A Year and a Day

by Virginia Henley

  Jane watched in shocked fascination as he arched and spent himself. But, as if he’d never have enough of the delicate beauty beneath him, he went on his knees, thrust his dark head between her legs, and began making love to her with his mouth. Jane could not believe what she was witnessing. She had a dizzying sense that this couldn’t really be happening.

  Marjory began to writhe and cry out her pleasure, becoming so splendidly uninhibited that she arched her mons into his demanding mouth, threading her fingers into his hair to hold him close for the ravishing. Dear God in heaven, would they never be finished? Jane wondered frantically. Finally, Jory screamed and clung to him as if she were about to die. They lay still, catching their breath, looking into each other’s eyes.

  Jane heaved a sigh of relief as she saw Robert get to his feet, but her mouth gaped open as she watched him lift Jory in his arms and carry her to the bed. They whispered and murmured love words and endearments so intimate, Jane knew that they had been lovers for some time. They made love so tenderly, it seemed a sacrilege to watch and listen. Lovemaking such as theirs demanded privacy.

  Jane crouched in the wardrobe, her emotions so entangled she began to tremble. Marjory draped herself in a sheet as she watched her lover dress. Before he departed, he gave her a swift kiss and murmured, “I’m staying the night.”

  Jane had a cramp in her back and could remain still no longer. When she reached behind her to rub it, her elbow hit the wardrobe. Jory flung open the door with a cry of outrage. “My God, what are you doing in there?”

  “I wasn’t spying, Jory. I brought back the dresses you lent me, I recognized the Bruce’s voice when he said he was going to make love to you … and I hid.” Jane stepped from the wardrobe looking pale and upset.

  “Oh, Jane, Janie … I’ve shocked you!”

  Marjory led the trembling girl to the bed. Her mind darted about like quicksilver, trying to recall the things she and Robert had done. Jane was so unworldly and innocent, she must be deeply shocked by the things they’d done. “I’m sorry, Jane, please don’t be upset. I know the things we did must seem wicked to you, but you must understand this is what lovers do.”

  “Oh, Jory,” Jane whispered huskily, “what you have with Robert … that’s what I want with Lynx.”

  Jory’s legs turned to water and she sank down on a stool. “Oh, darling, we are mad in love with each other.”

  “Yes,” Jane said dreamily.

  “A passion like ours is rare. I didn’t have it in my marriage, though I loved my husband,” Jory tried to explain.

  “I want Lynx to love me,” Jane said wistfully. “He has never been in love; he told me so himself.” “But he was married.”

  “Marriage doesn’t guarantee love, Jane. In fact it is very often the death knell to love. Most married couples merely tolerate each other.”

  Jane thought of her brothers’ and sisters’ marriages and knew there was truth in what Marjory said. “I don’t show it, but on the inside, I feel just as passionately about everything as you do.” As she spoke, Jane caressed her baby with loving hands.

  “Well, I don’t think it’s hopeless. Lynx already loves his child and is passionately protective of it.”

  “Once I have the baby, he won’t notice me anymore.”

  Suddenly Jory knew she had to redouble her efforts to make Jane so desirable, Lynx wouldn’t be able to resist her. “You’ll have to learn how to attract a man’s attention. Let him see some of the passion you feel inside. Refuse to be ignored. Think of yourself as the Chatelaine of Dumfries. Put yourself in charge here. Let Lynx see your fine hand in everything.”

  Jane smiled. “I’ll storm the castle.”

  “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Think of it in terms of a military campaign. You not only want the castle, you want to capture its lord. Don’t settle for anything less than unconditional surrender! You’ll need men to practice on and who better than the Bruces?”

  “Are they all here?” Jane blushed to the roots of her hair.

  “Robert brought two of his brothers. We’ll recruit them.”

  “Jory!” Jane protested.

  “Robert will enjoy making Lynx jealous and it will throw the scent off he and I being lovers. It’s a secret you alone share, Jane.”

  “I won’t give you away, I promise.”

  “Let me get dressed and we’ll meet downstairs. I suggest you save that exquisite white silk for Lynx’s return from the hunt tomorrow eve.”

  * * *

  “Father!” Jane summoned Jock who was on his way to the kitchens.

