The Border Lord and the Lady (3 page)

“If my passage is tight it will hurt,” Luciana complained. “I felt his cock through my gown as he held me. He is a large man.”

“You must bear a little pain, Madonna, so your husband will be content in his mind that he is the only one to have trod your love path. Better that than a lifetime of suspicion,” Donna Clara reminded the girl.

“My father says you are to remain in England with me,” Luciana noted.

“I am pleased to do so, for I am devoted to you, Madonna, and not just because we are linked by a small blood tie. I will always keep your secrets,” Donna Clara said softly, “and I will always see to your best interests.”

“Old crow,” Luciana said affectionately. “Still, I am glad you will be with me, but you must begin to treat me with more respect now that I am to be a great lady.” Secretly she was relieved her longtime companion was remaining. Donna Clara was often the voice of reason for the girl, and Luciana was intelligent enough to realize it. She would have someone with whom to speak her native tongue, and who could advise her wisely.

The Church’s blessing of the Earl of Leighton’s marriage to Luciana Maria Pietro d’Angelo took place on a bright May morning. A feast was held afterwards, the invited guests coming from the community of wealthy foreign merchants in London, as well as several of the earl’s acquaintances. The newly married couple would remain the night in her father’s house. Less than an hour after the bridal pair had been formally put to bed Luciana’s genuine screams of agony as her bridegroom’s cock penetrated her could be heard briefly in the hall where the guests lingered. There were nods of approval in Master Pietro d’Angelo’s direction, and he smiled and nodded back in return. The rumors set in motion by Signore di Alba would now be put to rest, and he could return to his beloved Firenze to tell all of his daughter’s brilliant marriage to an English nobleman.

Upstairs in the bridal chamber the earl fingered the heart-shaped mark on his bride’s smooth, plump thigh. “How did he know?” Robert Bowen asked her.

“A group of us went riding from the city one day. It was hot. We stopped to cool ourselves by wading in the shallows of the river. I raised my skirts too high,” Luciana lied as she kissed his mouth.

And Robert Bowen chose to believe her, for her passage had been so tight he could not believe any other man had ever gotten into her. And the tears of anguish upon her pale cheeks as he entered her were certainly real. His cock had met enough resistance in her maidenhead that he now believed for sure in her virginity, and there had certainly been a goodly show of blood. She had gained no pleasure from this first joining, he knew. But he would see she did in the future.

They had planned to leave London the following day, but the bride was unable to ride, being sore. He had used her thrice on their wedding night, and by the third time she had learned the delights of pleasure. She was open to passion, the earl was pleased to find. He would have no need for a mistress for the interim. Finally, three days after they wed, they rode forth from the town. Master Pietro d’Angelo had promised to pay them a visit before he returned to Firenze.

When several days later they arrived at Leighton Hall, Luciana was well pleased. The house was in need of repair, but she knew her father would give her whatever she desired to make her new home habitable and to her taste. The gardens looking out over the gentle hills needed serious tending, but the servants were delighted to have a new mistress to guide them. And if sometimes the Countess Luciana’s manner was abrupt, they hoped it was just because she was young and inexperienced.

Master Pietro d’Angelo arrived two months later, in Midsummer, prior to his departure back to Firenze. He was very happy to learn his daughter was already pregnant with her first child. He was relieved to find her content with her life, and with her lord. He spent an enjoyable few weeks before traveling back up to London, and from there across the channel as he made his way home.

Donna Clara had assured him all was well, and that she would send one of the homing pigeons he had given his daughter with word when the child was born. “She frets only now and again about one thing,” the countess’s companion told her father.

“His daughter?” The merchant knew how jealous Luciana could be.

Donna Clara nodded. “The earl visits his child daily.”

“Have you seen her?” Master Pietro d’Angelo asked his relation.

Donna Clara nodded. “She is a charming little girl, Carlo. Bright and mannerly. She would make a wonderful companion for the contessa. But Madonna Luciana will not share her husband. The servants have been warned to not even mention the child in the lady’s presence,
for her jealousy runs wild. Perhaps in time.” The older woman sighed.

