A Year & a Day

by Virginia Henley

  “Well, you know how to remedy that.” Alicia unfastened his dagger, then took his hand, urging him toward a chair. “Let me take off your boots.”

  “You are very generous, Alisha.” He slurred her name, reaching out to touch her breasts.

  “More generous than the little mother?” she asked archly, playfully pushing him into the chair.

  “We won’t speak of Jane,” he said stiffly.

  Alicia wanted to scratch his eyes out. She spun away and stared into the fire, trying to control her anger and her sharp tongue. She took a deep breath and slipped her gown off, letting it slide down her body until the soft garment formed a pool at her feet. She knew the firelight would turn her skin to gold.

  A sudden noise behind her made her turn from the fire. She stared at Lynx in horror. His head had fallen back and a loud snore resonated about the chamber.

  Though Lynx was gone before first cock’s crow, every servant at Dumfries knew Lord de Warenne had spent the night with his mistress. It was Alicia herself who made sure that Marjory knew in whose chamber her brother had slept.

  “I’m surprised at you, Alicia. After all he had consumed, you actually let him into your room?”

  “He was most insistent and most amorous.”

  “I can imagine,” Jory said sweetly without a trace of sarcasm. Jory knew she must get to Jane before the malicious tongues did their damage. She had been going down for breakfast, but now excused herself from Alicia and returned to her tower room. Jory opened her wardrobe, selected half a dozen garments, and carried them to the Master Tower.

  Taffy was just entering with a breakfast tray. Jory gave an exaggerated sigh. “I have been replaced in your affections.”

  “Yes, my lady.” Taffy blushed. “I mean no, my lady.”

  “You are forgiven; she has my heart too.”

  Jory knocked before she entered. “Good morning, Lady Jane, I’ve brought you some of my clothes until you get new gowns made.”

  Jane caught her breath at the lovely garments. There was a pale lavender underdress with a vivid magenta tunic, there was a peach-colored gown and another in a shade of turquoise. “I can’t take your clothes,” Jane demurred, with a look of pure longing.

  “Yes, you can. I shall put them in your wardrobe,” Jory said firmly, disappearing through the archway.

  Jane’s sisters walked in without knocking. Mary helped herself to the food on the breakfast tray, while Kate asked slyly, “How was the homecoming? Did he keep you up all night?”

  “My lord didn’t come,” Jane said low.

  “That’s because he spent the night with his mistress!” Kate informed her.

  Jory swept through the archway, anger turning her eyes to glittering green ice.

  “My lady!” Kate swept down into a curtsy. Mary hastily swallowed a mouthful of food, trying not to choke, and followed her sister’s lead. “Good morning, my lady.”

  “These are my sisters, Kate and Mary.”

  “Good morning,” Jory said coolly. “Why do you bend the knee to me?”

  Mary glanced at Kate. “Out of respect, my lady.”

  “And why do you respect me?” Jory asked sweetly.

  Again a glance was exchanged. “Because you are Lord de Warenne’s sister.”

  “Let me explain something to you. This is Lord de Warenne’s lady. Jane is the future Countess of Surrey. You should be on your knees to her. Have you any idea how influential she can be to you and your families? Think of your children’s futures. She will be able to secure appointments at court for your sons, good marriages for your daughters. Show Lady Jane some respect. Kate, you may start by knocking and waiting for her permission before you enter her chamber. Mary, you may go to the kitchen for your breakfast, or to the hall, but you may not touch Jane’s food again.” Marjory smiled. “Thank you, that will be all. Oh, by the way, Lady Jane refused my brother this chamber last night because he was legless with drink. He slept elsewhere because he had no choice.”

  Kate and Mary filed out quietly.

  “Oh, Jory, does he have a mistress in the castle?”

  “Jane, all men have mistresses … Alicia is nothing more than a habit, an old habit.”

  “Alicia …” Jane said softly.

