The Everlasting Covenant (22 page)

“
Sir Clifton, your courtly manners are impeccable, but let us save your young back,
”
she said happily.
“
If you do not bow each time you speak, I will not curtsey each time. May we agree, for both our sakes?
”

Sir Clifton
’
s complexion darkened. The young knight
’
s face became stony and serious.
“
I am your servant, madam,
”
he said, almost bowing again before he stopped himself.

“
I think we will be friends, Sir Clifton,
”
she said, turning away from him, dismissing him abruptly. She took Brennan
’
s arm again to continue the tour, oblivious to the fact that Clifton stared after them for a long time, his brows drawn together as if a serious thought disturbed him.

Weeks would be involved in just learning the hall and grounds, much less meeting all the people. But there was a happy feeling within Ayliffe Castle that made Anne
’
s heart sail. It was a con
tented, clean, industrious place. Anne was especially delighted with an elaborate pleasaunce called the countess gardens found behind the hall, within the inner bailey. Water was allowed to flow though two barred watergates in the outer and inner walls to fill a small lake. Anne was amazed to see ducks and swans and peacocks wandering about
. Lush gardens, now in full sum
mer bloom, surrounded the lake and bordered the paths, benches, and fountains.

“
Oh Brennan, I have never seen anything so incredible as this. I cannot believe I will actually live here. Oh, I do understand my mother
’
s greed for this ..
. and I now see quite clearly why
--
”

She broke off suddenly, but he urged her to finish.

“
Oh, it was a dreadful evening some time ago when you were away from Raedelle. Madam and my sister took a notion to taunt me because I had received so many new gowns and trink
ets, and I was so hurt by their lack of love for me that I lashed out at them both. I swore never to allow them forgiveness, nor should they attempt to visit.
”
She laughed openly.
“
I had no
idea what I threatened. I had no idea I should expect anything like this.
”

Brennan frowned.
“
You were wise to do it. I have not been comfortable with Lady Gifford
’
s strange alliance.
”

“
Oh, but they brought apologies and begged for forgiveness. They were only jealous, Brennan. Surely you know how hard a curse envy is to bear.
”

He touched her cheek with fondness. Each passing day he found it difficult to believe he could have such good fortune as this: a woman of such fresh young beauty, so devoted, so kind and good in her heart.
“
You are too forgiving sometimes, my love. You must learn caution.
”

“
It will be easier to learn caution than to learn to live in this luxury, I assure you. I feel very much the simple wench when I look at these new surroundings.
”

He looked down at her slightly swollen middle.
“
This has gone on for long enough. Come to your bedchamber. We can spend weeks touring Ayliffe, but you need your rest.
”
He de
posited her in the richly appointed room that they would share. She had seen it earlier, but the shock was new as she entered again, unable to believe she would actually call this hers.

“
I
’
m certain you understand that many things require my at
tention just now, with a home this size and having been away so many months,
”
he said. How could she fail to understand? She was awed by the responsibility. She was not surprised when he did not return quickly, nor was she upset when an evening tray was delivered to her in the early evening. Although the sun was setting, Jane reported that Brennan was still involved in meetings with the caretakers of his demesne. Anne submitted happily to her private meal, bath, and chatter from her new maid.

“
I imagine that
’
s a young Forbes a-breeding, my lady. But, I
’
ll not breathe a word of it before you allow,
”
Jane promised after seeing Anne in her naked state.

Anne laughed good
-
naturedly.
“
Those who have not yet no
ticed will quite soon. The child will be my Christmas present.
And Lord Forbes has already boasted of the fact to many of his friends at court.
”

“
Aye, he would be proud. His lordship is proud, above all things. A good man, he is. There
’
ll be babies here now, sweet babies for us to spoil.
”

“
Do you long for babies, Jane?
”

Jane laughed.
“
To have babies of my own
I
would have to marry and leave you. I have tended you for less than a day, are you tired of me so soon?
”

Jane pushed Anne toward the dressing table and began to unwrap her hair to brush it.
“
Nay, mum, a lady
’
s maid wants the lady
’
s babies to come. Aye, there will be many children here now, for it is clear the earl loves you.
”
She giggled happily.

“
How old are you, Jane?
”

“
A score next month, mum. And missing no teeth, mum.
”

“
My sister
’
s age,
”
Anne said almost sadly. In one day she enjoyed a warmer friendship with a chambermaid than she had in all the years she shared a bower with Divina.

“
Ah, and you miss your sister, eh, mum. Don
’
t you worry, there will be visits.
”

“
My sister and I do not ...
”
She paused, looking in the gilded mirror. Jane pulled the ivory-handled brush through her hair, not meeting her eyes.
“
We are not very close,
”
Anne mumbled.

