HOLY POISON: Boxed Set: The Complete Series 1-6

by Margaret Brazear

  It was three days before he returned to tell me of his meetings with the girl.

  “She has agreed,” he said happily, “to all my conditions.”

  “Conditions? I thought it was just the religious aspect that you were going to put to her.”

  “I was, but I thought I had best make my position clear and give her a chance to do the same. We needed to agree on the conception of a son, that was the most important thing.”

  I nodded, though I was puzzled as to why it needed to be mentioned, until I remembered his disastrous union with Rosemary.

  “She was knowledgeable in that region?” I asked at last.

  “Not really,” he replied shaking his head, “but she knows that it is something that has to be done. Not like the last time. I had a sense that this was a real woman, not a child, and she promised me she would honour her commitment. She seems to be very self confident and is not afraid to speak her mind."

  “What else did you put to her?”

  “I promised to share my wealth with her if I made her my Countess and I told her that I needed her to be faithful to me, even though I would not be faithful to her.”

  “She agreed to that?”

  I was more than a little surprised that any woman would agree to that condition.

  “Yes. She wants the title, the mansion and the money. She is extremely intelligent, which I admire, and she wants those things enough to promise to convert to catholicism.”

  I took his hand and kissed it, feeling more than a little worried about this woman to whom he had proposed. She was very young, half his age, and she may not realise precisely what she had agreed to.

  “Richard, I want your happiness more than anything. She does not sound like a good person to me, since her main objective is your title and wealth. Are you sure you are doing the right thing?”

  “That is the point, Rachel. We have committed to each other and I told her what would happen if she betrayed me.” He paused and glanced down at my hand, then kissed mine in return. “I think I frightened her a little.”

  “I am not surprised,” I answered, remembering the peddler in the horse trough.

  “She is her own person, though. She will take me because of who I am and what I own, and I believe she will keep her promises. She does not love me and I do not love her, so there is little danger of anyone getting hurt. I think we can develop a mutual respect, which is all either of us want.”

  “Then I wish you every happiness, my dear,” I said softly. “She sounds hard and uncaring. Please take care not to fall for her.”

  He laughed a little, as though the idea of his falling for anyone was bizarre, then he held my hand again.

  “Her father was practically on his knees to me,” he said. “He had his heart set on a baron and along comes a willing Earl.” He shifted uncomfortably for a few minutes before he went on: “I am a little afraid myself, to tell you the truth.”

  “What of?”

  "I am afraid that I may frighten her as I did Rosemary," he replied hesitantly. "I did not do well with a virgin the last time, did I? Does that sound pathetic?"

  "No," I replied softly. "It sound just as it should be. But can you really imagine Rosemary coming to this arrangement, making these demands?" I watched as he shook his head. "She was a child, Richard. She should never have been married at all. From what you have told me, this lady sounds as though she knows what she wants and is prepared to do whatever it takes to get it, even if she is a little naive."

  ***

  I did not expect to see him until after the wedding and even then it was some weeks before he reappeared at my door. I wondered if Her Ladyship knew that he had me living so close; I wondered if she were hard headed and practical enough to accept that. But because I had not liked the sound of her character, I had been watching from a distance and I had come to the conclusion that their little agreement was not going to quite go to plan.

  When I saw him, he looked happy and for that I was grateful. It could only mean that he had indeed chosen wisely and that this would be a real marriage, not the sham that his previous union had been.

  “Rachel,” he said, coming forward and hugging me. “I wish I could have come before, but I have been very much involved in getting to know this woman I have taken to wife.”

  “And are you pleased with her, My Lord?”

  He smiled, a delighted smile that touched my heart.

  “She is amazing,” he answered and he seemed slightly mystified. “She is warm and honest and passionate, very passionate." He stopped talking for a moment and looked thoughtful and I knew he had something on his mind for which he wanted my advice, or even approval. I was right. "I want to tell her about you.” He said at last.

  “No,” I answered, shaking my head. “She will never understand about me, not unless you also tell her my secrets. I hope you will not do that, Sir, as they are my secrets, not yours.”

  I know my voice took on a hard edge as I spoke, but I had been satisfied to be known as Richard’s mistress, I had been happy not to feel that I was different to other women and I did not want it revealed to anyone that I was flawed.

  “If that is what you truly want,” he said, “then I will honour your wishes, always.”

  He still looked doubtful and I felt I had to try to explain. Whether he, as a man, would ever really understand I had no idea.

  “Do you know what happened to me a week or so ago?” I paused while he shook his head slowly, a concerned frown on his handsome features. “I was out riding, alone, when my horse threw a shoe. I waited in the village inn while their blacksmith tended to my horse and while I was taking refreshments, a gentlemen approached me and asked if he could be of assistance.”

  “Did he say anything untoward?”

  “Not straight away, no,” I replied reassuringly. “He warned me that a woman alone would likely be cheated and he offered his services to see that did not happen, and to escort me home. That is as far as he got before the blacksmith’s boy came in and told me my horse was ready and to ask should they send the account to Lord Summerville as usual.”

