The Everlasting Covenant (36 page)

How did one become the recipient of this eternal love? How had they found each other? Why could he never forget her? Why, God help him, could he not live without her? It would be better for them both had they never met. But he shook the thought away. He had so little now. He could not live with less.

He sighed and left Westminster the same way he had come. He returned to his home, to his bedchamber. Raynia was at her bath, the odd little Jeannette sponging her skin in a familiar manner. He glanced at his little wife, she had the body of a ten-year-old girl: flat breasts, tiny, spindly limbs. Her skin was sallow and she was given to blemishes. She was surely the most homely thing ever born, but worse, she had the temperament of an asp.

“
Jeannette, will you excuse us? I wish to be alone with my wife for a moment.
”

Raynia made an annoyed face, but Jeannette went quietly. The maid was a little ill at ease around Dylan. He could recall very few times he had even heard her speak.

“
What is it?
”
Raynia asked impatiently.

“
You have not been to any of the tournament festivities, nor did you see the jousting.
I
have won much. Will you accompany me tonight, or do I excuse you as ill again?
”

“
I have no interest in the English court. I told you that.
”

“
I know. Your only interest seems to be in your maid.
”

Her eyes narrowed.
“
Do not accuse me, my lord husband, when the stink of the whore still clings to you in early morning. Mass, indeed.
”

Dylan grinned in spite of himself. Did Anne
’
s perfume cling? Or did his odd little wife catch a whiff of the pleasure they had stolen? No matter. Perhaps if Raynia were moved to jealousy, she would behave herself for once, but he doubted it. She would go with him, in any case. This once, he would demand some
thing of her.

“
Wear your yellow gown. And the necklace I gave you for your homecoming. I will be here for you at noon.
”

“
Noon? But ..
.
”

“
There is plague in the city, Raynia. If you behave yourself, I will send you and your little maid to the country for safety.
”
He shrugged. The plague was nothing. There had been only two deaths of which he was aware.
“
If you are difficult, however, I will keep you here with me and take you to court every
day.
”

“
Plague? Are you certain?
”
He nodded. She splashed the water peevishly.
“
Why must I go with you?
”

He smiled benevolently.
“
I think it is time those nobles at court see my wife. You are my wife, like it or not.
”
He left the room quickly. He was uncomfortable even in her company, though he was uncertain why.

He knew Anne would at least partially understand when she saw the unpleasant little wench he had wed. He hoped, how
ever, that Anne would not pity him
;
that was not his motive at all. He was better off with his peculiar wife than one who strongly desired him. Likewise, he was happy to be guiltless in
betraying their union. It was for Anne that he forced Raynia
’
s presence. They were both married. It was difficult for him to explain, with words, the sympathy he had for Anne
’
s position. In spite of himself, even Dylan had come to admire and respect Lord Forbes. He was more than a little aware that Anne
’
s burden was greater than his own.

***

Trenton had taken lodging for himself and his mother in the city and not with his sister. He thought it for the best. He had learned enough about his mother in the past year to know what mission had fallen to him. He could not undo the damage she had already done, but he could at least prevent her from doing more. He had listened to her rantings of past injustices and he had read some of her letters. He proved an able escort and keeper. It was the only thing he could give his father
’
s memory.

The hour was late when he heard conversation in the next room. He went to the door and listened to the sound of Bart
’
s angry voice.
“
You should have known the earl would do this to me! You should have known it would cost me everything!
”

“
Be still,
”
she hissed.
“
I will give you a piece of gossip that will get you revenge on deFraynes, if nothing else.
”

Trenton pushed open the door. Marcella looked at him im
patiently.
“
Leave us, Trenton. I must speak to my son.
”

Trenton stood firm and glared at them both.
“
Tell Bart there is nothing, madam. There is no revenge.
”

“
Trenton, you must allow me to
--
”

“
Tell Bart
,
”
Trenton
’
s voice boomed.

Marcella was silent.

“
Trenton,
”
Bart said entreatingly.
“
If Mother know
s a way to help me now, she ..
.
”

“
Have you not learned by now that she only knows ways to hurt you? Go on, Bart. Her ideas for easy wealth and fame will only burn you the more.
”
Bart stayed, hoping for a gain.
“
There is no gossip, there is nothing. Go.
”

Bart finally departed, anger still shining in his eyes, but his head down. Trenton turned to his mother.
“
Don
’
t you dare,
”
he said slowly.
“
Don
’
t you ever dare.
”

Chapter Thirteen

Brennan Forbes
went to some trouble to build a bed
chamber for himself at Ayliffe. The process was slow, for a wall had to be removed to enlarge the room to suit his needs and contain all the furniture he desired. Finally, two bed
chambers, the lord
’
s and the lady
’
s, were joined by a large common room and bath chamber. The Earl of Ayliffe had never before taken a room apart from his wife, nor had he slept apart from his two previous wives, even though separate quarters was more in keeping with the noble marriage custom. Some eye
brows were raised in curiosity during the construction of the chamber. Anne wept at the separation, but did so secretly.

