The Everlasting Covenant (47 page)

In any case, he had hurried to London, hopeful. He knew his beloved had been widowed. He meant to begin the pro
cedure of having his marriage annulled, but the first piece of gossip he met at court was about Lady Forbes
’
s hasty marriage. He even briefly considered pursuing the matter beyond her marriage, but finally good sense won out. She had been through enough because of him. He kept Raynia, then, because he meant never
to marry again ..
. until he could marry Anne. Had he proceeded with the annulment, he would have faced the clumsy prospect of turning away potential brides.

He had seen her at court in the past eleven years. She looked well kept and in good health. She maintained her dignified bearing. They talked about her most liberally at court, and it had taken a will of iron to keep from defending her. She had sent her old husband off to battle, they whispered, and invited a common soldier to her bed. To look at her one would not think her such a wanton, physical creature, she had a pure look. But the old earl was not cold in his grave before she wed her guard. The little countess, they said, now there was a woman who could not be a day without a man. That was why, it was assumed, Sir Clifton never left her side The Countess of Ayliffe and her manly consort provided some good gossip.

Dylan knew that Clifton
’
s possessive presence had little to do with passion. He had seen Cliff
’
s brooding frown the first time they were all present at the king
’
s court. Anne did not look at
Dylan, but Clifton did. Thereafter Dylan was careful to have a woman on his arm, especially if he was certain Anne and Clifton were present. He had not felt any lasting attraction in those few, brief flirtations and certainly he was not fooled by Elise Debarge
’
s determination to cuckold her old husband with a younger, more virile man. He hoped, however, that his pub
lic display of attention toward other women would pacify Clifton and lessen his jealousy. And he hoped Anne would under
stand.

I wonder if she knows why I dally with beautiful women,
he asked himself often.
Does she remember that
I
promised to always love her? Hardly a promise difficult to keep ... I cannot be free. She does not love him
–
her life with him presses down hard on her. Though she is proud and beautiful, I know that dull pain in her eyes as no one else would know it. But, she took Sir Clifton thinking he was her single chance to raise her young
--
my sons. She has forsaken our love to see our boys tall and good and strong.
I
could love no other kind of woman.

“
You should have a family,
”
Justin said.

“
I do have a family, lad. One that I
’
m quite proud of.
”

“
I mean more than Grandmother and me,
”
Justin said.

Dylan smiled and rode silently on to the center of Calais.

They stopped at a crowded alehouse near the wharves. Justin, so much the young man of the w
orld, was quick to find a
c
quaint
ances and abandoned his uncle, leaving Dylan contentedly alone with his thoughts and his brew.

Dylan was proud of the boy. He
’
d grown up to be good and strong, playful still, but maturing just the same. He was more interested in bracing an arm with a comrade or chasing a swing
ing skirt than in policies, politics, land, and fame. But this was as it should be for a young man not yet twenty. There was time enough for seriousness. Dylan was fortunate to be able to bring the boy through adolescence in a peaceful climate. Edward
’
s England had been mostly at rest for eleven years. At four and forty, Dylan knew that to be a rare blessing. He hoped it would continue for a long time.

“
My lord, I should like to present a friend of mine.
”
Dylan
looked up into turquoise eyes that reflected his own image. He was momentarily entranced.
“
Sloan Forbes, late of Ayliffe.
”

“
It is an honor, my lord,
”
the young man said, bowing.
“
I ..
. ah,
I
have heard so many great things about you. I have, ah, watched you in the tourney.
”
His voice was filled with humble admiration. A score of years plus one, well muscled, handsome, polite. His smile, shy but beautiful, was Anne
’
s smile. His eyes were his sire
’
s.

Perhaps, if we become friends, I can tell hi
m how deeply I loved his mother. P
erhaps I can convince him that my silence was the better part of my love for him. If he grows to be a man who can feel love at all, he will understand.

“
The pleasur
e is mine, lad. I know Ayliffe –
I have not seen the magnificent place in many years. Sit. Call the tapster Tell me about your home, your family.
”

***

“
But I am not certain I wish to go, madam,
”
Deirdre said. Anne brushed her daughter
’
s beautiful golden hair and looked at the sad, frightened eyes that shone in the mirror. The mirror was framed in gold, sculptured with little flowers
.
It had been a gift from Brennan when Deirdre was only two.

“
You must take the mirror,
”
she said patiently.
“
Your father would have wished you to use it to keep yourself pretty.
”

“
Madam, I think you ignore me purposely! I have never been away from you!
”

“
I know, sweeting. But it is necessa
r
y. And you will have a wonderful time.
”

“
I have no friends there.
”

“
Not yet, but a good friend of mine will see to you.
”

“
Humph.
”
She pouted.
“
The queen? The queen has no friends! Waiting women and servants and ...
”

“
Deirdre, it is decided. You are long past the age. Elizabeth will help find you a suitable husband.
”
She turned her daughter around and lifted her chin. Ah, she was a beauty. And sweet
-
tempered, if a little spoiled and stubborn, but as smart as both Anne and Brennan co
mbined. She was six and ten now.
Sloan had been born to Anne at this age. Deirdre should be settled
and away from Ayliffe. Anne feared the way Clifton looked at his stepdaughter, and the way he seemed to avoid the prospect of her marriage. A betrothal, at least, was long overdue.

