The Highwayman (27 page)

He mounted before she could protest and was off in a flurry of hooves, galloping away.

Alex sat sniveling on the ground, staring down miserably at her soiled clothes and wondering how on earth she was going to explain them to Mrs. Curry.

* * * *

Burke was as good as his word. Alex did not see him again, and it was maddening to know that he was nearby at the stables, within easy reach. She had to restrain herself from going down there several times a day. The certainty that he knew exactly what he was putting her through made her want to kill him and drag him into bed at the same time. A week passed, the weather turned warmer, and by the end of a fortnight Alex jumped every time a door opened or closed. She had no idea when he would appear or how she would explain his presence when he did, but she wanted to see him.

On a crisp day in late April Mrs. Curry came into her room when she was feeding the baby. “Messenger from the queen, my lady,” she said.

Alex handed her the baby and refastened her bodice. “Make sure you rock him before you put him down,” she said. This was supposed to ward off colic.

The housekeeper nodded, cooing to the child.

“You can send him in,” Alex said.

The yeoman of the guard entered as Mrs. Curry left. “Lady Selby,” he said, bowing.

“Good morning.”

“I am requested by Her Majesty to inform you that she requires your presence to attend upon her at Whitehall.”

“I am always happy to do Her Majesty’s bidding,” Alex replied.

The guardsman inclined his head.

“Do you know if a similar message has been sent to Lady Howard?”

The guard looked surprised. “Why, yes, madam.”

Alex nodded. Apparently their holiday was at an end.

“I am also instructed to offer you this humble gift as a token of Her Majesty’s regard in celebration of your son’s birth,” the man said.

Alex extended her hand for the package.

The gift was a silver-and-gilt porringer. It was engraved “For Michael Selby, on the occasion of his arrival into this our realm, from his loving princess, Elizabeth R.” It was further inscribed with the baby’s birth date.

There was a note enclosed, handwritten in Elizabeth’s beautiful, flowing script.

“Little Greek: It is our pleasure to welcome you back to our service. We look forward to your presence at court and are certain that your son will enjoy the pleasures of the Surrey countryside in your absence. Make haste to join us as we are in dire want of your most excellent company.”

In other words, come yourself but leave the baby behind. It was the typical Elizabethan treatment: a kiss and a blow at the same time.

“You may tell Her Majesty that I will leave for London tomorrow morning,” Alex said. “Stop off at the kitchen if you are so inclined, I will send word to feed you. Do you need to exchange horses?”

“I would be obliged if I could, madam.”

“Very well, then. Take your pick of the stables, and I will bring your horse back with me when I come to court. Will there be anything else?”

The man made a sweeping bow.

“Good-bye,” Alex said. “Godspeed on your return trip.”

Mrs. Curry came back in as the guardsman left. “Well?” she said.

“Back to court,” Alex sighed. “Without Michael.”

“Oh, I am sorry. Are you certain you can’t bring the baby?”

“Her Majesty wrote to me herself to make it clear.”

“I thought she liked children.”

“At a distance, apparently. Or for short visits. Not resident in her house and crying in her ear.”

“Perhaps she won’t keep you away long.”

“It will depend on her whim, I suppose. As it always does.”

“I expect I should start packing for you.”

Alex nodded. When the housekeeper had left, she braced herself and walked down to the stables to talk to Burke.

He was grooming Jasper, absorbed in the work, and barely looked up at her arrival.

“Does Your Ladyship wish to ride?”

“Are you happy here, Kevin?” she asked, ignoring his question.

“Oh, I am happy to be so near to Your Ladyship. It gladdens my heart,” he said, flicking the curry comb to free it of hair.

“Your sarcasm does not become you.”

“Your masquerade does not become you, Lady Selby,” he countered, emphasizing the title.

Alex decided to overlook his behavior, determined to accomplish her mission. “I’ve had a message from the queen,” she said.

“Indeed. I saw the messenger. He went off with Evans to try out Dealanach. It might be he means to take him back to London.”

Alex looked at him, suddenly realizing the situation.

“Didn’t you offer him his pick of the horses?”

“I never thought...” she began.

“You never do.”

“I’ll tell him the horse is mine, he can take any of the others.”

“Your Ladyship is most gracious.”

“If you call me that once more I’ll—”

“Slap me? You’ve threatened me before, I recall.”

“Don’t provoke me, Kevin, I’m trying to talk to you!”

He put down the comb and leaned against the stall, folding his arms. “Talk,” he said.

“I have to go to London, the queen has recalled me to her service. She is at Whitehall.”

“Moves around a bit, doesn’t she?” he said dryly.

“Yes.”

“Why does she want you back?”

“I don’t know, she is whimsical. I was at court during the fall, before I had the baby.”

“Perhaps she likes you. And why not? You’re pretty, intelligent, surely light-footed to do her bidding. I imagine you grace her court very well.”

Alex said nothing.

“Did your husband request that you attend the queen?”

“It was part of the bargain that I made with him.”

“But of course you hate going to court, those fine people and fancy trappings, all of that bores you, I’m sure.”

“I am nothing but a servant there. I would prefer to be here, with my son.”

“My son,” he said.

“Our son.”

“And with me?” Burke asked.

“I am not with you,” Alex replied. “But at least I get to see you, sometimes.”

Burke reached out for her as Evans and the guardsman came through the stable door. He snatched his hand back and picked up the curry comb.