  He looked down at his daughter dressed in brilliant turquoise. “Ye look very grand today, lassie.”

  “I need your help. I must learn to be the Chatelaine of Dumfries and I want to do it well, not just adequately. How shall I address you? I cannot call you Jock.”

  “Ye will address me as ‘steward’ and I will address ye as ‘Lady Jane.’”

  “Very well. Since we are entertaining the Braces, what do you plan on serving for dinner?”

  With twinkling eyes he listed what was on the menu, though he did it with every formality.

  Jane considered, then made a couple of suggestions of her own, purely for the practice.

  “That sounds excellent, Lady Jane.” He bowed and was about to continue to the kitchens when she said, “And, steward, I was not informed when the Braces arrived, as I ought to have been.”

  “An oversight on my part, Lady Jane.”

  “Please see that it doesn’t happen again.” She looked at him gravely. “Was that all right?”

  “Aye. Always use a high-handed tone with servants.”

  “That’s what Jory told me, but I wasn’t sure.”

  “Lady Marjory has the right of it.”

  Jane next sought out her brother Andrew. She briefly explained about her position of chatelaine and told him she would need his help. “The Earl of Carrick and his brothers are our guests, but Dumfries lacks entertainment in the hall. Get a piper for us, but also see if you can find jugglers or acrobats. Elizabeth de Burgh has told me her father’s castle employs strolling minstrels and actors who put on plays in the hall.”

  “But the Earl of Ulster owns half of Ireland. He lives like a king in his palatinate.”

  “Surely we can do something on a small scale. At least let’s be civilized.”

  Andrew stared after his sister in amazement. He’d never realized it before, but there was more to Jane than met the eye!

  When Jane encountered the Bruce, her cheeks suffused with color as his eyes swept over her from head to foot.

  “Lady Jane, you are absolutely blooming.” He lifted her fingers to his lips in a gallant gesture. “It looks like we’ll be celebrating a wedding soon.”

  “Perhaps not as soon as my lord would like,” Jane said shyly.

  “You refused him?” Robert asked incredulously.

  “I told him I needed more time.”

  Robert threw back his head and laughed. “Lady Jane, I’d like you to meet my brothers Nigel and Alexander.”

  “I am delighted to meet you. I am so sorry Lord de Warenne is off hunting.”

  “Must be daft in the head to desert such a beautiful lady,” Alexander declared.

  “Never fear,” Nigel said, tucking her arm into his. “I’ll take good care of you in Lynx’s absence.”

  18

  Up on the dais, Jane asked Marjory to sit in Lynx’s place and she directed Robert Bruce to sit on her other side. The moment the meat was served, Jory leaned forward and said, “Jane knows about us.” Jane closed her eyes in mortification. Robert leaned forward and looked at the two ladies blankly. “Oh, you mean that we were childhood friends.” “Jane knows all,” Marjory murmured. The Bruce still looked baffled. “Do you mean that my mother is your godmother?” he asked politely.

  “Give it up. Jane was in my wardrobe this afternoon.” “Ah,” Robert replied, realizing his bluff was pointless. Then he took one of Jane’s hands and squeeze
d it. He smiled into her eyes and said, “Celts don’t betray each other.”

  Alexander, sitting next to him, said, “They do it all the bloody time!”

  “Who the hellfire is interested in your opinion?” Robert asked.

  Alexander grinned. “Lady Jane is—just ask her.” Nigel Bruce, seated on the far side of Marjory, leaned forward and said, “If you two uncouth swines don’t stop making Lady Jane blush, I’ll wipe the floor with you.”

  With a rapt look on her face, Jory declared, “This is such fun, it takes me back to when I was fourteen.”

  Robert teased, “The only difference is that back then we were all in love with you. Now it is Jane who has our hearts.”

  Early in the afternoon of the following day, the hunters began to return. Jane and Jory were in the meadow beyond the stables where the Bruce brothers were giving them pointers on flying hawks.

  Lynx hailed Robert Bruce from his saddle as he galloped across the meadow. Jane handed her goshawk to Robert so that she could greet Lynx, but the Bruce put a protective arm about her to hold her back. “Don’t touch him, Jane, he’s all bloody.”