“
And how can that be? No fault of yours, certes. I knew at your first word you
’
re a sweet young thing.
”

Anne was not listening. She absently heard Jane chatter about two married sisters, deceased parents, friends she had had since birth at Ayliffe. Anne was looking at her own reflection. All those years that she had thought Divina favored, had felt for
gotten, Divina had been jealous of her. That jealousy had prompted Divina to betray her, when she could have formed a pact with her, protected her, and Anne would have reacted in kind, help
ing and protecting Divina. That door was closed to them now, for now Marcella had the upper hand. Divina must surely be suffering.

“
Aye, if your sister loves you little, I
’
m not believing it
’
s any
fault of yours. Why you
’
re generous and kind, mum. Lord Forbes wouldn
’
t have no other kind, not him.
”

“
It was harder for my sister,
”
Anne said with a note of mel
ancholy.
“
She expected so much, and was so disappointed. I expected nothing.
”

“
Now isn
’
t that just the way. You take what life gives you, I always say. And when it gives you the good, you give thanks
, and when it gives you the ..
.
”

Although she was exhausted, both from her journey and Jane
’
s chatter, Anne was determined to stay awake for Brennan
’
s return, even if it meant staying up all night. She reclined on a stuffed daybed, thick down pillows surrounding her, and the comfort of a summer hearth lulled her into sleepiness. She wondered from time to time if Ayliffe was only a dream. Would she soon awake and find herself in a gray, cold castle, the more typical home of the English noble?

A sharp and impatient tapping at the door caused her to bolt upright and then, belatedly, she called out to the visitor to enter. A young boy stood in the doorframe. He wore man
’
s clothing and he was quite large for an eleven-year-old, assuming this was Brainard. His hair was a
russet blond, his eyes a blue-
gray, and his build was stocky, almost chubby. There was very little resemblance to Brennan, but it could be no one else than Brainard.

It occurred to her for the first time that he had not come any sooner, and she stood in his presence, somewhat self-con
sciously. Her lightweight silk chamber gown was not the attire she would have chosen to greet Brainard, but, truth to tell, she had forgotten about him. She felt a blush form on her cheeks.

“
You would be Brainard,
”
she said nervously, painfully aware that she was only five years his senior.

“
Of course. And you are my father
’
s wife.
”
He slowly appraised her from her brow to her toes and, if she was not mistaken, his
expression was a sinister leer.
“
He wasted no time in mounting
you.
”

“
Brainard,
”
she said, her voice trembling and stuttering a bit,
“
your ..
. Lord Forbes is not here.
”

“
Of course not. I saw him with the seneschal. I know where he is, even if you do not.
”

“
I
’
m ... I
’
m glad you
’
ve greeted him. He has missed you a great deal.
”

Brainard let go with a shrill, almost feminine laugh that did not match his stout body at all.
“
Really? I find that hard to believe. I doubt my father mentioned me much at all.
”

Brainard spoke more accurately than Anne. Brennan had not mentioned his son often and had never seemed concerned as to his welfare. For the first time she wondered about her husband
’
s attachment, or the lack of it, for his son. But Anne attempted a polite lie, for, if possible, she would like to be on good terms with him.
“
Not at all, Brainard. He spoke of you often and lamented his time away.
”

“
My mother has been dead not yet three years,
”
he said with almost cruel indifference.
“
I am the heir to Ayliffe and you are not my mother.
”

Anne stiffened, shocked. This boy was nothing like his father. Was this jealousy and fear that would give way to acceptance once they were better acquainted? Yet the look in Brainard
’
s eye told her that this was who he was, and it had little to do with the difficult adjustments of growing up.

“
No one understands that better than I, Brainard.
”

“
I
’
ll count on that,
”
he said, whirling about and leaving her room, slamming the door as he went. No special words of welcome, no greeting, no bowing and scraping. He meant to tell the countess the rules, and Anne had heard him clearly. She was distressed for a long while after his departure.

By the time Brennan returned to her, Brainard had been gone for two hours and she had dozed off. She roused from light sleep to Brennan
’
s warm embrace and in the comforting circle of his arms reckoned that Brainard was only a spoiled little boy, the single flaw in an otherwise perfect setting. Yet the evil glitter in the boy
’
s eyes haunted her in her dreams and she woke trembling in the night.

I am the lady here,
she told herself.
I need not fear a child. The others welcomed me warmly, happily. Perhaps Brainard
will come around if I am kind and show him I respect his birthright.
But sleep did not come easily. In her dreams she saw a tapestry scene of a glorious castle. The flaw started as a sliver and became a wide, gaping tear in near perfection. And the babe within her kicked violently, as if protesting their new abode.