  “That isn’t even her real name … it’s Alice Bolton. She means nothing to him. Lynx chose you to be the mother of his child, not a slut like Alicia.”

  Jane sank into a chair as her memory went back over Lynx de Warenne’s own words. I need an heir; that is the reason I offer this handfasting. He had been plain enough and she had known from the outset that it was a sort of business arrangement. Even when they had shared a bed, shared their bodies, he had not spoken of love, nor even affection. The subject of faithfulness and fidelity had not even been broached.

  “I’m being silly,” Jane admitted. “That part of his life is separate and has naught to do with me.”

  She sounded so forlorn, Marjory’s heart turned over. “You care for him, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do.” Jane closed her eyes, seeing his image on her closed eyelids.

  “Oh, darling, you must never let him know your heart’s secret. You must appear to be blithely indifferent to him. No man breathing can accept a woman’s disinterest. You’ll soon have that stallion eating out of your hand.”

  16

  In a small paddock behind the stables, Jane had set up a plank of wood four inches from the ground. With Sheba on a lead attached to her bridle, Jane urged the palfrey to jump over the low barrier.

  “This exercise will strengthen the weak muscles in her legs,” Jane explained.

  “Now that you’ve shown me what will help her, I’ll be able to do it myself,” Jory decided.

  “I really shouldn’t be wearing your exquisite gown when I work with the animals. I’ll ruin it.”

  “Nonsense, you can just have another one made. Nothing is more important for a woman than looking beautiful at all times.”

  For the first time in her life, Jane did feel beautiful. She had brushed out her red-gold hair, then tied back her curls with a peach ribbon that matched the color of her dress. “But it’s so woefully impractical.”

  “You will need a maid to look after your clothes. Young Elizabeth de Burgh has two women. I’ll need a maid also, now that I intend to stay in one place longer than five minutes.”

  A tall figure emerged from the stables and strode purposefully in their direction. “What the devil are you doing?” Lord de Warenne demanded, towering menacingly above Jane.

  “G-good day, my lord. I am working Jory’s palfrey to strengthen the weak muscles in her legs.”

  He looked at her incredulously. “Have you gone mad? You are carrying a child—you cannot work with animals in your delicate condition.”

  Jory’s first impulse was to jump in and defend Jane, but with difficulty she held her tongue.

  “I am in no danger, my lord.”

  “I am speaking of my child.”

  His words hurt her. “Your child is in no danger. I have worked with animals all my life.”

  “Well, my lady, you will work with them no longer,” he said implacably.

  With a fleeting glance at Jory, Jane lifted her chin and said, “I will and I shall.”

  Jory gasped.

  Without a word, Lynx’s powerful arms swooped out and lifted Jane from her feet. Grim-faced, he bent a look upon his sister. “She is defiant enough without your aiding and abetting her!” He strode from the paddock, through the stables, and didn’t halt until they were in the Master Tower.

  The feel of his arms about her sent a thrill up Jane’s spine. Though his face was dark with anger, she knew that as long as she carried her precious burden, she was in no danger. She accused him anyway. “Why are you being fierce with me? I am in more danger from your anger than Jory’s little palfrey.”

  “You don’t seriously think I would harm my child?”

  Jane put her head on one side and her hands on her hips. “You don’
t seriously think I would harm my child?”

  Lynx looked at her in exasperation. She was being even more defiant than usual. A sudden thought occurred to him. “You are angry because you have been listening to gossip!”

  “Lord de Warenne, I am not angry with you … you stir no emotion in me whatsoever.”

  Lynx stared at her. His eyes were drawn to the rounded mound of her belly beneath the peach silk. Could that be true? he wondered. “You’ve heard no gossip?”

  Jane’s mouth curved. “Oh, I’ve heard the gossip, my dear lord, but I have little interest in what you do with your mistress.” Her laughter infuriated him.

  His eyes narrowed dangerously. “One of the things I shall demand from a wife is obedience!”

  “We are not wed yet, my lord.”

