When he smiled, it didn’t touch his eyes. Sadness still lingered in their depths.
“I have no desire to talk here and have servants overhear, or heaven forbid my mother interrupt us.”
“How about a walk outside?”
Nodding, he took her by the hand and led them outside into the moonlight. Only a few lanterns lit the side of the house, and the farther away they walked, the more shadows thickened around them. Soon, their only light became the moon.
He kept her hand in his while his other hand stroked her arm. She didn’t say anything, hoping he would speak first. When his steps slowed, she grew hopeful.
Stopping, he looked up into the night sky. She admired the shape of his handsome face and stubborn jaw, then shifted her eyes to his irresistible neck that made her want to nibble to her complete satisfaction.
After taking a deep breath, he looked at her. “What do you remember about Tristan?”
Memories flooded her mind, and she couldn’t stop the smile stretching her mouth. “He was an enjoyable person. He laughed a lot. He also teased, although it was not anything like your teasing.”
He chuckled.
“And I remember he made friends easily,” she added. “He was the person to talk with because he would listen and understand.”
Trey nodded. “He was a man with a huge heart, and his caring heart was the very thing that killed him in the end.”
She shook her head as confusion filled her. “I don’t understand.”
He turned and led them toward a stone bench. They sat together, but shadows from the nearby tree made it hard to see his face.
“Two years ago,” Trey began, “Tristan fell in love. He fell hard. She was the daughter of a baron, and her father wanted to find the best match for her. Tristan would do anything for that woman. He wanted to marry her, but her parents would not allow the match because Tristan was the second son, and otherlords—with higher titles—were vying for her attention, too. Lady Diana led my brother to believe he had a chance, making him hope her parents would eventually give in and allow her to marry him. One night, he went to her house to talk her into eloping with him, but instead he found her in the stables with another man.”
Judith gasped and covered her mouth. “Were they…you know…”
Trey shrugged. “Tristan would not tell me, but he hinted that Lady Diana was there against her will. So upset at Lord Hollingsworth, Tristan challenged him to a duel.” Trey shook his head. “Now that I think back on it, I realize Lady Diana didn’t do anything to stop it. If she had pleaded with my brother, he would not have gone through with it. Makes me wonder if she indeed wanted him to duel the other man.”
He sighed heavily. “Anyway, Tristan asked me to be his second and I agreed. My brother was an excellent swordsman, but the man he had challenged was deceitful. Deep in my heart, I knew I had to be there to protect my brother.”
Her heart ached hearing Trey’s agony. The pain he had suffered was evident in the lines on his face and his tight frown. She wanted to caress him, to kiss him and make him feel better, but instead, she let him talk.
Leaning his elbows on his knees, he rested his forehead in his hands. “I was right. Lord Hollingsworth could not be trusted. As Tristan and I stood on the field waiting for the others to arrive, Tristan was shot. Hollingsworth hid in the trees and shot my brother.”
“Oh, Trey. No!” She stroked his stiff shoulder.
“Tristan didn’t die immediately. I wrestled Hollingsworth to the ground, ready to kill the man myself. Tristan fought with Hollingsworth’s second, but due to his weakened state, the other man was stronger. Before I knew it, they were near the edge ofthe cliff. I broke away from Hollingsworth and ran to assist my brother, but—”
His voice choked, which made emotion clog her throat. Tears stung her eyes, but she continued to caress Trey’s shoulder.
“He fell over the cliff before I could stop it from happening. I was almost there, but I was not fast enough.” His voice broke and he covered his face with his hands. “My brother died because I could not save him.”
Tears streamed down her face and she wrapped her arms around Trey, trying to turn him toward her body. He resisted at first, but he soon let her comfort him. She hushed him and stroked his hair, placing kisses on his forehead. Her heart broke for his sorrow, and helplessness settled around her.
“Trey, you cannot blame yourself.”
He shook his head, still covering his face. “You don’t understand. I should have stopped him from dueling.” He pulled away enough to look at her. “But I encouraged my brother to fight Hollingsworth for touching the woman Tristan loved. I wanted to believe in love back then. I wanted to believe Lady Diana and Tristan’s love would overcome all. Because I believed in such nonsense, my brother was killed.”
“No, Trey. Don’t say that. You cannot think this way. Tristan made his own decisions. He could have refused to duel, but he didn’t.”
Trey pushed away from her, stood, and ran his fingers through his hair. “For several days I searched for his body in the water. I could not find him.” He pounded his fist against the nearest tree. “It was then when I realized he had died for love. The same artificial love my parents were married for, yet my father continued to insult my mother and cheat on her. The same faux love that tore my mother apart and made her cry when my father stayed out late, preferring his mistresses over her.”
“Trey, no—”
“Which is the very reason I quit believing in it. I refuse to give my heart to any woman and suffer the agony.” He spun around and faced her. “Judith, please don’t force the issue. You know my mind now. This emotion called love is not worth the pain.”
