15

Jory entered the dining hall accompanied by Alicia and Elizabeth de Burgh. “Let’s sit here, let’s not go up on the dais tonight,” Jory suggested as she was eagerly greeted by Lynx’s knights.

Alicia agreed instantly. After the indifferent way Lynx had treated her, she decided to respond with cool disdain. A rebuff might be just what he needed to make him eager for her company.

When de Warenne arrived, accompanied by a dozen knights and their squires, all were laughing in great good humor. They filled the dais, never seeming to notice that the ladies sat elsewhere.

As the fish course was followed by haunches of roast mutton, Lynx was relieved to see that as usual his steward had coped, and an influx of over four hundred hungry men had not daunted him. Tonight, Lynx felt there was no finer place on earth than Dumfries. He no longer doubted the wisdom of the handfasting he had entered into with Jane Leslie; she had proven amazingly fertile.

A great feeling of well-being enveloped him and spread to include everyone in the vast hall. Finally, he would have an heir and the child would be born here at Dumfries. He took a deep breath of satisfaction and in that moment felt omnipotent. Lynx surged to his feet and held up his hands to quiet the din.

As Jory gazed up at him with affection, she wondered why on earth Jane was not at his side.

Alicia caught her breath as she watched Lynx. He was the most compelling man she’d ever known and now that his uncle was Governor of Scotland, he was a rare prize indeed. She instantly changed her mind about treating him with disdain.

“Raise your cups with me and drink a toast to Dumfries.” Hundreds of hands were raised. “I am about to become a father!”

Pandemonium broke loose. Men hooted, whistled, and banged their dagger handles on the tables.

Jory looked at her dinner companion’s stunned face and murmured, “Alicia, you’re leaving teeth marks on your goblet.”

Alicia banged her goblet down so hard, her wine sloshed over the rim. “Where is the slut? I’ll soon put an end to her little schemes!”

Lynx came down from the dais and joined the Leslie family, who were all sitting together tonight. All his men joined him in toasting them, then Jock Leslie proposed a toast to Lynx de Warenne.

Alicia hissed, “Who are these people?” as her eyes narrowed on the females at the Leslie table.

“Jock Leslie is Dumfries’ steward. Jane is his daughter,” Jory explained.

“He’s been dallying with his steward’s daughter? Then she’s just a servant,” Alicia said with contempt.

“It’s not dallying; Lynx and Jane are handfasted.”

“Handfasted? What the devil is that?”

“Tis an honorable Scottish custom, whereby a man and woman are pledged for a year and a day. If they suit each other, they marry.”

“Honorable custom my eye. Tis just another scheme concocted by men to get between a woman’s legs! As if Lord de Warenne would wed a slut!”

“But, Alicia, you expected Lynx to wed with you,” Jory pointed out sweetly.

“You bitch! You think this amusing. You knew about this and didn’t have the decency to tell me. Which one is she?”

“Oh, Jane isn’t here. A tray was carried up to her. She and Lynx share the Master Tower.”

The knights at their table were listening avidly to Alicia’s outburst of temper. When she realized the display she was making, she stopped speaking immediately and began to plot in silence.

    It seemed that each and every one of his men came to congratulate Lord de Warenne and drink to his health and that of his unborn heir. When the atmosphere in the hall proceeded from boisterous to uproarious, Elizabeth de Burgh’s women ushered her up to bed. Jory took herself upstairs shortly thereafter, but Alicia lingered, biding her time.

She decided to take a page from Jory de Warenne’s book and make herself sweet and amenable. It was said that you could catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and Alicia was ready to try it. Actually, she was ready to try anything. Alicia waited until Lynx finished a game of dice, watched him rise, half expecting him to stagger from all the drink he had consumed, and approached him. He seemed to stiffen at her approach, but she smiled up into his green eyes and said softly, “Congratulations, Lynx, I am so happy for you.”

She watched his eyes narrow. “You are happy, Alicia?”

She placed her hand on his arm. “I know how long you have wished for a child. You must be so happy tonight … and if you are happy, then I am too.”

“Thank you, Alicia, that’s most understanding of you.”

“Well, we do have an understanding, don’t we?”

She saw that his eyes were no longer narrowed against her, they had taken on an owlish quality. “I thought you’d be—”

“Jealous?” She laughed softly. “Your relationship with the mother of your child has absolutely nothing to do with me … with us.”

“That is true.”

Alicia wanted to draw his dagger and plunge it into his cold heart, instead she deepened her smile. Her fingers caressed his muscled arm. “I’m here for you, Lynx.” She laughed up at him and teased, “Why else would I brave this barbarous land?” She bade him go back and enjoy himself, and as she left, she glanced back at him over her shoulder, making sure the invitation was crystal clear.

    Up in her chamber, Jane tried to finish all the food Taffy had brought up to her, but it was impossible. She pushed the tray aside and brought out her touchstones and paints in an effort to calm her excitement. When she heard the tap on her chamber door, her heart slammed against her ribs and Jane walked to the door on weak legs, wishing he had not come so early.

When Jane opened the door to find Marjory, she was vastly relieved. “Oh, do come in, my lady.”

“Jane, if we are going to be friends, you must call me Jory.”

