Chapter 501: A Bank of Trust
It took nearly a minute before either guild master was able to speak after the shocking revelation that Owain had tried and failed to kill Lady Ashlynn Blackwell on the night of their wedding. For Tiernan, the struggle he faced played out across his face as hot anger warred with wisdom that said hasty responses would only lead to shoddy work in the end.
Master Isabell faced an entirely different struggle. Her methodical mind drew all the way back to the beginning and the letter she’d received from Lady Ashlynn with its cryptic warning and heartfelt plea to watch over Lady Jocelynn if she was able to. When viewed in light of what Marcel had just told them many things made more sense but there were still too many pieces missing for her to assemble a clear view of the puzzle.
"Mister Marcel," Isabell said carefully as she set aside her plate of fish. The dish smelled wonderful, but the conversation made it difficult to maintain any interest in the sumptuous feast the dark-haired youth had laid out before them.
"Do you have any proof to offer us? To accuse the heir to the Lothian March of attempted murder and a grand conspiracy to conceal that murder, you must have some proof to support your claims."
Though she asked for proof, Isabell didn’t expect anything grand or even conclusive. If such wicked plots were easily exposed then they would have unraveled months ago. The fact that they hadn’t was a sign that things were complex, murky, or that people with information ’disappeared’ with enough frequency that those who held evidence of wrongdoing were reluctant to share it.
No, Isabell wasn’t looking for proof, but she was looking for more information that would help her see the complete puzzle.
"You aren’t ready for proof," Marcel said, shaking his head at the cautious engineer. "I’ve already given you a loan. The knowledge that Lord Owain attempted to murder Lady Ashlynn and that she has been living in hiding while he keeps an imposter in the Summer Villa to maintain appearances should already demonstrate the amount of trust I’m willing to extend to you on Lady Ashlynn’s endorsement of your character alone," he said.
"Deeper secrets that would prove my words will cost you," the dark-eyed vampire said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table as he gestured at the pair with a blunt butter knife. "My bank of trust has limits on loans until you make deposits that demonstrate you can be trusted further. As guild masters, you should understand this well."
"You’re treating this like you’re making a loan on ore shipments," Tiernan said after taking a large swig of wine that drained half his goblet at once. "But you said Lady Ashlynn intends to seize Lothian March, like she’s coming to collect on a lien against a mine. But these things aren’t the same at all! If you’re going to ask us to wade into something like this, the amount of trust you need to extend is much, much greater."