Thwarted Queen Part 9

"Should we continue?" he murmured, brus.h.i.+ng my cheek with a b.u.t.terfly kiss.

I gave him the bow.

"I must stop now."

He kissed my cheek again and squeezed me gently.

"You're not angry with me?"

"No. But this is unwise."

"Indeed it is. But I've longed for this moment, ever since I first saw you."

His eyes were like a clear pool that refreshed my soul. "I feel so drawn to you," he said. "I tried to keep away but I could not."

"You make me feel as if I've come home," I replied.

Our lips met in a kiss.

I melted. Then I pulled back.

"I must go." I took off the finger tabs and arm-guards, handed them to him, and turned.

He put a hand on my arm.

I gazed into his eyes, my cheeks warming.

"I must go."

I turned on my heel and forced myself to walk away, feeling his gaze scorching into my back with every step that I took.

Chapter 8.

Feast of Saint Clare August 12, 1441 Lisette's illness continued, and after ten days, we needed more medicine.

I could have sent a servant to the Abbey of Saint-Ouen, but I was longing for fresh air. I should have gone with an escort, for Richard had enjoined me never to ride abroad without protection. But I was tired of being surrounded by various people. Bess agreed to accompany me, and so, leaving Lisette in the care of Margaret and Isabel, we set off early one morning just after dawn while it was cool.

As we came into the courtyard where our horses waited, a tall figure detached itself from the shadows and came forward. Bess gasped and clutched at my arm, but as soon as the light fell on the figure she relaxed into a smile.

"Ladies," Blaybourne called, bowing low. "What brings you out so early?"

"Lisette is not well," replied Bess going up to him. "She continues feverish, and we are riding off to the Abbey of Saint-Ouen to get fresh medicines."

"Allow me to escort you," said Blaybourne. He looked at me.

I opened my mouth to decline, but Bess a.s.sented.

Blaybourne helped us onto our horses, vaulted onto his white gelding, and we set off.

It was a glorious morning, the air was fresh and cool, the meadows a riot of flowers, with blue cornflowers, pink heather, and yellow meadow-rue. The trees were thickly leaved, and their leaves rustled as we rode past. I held back so that I rode behind Blaybourne and Bess. They spent the entire journey riding side by side, chattering amiably.

I remained silent. I spent ten days devoting myself to Lisette, amusing the children, and playing the gracious hostess to the merchants and aristocrats pa.s.sing through Rouen, wanting to visit with the governor of Normandy's wife. I expended an enormous effort on keeping my mind off the one thing that kept powerfully drawing me towards it, like a lodestone: my feelings for Blaybourne.

Blaybourne meant many things to me. For one, he was a pleasure to look at. Now he sat gracefully on his gelding, using subtle motions of his long fingers to guide it. Everything he did had a kind of ease and charm, so different from Richard. Richard rarely vaulted onto his horse, for he was becoming stout and often needed his groom to help him up.

Then he was so well tuned to me, he seemed able to read my thoughts before I was aware of having them. I remembered his kindness and sensitivity at the archery tournament, when my fiery blushes had given me away. Every time we talked, our interactions were like a duet, alternating effortlessly with perfect timing, without one having to wait for the other to catch up. With Richard, I had always to remember to be patient, for he ran at a slower speed.

Most alarming of all, I felt the stirrings of something I didn't even know I could feel. It made my affection for Richard seem pallid by comparison. I didn't understand it. How could I feel so pa.s.sionate about someone I scarcely knew?

And there he was, riding a few feet in front of me, being courteously gallant to Bess. Yet Bess did not seem to be making much progress. She was trying hard enough, telling amusing stories, and little morsels of gossip, but Blaybourne seemed distracted, sometimes asking her to repeat things, sometimes not getting her jests.

I sighed. How was I going to make him go away? And what had he been doing in the courtyard at that hour? Had he been waiting for someone? Had he been waiting for me? At that thought, my heart leapt in my throat and started thudding. What was wrong? I never felt this disquieted. I was noted for being serene, yet every time I thought about Blaybourne, my heart interrupted.

I was in such a brown study I didn't notice how far we'd come until Bess pulled on my bridle.

"Cecylee!" she exclaimed. "We're here. Do you not see that?"

I pulled myself out of my thoughts with an effort and attempted to smile, although I felt more like weeping.

Blaybourne walked up to me, frowning. "You look pale, my lady. Perhaps you should sit under this horse chestnut. It provides a goodly shade, and I will get you some refreshment."

This was the last thing I wanted, but conflicting thoughts and feelings left me dumbstruck. I looked at Bess in silent appeal, sure that she wouldn't want to leave me alone with the attractive young man she'd been cultivating for the last half-hour.

But Bess jumped down and said, "I'll get the medicines then." And blowing me a kiss, she disappeared.

I set my mouth grimly as Blaybourne helped me down, willing myself not to notice how it felt to be in his arms. I wandered over to the bench and sat down, examining the patch of dusty ground beneath my feet, each blade of gra.s.s, the marks on my boots, the white dust dredging the hem of my gown. At length, Blaybourne returned bearing a tray of cider with pastries warm from the oven. The aroma of those pastries was so seductive, I could not help looking up.

