“And when I fulfill these tasks?”
“Then the seal of Montvieux will be returned to you, of course.”
“Such a list could take years to accomplish.”
“Indeed.”
Isabella bit her lip, fearing that her age and lack of fertility might mean that Amaury could never succeed. She felt his gaze upon her and kept her own fixed upon the ground, dreading his response, though she guessed what it must be.
“And in the interim?” Amaury asked.
“You will surrender two-thirds of your taxes and tithes to Marnis, and remain under my father’s authority.”
“Two-thirds!” Amaury sounded suitably outraged.
“In your absence, Montvieux has surrendered all to Marnis, but my father is certain that you will need some funds to restore justice as he commands.” Denis was well-pleased, and had to be sneering. How mortifying it was to call such a man ‘brother’.
“And if I decline this opportunity?”
“Then Montvieux will be mine, under somewhat more favorable terms, I must say, and Isabella will reconcile herself to a life in the cloister.” Denis cleared his throat. “If you fail, it should be noted, the result will be the same for both Montvieux and my sister.”
Amaury shook his head. “It is not truly a choice.”
“Nay, it is not. My father has a way of ensuring that he achieves his desire.”
Amaury once again turned his attention upon Isabella. She felt the weight of his attention as surely as a touch and her heart skipped when she looked up to meet that steady blue gaze. “What say you, Lady Isabella? Would you put your hand in mine, given such terms and the odds against me?”
He could not be serious.
“The question surely is whether you would take my hand in yours,” she could not keep herself from replying. “Any foolknows that you could wed better. Perhaps even my brother realizes as much.”
Denis swore. “As ever, Isabella, you fail to hold your tongue,” he muttered, but Amaury had to have heard him.
Amaury replied to her, as if he had not heard the criticism, but his gaze had hardened. “But no other bride could potentially return the seal of Montvieux to my hand. You have a power in this negotiation, Lady Isabella. You can only anticipate my desire to possess my rightful legacy. The situation has been contrived that I could not possibly refuse the opportunity to wed you. You, however, may have another hope for your future.”
Isabella blinked. “Another hope?”
“A lover true.” Amaury shrugged. “A man whose partnership you would welcome rather than having me forced upon you. Or perhaps you yearn for the quiet life of the cloister. There are those, I understand, who do.”
Isabella could not hide her astonishment. “You cannot mean to decide based upon my wishes.”
“I do,” he replied with undeniable conviction. “Marriage is at best a strategic union, but it offers more opportunity for success if both parties are willing. If you wish to wed another for love, I could not stand in your path. It would be wrong.”
If the man had not already possessed an appeal, he gained a greater one with such a vow. Her nurse had always warned Isabella that beauty was in a person’s actions, not their countenance, and a kernel of hope was kindled that Amaury might prove an exception to the edicts she had learned to expect.
“There is no other,” Denis confessed harshly. “No one seeks Isabella’s hand. Who would?”
“And yet, the lady still has the right to decline.” Amaury frowned for she did not speak – she could not speak.
It was beyond every expectation that he gave her the choice, that he would abandon his inheritance to grant her will. Isabella swallowed but no words rose to her lips.
Did he tease her with an option he would remove when she reached for it? She did not think so, but she was uncertain.
“Would you not wed for affection, sir?” she asked finally. “There are many who seek a match based upon love.”
Amaury smiled a little. “Love, nay. Not I, my lady. I would wed for mutual advantage, for duty and honor. I would hope for respect. But love is a vulnerability no man of sense can hope for in an alliance of such importance as marriage.”
“A vulnerability?” Isabella asked, curious indeed. Denis hissed a warning but she ignored him.
