The Everlasting Covenant (9 page)

Her eyes were transfixed by the sparkling diamond. Tears began to swell. This very fine man should give his ring to a more deserving woman. In her heart she knew she could never return his affection as he deserved, that she would be happier accepting a copper band presented by Dylan. If she were stronger
, she would tell him the truth –
that she could not love him as passionately as he should be loved. But she was afraid and lonely. Brennan Forbes was the only kindness in her life.

He lifted her chin with a finger.
“
I love you, Anne. I cannot wait for you much longer.
”

“
Oh Brennan,
”
she said, choking on a sob and embracing him
suddenly.
“
I am so afraid that I will fail you. You should have a perfect woman, a perfect wife. I
’
m sure I cannot be all that you expect me to be.
”

He held her for a moment and then looked tenderly into her eyes.
“
You are the woman I want, and if you let me love you, you cannot possibly fail me.
”

She was awestruck that he did not ask for her love in return, nor did he extract any promises from her but that she receive his devotion willingly. If he asked her, she would not be able to conceal the lie: the love she held in her heart was for another. This was not her choice, but her burden. The love she did feel for Brennan w
as the deep love of a daughter –
of fondness, re
spect, and gratitude. It was the love one felt for a dear and treasured friend.

“
You are a rare man, Brennan
Forbes. You do me great honor.
I will strive to bring only dignity to your house, your name.
”

“
I have never felt what I feel for you. I never thought it possible. But I cannot change it now. I only pray that someday you will feel it, too.
”

She almost sighed that she hoped so as well, but instead she rested her head on his chest, her arms around him. She was grateful to have this strong arm to lean on, and silently she prayed for forgiveness, for she knew Brennan would be hurt by her love for Dylan.
“
I will try to make you proud of me, Brennan. I will try to be deserving of your love,
”
she said.

“
That is a good place to begin,
”
he said.

***

The threat of impending war eased during the Christmas season. There were more than the usual number of knights, squires, and pages present, which called for more castle servants. Raedelle was splitting at the seams with people, but the mood was gayer than it had been in the fall. The gates were stoutly closed and the daily practice of arms ceased because of the snow and cold and feasting in the hall. Trenton sang again, his beau
tiful voice filling the evening hours. Quentin discussed politics with the earl, but his main concern rested on preserving Rae
delle, his inheritance. Bart edged into their conversations, eager
for some recognition or appointment, but he was cautious and polite. Even Marcella seemed to relax a bit, although her favorite topic of conversation was still politics. She wrote fewer letters since there were fewer couriers, and therefore she concentrated more on household and family matters.

Divina, somewhat encouraged by gifts the earl had given her, was careful not to insult Anne. In fact, she lavished attention on Brennan Forbes and occasionally smiled at Anne. Anne was no more fooled than Brennan
--
Divina would like to replace Anne in Brennan
’
s regard, or, at the very least, accept a husband brought to her by the earl. But nothing was said. It was a relief to have Divina act decently.

Though the motives of her bro
thers and sister might be self-
serving, Anne felt a sense of family for the first time in her memory. Her sister did not harass her, her mother treated her with cautious kindness, and her father, who was quiet even in turbulent times, appeared almost joyful. Bart and Quentin treated Anne with a brand new respect, for her womanly assets had brought a rich and powerful earl into their household, and their opportunity for recognition in the realm was finally at hand. Trenton was the only one unchanged, and with his war tools laid temporarily aside, she could enjoy their kinship once again.

Anne had been a forgotten child. She had not suffered, be
cause Minerva and her father had loved her tenderly. But
she had never known her value –
she had never known how often her father sat bemused at how the others overlooked her. The most remarkable change due to the earl
’
s attention came from Marcella, and her mother treated her with deference that was entirely new. It was Anne
’
s first taste of power. She knew that if the earl suddenly vanished, she would be whisked away to the nuns without pause.

“
Little second-born lass,
”
Dylan had said. The little lass was no more
--
she was soon to be a count
ess. Her countenance had not changed, her mind had not sud
denly accepted great vision, yet her future would determine her family
’
s destiny.

Anne could not deny a feeling of exhilaration her new position
accorded her, but she was even more puzzled by her mother
’
s lack of love. She did not know what she had done to fall so far from favor. Still a simple lass at heart, she would have preferred genuine family love in lieu of wealth and power.

As the days of Christmas passed, Anne often stood in the tower to look out over the vast Raedelle demesne in search of tracks in the snow. She gazed longingly for a lone rider. When Brennan spoke of a wedding, she tried to delay it by persuading him that the beauty of late spring would be perfect. She hoped that Dylan would steal her away before then. While her sister envied the jewels and special clothes that would soon arrive, Anne longed to share a simple pallet behind a stable with the man she loved. Marcella and the others spoke excitedly of the Duke
’
s coronation, when he had finally unseated King Henry and defeated Margaret of Anjou
’
s forces. But Anne didn
’
t care who was king. She wished for it to be over, and to be forgotten again. She wished to be with Dylan.

