The Everlasting Covenant (51 page)

“
I must await Sloan,
”
she said Before Trenton could respond, she shook her head.
“
Nay, I will not abandon my children. Most especially to Clifton. When they are settled away from Ayliffe, then I will consider such a move.
”
She glanced at Dylan, and seeing his proud smile, her eyes became misty. She had to tear her eyes away, but too late, for Trenton had seen the exchange. He stood.

“
If you will excuse me, I should visit the priest and set the cookery to work on a feast. We will have this done in a few hours.
”
He leaned down and kissed his sister
’
s cheek.
“
Convince her to stay here, Dylan,
”
he said before leaving.

A long silence separated them after Trenton left the room. They looked at each other. He was the first to break the silence.
“
A dozen years ago it would not have taken us this long to be in each other
’
s arms.
”

“
That was a long time ago, Dylan. Other arms welcome you now. You are free to marry. You should do so.
”

“
Would it help your case with Sir Cliff if I married?
”
he asked.
“
My Anne ...
”

“
We have children in trouble,
”
she said quickly, avoiding the subject of his many women.
“
Our problems are much larger than you think. Sir Clifton is close to the king and he is jealous of you, Dylan. I know very well what he intends. Unless our new
king compensates him mightily, giving him the earldom, there are a great many people he must eliminate to obtain it. He will surely go first to Brainard so that he can assume the title through the failure of heir, through me. Then you will be confronted, and the reasons are clear only to Clifton. I believe he would like never again to see you in the same room with Sloan and Gage.
”

Dylan leaned his elbows on spread knees, sighed, and looked down at the floor.
“
I can almost understand,
”
he said solemnly.

She went on,
“
I
imagine I will be the last to go.
”
She laughed ruefully.
“
Clifton may ev
en allow me old age –
I have long been a property he has been proud to own.
”

She continued,
“
But it is becoming terrible, Dylan. In the beginning Clifton was true to his word, content to stand at my side and oversee Ayliffe. But in the end you were right about him. I sh
ould have seen it when you did –
I could have prevented much hardship. I should have abandoned Ayliffe and fled into sanctuary with Trenton. Undoubtedly the children would be safer were they not tied to that inheritance. It took a dozen years but suddenly Clifton realized what he wanted. It was not I, it was my power over Ayliffe. He asked me, quite recently, if I really thought he would be content to be my lackey
forever. You may believe this –
his ambition is far more dangerous to me and my children than his jealous guardianship ever was. Dylan,
”
she said quietly, her eyes regretful,
“
he knows about Sloan. He forced me to admit the truth.
”

Dylan visibly winced as if in pain. She could tell it was all becoming clear to him then.

“
I could not help it, Dylan, please believe that
. I tried to protect my son ..
. our son.
”

“
Of course,
”
he murmured.
“
I met the boy. He resembles me to some degree.
”

“
As Gage resembles Sloan.
”
She shook her head.
“
It has all caught up with us at last. Now we must see to the children. If they are to get their due, I must put their welfare ahead of my own, ahead of yours.
”

“
Yes,
”
he quietly agreed.

“
If I am to help the boys, you must take responsibility for Deirdre, with Trenton. Send some of your own here to fortify Heathwick, if necessary. After today, there is nothing more I can do for my daughter. Deirdre must be kept safe from Clifton. I will go back to Ayliffe and do what I can for my sons.
”

“
Anne, it is foolish to go back there now.
”

“
Don
’
t you see I have no choice? If I don
’
t return, Clifton can work against me through my sons. He still
has much influence over Sloan –
Sloan has not seen Clifton in a long time. He would only remember his faithful teacher and would be hard pressed to believe that Clifton misuses his power. And Gage needs me.
”

“
Have you any idea what Clifton might do to you, to Gage, if he becomes angry?
”

She smiled confidently.
“
Until he manages to convince his king to bestow some honor on him, Clifton cannot really hurt me. He controls my soldiers for me, true, but they are still mine. Ayliffe is the only place I am truly safe, for many are still loyal to me there. Here, behind Deirdre
’
s wall, Clifton could bring a force of thousands to liberate me ... he could accuse my brother or you of holding me hostage ... but at Ayliffe, I can still gainsay his authority, as long as I am careful never to act in treason against King Richard. Nay, Dylan, Ayliffe is still safer than any path of flight.
”

Dylan leaned forward, closer to her.
“
Let me help you, Anne. Let me get Gage to a safehouse. Y
ou would be safe there as well –
letters
could be written to Sloan ..
.
”

Help. She almost choked at the sound.
“
I know you wish to see your sons safe, Dylan, but it is better if I go to Ayliffe and see to that myself. You need not concern yourself for now. If I need more help, I will get word to you somehow.
”

“
I want you safe! I want you
--
”

“
You have other women whose safety should be your concern. You
--
”

“
Other women?
”
he questioned. She was afraid to look at his eyes.
“
The women you saw me with at court? Women convenient to keep Sir Clifton
’
s jealous fits from harming you?
”
She looked back at him, her heart pounding.