It was a mistake.

Blaybourne's eyes were warm, soft, and deep. His mouth curved into a tender smile.

My heart resumed its hammering.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't feel well. I should've let Bess come by herself."

"But then I would have missed seeing you," he remarked, as he set the tray down and handed me a cup of cider. "Or is that what you are trying to say?"

"Just what were you doing in the castle courtyard at that hour?"

"Waiting for you. What else could I possibly have been doing?"

"You could have been doing any of a number of things." I lowered my lashes and sipped my cider. Finally, I looked into his face.

His eyes were warm, and his mouth curved into its gentle smile.

I smiled back.

He leaned over and kissed me on the lips, a long, luxurious, and increasingly pa.s.sionate kiss. "My sweet," he murmured. "You know very well I can't keep away from you. I've been waiting for more than a week for you to appear."

"What about Bess?"

He caressed my cheek with a long finger. The sensation made me tingle all over. "No, the question is, do I mean anything to you?"

"You mean the whole world to me. I've been miserable without you."

He held me close, brus.h.i.+ng my hair and cheeks with his lips. "Would you meet me in the garden this evening, around compline? It'll be quieter then, and we can spend some precious moments together."

"I'll be there," I promised as he kissed every finger of my hand, front and back.

"I'm the happiest man in the world," he murmured, and then Bess appeared.

Blaybourne rose to help her with her packages. As before, I hung back so Blaybourne and Bess again rode side-by-side, chatting. I had a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach, as if a large piece of lead had lodged itself there. I could hardly believe I was taking such a risk. And what of Blaybourne and the risk he was taking? He was a good archer, but could he fight with a sword? Richard was an excellent swordsman- My mind veered off into these depths as I attempted to keep my horse from wandering off the track.

Eventually we reached the castle, and Blaybourne helped Bess down and summoned a servant to look after her packages.

Then he came for me.

He slowly led my horse into a secluded nook between the stables and the gardens, and gently he carried me in his arms as he lifted me down off my horse. We lingered.

Reluctantly, I pulled away. "I must go." I gave him one final kiss.

"I'll be in the garden, my love, at compline."

"By the fountain?"

"By the fountain." And clasping his hand one last time, I flew across the courtyard and up the stairs, tearing myself away from him.

As I entered my chamber, Jenet rose and curtseyed. She was now around thirty, but looked as slender as she had at fourteen. Her black eyes grazed me, intense and direct.

"My lady, whatever has happened?"

I blushed.

"An attractive young man?"

"Really, Jenet! What has happened to you? You used to be as quiet as a mouse."

Jenet busied herself in unpinning my veil and removing my headdress.

"I beg your pardon, my lady. I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that I've never seen you look so radiant."

"You never used to be so lively and so free with your opinions when Audrey was around."

"If you remember, my lady, Audrey loved to talk. It was difficult to get a word in edgewise." She brushed my hair. "I miss my aunt and your lady mother. It is hard to believe they are no longer here."

After Mama died nine months ago at her manor of Howden-le-Wear, near Castle Raby, Audrey was soon dead herself.

"Audrey was devoted to Mama," I said slowly, stumbling through thoughts as Jenet's fingers worked at my hair. "She was her best friend and confidante. She nursed her through all her pregnancies and comforted her when Alainor was s.n.a.t.c.hed away as a child-bride. I remember Mama saying once that she didn't know what she would've done without Audrey."

"And your lady mother was so kind to my aunt," said Jenet. "She allowed her to stay on, even though she had a child out of wedlock. She saw to it that he was trained as a cook, so that he could work in the castle kitchens."

An image of Perrequin's elaborate sugar sculptures filled my head. He'd made two of them the day of my betrothal.

There was a pause while Jenet braided my hair into plaits and fas.h.i.+oned them into an elaborate hairdo.

"What did the young gentleman say?"

"It has nothing to do with you."

"Indeed it does, my lady." She paused to look into my face.

I lowered my lashes and set my mouth into a line.

Jenet sighed. "He didn't make any suggestions-"

My lashes flew up as my cheeks warmed.

Jenet's mouth opened.

I turned away and studied my jewels.

"My lady, I know I am bold for saying this, but you plunge headlong into things-"

"Have you ever been in love?"

"My lady-"

"I am powerless-"

"But you're not, my lady. Don't go to him. He doesn't have anything to lose. You do."

I glared.

"I heard a story this very morning," said Jenet. "I was breaking my fast in the kitchens when a traveler told me a story about an Italian count who murdered his lady wife after he found her in bed with a lover. Chopped off her head, he did-"

"My lord would never do something like that!"

"Of course not, my lady," said Jenet, gently turning my head so that she could continue making the hairdo. "I never meant to suggest so. But-"

"We will talk no more of this," I said.

And I kept silence while Jenet finished dressing my hair, washed my face and hands in rosewater, and arrayed me in a richly embroidered green silk dress.