  Lynx fought to control his temper. Every woman in the world wanted the last bloody word. He was determined not to let her have it. His green eyes turned to ice. “And are never likely to be, Mistress Leslie.”

  He set her down inside her chamber and then slammed the door.

  A moment later, Jory appeared. “You handled yourself splendidly, Jane.”

  “I feel wretched. He was so cold with me, Jory.”

  “He may have sounded cold, but he was as mad as fire or he wouldn’t have slammed the door.”

  “He said he would never marry me.”

  “Of course he will marry you. Handfasting might be an honorable custom to a Scot, but not to an Englishman. Lynx wants his child to be legitimate more than anything in the world. Of course, when he asks, you must refuse him.”

  Jane brushed away a tear. “Why?”

  “Men want what they cannot have. Do you want Lynx to wed you because of the child, or wed you for yourself?”

  “Jory, you know the answer.”

  “Then you must become a challenge to him. Refuse him, and he will turn over heaven and earth to win you.”

  “Do you think I should pack my things and go back home?”

  “Oh no. Save that trump card to play later in the game, and speaking of games, I must teach you how to play backgammon and chess. You must become an expert at board games so that you can let him win.”

  Jane’s dimples appeared. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “It makes perfect sense, because there are times when it will be imperative that he lose. It all depends on what stakes you are playing for.” Jory reached up and took down the stringed lute from the wall. “I’ll teach you music, too. You must learn how to entertain a man on a long winter’s eve.”

  Jane recalled that the first time Lynx brought her to these lovely chambers, he had asked if she played chess or played a musical instrument. “Oh, thank you, Jory. Lynx already taught me the names of the chess pieces, but if you would take the time to teach me how to play, I would be so grateful!”

  Lynx inspected the new flocks of sheep and cattle, thinking there should be more, but when he learned that Ben and Sim Leslie had taken the majority to the Uplands to graze, he was well satisfied with the numbers. He spent two hours with David Leslie in the storehouse, taking inventory of what supplies Dumfries had and what they would need. He appointed Keith Leslie to cull the horses that needed new shoes and get them to the blacksmiths.

  Thomas was already at the forge, getting de Warenne’s armor and weapons cleaned and repaired. Every piece of equipment in the armory must be checked; no small undertaking for an army of almost five hundred. Lynx designated a stone building as a slaughterhouse and put his Welshmen in charge. They knew that the hide of every animal killed for food must be cured and the leather used for boots, harnesses, and a dozen other necessities.

  As Lynx bathed and changed his clothes before he went down to dinner, his spirits were high. His anger with Jane had soon melted away. How could he be at odds with the young woman who had given him his heart’s desire? He had decided she must be in the dining hall beside him tonight to stem the flood of gossip. Lynx opened the door to summon her, then thought better of her climbing stairs and descended to her chamber.

  His eyes went immediately to his child, before they lifted to her face. “Are you well?”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “I had heard that a woman suffers from nausea when she is carrying a child.”

  Jane was glad that he had not seen her the first couple of months when the mere smell of food set her off retching. He would have ordered her confined to bed. “No nausea,” she said, smiling.

  “Good, then you will dine with me in the hall.”

  The smallest look of apprehension came into her face. It did not escape Lynx. “Jane, we are a castle of men— you simply must get used to us.”

  “So says your sister, Marjory.”

  “I carp at Jory sometimes, because of her impulsiveness, but she is a good role model for you. She is accomplished in all the feminine arts and is invariably sweet-tempered.”

  Jane lowered her lashes to hide her amusement. If he knew only half the things Jory had advised her to do, he would banish his sister from Dumfries!

  Lynx seated her on his left and shared his trencher with her. He cut the meat with his knife and selected all the most succulent pieces for her.

  Jane was flattered until she realized he wasn’t doing it to try to please her; it was his way of making sure his child got the best. She smiled at her misapprehension of his motives and ate the meat. She too wanted the best for her baby.