  I could not help laughing as I recalled the angry look on the stranger’s face, the look of absolute outrage.

  “You told him yes, of course,” Richard was saying.

  “I did. But that is not what the tale is about.” I smiled to recall it, then continued. “The man was angry, I could see, but then he said: ‘forgive me. I did not know you were Lord Summerville’s whore’.”

  A look of pure fury crossed Richard’s face, but I took his hand to reassure him.

  “He meant to insult me,” I told him, “but he paid me the compliment of believing me capable of such a role. That is why I want my secrets kept, so that I have no need to feel that anyone is thinking I am different.”

  “He is fortunate that you cannot tell me his name,” Richard said angrily.

  “Your new Countess,” I told him, “you do not know her well enough to know whether she will hold her tongue. I have spent most of my life enduring lecherous leers from the lowest classes to the highest; do you think I want to know they are whispering about me now?”

  “She will not tell anyone if I ask her not to.”

  “That is possible, but jealousy is an unpredictable emotion.”

  “Jealousy? Why should she be jealous? She agreed to everything at the beginning.”

  “That was before she fell in love with you, My Lord.”

  I had to laugh at his puzzled frown, at the doubtful expression.

  “How could you possibly know such a thing?” He demanded. “You have never even met her.”

  “I do not need to meet her,” I replied, feeling slightly abashed. “You must forgive me, but I have been watching from a discreet distance.”

  “Why? Why would you do such a thing?”

  “I wanted to assure myself that you had not made another mistake. Your description of her character made me concerned that she was uncaring, selfish. When I first met you
, you were so desperately unhappy." He opened his mouth to object but I raised a hand to stop him. "You hid it behind the charm and the smile, you amused yourself with all those willing partners, but that was not who you are. If it had been, you would not have been able to see so easily into my heart. Seeing you laugh like you have with your new wife has warmed my heart and stilled my fears. But take my word for it, Sir – she is in love with you.”

  He still looked doubtful.

  “No,” he said at last. “Just because she does not run away and hide when she hears me coming, does not mean that she is in love with me.”

  “What does she do when she hears you coming?” I persisted. “Runs to meet you would be my guess.”

  “Why yes, how did you..?”

  I raised my eyebrows sceptically.

  “I think that is proof enough,” I said. “I have seen over the years since we met the way women look at you, with pure lust in their eyes. The look I saw in your wife’s eyes was pure adoration, pure love. But please; carry on believing you are safe if you will, carry on believing that your cold hearted agreement will prevail.” I reached up and kissed his cheek, feeling satisfied that he had chosen wisely. “Now return to your wife before she comes looking for you and finds me.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  I was happy knowing that he was happy. Sometimes I would ride across Summerville land, for which of course I had its owner's permission, and I would see the pair of them from a distance, riding together or walking along holding hands like two children. They laughed a lot, they kissed a lot and from what I saw in those public places, in private they loved a lot.

  I could not help but be pleased for him, even though I felt an unaccustomed dart of jealousy that this girl had stolen his heart. And it was clear to me that is what she had done, even if he would not admit to it, even if he could not see it himself. I saw little of him during those first months of the year, but I decided that when I did I would make no mention of it. He would have to realise for himself just how much he cared for his new Countess.

  I did not want to lose his friendship, but neither did I want her to know my secrets and the very last thing I wanted was to come between them. I tried to prepare myself for a future without his company, but it was not easy.

  In the meantime I had my books, my embroidery and I was learning to play an instrument, a harpsichord. I had engaged the services of a teacher from the village who was very respectful, who still believed like others that I was Richard Summerville's mistress despite his recent marriage. I made a mental note to talk to Richard about that when next we met. If his wife learned of our supposed relationship, she would be hurt. It was one thing having a mistress miles away, but one that all the village knew of was a different matter. It was disrespectful and would only cause heartache.

  So I kept to myself and hoped that she did not hear about me, but I had no time to discuss it with him on the next visit I had from him. He had come to tell me that the King was dead.

  "I have to go to support Mary," he told me.

  He was wearing his thick, leather doublet and a sword and he looked determined. I had always known that if the Lord Protector tried to usurp Mary with his daughter-in-law, Richard would fight for Mary; I had known that all along. But seeing him here ready to do just that tore at my heart.

  "There is money with the goldsmith in London," he told me, "in your own name. If I do not return, you will never have to worry about the upkeep of this house. There is enough to last you a lifetime. I never want you to be forced into anything you do not want, ever again."

  "Thank you, Richard," I replied, "but please take care. I swear I shall worry and pray every day until you return. Your poor wife; what has she to say about it?"

  His eyes met mine and held my gaze for a few moments, then he took my hand before he spoke again.

  "You were right, you know," he said softly. "She is in love with me."

  I could not help but laugh, he looked so mystified.

  "She told you so?"