“
Deirdre, you can rely upon Elizabeth,
”
she stressed.
“
Keep away from the king as much as possible.
”

“
What would I care for a fat old king?
”
She huffed, turning back to the mirror. Anne sighed and shook her head. That fat old king was only three years older than Anne. And he was a powerful, handsome man. Rumor was, however, that he had become somewhat lazy, a little gluttonous. Anne had not been to court in three years, for Clifton did not like to go. She had heard that in the past few y
ears Edward had become so self-
indulgent and decadent that he had begun to use a vomitorium behind his dais so that he could relieve himself and continue gorging and drinking. She was glad Clifton was not often in the king
’
s company. She was not certain what her husband
’
s reaction to such a compulsion might be. Secretly, frightfully, she wondered if Sir Cliff would approve.

“
That is just as well. I do not worry that the king would accost you, my sweet, but he has a reputation for making some dreadful marriage plans. For your dower wealth he might find a most unattractive pet of his household for your husband. The queen will do better for you. And ... I will come before very long, in winter most likely. I promise.
”

“
Come with me now?
”
she asked, a pleading expression in her eyes.
“
Please?
”

“
Nay, darling. You must learn to face some things without your mother.
”

Clifton walked into Deirdre
’
s bedchamber, unannounced, without knocking. He held scrolled vellum in his hand.
“
Letters from Sloan,
”
he said with a grunt. He looked at Deirdre. His eyes twinkled briefly, then he frowned.
“
When do you depart for Westminster?
”

“
Tomorrow,
”
she answered quietly, a little fright still ringing in her voice.

“
Do not speak to any man without the queen
’
s permission. You need not stay long.
”

Deirdre tried to check eyes with her mother, but Anne was looking at Clifton with an angry curve to her lips. Their disagree
ment on this issue of Deirdre going to the queen, for a few months up to a year, had been a loud and boisterous one. But Anne had won, at least temporarily. Regarding any decision for Lord Forbes
’
s children, Clifton was forced to use caution.

“
Go on, Deirdre. Gather your women to finish your packing.
”
Still she looked at Clifton. Her daughter quietly quit the room.
“
That was unnecessary,
”
she said.

“
You should read your son
’
s letter, madam. He has interesting news.
”
He handed her the scroll. She looked at him curiously. Since Clifton could not read, he had obviously found some castle scribe to read the letter to him.

Anne read the first page, all episodes common to Sloan
’
s activities, visiting of old friends, companions met along the way. They were always happy, entertaining letters. Her eyes stuck on a sentence and for a moment she could not move on. Sloan had met, personally, the famous Earl of Nowlan. His nephew, Justin DeFrayne, was a friend. And of all amazing coincidences, the earl was staying with Lord Todd in Calais. To his astonish
ment, this famous knight was one of the gentlest men he had ever encountered, interested in the smallest of news, never gloat
ing, b
ut as strong as any twenty-year
old. He wondered if his mother and Sir Cliff had ever considered requesting that Gage be sent to train as a squire with this awesome and brilliant man.

Dylan, Sloan said with familiarity, had been visiting Calais on sad business, his wife, who had been sickly for a long time, had recently died.

She finished the letter and looked up at Clifton. She shrugged lamely, hoping Clifton would not make much of it.
“
Sloan, and even Gage, will meet him at some crossroad, Clifton. You could not have thought they would never become acquainted. England is large, the noble court is like a small town.
”

“
You may send Deirdre to court, but you will not join her there.
”

Anne sighed heavily and sat tiredly on the stool before the dressing table.
“
Clifton, nothing has changed in that regard.
You will accompany me –
you will not let me out of your sight. You know perfectly well that the queen will be angered by my request for Deirdre if I do not even present myself
--
Elizabeth depends on my friendship. In any case, if Lord deFrayne is in Calais, there is little cause for concern, now, is there?
”

His face was a stony visage, his lips pursed.
“
I do not like the idea of Sloan spending time with him.
”

She removed her net and began to unwrap her long hair. There were a few silver strands at her temples, but she did not mind. Anne was not vain.
“
Sloan is pleased to meet any knight of repute. In that regard, he is an ordinary young man.
”

“
His wife is dead now.
”

Anne did not respond. There was nothing to say. What matter Dylan was free? She was not. And from a discreet distance she had seen beautiful women in his company, Clifton often troubled himself to point them out. She was careful to conceal the pain from Clifton. She had sent Dylan away, and he had gone. Perhaps now he would wed a woman who would give him children, sons he could claim.