, for I am aware of them. And your offer is quite astonishing. I would be a fool to decline.”
“And you will leave Axminster in peace?”
“I will leave everyone in peace if your offer is true.”
That was all Isabel needed to hear. “It is true,” she said. “I will have my clerk draw up a contract, but you will let me announce it, please. I do ask for that privilege.”
“You may have it.”
Silence fell between them, a strange sort of void. Jerome was feeing some joy at being the next Earl of Axminster while Isabel was feeling lost and empty.
Dead inside.
But she did what she had to do.
“Then let us make arrangements to send Raymond home for burial,” she said, trying to focus on what needed to be done and not the sense of regret that was trying to sweep her. “We may be married once he has been put to rest, if that is acceptable to you.”
Jerome nodded, sensing that the conversation was over for now. He couldn’t help but notice that Isabel didn’t seem entirely thrilled by something she’d proposed, but he knew why she’d done it. She wanted peace at Axminster, and sometimes peace was made in such ways.
He didn’t feel guilty in the least.
“It is acceptable,” he said, rising from the chair. “You have made a wise decision this day, my lady. It will ensure that both of our families continue, since you are the last of your line as well. The de Kerrington name and the de Honiton name will create a family of wealth and power. You should be proud.”
Isabel could hear the gloat in his voice and it made her sick to her stomach. It was a wise decision for him, but it was the only choice for her.
She had no idea what she was going to tell Eric.
“We shall see,” she said. “You may go now, my lord. Make your arrangements. And remember that you are not to announce our agreement until I do.”
With a nod of his head, Jerome went to the solar door and opened it to find four knights standing outside in various positions around the entry. Four sets of eyes turned to him as he exited, but Jerome didn’t give them another look.
All except for Douglas.
He focused on Douglas and, at the risk of breaking his word to Isabel, went to the man. For a moment, he simply looked at him, this blond brute who had killed his son. But, perhaps in hindsight, Raymond’s death was the catalyst for bigger and better things.
He tried to focus on the positive.
“You should be grateful,” he muttered to Douglas. “She paid for your sins.”
With that, he turned and left the keep, leaving Douglas standing there with his brow furrowed, wondering what in the hell he meant. Greatly concerned, he went to the solar door only to see Isabel sitting by the window, sobbing into her hand.
Whatever it was… it must have cost her greatly.