  Lynx’s gaze flicked over Jane’s primrose velvet gown and flushed cheeks, and thought once again how pretty she was. Her hair reminded him of a cloak of fire. No other woman he had ever known had such glorious hair, and her figure was so softly rounded and lush it aroused him.

  “We’re back early. We bagged more game than we could carry. If I’d known you were coming, Robert, you could have hunted with us.”

  “Your lady entertained us royally in your absence.” Robert grinned. “Congratulations are in order. You are a very lucky man.” Both Alexander and Nigel pounded Lynx on the back and shook his hand.

  “Shall I prepare a bath for you, my lord?” Jane offered sweetly.

  Taffy, whose brows lowered the moment he saw the Bruce put his arm about Lady Jane, said, “I’ll do it, my lady, there is no need to trouble yourself.”

  “I’m learning the duties of a chatelaine,” Jane explained.

  Lynx, who thought he might have enjoyed Jane’s attentions if Taffy hadn’t interfered, said shortly, “I’ll bathe myself. Robert, you have information for me?”

  The Bruce handed the goshawk to Nigel and he and Lynx went off toward the castle.

  “Taffy,” Marjory said, giving the squire her most seductive smile, “Lady Jane needs your help. She needs to practice her social skills on the opposite sex. Can you pretend to be utterly devoted to her?”

  Taffy flushed. “I am devoted to her, Lady Marjory.”

  Jory gave a mock sigh. “She steals all my admirers.”

  “Shall we take our birds into the forest?” Nigel asked, carefully placing the goshawk on Jane’s gloved hand.

  “Lady Jane may not ride at the moment,” Taffy said repressively.

  Nigel looked at Alexander. “Are we going to take orders from a Welshman?”

  “Like hell we are,” Alex replied cheerfully, and the two men picked up Taffy and deposited him in the horse trough outside the stables.

  “Oh, no, ’tis all my fault!” Jane said, stricken.

  “Pay no heed. That is how men amuse themselves,” Jory said lightly. “Especially big men; it helps use up all their disgusting energy.”

  * * *

  Lynx avoided the communal bathhouse and instead sat in a wooden tub in his chambers where he and Robert Bruce could talk in private.

  “Don’t let your weapons rust. I expect trouble to break out any day,” Bruce said.

  “I get regular dispatches from the governor. He doesn’t seem aware of a threat.”

  “The trouble will start in the Highlands. All will remain quiet this side of the Clyde and the Firth of Forth, at least for the time being.”

  “That’s because of your presence here,” Lynx declared. “It is crucial that Bruce remain loyal to Edward, since Annandale straddles the vital western route between England and Scotland.”

  “My spies tell me that Andrew de Moray has escaped from Chester where the king imprisoned him. The Morays have the lordship of Bothwell and rule vast stretches of land as far south as Lanarkshire.”

  “Edward has Bothwell Castle strongly garrisoned,” Lynx reminded him.

  “Aye, but they have other strongholds in Moray, Banff, Inverness, and Ross.”

  “Moray couldn’t have escaped without help in high places.”

  Robert picked up a bucket of water and unceremoniously dumped it over Lynx. “Exactly!”

  As Lynx dressed he studied Robert’s dark features. Robert knew he would dispatch this information to John de Warenne. But Lynx wondered what Robert wasn’t telling him. There were de Warenne spies out there, but obviously they were not as informed as the Brace’s.

  In the hall at dinner, Lynx noticed the addition of music immediately. As well as bladderpipes, strolling musicians played harps and timbrels. Between courses, pages came around with finger bowls and towels.

  “I see my sister Jory’s fine hand in the improvements,” Lynx said to Jane.

  “Nay, my lord, you see my fine hand. I also told the steward to order us some silver forks. I understand the late queen introduced them to England, so I’ve decided to introduce them to Scotland.”

  Though his eyebrows elevated, Lynx managed to keep the amusement from his eyes. Lady Jane had begun to take her position seriously. Behind them, Thomas and Taffy vied with each other to fulfill her every wish, and she rewarded their efforts with a brilliant smile. Though Lynx made no comment, he was acutely aware of the competition for Jane’s approval. It must be because she was his lady, so he decided to do nothing to discourage it.