Master Pietro d’Angelo shook his head. “Nay, Clara. If she will not accept the child now, she will never accept her. Especially as she is carrying her own babe. You know what I say is truth. Pray Luciana births the son the earl wants. It may ease my daughter’s jealousy, but it will never erase it. Just do not allow her to harm the earl’s little daughter. You know how she can get sometimes.”

“I will keep them both safe, Carlo. For the love I bear your daughter, and for the many kindnesses you have done for me, especially after my husband died,” Donna Clara said quietly. “I will allow no shame to fall upon the house of Pietro d’Angelo.” Then she bade her relative farewell, and promised to pray for his safe journey home to Firenze.

The summer slipped into autumn, and then winter. On Candlemas, the second day of February in the year of our Lord 1414, Luciana, the Countess of Leighton, gave birth to her firstborn, a son, baptized Charles, after her father. Thirteen months later, on the twenty-third day of March, the countess birthed a second son, Richard, and ten months later, on a snowy last day of January, Henry Bowen entered the world.

The earl was more than satisfied with his three sons, all healthy and thriving to his pleasure. But he feared for his wife’s health, for she was easily impregnated, and three babes within three years would have killed a lesser woman than Luciana. He voiced his fears to Donna Clara. “I will take a mistress so my lusts may be eased,” he told her.

Donna Clara shook her head. “She would kill you if she finds out, my lord. And she would find out. You know her jealousy. I know a remedy that I can give her that will prevent her from getting with child again unless you wish it.”

Robert Bowen raised an eyebrow. “What would the Church say to such a thing?” he asked her softly.

Donna Clara smiled a small smile at him. “What would they say to you taking a mistress?” she countered.

The earl chuckled. “Do what you need to do, old crow,” he told her, using the affectionate term that his wife used for Donna Clara.

The older woman knew Luciana too well to suggest she refrain from continuing to populate the nursery at Leighton Hall. Instead she began to serve her lady a special drink each morning to strengthen her. And when a few weeks had passed she offered Luciana another beverage that would keep her skin smooth and blemish free. Being vain, the countess accepted her longtime companion’s advice, and sipped from the cup each day. The earl continued to enjoy his wife’s favors, but for the interim there were no more children.

On a perfect summer’s day when Henry Bowen was barely six months old, he was taken to the house’s gardens to be set down upon a small silk blanket, where he enjoyed the sunshine with his two slightly older brothers. The Earl of Leighton’s heir, Charles, was two and a half. He chased a ball his nursemaid threw for his amusement. Richard, the earl’s middle son, had just learned to walk. He eagerly toddled everywhere, his young nursemaid chasing after him. They suddenly came upon a little girl.

“Orva!” Richard’s nursemaid greeted the woman accompanying the girl. Then she looked nervously around. “Should you be here?”

“The gardens aren’t forbidden to my mistress, Alice,” Orva said. She was a tall, lanky woman with prematurely iron gray hair and sharp, dark gray eyes.

“Who are these little lads?” Cicely Bowen asked, curious.

“They are your half brothers, poppet,” Orva answered. She looked to Alice. “Which one is this? The eldest?”

“Nay, this is Lord Richard, the second-born,” Alice replied, holding him by her side as he squirmed.

At the sound of his name the child broke free of his nursemaid and, giggling, began to run off on fat little legs. Alice shrieked, but Cicely quickly caught the little boy by his hand, laughing.

“Nay, nay, naughty one,” she said. “You must stay with your Alice.” She turned to Orva. “How many brothers do I have now?”

“Three,” Alice volunteered. “We’ve been on t’other side of that hedge.”

“Ohh, let me see them!” the little girl cried, and she dashed around the tall green hedge, where she observed Charles and the baby, Henry. “Hello,” she greeted them. “I am Lady Cicely Bowen, your big sister.” Plunking herself down next to Henry, who was lying upon his back, she tickled his little tummy. Henry chortled with delight, waving his fists at Cicely. The two other nursemaids stared, horrified. They knew the difficulties where the earl’s daughter was concerned, although they did sympathize with the little one’s predicament.