“
Some of the maids titter and gossip,
”
Jane told her.

Some of the maids,
Anne thought with a near laugh. Ayliffe had a force of weavers, seamstresses, laundresses, cooks, maids, bakers, and serving wenches that could rival the staff of Eltham or Pontefract Castle. This was without mentioning the local wives, daughters, harlots, and widows.
“
Let them be, Jane. Little enough happens that they find exciting.
”

“
It rankles me when they suggest you are cold to his lordship
’
s advances.
”

Anne looked into Jane
’
s compassionate eyes.
“
It is better than the truth. Leave them be.
”

“
But I know you suffer, lady.
”

It is nothing to his lordship
’
s suffering,
Anne wanted to say. But she held her tongue. She patted Jane
’
s hand in thanks. The winter had been long and she was eager for spring. A rosebud, a violet would soothe her now. She had heard that Dylan was becoming rich, that he had estates now, and men-at-arms and soldiers. But she had not seen him even once during her winter in the city. When he had said it would be a long time for them, perhaps years, she had prayed it would not be so long. But since she had not even had the luxury of glancing at Dylan from a distance, she knew the separate bedchamber her husband chose was not because he suspected her of an alliance with another man. There had been no contact, and she craved the warmth of a lover
’
s touch, an intimate word.

There was to be a homecoming soon, and she was making all the necessary preparations. Anxious days and nights preceded the event. Sloan would come home, but so would Brainard. Little Deirdre, her blonde-haired beauty, jabbered constantly and found mischief everywhere. Anne wished there could be more children.

In May the gates were opened to an approaching troop, and Anne, looking stately and majestic in her gown of Ayliffe white and gold, stood in the courtyard with the earl. She let her slim arm encircle his waist and she leaned her head against his shoul
der. He dropped a husbandly kiss on her brow and she smiled up at him. At least this much had not changed. He still cared for her.

“
Are you anxious, madam?
”
Brennan asked.

“
I did not realize how I would miss him, Brennan. Why must
we bear it? It is a mother
’
s curse to send her sons away to become
men.
”

“
He is only eight years old, but his time for clinging to your skirts is over, Anne. You must not let him see how much you long to hold him to your breast.
”

“
It shows so much?
”

“
In your eyes, in your trembling lips. Lord Todd writes that Sloan is stronger than the other boys his age, and smarter. He will make a fine knight, a brilliant noble. You must let him grow up and take his due. There are too few who deserve it.
”

“
I hope you are proud of him, Brennan.
”

“
Worse,
”
he said somewhat sadly.
“
There is one thing I have always loved more than anything: Ayliffe. Forgive me, my love, if I slight you, but Ayliffe has had my life
’
s blood, my loyalty, and all my energy. More than any other thing, I want Ayliffe to survive. And,
”
he said, a note of melancholy creeping into his serious tone,
“
I am more proud of Sloan than Brainard. Sadly, Sloan is my hope for Ayliffe
’
s future
--
for the future of my first love.
”

She gave him a squeeze. She dismissed the fearsome thought of what Brennan would say if she told him the truth: Sloan was her hope for the future of her first love. Dylan did not have children, but through Sloan he would live on.
“
Of course, Ayliffe will always be as strong and magnificent as you
’
ve built her,
”
she replied.

He gave a doubtful snort, but placed an arm about her shoul
ders just the same.
“
That is all I
’
ve worked for.
”

Anne
’
s eyes drifted down the long road through the village toward the outer wall. She could see them approaching
--
Sloan, Sir Cliff, and the escort of knights. Sloan struggled to keep a dignified expression as he dismounted before them. She could see his excitement and pride in his bright, glittering eyes, his handsome mouth that fought the temptation to laugh, to squeal with delight. But he dismounted and bowed before them as a man would.

“
My lord. My lady.
”

How handsome and strong he was, how tall. Anne
’
s heart ached. He was growing up so fast, he was nearly gone from her forever. Her arms trembled and finally she yielded to the urge and opened them to her son.