  His eyes were drawn again and again to Jane. In the fine white silk with her lovely red hair whispering about her hips, she was as attractive as any lady he had seen at court. After the meal he watched beneath hooded lids as men surrounded her. Not just the Braces, but two of his knights, Sir Giles and Sir Harry, were dancing attendance on her as well.

  When Jane bid everyone good night, Lynx was torn. He wanted to talk with the Braces, but he also wanted to go upstairs with Jane. He decided he could do both. Lynx told Robert he would join him shortly, then he put his hand beneath Jane’s elbow and murmured, “I’ll see you safely upstairs.”

  As they ascended the steps, he looked down at her. “I had a most pleasant homecoming.”

  “I’m so glad, my lord.”

  To Lynx, her voice sounded cool and polite. He could not tell what she was thinking and suddenly wished that he could. Sometimes Jane had an air of mystery about her. He told himself it was due to her Celtic blood.

  When they were inside her chambers he said, “When you were flying the hawks today, I appreciated your not riding out, Jane. My orders forbidding you to ride must have sounded arbitrary. I do not mean to constrict you; I am concerned for your safety as much as the baby’s.”

  “Thank you. That means a great deal to me. Now I shan’t deliberately flout your orders.”

  Was she teasing him? he wondered. As her mouth curved into a delicious smile, it suddenly occurred to Lynx that he had never kissed her. He took both her hands and drew her inexorably toward him. Then he dipped his head to kiss her good night. He intended to kiss her lips, but she turned her face slightly and his lips grazed her cheek.

  “Good night, my lord.”

  “Good night, Jane,” he said, a bit perplexed. But then he thought, Yes, she was definitely teasing him!

  Jane had not been to her forest pool since Lynx had returned from fighting, so after their company had departed the next day, she wrapped up warmly, took her herb knife, and decided to go to her special place. Lynx had told her he didn’t mean to restrict her and she felt relieved. She had always enjoyed being solitary and prized her freedom.

  As Jane approached the pool, the hair on the nape of her neck seemed to stand on end and she had a premonition that something was wrong. She stopped still in her tracks, looking, listening, scenting. She heard a panting sound, faint but distr
essful. It led her in the direction of a leafy, low-lying branch. She bent down to pull it aside and stared into the green eyes of the lynx!

  Startled, she let the branch fall back into place, but not before she had seen that the magnificent creature had been wounded. With her heart in her mouth, Jane clutched her touchstone and said a quick prayer to the goddess Brigantia. Then slowly, she lifted the branch aside. An arrow was embedded in the top of his foreleg, where the leg joined the lithe torso.

  Jane looked deeply into its eyes and talked soothingly. “Hush, I will help you. Be still and I will take your pain.” Gently, she stroked its tufted fur with her fingertips, drawing off its pain as she knew she could. When the eyes of the lynx became glassy, she knew she had mesmerized the animal enough to lessen its pain.

  Now she left it so she could gather white willow leaves from a tree on the far side of the pool. She knew of nothing better to staunch the bleeding of wounds. Next she picked a couple of huge dock leaves and scooped a handful of mud from the water’s edge, then Jane tore a piece of cloth from her underdress, soaked it with water, and carried it all back to the wounded beast.

  With gentle fingers she eased the arrowhead from the wound and watched with hammering heart as the blood flowed freely. All the while, murmuring a singsong litany of soothing phrases, Jane cleansed the wound, covered it with white willow, packed on the mud, and securely bandaged it with the cloth ripped from her gown.

  Tomorrow she would bring it meat lightly laced with poppy to make the wounded animal sleep. She would have to feed it for a few days until it had healed enough to be able to hunt again. She allowed the branches ablaze with autumn leaves to fall back into place and washed her hands at the pool. Anger at the hunters swept over her. This was a Welsh bowman’s arrow! Yet she knew she could not go back to the castle and complain. The lynx’s life depended on her guarding it with a cloak of secrecy.

  Before she left, Jane took her herb knife and drew a magic circle about the hiding place. She visualized a silver-blue flame shooting from the tip of her knife as she drew the circle of fire and felt secure that nothing could penetrate it.