A Dangerous Love (17 page)

Adair considered the duchess’s words. “Aye, I suppose he is pleasant-looking, and I have never seen him unkind. And he was the duke’s captain. When we marry he will be the Earl of Stanton. Will he still be kind then?”

“It is a chance all women take when they wed,” the duchess answered. “The ram sheep may turn out to be a wolf garbed in fleece. But women, once they have gotten the lay of the land, usually manage to cope, Adair.”

“And if they are clever, rule the roost,” the younger girl said mischievously.

The duchess smiled. “Shall I tell my husband then that you are agreeable to a marriage with Andrew Lynbridge?”

“If Andrew will agree then so will I,” Adair said. “For Stanton, and its future.”

And while the duchess had spoken with Adair, her husband had been speaking with Andrew Lynbridge on the very same matter.

“Marry the lady?” he said, surprised by the duke’s overture.

“She is now my ward,” Richard of Gloucester replied.

“She needs a husband to hold Stanton for the king. I prefer a man whose loyalties I can count upon, and not another FitzTudor. I do not trust the Lancaster faction, despite the deaths of Henry the Sixth and his son. There
 
is still a Lancaster heir, and Margaret Beaufort is ambitious for her son.”

“It would please my father,” Andrew said slowly.

“There is, however, one small drawback to marriage with Adair,” the duke said. “Before Jane Radcliffe bore her child it was agreed that if that child was a female, and the earl fathered no legitimate sons, Adair would be the Countess of Stanton in her own right. That you already know. But you may not know that the king decided that her husband would have to bear the surname of Radcliffe, and forgo his own family’s name before he might become the earl. I know Lord Humphrey will not be pleased to learn that, and certainly you are not. But can you accept this condition?”

“I would be Earl of Stanton if I did, wouldn’t I?” he asked.

“Aye,” the duke replied.

“And I would have all the rights a husband has over his wife’s property?”

Richard of Gloucester nodded. “You would.”

Andrew Lynbridge chortled. “When my grandsire began casting covetous eyes on Stanton, I told him that if I could wed Adair the land would be mine and not his.

And will it not be clearly more so if my surname is Radcliffe, my lord?”

The duke saw the humor in the situation, and laughed himself. “Indeed it would, Andrew,” he ageed.

“Then I shall do it,” Andrew said.

“You must be kind to Adair, and respectful of her,”

the duke warned the younger man. “I have had a great fondness for her since we first met. She was such a brave little girl in the face of such terrible tragedy. She has grown into a lovely, if headstrong, young woman. She’s like a fine but yet wild young mare. You will tame her if you treat her with gentleness. And you will not be sorry for it. Adair understands loyalty.”

“This matter should be settled before the winter sets in,” Andrew said.

“It should,” the duke replied. “I will have the marriage contract drawn up, and if my niece is willing we will celebrate your union before you return to Stanton.

Go now, and find her. Make your peace with her.”

Andrew left the duke’s privy chamber and went to the great hall. There he found Adair sitting by a fire as if she had been waiting for him. There was no one else about. “May I sit by you?” he asked her. “I have spoken with the duke. He would have a marriage between us.

Will you have it?”

She motioned him to sit by her side. “I have spoken with the duchess. I will consent to a marriage between us. I did not wish to wed a year ago because I wanted time to become familiar with my home again. I did not choose to marry a stranger, especially the son of a Lancastrian. I can never forgive them for murdering my parents. I am sorry the king did not consider that when he made the match for me with Pembroke’s son, and then celebrated a proxy marriage without me. All was done for his benefit, not mine. I will assent to a match between us because I know, though I am capable of much, I am not able to defend Stanton and hold it for the king by myself. I need a husband to do that. I know you, Andrew Lynbridge, and you would seem a good man.”

“I am a good man,” he told her seriously. “I will care for you, and I will defend Stanton,” Andrew said, reaching out and taking Adair’s hand in his. Raising it to his lips, he kissed the delicate little hand. “I will not fail the duke, or Stanton, or you, Adair. You have my word on it.”

“And you will accept the Radcliffe name in place of Lynbridge?” Adair said.

“I will,” he responded. “You understand, however, that this marriage shall be a real and complete marriage, and not in name only. You are a grown girl, and I am a man. I want a bedmate as well as a helpmate. And we will need heirs.”