Sloan reluctantly entered his mother
’
s embrace, gazing doubt
fully at Lord Forbes. Anne covered his brow with kisses, raking her slim fingers through his thick hair.
“
Madam, I assure you I am well and clean.
”

“
Anne,
”
Brennan said, placing a firm hand on her shoulder,
“
enough of that now. He is not a baby anymore.
”

“
Of course not,
”
she said, sniffing sentimentally.
“
But I am still his mother.
”

“
Come into the hall, Sloan, and tell me about your training. Let
’
s hear what you
’
ve learned.
”
Brennan did not succumb to the show of emotion, which disappointed Anne in a way. Per
haps that was what Brainard had bee
n lacking. Brennan was distant –
proud and friendly, but more like a lordly host than a father.
“
Bring me my daughter,
”
he called when he was inside
“
Bring me Deirdre.
”
Once the little tot was seated on her father
’
s lap, her most favorite place in the entire world, Brennan talked with Sloan about Lord Todd
’
s estate, caressing his daughter
’
s chubby arms throughout their conversation. He was not the least uncomfortable in displaying affection for his girl-child.

The children did not resemble each other much, Anne real
ized. Through all the preparations for Sloan
’
s homecoming, she had half-feared that his strong likeness to his sire would reveal her secret in a glance. But as Sloan grew older, the resemblance diminished enough to give her ease. His blue eyes were bright, but his hair had darkened somewhat, and he had his mother
’
s smile, which he used liberally. He was a happy child, and had a proud bearing that was at once Dylan
’
s, and yet Brennan
’
s, too.
I
needn
’
t have been so afraid,
she thought. Sloan had the strong seed of his sire, and the dignified and loving upbringing of her husband. He had the best there could be. And it showed in him.

Two days passed in peaceful reunion before Brainard
’
s arrival, but in this homecoming the surprise was even greater. Brainard had been away from Ayliffe for three years. He returned as a man, fully grown, nearly a score of years.
Anne stiffened in apprehension –
Sloan hung back. Brainard, however, bowed as courteously as Sloan had done. His youthful petulance was gone. There was an adult
-
like disdain in his very posture, however. But
he was decent and, thankfully, silent. Anne wondered, hope
fully, if Brainard had finally learned something.

“
Ah, Sir Clifton,
”
Brainard greeted with ice in his voice.
“
How goes it with your new ward?
”

Cliff bowed, unsmiling.
“
Good enough, my liege. We work hard, ride hard, and sleep hard. A knight
’
s life, surely.
”

“
Is he as good as I was?
”
he asked coolly.

Sir Clifton smiled, a smile which Anne attempted to read, but could not. Were they friends or foes? She remembered her first meeting with Sir Cliff when she inquired after Brennan
’
s son and why he had not greeted them. She had seen a brief flicker of emotion cross Sir Cliff
’
s features then
--
disappoint
ment, anger, or something similarly unsympathetic. Later, Clif
ton had held Brainard back from striking her. Perhaps Cliff had always known that Brainard was not to be trusted, that he was not kind in his heart.
“
He stands a good chance at being your equal one day, my liege,
”
Cliff replied.

“
How politic, Cliff. I
’
ll have to watch the boy and draw my own conclusions.
”

Brainard swept into the keep as though he owned it, but even Anne had to admit that he was mostly courteous. Brennan
’
s watchful eye was on him, however. And it was a few days before anything was said to show Anne that only Brainard
’
s manners had changed, not his principles.

“
Tell me about Ramsford,
”
Brennan said to Brainard during their busy, well-attended evening meal.
“
What news of Baelfour? How do the Welshmen fare?
”

“
Ramsford is not a rich keep, my lord, but you already knew that. The Welsh are for hard work and lean in luxuries, which seems an unnecessary waste to me. I did what I was asked, however, to the displeasure of your castellan. Baelfour did not like the way I doled out the money, nor was he in favor of the improvements I supervised to make the place stronger. I
’
m cer
tain his complaints reached you
--
he was often writing letters.
”
Brainard tore off a fistful of bread, chewed a hearty piece, and washed it down with wine.
“
The most heartening news to all of them and to myself is that
I
am done with Ramsford.
”

“
Oh? I did not excuse you yet.
”

“
I am aware of that, my lord,
”
Brainard said with strained courtesy.
“
I am excusing myself.
”

“
You will leave Ramsford when I give my permission.
”

“
May we discuss this in private, Father?
”
Brainard asked with strained politeness.
“
It is unclear to me, and probably many others, whether I was given a nobleman
’
s chore, or exiled from my home.
”
He glanced at Anne, then slowly his eyes moved to Sloan.
“
The Welshmen are not known for their courteous ways, but I suspected that all you really wished was to have me behave after a courtier
’
s fashion.
”
He raised a brow and peered at his father.
“
And so I shall. You will see.
”