Sandra Madden (19 page)

But the astrologist did not appear alarmed by the likelihood of a heavenly catastrophe. Although not more than ten years older than Kate, Jutta appeared twice as old. She did not hide her thinning mouse-brown hair beneath a cap. Neither did she cover the gaping space of a missing tooth.

'Twas a mystery to Kate where Jutta had learned to read and write, but she did both well. The baker's wife claimed to have studied under Simon Forman, said to be the queen's favorite astrologer when she was not consulting Dee. True or not, Jutta's unflagging high spirits drew Kate to her.

The astrologer cocked her head. She had no eyebrows to speak of, but what sparse hairs sprouted above her eyes had dipped in a frown. "What has befallen you, Mistress Kate?"

"I visited many goldsmith shops in London and no one had ever seen a ring like this before." She twisted the ring on her finger. Reporting her failure served to renew Kate's frustration.

"You missed not one goldsmith?"

"Lord Stamford would not hear of visiting any he suspected of chicanery. However, if another opportunity arises, I should like to visit the charlatans as well. One never knows where the truth lies."

"The earl is guided by a cautious sign."

"Perchance the sign of an overbearing tyrant as well."

Jutta sputtered. "By your leave?"

" 'Tis another matter," Kate declared with a dismissive flick of her wrist. Leaning toward the astrologer, she lowered her voice to a confidential whisper. "Jutta, I fear the stars have been misread and I shall never find my birth mother."

"You fear too soon." Jutta tapped her stubby fingers on the rough-hewn wooden table. "The stars never fail."

"Why did they not predict that Lord Stamford, in his arrogance, would seek to find me a husband?"

"Aye?" Jutta reeled back in astonishment.

"To free me from servitude, he said, expecting my undying gratitude."

" 'Tis decent of Lord Stamford to take an interest in your well-being."

"Lord Stamford is a decent man," Kate agreed with only the slightest reluctance. Decent but misguided, she amended silently.

“Many maidens would feel flattered by his attention.”

"But I do not need nor desire his help in such a matter."

"Did Lord Stamford introduce you to a likely husband?"

"Several." Kate gave an exasperated sigh. "James Moore, the earl's barrister is a good man," she allowed. "But—"

"But?..."

"I do not love him."

Jutta's mouth turned up in a sly half smile. "Does your heart belong to another?"

Kate could not confide the wayward direction of her heart. Besides, 'twas only infatuation she felt for Edmund, held over from when she was but a child. "Methinks after I find my birth mother 'twill be time enough to seek a husband."

"You are wise."

"Or foolish." Kate could not make up her mind.

"Why have you returned to Rose Hall?"

"Lord Stamford contracted the measles from his young niece and did not wish anyone to see him looking like a leopard with red spots." As Kate recalled Edmund's initial shock, she could not help but grin. His pride suffered sorely to be afflicted with the unattractive rash. "To prevent an accidental encounter, he removed us all to the country where he remains locked within his bedchamber. I have not seen him for days."

"The new head gardener is living in your cottage. Where are you staying?"

"The earl insisted I take up residence in Rose Hall."

A glint of mocking silver light momentarily brightened Jutta's oyster-gray eyes. "Lord Stamford continues to dictate your life?"

"Aye," Kate acknowledged with a sigh. "But 'tis necessary to live in Rose Hall, as I continue to serve as Lady Cordelia's gentlewoman."

"I did not see such a position for you in the stars. How goes it?"

" 'Tis been especially difficult placating the lady this past week. She is truly vexed to be back in the country."

Jutta picked at the dirt beneath her fingernails. "The stars are in the lady's favor."

"Lord Stamford has appeased his aunt by opening Rose Hall for the summer months. He's all but promised Lady Cordelia that when the queen is on progress she will stay at Rose Hall."

"Aye?" Jutta appeared puzzled. Her barely-there brows dove into a frown. "Mayhap I should consult the planets once more. I did not see a royal visit."

Kate felt a stirring of annoyance, a prickling in her veins. "Jutta, you have asked me many questions but given me few answers."

"The stars are in flux. Look." Jutta shoved a chart spattered with grease and dirt toward Kate.