Orva came around the hedge and, taking Cicely’s hand, pulled the girl to her feet. “Come along, my lady. Your father has carefully explained to you the state of affairs with his wife. If you are found here with her sons there will be merry hell to pay.”

And the words were no sooner out of Orva’s mouth than the Countess of Leighton stepped into view and, seeing the four children together, shrieked as if the very portals of hell had just opened and demons were coming to take her away. At once the three little boys, frightened, began to howl in response to their mother’s apparent distress.

“She is attempting to bewitch my sons!” Luciana screamed for all to hear. “Kill her! Kill her! Donna Clara! Donna Clara! Come quickly. Do not let her harm my boys!” And the countess ran forward to grasp Cicely by her long hair, and began beating the little girl.
“Bastarda!”
she cried. “You will not have anything here! My sons are the true heirs!
Bastarda! Bastarda!
”

Orva had been taken by surprise by the countess’s attack upon her charge, but now, without hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled Luciana from Cicely. “You will not touch my lady, madam,” she said in her deep voice. Then, quickly gathering Cicely up in her strong arms, Orva strode off, carrying the weeping child.

But Luciana recovered quickly from her shock at being manhandled by the big woman. She whirled to face the three nursemaids, who now stood cowering with their individual charges. “You will all be beaten,” she said in a dark and dangerous voice. “There will be no help from my lord for any of you, for you well know the servants are mine to command. Get back to the house now! Leave my sons in more capable hands in their nursery. Then you will come to me for your punishment. How dare you allow that bastard brat near my precious children.”

“It were Alice!” cried Henry’s nursemaid. “She brought them near us.”

“Aye,” Charles’s nursemaid agreed, hoping like her companion to deflect the worse of their mistress’s ire to the unfortunate Alice.

“My little master ran away, and I came upon them chasing him,” Alice protested, seeing where the situation was headed. “I told them to go away, my lady. I did!”

“But they didn’t, did they?” the countess said. “You will receive the most blows, Alice. You are indeed responsible.”

“
She
let the little girl touch Master Henry,” Alice responded, pointing at the baby’s nursemaid, who had started all of this.

“She touched my precious infant?” The countess fell back, one hand dramatically over her heart. “Sweet Jesu! My son has been cursed by the
bastarda
!” Her brown eyes narrowed as they fixed themselves upon Henry’s servant.
“You!”
she accused. “You will feel the blows of my rod harder than the rest. And when I have finished with the three of you, it is back to the village for you all. You will never care for my boys again!”

Alerted by the other servants of some altercation in the gardens, Donna Clara had now arrived. “What has happened?” she wanted to know as she stared at the white-faced trio, the three howling children, and her enraged mistress. They all spoke at once, but from their babble the older woman learned of the incident. She gathered her mistress into the comfort of her arms with soft, soothing words.
“There, there,
bambina mia
. No real harm has been done here. It was an unfortunate happenstance; that is all. You must calm yourself, for you have frightened the boys. Alice and the others acted in accordance with your wishes, I am certain. They did their best to send the earl’s daughter away. You might have never even known of the incident had you not come upon them.”

“The
bastarda
’s servant put her hands on me!” Luciana cried angrily.

“And the earl shall know of it,
bambina mia,
” Donna Clara assured her mistress, stroking her head. “Come now, and let us return to the house. You are distraught and must lie down. I have a lovely soothing draft that will ease your nerves.”

“I must beat these women first,” Luciana insisted. “They have been disobedient.”

“Nay,
bambina mia,
they are good servants, but they were taken unawares. It is no one’s fault. They did their best to control the situation, and you must not beat them.” She began to draw Luciana away from the others, all the while murmuring to her, half in their native language. “
Andiamo, cara mia.
Everything is all right now.”

The earl was apprised of the situation by Donna Clara. Then he interviewed the three nursemaids. Orva was called to the house. “I am told you pulled the countess away from my daughter,” Robert Bowen said.

“I did,” Orva replied without a moment’s hesitation. “She began to beat my lady. The little one has bruises on her arms, her face, her shoulders and back, my lord. Certainly you did not mean for your daughter to be treated in such a dreadful fashion?” Orva’s dark gray eyes met those of the earl without flinching.