The Baron's Betrayal by Callie Hutton Page A

to end your marriage, I’m afraid the only solution for you is to attempt to obtain a divorce. Before we proceed any further, please know that a divorce is not only scurrilous, especially for Lady Tunstall, but for all intents and purposes, impossible to secure.”
    Tristan flinched at the thought of Marion being the subject of scandal. Something her brother had pointed out to him when he had first visited after the disaster at the assembly dance. John’s words only confirmed what he’d been afraid of. “What about an annulment?”
    “Impossible.”
    “Why not? I’ve been considered dead for more than two years.”
    “Ah, but you were not dead for those two years.”
    “Suppose my wife had remarried during that time?”
    “According to English law, she would still be married to you, and any marriage she contracted would be null and void.” He cleared his throat one more time. “And any children born of the marriage would be declared illegitimate.”
    Tristan leaned back against his chair and closed his eyes. Nothing looked different. Darkness surrounded him whether his eyes were open or closed. He took several deep breaths to stop the panic that sometimes rose when he dwelled too much on his blindness. Attempting to distract himself, he asked, “What would be involved in a divorce?”
    The chair across from him creaked once more as McGregor shifted. “A divorce would require several steps. Since the only grounds for divorcing Lady Tunstall would be if she committed adultery—“
    “Stop!” Tristan threw up his hand, sweat breaking out on his brow. Those words spoken aloud made him feel dirty and vile. To hear “Lady Tunstall” and “adultery” in the same sentence made his stomach roil. His sweet, loving Marion would never willingly give herself to another man. Of that he was certain.
    “Then what you are telling me is there is no way for my wife to be free of me.”
    “Excuse my impertinence once more, but as your solicitor for some time now, as well as a friend, I feel the need to ask if this is something Lady Tunstall wants?”
    Tristan’s lips twitched. “Yes, you are impertinent, as always, but I will answer your question. My wife does not wish to be free of me. I wish for her to be free of me .”
    “For heaven’s sake, man, why?”
    Tristan pushed back his chair and stood, anger at his predicament washing over him. Then, at the slight whimper from Argos, he composed himself and sat back down. “I cannot be a proper husband to my wife, nor a father to any children we might have.”
    “That is probably the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard you say.”
    He stiffened. “It is not ridiculous. I have nothing to offer her. She is better off without me.”
    “Ah, you foolish man.” His solicitor paused. “Let me ask you something.”
    Tristan grunted his response.
    “If the situation were reversed and Marion had lost her sight, would you be so quick to be rid of her?”
    “Of course not!”
    “Because?”
    “Because I love her. It would not matter to me.” He tightened his jaw. “But before you go any further, this situation is very different.”
    “Is it?”
    “Of course it is. A man needs to be the protector of his family. Don’t you understand I cannot do that ?”
    And there was the crux of the matter. When the time came to take care of his family, he would utterly and completely fail. Just as he had failed his parents when he had survived the fire and his brother had not.

Chapter Nine
    Later that night, Marion untied the scarf from the back of her head and shook it out. She blinked a few times to clear her vision. This was the third time she’d wandered around her room blindfolded, and she now knew at least a smidgen of how Tristan felt being unable to see. Frightening is the word that came to mind. Certainly very different from Blind Man’s Bluff. No children cheering you on, calling out to you. No knowledge that with a quick tug at the end of the scarf you would be able