  "No," he replied, shaking his head. "She did not have to, it was so obvious from her parting words. Rachel, I did not want her to fall in love with me. What will happen when Mary gains the throne, I do not know, but I do know she will expect me to be there, supporting her, just as my father and my grandfather before me sat at the right hand of the monarch."

  "Well?" I remarked, puzzled. "Bethany will be with you, will she not?"

  "That is what worries me. I have got to know her well these last weeks, and she is more honest and forthright than I had imagined. I am not sure that having her at court will be a good thing, and yet she loves me. She will be terribly hurt if I make her stay here, and I do not want that."

  "Richard, I think you had best wait and see what happens before you start worrying about that. You have more important things to think about right now and you need no distractions." I reached up and kissed his cheek, then pushed him away. "Now go, and may God go with you. Come back safe, for both the women who love you."

  ***

  It did not take long for Mary Tudor to regain her throne. As the rightful heir it was inevitable that the people would support her and I knew that all along, but Richard's protestant wife may not have been expecting it.

  I wondered how she would feel, now that there was a Catholic once more on the throne of England, something she would have no memory of. It made me feel old, realising that on the night I was 'privileged' to share the King's bed, this girl was but a baby. She had no idea about life then. She may have thought herself very grown up and practical when she had made her bargain with Lord Summerville, but she still had no clue about life in the real world. I was thankful that she had never learned to fear life as I had, that she could give her heart to a man and her only concern was that it may get broken.

  She was pure and free and would never know the horrors that had been my misfortune.

  I watched the torches being lit all across the country announcing the victory of Mary and I just prayed that Richard was safe. The returning tenants would impart their news to Bethany, while I would have to wait to learn his fate. Thank God for Anthony!

  I came outside to meet him and he waved and smiled, so that I knew Richard was safe. I brought him inside and ordered refreshments.

  "He is safe?" I asked at once.

  "He is, thank the Lord," he replied. "He will not be back for some time though. I think the coronation will take all of his time, but I will keep you informed. This is a great day for all of us."

  "Tell me, Anthony," I asked, "what do you think of Richard's new wife? Is she pleased at Mary's victory?"

  "I have no idea," he replied. "I do not believe it is something I can know about. I am wondering why he married such a very young girl, but I suppose he knew what he wanted." He paused and looked into his goblet for a moment, as though he might find answers inside. "He seems fond of her and I believe from what I have witnessed that she is besotted with him."

  "That is as it should be," I replied quietly. "I only hope this new reign will not drive them apart."

  "Why should it? She promised to follow his beliefs so I am not really sure what you are saying."

  "Nothing, Anthony. Really, nothing."

  There was something I had wanted to say to Richard that I had not had time for before he left and I was unsure whether to put it to Anthony or not. He was very young and probably not as experienced in the ways of the world."

  "What is it, Rachel? What is wrong?" He asked. "Richard did ask me to keep you safe as well as her, so if there is anything troubling you, I would like to know it."

  I laughed then, wondering what Richard thought this boy could possibly do for me.

  "I have been thinking that I should move away from here," I told him finally.

  "What? Why?"

  "Because all the village and the tenants know that I was Richard's mistress and that is hardly fair to Lady Summerville, especially if what you say is true. I saw a long time ago that she was in love with him and if she
hears gossip she will be badly hurt. I do not want that."

  "I think you had best ask Richard about that," he said.

  "I agree, but when? If, as you say, he will not be back for some time it could be too late."

  "Have you made no arrangements to see him?" Anthony looked puzzled when he asked. "I do not think his marriage will change your relationship very much, will it?"

  My eyes met his for a moment, trying to see his thoughts. My relationship with Richard was not the same as the one he spoke of.

  "It will, Anthony, trust me on that. He does not want to break her heart and he does want a son, that is why he married. I am hoping that when she goes to court, he will see that she can honour him and his beliefs and pay homage to the Queen."

  "Of course she will. She is his wife, she is duty bound to do so."

  I was glad he was so certain because I most certainly was not. I wondered briefly where this attitude had come from; probably his own father even though Anthony was young when his parents died. He certainly did not get it from his cousin.

  It was pointless having this discussion with him; he did not have the experience of life to know what I was talking about.

  "We will see," I said at last. "Perhaps if Lady Summerville stays in London I will be able to stay here. We shall see."

  ***

  I decided to stay away from the village as much as possible. I would ask Louisa to go if I needed anything. Lucy had a child now and although she still came to the house to clean for me, I did not want to give her any extra work. She was, however, more knowledgeable about my situation than Louisa and I had noticed a troubled look about the latter's expression over the past few months, an expression of disapproval whenever I mentioned Richard's name. I did not think she was happy about his marriage and I could not understand why. Perhaps she thought he should not have lowered himself to marry a commoner, but that somehow did not seem like her. I should have guessed it was out of loyalty to me, but I needed it spelled out.

  It was in the autumn that Richard sent for his wife to join him at court for the coronation. I prayed for her a little, not something I often did, but I had this awful dread that this new Queen would drive a wedge between them and from what I had seen, she would be heartbroken.