“You have green eyes, like Lynx.” “Cat eyes. Yours are far prettier, you have doe eyes.” Jane received so few compliments, she was unconvinced.

“Lynx announced your wonderful news in the hall tonight. Why on earth weren’t you at his side?”

“All those men … anyway, I don’t think my lord wanted me there.”

“Nonsense, he would have displayed you like a trophy, you know what men are like!” Jory looked at Jane’s face. “No, you don’t know what men are like. What fun I’m going to have teaching you!”

“My lord told me I mustn’t exert myself and sent food up for me. He said the baby doesn’t look big enough and told me I must eat more, but I couldn’t finish it all.”

Jory looked at the food that remained. “Good God, if you ate all that, you’d be big as a pig full of figs! Take no notice of what Lynx says; what does he know?”

“But I must obey him,” Jane said resentfully.

Jory began to laugh and couldn’t stop. “Oh, how droll you are. Oh, I’m going to peel Jane, what on earth makes you think you must obey him?” Jory asked, wiping away tears of mirth.

“He is the lord here—he is all-powerful.”

“That is true, but you are the lady here; his power is your power. You must wind him about your finger. Men don’t admire meek and submissive women, not real men anyway. They admire women who are willful and a little bit wanton.”

“I feel no power, Jory.”

“That is because you don’t exercise it. Let’s see, could you gentle a stallion and make it eat out of your hand?” “Easily.”

“Then think of Lynx as a stallion.” Jane laughed. “That would be easy enough.” “Great fun, too. Think of it as a game,” Jory suggested.

“I don’t know how to play games.”

“Then I’ll teach you! Men love games, they play them all the time, both literally and figuratively. They dice, they play chess. Take the king … he plays war games, his chess pieces are countries. My uncle John de Warenne’s chess pieces are his generals.”

“I thought games were for gambling.”

“They are, Jane. Men are addicted to gambling. It’s a love-hate thing. They love to win, hate to lose. It’s the risk that tempts them.”

Jane could clearly see that Jory herself would be tempting to a man. “You have such beautiful clothes.”

“Don’t you?”

Impulsively, Jane took her hand. “Let me show you.” They went through to the bedchamber where Jane opened her wardrobe. She showed Jory two woolen dresses. “These are what I used to wear. Before Lynx went away he left orders the needlewomen make me some new garments.”

Jory looked at Jane’s gown. The material was fine enough, but its color and style left much to be desired. “I design my own clothes, choose my own colors, and you must do the same.” “I couldn’t.”

Jory put her finger to Jane’s lips. “Repeat after me: I will and I shall!”

“I will and I shall,” Jane whispered tentatively.

“Now put your hands on your hips and say it as if you mean it.”

“I will and I shall!” Jane repeated, then dissolved into laughter.

“Splendid! Now, what colors do you like?”

“I like what you are wearing.”

“Amethyst? Yes, this color would look lovely with your red-gold hair. Jane, you can wear colors that I can’t, such as yellow. I look best in pastel shades, but you would be vivid in bright jewel tones. Just imagine yourself in sapphire blue.”

“I couldn’t.”

Jory’s eyes flashed their warning.

“I will and I shall,” Jane declared with a smile that revealed her dimples. “Oh, I wish my hair was as pretty as yours.”

“Perhaps it is, but we’ll never know if you wear it tortured into tight plaits. You should wear it down. Is it as long as mine?”

“Longer, but I c— I will and I shall,” Jane amended. “Jory, it’s easy to say it, but doing it will be so much harder.”

“Of course it won’t. We’ll transform you overnight. You will be Jane when you go to bed, but when you open your eyes in the morning, you will be Lady Jane Tut!”

Jane stopped laughing. “Bed,” she murmured. “What time is it?”

Marjory knew that the thought of Lynx had wiped all others from Jane’s mind. “When Lynx comes tonight,” Jory warned, “he’ll be more than a little intoxicated. You know what men are like when they’ve had far too much to drink.” She looked at Jane’s face. “No, you don’t know.” Jory explained, “They are extremely amorous, but completely incapable.”

When Jane looked uncertain, Jory elaborated, “The only thing that swells gloriously forth is loud snoring!”

    It was a point of honor that Lynx remain on his feet longer than his knights or men-at-arms. And of course the English tried to outdrink the Scots, a virtual impossibility. It was long past midnight when Lynx made his way to the Master Tower. In mid-step he realized that he was about to disturb Jane. Rest was extremely important for a mother-to-be. What a thoughtless devil he was.

Lynx did an immediate about-face, albeit very carefully. Then he tried to recall where Alicia’s room was. “Of course, it’s in the west wing,” he muttered, striking his forehead with the heel of his palm. “How could I forget when she complained so much?”

“Lynx,” Alicia said softly. She had almost given up hope, but now felt a surge of smug satisfaction.

“Alicia.”

“Come in, darling. I’ve missed you so much.” He seemed rooted to the spot, so she pulled him across the threshold and closed the door. Lynx leaned back against it to steady himself as she came into his arms. Lust surged up in him as he pushed her gown from her shoulders and set his mouth to her throat. “It’s warm in here.”

“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.”