The primitive drawings meant nothing to Kate. "Can you tell me what lies ahead?"

"Wait and watch. Trust no one."

* * * *

Edmund paced his bedchamber by candlelight. If he had to spend another twenty-four hours alone, he would lose what was left of his mind! He'd ordered Rose Hall into a flurry of activity preparing for summer entertaining, but it would be another day before he could oversee the preparations.

He had designed an outdoor tennis court on parchment. The rose garden would have to be removed, but an outdoor court would be quite the thing. He looked forward to getting on with the construction.

Only one bright poppy-red spot remained on the tip of his nose – of all places.

The childhood illness bedeviled Edmund. 'Twas a grave injustice. He was not a boy, yet the rash had spread to every inch of his body. He'd itched fiercely for days but heeding Kate's warning had resisted the temptation to scratch. Fortunately, he could not detect any scars in the polished metal he used to study his reflection several times a day.

Judith Witherspoon was not the type of woman who would marry a man with a pocked complexion.

"Come, Percy." For the past several nights after he felt certain the household slept, Edmund ventured out to walk in the garden with his loyal bloodhound.

Percy gave an excited
woof,
and with his long tail swinging at maximum speed, he trotted along beside Edmund. The big dog seemed to have sensed his owner's churlish disposition and had behaved extremely well during Edmund's confinement.

But when they reached the staircase, instead of descending with Edmund, Percy bound straight ahead into the east wing where Lady Cordelia's and Kate's chambers were located.

Edmund gave chase but was no match for the galloping canine.

"Yiiiii!" Oh, fie! Fie!

Percy had found Kate.

Edmund reached the open bedchamber door to find Percy hunkered down beside Kate on her bed.

She struggled to remove the bloodhound, pushing at him even as his huge tongue licked her face. "You ill-bred flap-dragon! Off with you. Off!"

Kate's choice of epithets elicited the first chuckle Edmund had enjoyed in days. Although he had not planned for her to see him until the last spot had faded, he rushed to her bed. The flickering light of one candle cast him in shadow. The Earl of Stamford to the rescue.

"Down!" Edmund commanded in the deepest tone he could manage.

Percy's head snapped around. His big brown eyes regarded Edmund with innocent bewilderment.

Edmund flung out his arm, pointing to the door. "Go."

Kate's feather bed pitched as the bloodhound jumped down. Percy trotted to the doorway, where he sat on his haunches. Droopy-eyed, Percy looked pitiful, staring at his master with a pained expression.

With a rueful wag of his head, Edmund turned his attention to the object of Percy's affection. "I beg your forgiveness, Kate."

Moonlight streamed through the open window, bathing the gardener's daughter in its luscious glow. She sat bolt upright in the bed, clutching her arms against her body, unmindful that her full breasts were visible, straining against her shift, rising and falling in rapid splendor.

Struck speechless, Edmund sucked in a ragged breath.

Slivers of moonbeams showered the mass of spun-gold curls spilling to Kate's shoulders. She breathed heavily through parted lips; alarm danced in her wide, unblinking amber eyes. The lace of her shift caressed the graceful ivory column of her neck.

His heart slammed against his chest.

He wanted her. His loins ached and his body burned for her. It was lust, it was desire, it was overwhelming.

With one small movement he could sink to the bed beside her and make her his.

Her eyes met his. "Pray, Edmund, tell me the meaning of this."

The faint quaver in her voice caused Edmund's heart to roll over. Her body trembled. Did he dare take her into his arms and offer comfort?

He did not dare. Not with the need in him blazing like a thousand and one candles.

"My apologies, Kate."

"I have been in the habit of leaving my door open a crack, the better to hear Lady Cordelia across the hall... if she should require my services during the night."

I... I thought having a chamber of your own a better arrangement than a small chamber adjacent to my aunt."

" Tis most agreeable."

"Pray pardon, Kate. Percy got away from me." Even to his own ears, Edmund's voice sounded peculiar. 'Twas a husky whisper. He locked his gaze on hers, thinking her eyes the only safe place to focus.

But her eyes cast a spell of their own, holding him fast. Like metal to magnet, he was held captive in swirling pools of molten sorrel and gold.

"In the future I shall keep my chamber door bolted," she assured him.