Adair felt her cheeks grow warm. Bedding Andrew
 
had been the farthest thing from her mind. She was doing this for Stanton. But as Duchess Anne had gently pointed out, Stanton did need heirs, and one did not get heirs by just wishing for them. “I understand,” she agreed, nodding.

“You are a virgin?” he asked, looking into her face for the truth. It didn’t actually matter to him, but he did want to know.

Adair’s fair skin blotched scarlet. “Of course I am a virgin!” her voice squeaked angrily. “Do you believe I am some wanton creature?”

“You did have a husband,” he reminded her. She was untouched! He thought it would not matter, but it did.

“Do you really believe I let that pimply boy put his hands on me?” she demanded of him. “I should have gone into a cloister first, sir!”

“Andrew,” he said quietly. “My name is Andrew, Adair, and I expect you to address me by my name when we are together.”

“So there is no mistake between us, Andrew, I am a virgin,” Adair said. Did he think she was unable to control her emotions, like the man who sired her?

He tipped her face up with a half-closed hand, and kissed her gently. “Good,” he said. Her mouth was sweet beneath his. It softened with her little gasp of surprise, but she did not draw away from him. His kiss deepened as his arms slipped about her to draw her closer to him.

He felt the softness of her breasts pressing against his chest as he suddenly realized how very much he had wanted to kiss her these past months.

Adair’s heart raced with excitement as he kissed her.

She had never been kissed but for that one time FitzTudor had mashed his wet mouth against her mouth. This was completely different. It was thrilling and tender all at once. She kissed Andrew back, and felt the nipples of her breasts tightening even as a delicious shiver raced down her spine and her belly heaved with tiny eruptions of excitement.

Finally he stopped kissing her, but he kept his arms around her, and his warm gray eyes smiled into her violet ones. “If you keep kissing me like that I shall want more than I should have at this time, Adair.”

“I think I want more too,” she admitted boldly.

“Then shall we tell the duke we are of one mind, and will wed as soon as it may be arranged?” he asked her.

“Aye, I think it best,” Adair agreed. “We need to return to Stanton before the wicked weather sets in, Andrew.”

“Would you prefer to wed at Stanton?” he asked her thoughtfully.

A smile lit Adair’s lovely features. “Oh, yes! Do you think it would be permitted, Andrew? Do you think Uncle Dickon would allow it?”

“If the betrothal papers are all signed by both parties, by the duke and his priest, and witnessed by the duchess and another, I do not see why not,” Andrew told her.

“It would so please the Stanton folk,” Adair said.

“They have been so loyal to me, and I know that they will be loyal to you, Andrew.”

“Then I shall speak with the duke, sweetheart,” he said, and he did.

The duke agreed it would be an excellent idea for Adair to be married at Stanton, in her own hall surrounded by her own people. It would bind them all closer. He had the papers drawn up. Both Andrew and Adair read the agreement that would unite them as husband and wife. The priest read the contract and approved it. Then, in the duchess’s private chapel at Middleham Castle early on a late October morning, the papers were signed by the couple and the duke, who was Adair’s guardian. The sun was not even up, but its colorful advance was evident in the clear blue sky. The priest then blessed Adair and Andrew, and while a marriage ceremony at Stanton would be held, they were now for all intents and purposes man and wife.

The Mass was then held, and afterward they ate a
 
meal of poached eggs in a cream sauce, thin slices of country ham, oat stirabout in bread trenchers, and fresh-baked bread still hot from the ovens. There was ground pepper in the cream sauce, and a silver crock of sweet butter, and several dishes of summer preserves on the table. The goblets were filled with fresh sweet cider or October ale, depending on the diner’s preference.

And after they had eaten, Adair and Andrew were escorted to the courtyard by the duke and his wife to begin their journey home to Stanton. They would be escorted by a large troop of the duke’s men. Richard of Gloucester would take no chances on his favorite niece being harmed.

Adair knelt before him for his blessing, which he gladly gave her, raising her up to kiss her on both of her cheeks and her forehead. “I believe that this husband will make you happy,” he said with a small smile.

“Thank you for seeing what I could not, Uncle Dickon. Look after yourself, I pray you, for you worry far too much.”

The duke nodded in acknowledgment, and passed her to his wife.

The two women embraced.

“Tell Neddie I am sorry he had to stay in bed today, and give him a kiss for me,” Adair told Anne.