“
Richard, Duke of York, has been ambushed and slain. He was attacked by surprise in Sandal Castle at Wakefield, and all who were in residence, including sons and knights, were either slain or captured.
”

Members of the Gifford family froze in silence on the stair, in the doorways, in front of the fire. A deep moan of disap
pointment left Marcella, and Divina began to quietly weep. The messenger had ridden hard to Raedelle to bring the news to the Earl of Ayliffe and the Gifford family. Anne stood paralyzed and examined the stricken faces that had once been so hopeful, as they fell in despair. Their hope was suddenly crushed.

“
Who has survived the Duke?
”
Brennan asked.

“
The Earl of March, young Edward, is the heir. He was not with his father. He had gone home to Ludlow to collect Welsh armies.
”

Brennan walked to the stair where Anne stood, her hand half raised toward him.
“
I hope you understand and forgive me, my love. I will return to you as quickly as possible.
”

She nodded numbly. She knew why he would ask forgiveness.

Although it was unspoken, they both realized that his presence kept her family at bay.

“
I
am for Edward,
”
Brennan said to the room at large.
“
I cannot think one reason to delay.
”

“
He is a boy,
”
Marcella cried despairingly.

“
His age is irrelevant, madam,
”
the earl replied.
“
He is the heir.
”
Edward, Earl of March, was now the Duke of York. And it was through the house of York that they placed the claim to the crown of England. Edward, at the age of nineteen, did not have a reputation as a strong knight. He had not yet fought in any significant battle. While Anne was struggling to understand how this tragedy affected her own life, she could not help but notice that Brenna
n was the only man on his feet –
the only one of the Duke
’
s vassals preparing to depart. Again, she saw the true colors of her family, they were anxious to attach themselves to power, to regain what had been lost. But their real loyalties were rooted in sand. While the Giffords vacillated, Brennan was for York.

The Giffords did not tarry long though, for they did not wish to lose the earl
’
s favor. Lord Gifford assembled what seemed to Anne a mighty troop of one hundred knights and two hundred archers. Lord Forbes sent a courier to Ayliffe to assemble and move west one thousand plus two thousand, and sudden aware
ness of Brennan
’
s capability, s
omething she had not really con
sidered before, impressed her. Soon a troop led by both Lord Gifford and the Earl of Ayliffe departed from Raedelle, and Marcella resumed her letters.

Through early January there were messengers through the gate on a regular basis, bringing word of the Giffords, and of others.

“
The deFraynes have joined with the king
’
s men, even after those men showed their courage by sneaking into the Duke
’
s home to slay him,
”
Marcella told her daughters. She read a letter from Quentin so that it appeared Marcella was only imparting news, but Anne had heard a lifetime of such commentary, drum
ming it into all the Gifford children that the deFraynes were evil, treacherous characters.
“
It is rumored that the soldiers dressed
as women to gain entrance to the Duke
’
s castle.
”
Marcella
’
s cheeks reddened, her eyes glittered.
“
How like the deFrayne bastards to be attracted to such a cowardly ruse.
”

Anne listened without reaction. She wished to know if all the deFrayne men had pledged to the Lancaster king. Did even Dylan choose politics and war over their love? But she was silent. There was nothing she could say. She listened as Marcella en
thusiastically described the horrible treatment that would befall the Lancaster supporters, especially the deFraynes, when the assault was finished and they were caught.

Letters also arrived from Brennan, which Marcella snatched from Anne
’
s hand the moment she had finished reading each one. However, Brennan did not write about political issues or military plans, and each letter that expressed his longing for his bride only depressed and disappointed Lady Gifford.
“
I had not thought the earl, at his maturity, could behave like a besotted fool. What lunacy is this lust? A man of power weds a dowry and a family of substantial arms. To read his dribble makes me think he cares naught for the allegiance of a mighty family.
”

Mighty?
Anne wondered.
Dowry?
Brennan Forbes was already rich and influential. He did not need Marcella
’
s nagging, nor the modest fighting skills of the Giffords. And, if Lord Forbes had offered a partnership toward a cause, he need not have included marriage to Anne. Marcella had greatly mistaken the value of her assets. But Anne could not dismiss what
was hap
pening, although the men were far away. The arguments of dukes and kings had never touched her so closely before. She knew that York was going hard against Lancaster. The Giffords hard against the deFraynes. Where was Dylan?

During the last half of January there came the final revelation. A cart driven by an elderly couple arrived with clothing sewn for Anne of Raedelle. Two large coffers and several carefully wrapped bundles were brought to her rooms. It was the old couple
’
s son who owned a tailor shop, and they were en route to their daughter
’
s home. Since it meant only a slight departure from their planned journey, they delivered the newly sewn
clothing. While the man drank cold ale in the common room, the woman went with Anne to her chamber to inspect the goods.

This was the first time there had been such an event at Rae
delle, and Anne could not hide her excitement. Divina, whose curiosity for once outpaced her hostility, went along to see the gowns. Marcella took only a cursory look and then quickly departed. The sight of such beautiful gowns brought her both jealousy and the memory of her indiscretion, and near blunder, with the earl.