confused bravery

[William deGrey]

What did he do?

What had to be done, that's what he did, even if he broke a couple Tresterian laws along the way. His heart hadn't stopped pounding the entire ride back to the castle. William convinced Helene to stay there with Marinette for at least a couple of days, just to ensure that Roquefort wouldn't attempt anything. Going back to Hewitt House would certainly not be safe or ideal...and then there was the matter of possibly having Mari testify to the council.

Certainly even those old bastards wouldn't condone this? The woman had visible bruises- she'd been beaten and abused by the man she was supposed to trust the most. It wasn't safe for her to go back to him. The law could not allow this. William just wasn't sure if he could ask Mari do this, it was entirely her choice, but he had a feeling Helene would speak with her. It would be the right thing to do.

Speaking of, he needed to do just that before this blew out of proportion. William felt Davide would keep silent for a little while, but there was no saying his verbal threat would stick. That, and his very own brother was about to run for the regency- the duke was terrified that this might somehow come back to cause problems for Triston. He needed to come clean now, and perhaps ask his brother for help, even Eleesa's.

Hesitating for a moment, knuckles finally rapped against Triston's office door, wondering if he was even in there.

[ Triston deGrey ]

[Triston deGrey]

Triston was trying not to let the stress get the best of him. It wasn’t like him to become so overwhelmed and absorbed by something, as he typically approached everything with an easy-going, positive attitude. If he ever was feeling any sort of pressure, he had gotten quite good at hiding it from everyone. It portrayed him as a confident, competent, strong, and trustworthy man, he felt, and it was typically why most men stood behind him.

The situation held so much importance, though-- more so than anything else Triston had done in his life, and he felt there was no room for failure now. There was a lot hanging in the balance--a lot depending on his success in claiming the regency. Eleesa and Aric had both asked him to do this because they trusted in him--they were placing Tresteria in his hands, to ensure that young Edward would not fall under the corruption of some other man.

Had that sort of pressure and trust not been thrown on his shoulders, he would be approaching this matter as his typical easy-going, confident self. And though he outwardly still portrayed that man, inwardly, the stress was taking a toll on him.

He had spent countless hours behind his desk, researching and thinking of the various ways to approach and make all of the right moves. There were letters to write and council members to try and sway and maybe tactfully bribe a little with ensuring their positions on the council.

Triston was in the middle of writing a letter when he heard the knock on the door. Without looking up, he called out, “It’s open.” After the door opened, he hadn’t looked up until he finished with the thought he was writing down.

His tired appearance quickly changed to a deeply concerned one when he saw William in what appeared to be in a state of distress. “William?” Triston set his pen down and slowly stood from his seat. “What is it?” He quietly asked, fearing--or maybe feeling that something bad had just happened.

[William deGrey]

If only the Brothers deGrey knew how each and every one of them was suddenly dealing with something- would that worsen their stress or ease it a little?

'It's open.'

William blinked, maybe a little surprised to hear Triston's voice on the other side of the door. Maybe a part of him was hoping he wouldn't be there and he could have a bit more time to think about how to approach and deal with this whole situation. Truthfully, he didn't wish to burden his brother with it, but who else could he possibly go to? Who else could he trust to do the right thing, to suggest the right thing? On top of it, he had to keep this from Wesley for as long as he could, because Lord knew what that impulsive idiot might try.

Hesitating for just a couple of more seconds, Will finally turned the knob and entered, stepping in to promptly shut the door behind him. Immediately, Triston was asking him what was wrong, because he probably had this confused and devastated look on his face. He could barely meet the man's gaze.

"I'm...sorry to interrupt, but...things have happened. I've done something and I fear it will return tenfold." Although he was nervous, his voice was steady- perhaps from years of having to deal with insufferable people at court. He usually knew how to rein himself in, except when facing Davide Roquefort, it seemed. When his gaze rose back up to his brother, it was clear that he meant it might affect him as well, if the baron was brazen enough.

[Triston deGrey]

Triston’s concern only grew as he noticed how his older brother couldn’t seem to meet his gaze. Had he done something to upset him? Did something happen to Eleesa, or one of their brothers? For a moment, Triston searched the room as if someone could have followed William in, or there would be some answer floating about the room. But there was nothing but the two of them.

His dark brown gaze returned to his brother as he spoke, “You’re not inter--” Triston started to say, but William continued, admitting that he had done something, that things have happened.

Now it was his turn to have a confused look on his face. If someone had died, he didn’t think that would be how William would start the conversation, at least. And despite his devastated appearance, Triston’s stiffened muscles relaxed only slightly and he sat back down with an inaudible sigh, motioning for William to sit in the seat across from him.

“Alright. Take a deep breath,” he gently urged his brother. Triston had always been the calm, level-headed brother who rarely got upset or angry and tried not to panic until it was time to panic. He assumed that was one reason why William was here confiding in him. But also, he sensed it had something to do with him. His chance of becoming Regent, perhaps?

He scratched the back of his neck and took a deep breath himself as if urging his brother to do the same, but also to steady himself and prepare for whatever news he was about to hear. “What happened? Is anyone hurt? I don’t need to help you hide a body or anything, do I?” He smirked only slightly and let out a quiet chuckle. Although it may not have been funny, he felt he needed to make the small joke if only to try and ease some of the tension in the room.

[William deGrey]

This was definitely not like William. If he ever had bad news, it was always in regards to someone else, not something he himself had done. It was how it always was. He was the eldest deGrey brother, and after their father had passed, he had lightly stepped into that role even if Anne was truly the one in charge. He watched over his brothers silently, was there if they ever needed anything, was willing to try and fix something. This time? He needed help with something he had messed up on.

William moved to that empty seat, but hesitated. He remained standing, gripping the back of it to avoid pacing back and forth across Triston's office. Drawing in a deep breath at his brother's request, he found the nerve to explain. The little remark about hiding a body both paused him but made him quietly chuckle all the same.

Well, he had made that threat...

Fingers curled tighter into the back of that chair as he leaned forward. Was anyone hurt? Well, that caused him to clench his teeth for a moment before managing to finally respond, "Marinette was, yes," he said immediately. "She hadn't shown up for Olivia's lessons, and then Helene came here looking for her..." His gaze dropped, focusing on nothing in particular as he tried to figure out how to explain this without it being a long winded response.

"Mari had been staying with her sister for awhile, but...Lord Roquefort dragged her back home..." Now, he was grinding his teeth, looking up at his brother as he began to elude to the type of man Davide was. Yet, he wouldn't be surprised if Triston already had an idea. Helene hid it well, but Marinette was not always able to.

"She's been beaten until she was bruised, her arm is fractured-" he finally said. "The man has done this their whole lives, and both Helene and I fear that the next time, he'll kill Marinette." Will stood up a little straighter, but that didn't make him feel any better. "So, I threatened him verbally...and brought the sisters here."

He didn't have to say it, Triston would know what a dilemma this was. By Tresterian law, an unwed woman was property of her father. Whereas Helene was a widow and had a bit more freedom, Marinette did not. If Davide came here and demanded he take her back, they logically couldn't deny him.