“I will,” the duchess said. “It is his lungs, and he will persist in riding, though the weather has grown cold.

You will find a mother has but so much control over her sons, I fear, my dear Adair. Be as happy with your Andrew as I am with my Dickon.” The duchess kissed Adair as her husband had. “God bless you both,” she told them.

Adair and Andrew mounted their horses and, surrounded by the duke’s men at arms, rode out from Middleham Castle, heading north and west toward Stanton.

Their journey took them several days. It was arranged that they would stay overnight at several convents and monasteries along the way. The duke had sent ahead to 
make the arrangements. Finally Stanton came into view and, unable to help herself, Adair surprised Andrew and the men escorting her by putting her horse into a gallop and riding fast for home. Once over their astonishment, Andrew and the duke’s men followed her.

The Stanton folk gleaning in the fields saw her coming, and waved to her. Adair waved back, beckoning them with an arm to follow her to the hall, which they did. And there in the courtyard she spoke to them from her mount, Andrew by her side.

“My good people, I have returned to you from our good duke with a new earl,” she said. “Andrew, born Lynbridge, has taken the name Radcliffe as both my father, Earl John, and King Edward wished. Tomorrow in the great hall we will wed, and you are all invited. Welcome home Andrew Radcliffe, Earl of Stanton!”

And the Stanton folk cheered mightily, pleased and contented by this turn of events. They knew Andrew.

They both respected and liked him. And it was past time that the lady had a husband, and that Stanton had a real earl again.

“ M
y baby is getting married,” Elsbeth said excitedly. “ ’Tis past time. Why, when she was your age your mother already had you. He’s a lovely man.

Not the comeliest I’ve ever seen, mind you, but nice enough looking. You’re a fortunate lass.”

“I’m marrying for Stanton, Nursie,” Adair said. “If I don’t, who knows if the king might send me another like poor FitzTudor, or worse?”

“I know you’re marrying for Stanton,” Elsbeth replied. “You have to if we are to have heirs for the estate. But if you must take a husband to your bed—and you must—it does not hurt to have an attractive man by your side, my lass. I’ve heard it said he’s a good bedmate,” she concluded with a knowing wink.

“Heard it said by whom?” Adair demanded to know.

“I’ll put up with no mistresses from a husband of mine!”

“Word gets about the countryside,” Elsbeth said knowingly. “But your man is a will-o’-the-wisp where women are concerned. He has no favorites I’ve heard named on either side of the border. But the lasses smile and nod when they hear his name spoken.”

“Either side of the border?” Adair raised a dark eyebrow.

“There is no line drawn in the hills,” Elsbeth said. “A 
man goes where he will. If he sees a pretty girl and wants her, it makes no difference if it be this side of the border or the other. All the men hereabouts are like that. The new earl is no different.”

“I see I must speak with Andrew,” Adair replied darkly. “I will have no nonsense with other women, or bastards scattered about the countryside.”

“Now, now, my dearie,” Elsbeth cautioned, “I do not believe the earl would either hurt or shame you. Do not embarrass him by making demands you should not.”

“I do not want a husband who is always in someone else’s bed,” Adair said stiffly.

“Then make certain he is content in his own bed,” 
Elsbeth replied pithily.

Adair flushed. “You well know that I have never been with a man,” she said.

“Well, tonight you will be, and knowing you’re a maid he’ll show you the way,” Elsbeth replied. “Passion can be a grand thing with the right man, my lass.”

“What if he isn’t the right man?” Adair wanted to know.

“Plain lust is pleasurable, no matter what the church may say.” Elsbeth chuckled. “Now come along, m’lady,”

the tiring woman said, helping her mistress from her bed. “Your bath will be ready and awaiting you in the day room. Nothing stirs a man’s desires like a sweet-smelling woman. I’ve put some of that nice scent in the water that Lady Margaret gave you on Twelfth Night two years past.”

They went into the little room off the bedchamber where an oaken bathtub was kept set up. Adair’s mother had wanted a separate bathing space, and her doting husband had been happy to comply with her wish. Cauldrons of hot water were hauled up from the kitchens by means of a wooden platform within a stone shaft that opened next to the tub. Two sturdy serving women would draw the platform up and tilt the large kettles into the tub. Then they would lower the platform
 
back down to the kitchens for another cauldron of water. It was a far more efficient means of filling the tub than employing a line of serving men with buckets.