“
Don
’
t ...
,
”
she quietly entreated.

“
Don
’
t? Anne, tell me your heart! Tell me now!
”

“
You ask too much ... my children. ... I do not hold you to foolish promises made whe
n you were a lad, foolish ..
.
”

“
And what of promises made as a man? What of promises made when I held my second son and I swore that I would never believe you loved me no more?
”

She looked into his penetrating gaze, speechless. She looked hard. Was it still there? After all they had been through? She opened her mouth to speak, to shout,
I love you still; I need you more than ever! Give me hope, love!

The door to the hall opened and a castlemaid peeked in.
“
Ma
’
am? Milady?
‘
Is lordship says come to the chapel when ye can, ma
’
am.
‘
E says come.
”

Anne recovered herself with some difficulty.
“
Thank you. We
’
re coming.
”
She shook her head and stood, still trembling.

Dylan touched her arm tentatively.
“
My Anne ...
”

“
Let us get these children wedded and bedded, my lord,
”
she said, her voice shaking.
“
We
’
ll have time to sort out whatever difficulties remain after this weighty chore is done.
”

His deep turquoise gaze held her. He gave her arm a slight squeeze.
“
Rest assured, madam,
”
he promised.

Anne could not suppress the longing in her own breast as she stood witness with Dylan to the quick ceremony in the church. Later, at the feast in the hall, they were attended by castlefolk, knights and archers. There had been no time to plan a cele
bration, but that did not dim the happiness of the bride. A few pigs and calves were slaughtered, wine and ale were liberally served, and finally, as nightfall was upon them, Anne helped her daughter prepare for the nuptial bed. Deirdre was beset by all the sentimental tears of a young bride, and Anne found it difficult to play the part of the stronger, wiser matron. She knew exactly what her daughter was feeling.

“
This is not the kind of wedding your father would have wished you to have,
”
Anne said with sentimental sadness.

Deirdre paused in her undressing and looked into her mother
’
s
eyes.
“
He would have approved of my husband, wouldn
’
t he, Mother?
”
she asked.

Her eyes glazed with unshed tears. If you were my daughter, I would want you to have a man such as Dylan deFrayne. What more approval could Brennan give? She nodded.
“
He was a good man, Deirdre. He loved you more than anyt
hing. And he was more than wise –
he was compassionate and forgiving. Yea, he would hold your happiness above all other considerations. Even now, I believe he smiles on you.
”
She looked down for a moment, then raised her eyes again to her daughter
’
s face.
“
Deirdre, I was not a perfect wife to your father, but please believe me
--
I did love him. I loved him deeply.
”

“
Why does Sir Cliff wish me ill?
”
she asked, as if she had not heard Anne
’
s near confession.

“
He is a hard man to please,
”
Anne said solemnly, averting her gaze.
Because of me,
she almost said. It was on her lips. She could not explain all the reasons, some jealousy, some greed, some simple overindulgence. But she knew he had become dan
gerous.
“
Do not worry about Sir Cliff now, let us prepare you for your husband.
”

As she saw her daughter readied for Justin, Anne was driven back in time. Small snatches of memories blended with her daughter
’
s present happiness. She longed to tell Deirdre how her marriage to Justin finally played out a legacy of love, but she knew it was not the right time.

When Justin arrived in the small chamber amidst shouts from the men in the hall below, Anne felt a brief temptation to play the mother, to warn him to be only good to her all her life, to love her gently, to protect her for the rest of their lives together. The look in the young man
’
s eyes stilled her tongue, for he was much as Dy
lan had been at two and twenty –
ready, eager, and brave. And Deirdre loved him.

Trenton had directed Anne to her mother
’
s chamber for the night and she stood nearby when he told Dylan where to take his rest. The celebrating went on in the hall below. In the chamber Anne used, Marcella
’
s belongings were stacked in chests
and bundles in a corner. There was no one else to
see to these personal effects –
Trenton had done nothing about the jewels, letters, and gowns. Anne thought the time as good as any and began sorting through Marcella
’
s things to try to direct her mind away from her daughter
’
s bedding and her own envy.

She
gave the gowns a cursory look –
some castlewomen would be delighted to share them. The jewels could go to Deirdre, for they were undoubtedly purchased with the allotment Bren
nan had provided for Heathwick.