"I had not thought my hound—

"I had not thought you would be walking the corridors in the eve...."

With every breath he took, the sweet rose scent of Kate invaded Edmund's senses, further stirring his desire for her. 'Twas like dangling a sweet before a starving man. Devouring the beauty seemed the only answer.

"Walking the corridors," she repeated, "with your dog."

"I have been confined too long."

"You appear more handso—" She broke off. Apparently flustered, Kate lowered her head, twisted her ring. "More healthy than before."

Did she think him handsome? Was that what she had been about to say?'

Zounds! A fever twice the strength of that caused by his illness gripped Edmund's body. The fire in him raged. He felt as if he'd been thrown into a blazing hearth, enveloped by its flames.

"I have regained my health." But not his strength.

"Lady Cordelia will welcome your company."

And you? Edmund longed to ask. Would Kate welcome his company once more?

"I shall visit my aunt on the morrow," he promised.

"She will be most delighted."

Edmund could not remember having a strained conversation such as this with Kate before. He wondered at the thick wedge of tension between them. "In the future I shall keep Percy locked up. He has taken a rare liking to you."

"So you insist, but I do not understand why."

But Edmund did. Kate obviously attracted males of every species. He raked a hand through his hair. His bloodhound had licked Kate's cheek, been in bed beside her.
His dog!

Bloody hell!

" 'Tis your sweet rose scent," Edmund extemporized, having no idea why Percy adored the gardener's daughter.

Blaming the hound's behavior on her perfume seemed as good an explanation as any. In truth, he suspected Percy knew instinctively that Kate possessed a kind and trusting soul and sought her company for those reasons.

Kate chewed at the corner of her lip for a moment before nodding sagely. "Alas. Then I shall use lavender in the future."

He nodded, implying a change of fragrance might make a difference. But deep in his belly, Edmund realized the womanly essence of Kate that oft made his head spin had little to do with lavender or roses. Sometimes when he stood next to her willowy form, he felt as if he were standing in a field of wildflowers.

A great, silent moan tore at Edmund. He dared not stay longer in Kate's chamber. Dared not allow his gaze to drift to her breasts, to her lips.

He turned on his heel. "Good eve, Mistress Kate."

In the dark stillness, Kate listened to the click of the door behind Edmund, the tap of Percy's paws fading away.

She thought she would faint. The sharp edge of tension coiled within her still, disallowing all but the most shallow of breaths. She yet felt the heat of Edmund's gaze raking her with undisguised desire. No matter if he'd wanted her for only one fleeting moment, he would never breech the bond of friendship between them. Lord Stamford would never dally with a gardener's daughter. Yet, with one searing look, he'd ignited a powerful, unnamed need within Kate.

Tears of disappointment filled her eyes, a disappointment she did not fully understand.

* * * *

Rose Hall had been in turmoil preparing for this night. Edmund had chosen Midsummer's Eve, always a night of celebration, to open his country estate for it. Traveling nobles, royalty, and invited merchants would all be welcomed.

One small faded dot still marked his nose, the only remaining sign of the measles. Although Edmund did not like to think of himself as a vain man, the illness had been an assault to his dignity.

With his energy restored, he meant to spend the summer months finding a solution to the poaching at Rose Hall and overseeing the construction of his tennis court. In addition, he would engage himself in a host of summer entertainments at his country estate.

Edmund had not given up on finding a husband for Kate. He had no time to waste. Each moment spent in her company left him wanting her more. Resolved to put an end to such madness, he was determined to see her promised to another quickly, before summer's end.

For the Midsummer's Eve gala he had arranged a masque, musicians for dancing, and a grand feast to be held in the banquet house. Over thirty guests dined on shrimp, cod, oysters, whelks, pheasant, quail, pigeon pie, rabbit, venison, berries, dried figs, and dates. Florentines, filberts, and walnuts were offered along with ale, whisky, cider, and wine.

Edmund could not have arranged the elaborate festivity in such a short time without the help of Aunt Cordelia and her helpmate. Kate. He'd meant to keep Aunt Cordelia occupied. He hadn't meant to keep Kate so busy that he rarely saw her. Tonight she would be at her leisure.