“The rest of the story?” Trenton’s expression was the picture of innocence.
Dustin’s midnight-blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. “This is me you’re talking to, Trent. No one knows you better than I. You’ve stayed away from Sussex for six years. Suddenly, during my last visit to Spraystone, you announced that you would be returning for the sole purpose of severing Baxter Caldwell’s betrothal. Which you did. You never mentioned a betrothal of your own. Now, like a bolt from the blue, you’re to be wed? Who is she, and why are you marrying her?”
Trenton chuckled, crossing one impeccably tailored leg over the other. “So much for subtlety, I see. Very well.” He leaned back, deceptively nonchalant. “Her name is Ariana, and I’m marrying her because she’s Baxter Caldwell’s little sister.”
Dustin’s jaw dropped. “Have you lost your bloody mind?”
“Years ago.”
“Trent, what the hell are you doing?” Dustin demanded.
“Satisfying a debt to our father.”
“By marrying Caldwell’s sister? Didn’t you learn anything from what happened with Vanessa?”
Fury deepened the lines around Trenton’s eyes, lines that hadn’t been there before Vanessa. “Too much, Dustin. Far too much.”
“And yet you’re still going through with this.” Dustin began to pace, shaking his head. “What makes you think the Caldwells will abide by your plan?”
“Oh, they’ll abide by it, all right. Queen Victoria has seen to that.”
Dustin came to an abrupt halt. “You’d better explain.”
Succinctly and without pause, Trenton relayed the events of the past few days to his brother.
“So you’re forcing this young girl to marry you.”
“She’ll be amply compensated.” Hostility glinted in Trenton’s eyes. “She’ll have everything Vanessa coveted and never managed to acquire: wealth, position, even an exalted title. Remember, I was a mere marquis when Father was alive.”
“Are you so certain your future bride craves the same things Vanessa did?”
Trenton’s expression softened. “To the contrary. I’m certain Ariana craves far different things than Vanessa did. But she’s quite young and has obviously lived a very sheltered life. She has yet to be exposed to the wonders money can buy. She’ll change.”
Dustin regarded him thoughtfully. “Tell me about her.”
“Ariana?” Trenton’s mouth curved into a slow smile. “She’s a tantalizing little bundle of contradictions: innocent, trusting, idealistic, an inquisitive child, a breathtaking woman.” His smile faded. “Loyal to her brother and her family.”
“She sounds enchanting,” Dustin replied, missing not one iota of his brother’s inadvertent response.
“She’s a Caldwell.”
“Not for long, apparently.”
Trenton stood, walking rigidly to gaze out the window. “Her name will change; her blood will not.”
“And so you will punish her?” Dustin fished.
“I’m not going to harm her, if that’s what you mean.”
“Not intentionally, perhaps,” Dustin returned slowly, assessing the extent of his brother’s feelings. “But your anger is sure to be conveyed to her nonetheless.” He came up to lay a hand on Trenton’s taut shoulder. “Are you sure this is what you want, Trent?”
“I’m sure it’s what I must do.”
Dustin fell silent, weighing his next words carefully. “Is this duty alone we’re discussing?”
“Duty, yes. And retribution.”
“Nothing more?”