  Lynx urged her to try everything and she did her best. He seemed to search his mind for conversational topics, but Jane soon discovered that every utterance came back to the baby, the only thing they had in common.

  As Lynx looked out from the dais at the crowded hall, he knew most eyes were on him and Jane. By giving her the place of honor and showing his respect for her, every man here would do the same. For appearance’s sake, Lynx could not linger in the hall tonight. He had no choice but to accompany Jane back to her chambers.

  Her pulses quickened as he closed the door behind them and followed her into the room. Jane took a deep breath and tried to remember all of Jory’s advice. She spied the games table and invited, “Would you care to play a board game, my lord?”

  “Chess?” Lynx asked hopefully.

  “Good heavens, I’m not up to chess yet, but I’ll try a game of Fox and Geese if you will help me.” Jory said men loved to be asked for their help. She also said men preferred to be the Fox with only one game piece, pitting their wits against an opponent’s many Geese.

  Jane placed the Fox upon her palm and held it out to him. “I choose the Geese.”

  Lynx had two of them in his possession before she sought his advice. He pointed out the danger that threatened two more of her pieces and she prevented him from seizing them. Gradually, however, the sly Fox outwitted the silly Geese and he had far more of her pieces than she did. As Jory had advised, it was time to drop one of her pieces to the carpet.

  As Jane bent over to retrieve her game piece, Lynx’s eyes strayed to her breasts. She bent lower, affording him a better view. Within a minute she watched him surrepitiously shove another piece over the board’s edge. “I’ll get it, my lord,” she offered graciously, bending low to give him exactly what he wanted.

  Though he had never seen Jane’s breasts naked, he could tell that they were much larger now. In fact they were luscious. As he pictured what they must look like, his hands itched to touch them.

  Jane deftly moved her Goose and scooped up his Fox. “You were being kind to me, Lord de Warenne, letting me win.” She laid her fingers on his arm. “You shouldn’t make it easy, you should make it hard for me.”

  His cock began to swell. Lynx shifted uncomfortably.

  She has no idea she has said something sexually provocative.

  Jane, of course, knew exactly what she had said, though she had no idea of the effect of her words. They played again and Lynx soon gained control over both the game and his body. A moment of lust was not going to make him risk harming his child. His body’s needs would
be slaked elsewhere.

  Marjory had shown Jane how to jostle the games table so that the pieces would scatter if she was losing badly, but Jane didn’t mind losing to him. She drew in a swift involuntary breath as her baby suddenly jerked.

  “What is it? Are you in pain?” Lynx demanded.

  “No … no, pray don’t be alarmed. The baby moved and took me by surprise.”

  “Is that normal?” His eyes were filled with concern.

  “Perfectly normal, so my grandmother tells me. The more it moves, the healthier it is.”

  Lynx lifted the games table that sat between them and set it aside. He held out his hand. “Come.”

  Jane’s eyebrows rose in a question.

  “Come to me.” He opened his thighs and she stepped hesitantly between them. He placed a proprietary hand upon her abdomen and waited. Nothing happened.

  He looked at her expectantly and she flushed deeply. Did he think she could make it happen? Then she felt a flutter and could see by his expression that he too had felt it. Suddenly, the baby jerked again and Lynx’s face showed his delight. “He kicked me!” The wonder of actually being able to feel his child filled him with awe. He searched her face. “Do you think it a boy or a girl?”

  “I have no idea, my lord, though there are dozens of theories for predicting, none of which are infallible.”

  “Such as?” he prompted, seemingly fascinated.

  “Well, some women claim if you are constantly sick and the child kicks continually, it’s a male; if it gives no trouble, it is a female.”

  “Women say such things because they are biased against males.”

  “Another way is to suspend a small touchstone over the child. If the pendulum swings back and forth, it is a male; if it moves in a circle, it is a female.”

  “Superstitious hocus-pocus,” he scoffed.

  “Do you still have the lynx I gave you?”

  He nodded and reached inside his tunic with his free hand.

  “It kept you safe.”