“I have made an error,” Alex said to the guardsman. “The horse you were trying is mine, as I should have said.”

“No harm done,” the man said. “I’ll take another, he’s a bit too tetchy for my taste anyway.”

“When will you be leaving for London, my lady?” Evans asked.

“Tomorrow.”

“Will you want me to accompany you, or is the queen sending an escort?”

“I will be escorting Her Ladyship to London,” Burke said.

All three turned to stare at him.

“Was that not your desire?” Burke asked innocently, glancing at Alex. She wanted to kick him.

“I... I thought he could be spared more easily than you, Evans, and he is familiar with the roads in these parts,” Alex said.

“Is that so?” Evans said.

“I was traveling for a good while before I came here,” Burke replied, which was not a lie.

“Come outside with me,” Alex said, putting an end to the charade. “I want to instruct you about outfitting the horses for the journey.”

Burke followed her, and when they were safely away he said, “What was that about the horses, my lady?”

Alex whirled and faced him. “You enjoy making me miserable, don’t you?”

“And why not? It makes two of us. There’s nobody in this whole country more miserable than I am.”

“Then why do you stay?”

He stared down at her, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “You know why I stay,” he said in a low, furious tone. “I might catch a glimpse of you, or hear something from Evans about my boy, or if I’m dead lucky and say my prayers, you might even speak to me.”

“Oh, Kevin, I would have things very different if I could make them so.”

“Do you remember all that about star-crossed lovers, that rubbish you told me back in Ireland?”

“It wasn’t rubbish,” she said, looking away from him.

“I suppose not, considering that I am now beginning to believe it.”

“Kevin, you can’t come to London with me,” she said.

“Why? If you could take Evans, you could take me, and I’m better able to protect you. I’m bigger and stronger and younger than he is.”

“That’s the point.”

“What is?”

“We’ll have to stay overnight in an inn.”

“Ah. Her Ladyship doesn’t trust herself.”

“No,” she whispered, looking up at him and then down at her hands. “I don’t.”

“Alexandra,” he said in a strong voice, taking a step closer to her.

“Kevin, stay back. We’re in full view of the house.”

“Oh, damn them all to hell, what do I care what they think,” he said, clenching his fists.

“You can come with me if you promise—”

“I’ll make no promises! I’ve a good mind to leave you at that bloody palace ... what is it, York Place?”

“Whitehall. It is now called Whitehall.”

“Whatever in blazes it’s called, leave you there and go right onto the quays, and catch the next boat sailing for Ireland.”

Alex said nothing.

“Well? Would you have me do that?”

“If you want.”

“If I want!” He uttered an oath in Gaelic and then said, “How much more of this torment do you think I can take, knowing how close you are, wanting you every minute, all the while pretending that we hardly know each other? I don’t recognize myself, I’ve turned into a whimpering oaf, waiting every day for a scrap, a word, a crumb of your regard. It turns my gut to water to think of what I’ve become, all for love of you!”

Mrs. Curry came out of the kitchen door and called, “My lady, the baby won’t settle. Could you come in? He always quietens so nicely for you.”

They both looked up at the housekeeper, who cast a disapproving glance at Burke and then went back inside.

“She doesn’t favor your working here,” Alex said to him.

“Devil take her.”

“You should tell Evans to have everything ready at dawn tomorrow,” Alex advised him hastily, determined to get away from him.

“I want to see Michael before we go.”

“You will,” Alex replied, and walked on up the path.

Inside the house she tended to Michael, but her mind was elsewhere. She knew the enormous risk she was taking, going on the trip with Burke, but if he did leave for home from London, it would be the last time she’d ever see him.

Alex was awake all night, her things packed for travel, her mind in turmoil. The baby was fretful, perhaps sensing her distraction, and the thought of leaving him had her close to tears. Why did she have all these rules to obey? Why couldn’t she just do as she pleased?

In the morning, she insisted that Mrs. Curry carry the baby outside to see her off. When Burke approached leading their mounts she took the child and brought him over, ostensibly to see the horses.

“He’s a brawny boy,” Burke said, swallowing hard as he looked down at the squirming bundle. The baby was boxing the air with his fists and keeping time with his feet.

“He’s already big for his age,” Alex said.

“More power to him.”

Mrs. Curry was looking on with interest, so Alex hurried back and handed him to the housekeeper before she or Burke did anything foolish.

“Take very good care of him,” she said, looking away from the tiny face.

“I will, my lady.”

Alex was shaky when Burke grasped her hand and helped her onto her horse. He mounted Dealanach and strapped her bags onto the messenger’s horse, and the little procession set out for London.

They rode steadily for two hours before Burke slowed and indicated a clearing where they could take a rest. When Alex got down she spread her skirts cautiously on the ground and then shook her head when he offered her a flask of water.

“What is it?” he asked, crouching next to her.

“It’s not fair to make me leave him when he is so little,” she whispered.

He made a mock salute. “Your queen must be obeyed.”

“There’s many others to serve her who aren’t leaving nurslings behind. We had to get the wet nurse to return, and who knows if he’ll take to her milk again? What if he sickens? By the time word gets to me in London, he could be dead.”

“When was the last time you had the nurse?” Burke asked.

“Two weeks ago when I had the green fever.”

“Two weeks?”

“Yes.”

“I ken the child will be fine,” he said, smiling.

“Oh, what do you know? You’re not his mother.”