Virginia Henley (62 page)

She lifted her chin. “Only if you give me back my earrings and my emerald betrothal ring!”

He reached into the pocket of his shirt and produced them.

“Anything else, Lady Stewart?”

“Yes! There will be no more
Margrethas
or I shall pay you back in kind and take a lover. I am not without admirers in Scotland!”

Hepburn was instantly incensed. “Name him!”

As she put on her earbobs and rings, her mind raced to find a name she could throw at him. “Sir Robert Carr, a royal favorite!”

Amusement lit Hepburn’s face, then he bent over with laughter.

“Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused!” she hissed. “What’s so bloody funny?”

Patrick’s arms swept about her. He wasn’t about to sully her innocence by explaining pederasty to her. He gazed down into her beautiful face. “I don’t just love you, Catherine; I adore, worship and dote on you. You are my
treasure.
” He bent and took possession of her tempting mouth. He lifted his lips a fraction. “I am going to make tender love to you all night, Hellicate.”

“To lowest hell with
tender love,
Hepburn.” She dug her nails into his shoulders. “I want you wild and untamed!”

Author’s Note

For the benefit of telling a love story, I have taken license with some dates.

Lord Hunsdon actually died in 1596, rather than 1602, and William Herbert’s father died in 1601, rather than 1602.

William Seymour, who eventually married Arbella Stuart, was much younger than she was. When Queen Elizabeth discovered Arbella plotting to marry Seymour and banished her from Court, William was only fourteen.

I have strived for accuracy with all other historical dates, events and places.

Virginia Henley

V
elvet Cavendish had lived at St. Germain, France, at the impoverished Court of exiled Royalists since she was a child, but had recently come to London to live with her wealthy aunt Christian, Dowager Countess of Devonshire.

Velvet had been reluctant to live with the other branch of the family since they had chosen Cromwell over Charles, but at least she would be living in England and she and her father’s new wife would not be at each other’s throats. With great daring she found the courage before she left to voice a thought she’d kept hidden deep and never spoken aloud before. “What about my betrothal?”

Her father, Earl of Newcastle, rubbed the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t count on it, Velvet. Circumstances have changed considerably over the years we’ve lived in exile. The Earl of Eglinton will not be eager for his heir to take a wife without a substantial dowry.”

Deeply stung, she tossed her head. “Nor am I eager to wed Eglinton’s heir. I am delighted the betrothal is null and void. I don’t remember the callow youth,” she lied.

“Of course, should King Charles be restored to the throne and we get back our confiscated estates, I have no doubt your union would once again become most desirable to Eglinton.”

Velvet lifted her chin. “That will be too bad. I wouldn’t have his son for husband if he were the last man alive!”

In her chamber at the dowager’s great house in London, Velvet looked at her reflection in the mirror. Though most females would have thought the dress of plain gray cambric with starched white collar and cuffs extremely plain, she was most grateful that it was new and fit her perfectly.

She picked up the silver hairbrush, fashioned her unruly red-gold hair into neat ringlets, and pinned on a sheer linen cap. She hurried downstairs to take breakfast with Christian.

“Good morning, darling. You look lovely.”
Oh dear, you look like a little milkmaid rather than an aristocratic Cavendish. Your years of penniless exile robbed you of your confidence. I must build up your self-esteem and try to restore some of that delicious precocious attitude you displayed as a child.

She watched Velvet eat, bemused that she seemed to relish plain bread and honey. “My dear, you have the most radiant complexion. Your skin is translucent and seems to glow from the inside. What is your secret?”

Velvet flushed, pleased at the compliment. “I use cold water. Mother told me about using glycerin distilled with rose water when she was a girl. I wish I had some.”

Her wants are so simple
. “Well, we have glycerin, and the garden is filled with summer roses. Go out and gather some.”

“Oh, thank you.” Velvet wiped her mouth and folded her napkin, then dashed outside.

Christian watched her through the back windows. “Ods bodkin, you’d think I’d given her the Crown Jewels.”

Greysteel Montgomery had learned the Dowager Countess of Devonshire was living at her grand house in Bishopsgate, the one where her late husband had entertained royalty on a lavish scale. He turned his horse over to a groom and went up the front steps. He presented his card to the butler.

“I’m here to see the Devonshire steward on business, but first I’d like to pay my respects to the dowager countess if she is receiving.”

“Very good. This way, my lord.” The butler showed him into the library, and in less than two minutes the dowager appeared.

She gave her visitor a quick appraisal and liked what she saw. The gentleman had a commanding presence, which set him apart. She glanced at his card. “Lord Montgomery?”

“My father is Alexander, Earl of Eglinton. I’m here to pay your steward for some sheep we recently acquired from you.”

“Ah, yes, you were a captain with the Royalist army.”

Velvet came into the library, her head bent over a flower basket. “Christian, it is such a pity that these lovely cream roses have specks of soot on—” She looked up and saw the dowager had a male visitor. “Oh, I beg your pardon ...” Her voice trailed off as she stood and stared. The man had a military bearing with a ramrod straight back and broad muscular shoulders. His face was dark, hard, lean, and his gray eyes were so compellingly direct a shudder ran down her back. He was the most powerfully attractive male she had ever seen, and her physical response to him was immediate and profound.

Montgomery took one look at the female and felt as if time stood still. His heart too stopped beating momentarily and then began to thud. The young lady before him in the simple gown, carrying a profusion of cream roses, was a vision of sweet innocence. She had the face of an angel; he’d never seen anyone as lovely.

“Velvet, darling, this is Captain Montgomery—”

His dark brows drew together. “Velvet?”

Her violet eyes widened. “Greysteel?”

“Of course!” Christian’s face lit up as she realized why his name was so familiar. “Greysteel Montgomery is your betrothed!”

Velvet’s cheeks turned crimson. “He is no such thing!”

“It was so long ago. You were only about seven. Perhaps you have forgotten,” Christian suggested.

“Yes, I had forgotten.”
No, I never forgot. That was the day I decided to name myself Velvet and realized I was in love with Prince Charles. Your first glance told me you wanted to beat me. You were forced to betroth me because of my family’s wealth, and you hated me for it. Now that wealth is gone and you don’t wish to be reminded of the betrothal. You still hate me.

“Perhaps you
have
forgotten, Mistress Cavendish. I was a thirteen-year-old youth. My looks have changed considerably.”

Velvet stared at him haughtily, desperately trying to mask her physical response to him. Though there was no trace of youthfulness left in the dark, hard countenance, she could never forget his mesmerizing gray eyes, which had the ability to look into her mind and read all her secrets. Moreover, the arrogant devil knew she hadn’t forgotten him.

“I’m sure the Earl of Eglinton considers the betrothal null and void, as does my own father, after all these years.”

“It matters little what they consider.” Greysteel set his jaw. “It is I who will decide about our betrothal.”

“You must be mad!” she defied him. “Go to the devil!”

Her words stung him. She had made it plain she hadn’t wanted him then, and she didn’t want him now.
Set yourself against me and you will lose; your objections only make me more determined.

“My lord, do forgive Velvet. She doesn’t mean to be rude.”

“Of course she does. She’d like to run me through with my own sword, but she doesn’t quite dare.”

“You read my thoughts exactly, sir,” Velvet said sweetly.

Christian eyed the pair of antagonists with relish. The sexual sparks between them heated the air. “Lord Montgomery, may I suggest that you come to dinner Wednesday night? Perhaps you two can settle your differences—or continue your duel. Either would be vastly entertaining, I warrant.”