Infamous (18 page)

She threw back her head and laughed. “That describes you exactly. The Scots are still uncivilized louts!”

He lifted her down, her hair brushed his face, and he shuddered with longing. He kissed her deeply and groaned as she pressed her breasts close and kissed him back with sensual abandon. “Not here! I want to make love to you in the land I intend to rule.” He vaulted to the top of the wall, then reached down to help her. He dropped down on the other side and held up his arms.

Without hesitation, Jory flung herself down, knowing he would catch her. Hand in hand they ran through the tall wild grasses until they came to a stone lookout tower. Inside, Robert laid his cloak down on a thick bed of bracken and, as he'd promised, he completely made up for their last hurried coupling. He undressed her slowly and for the next two hours worshipped her body, lavishing her with kisses from her temples to her toes.

They were reluctant to end the tryst, knowing it could be their last for months. “Do you think you could be happy in Scotland?”

Jory felt apprehension. “You fight for King Edward. You would have to betray him to get the Crown.”

“He would betray me without a moment's hesitation.” He wrapped her cloak about her shoulders. “I shall become King of Scotland one way or another. It could be as simple as outliving Edward Plantagenet. He grows old. His son is a weakling who could never hold this land, even if his father wins it for him.”

Her apprehension passed. Robert believed in his destiny and so must she.
This is more than a flirtation…he is courting me!
Happiness bubbled inside her even when he escorted her back to the castle and kissed her good-bye.
I must not cling to him—he would hate that
. She smiled bravely and whispered, “Godspeed!”

 

It was five months before Jory saw Robert Bruce again. He came into his mother's solar to give them the news. “Baliol has been taken, stripped of his crown, and sent as prisoner to the Tower of London. Edward Plantagenet has called a parliament at Berwick for the last day of August and has ordered every landholder in Scotland to appear there to reaffirm his allegiance to England.” He looked at his mother. “I want signed and sealed documents that state officially that Annandale and Carrick have been taken back from Comyn and returned to the Bruces.”

“Then the king will appoint another to govern Carlisle,” Lady Bruce declared. “I shall return to our English estates. Will you return with me Jory, Alicia?”

“Oh, no, thank you, my lady. I shall go to Berwick. Everyone of importance will be there to celebrate the king's victory.”

“My father will be there.” Elizabeth de Burgh begged Lady Bruce to let her go with Jory, who immediately promised to take the girl under her wing and appease the Earl of Ulster if he objected.

“What if Lynx de Warenne objects and sends you all packing?”

“Alicia shall be our secret weapon.” Jory carefully kept the sarcasm from her voice. “How could Lynx possibly resist her?”

 

Lynx de Warenne's demeanor was glacial as he stared at Alicia with icy green eyes. “You should not be here! This parliament has been called to conduct important business of the realm.”

“It was Jory's idea. She insisted!”

Jory saw his eyes warm as he looked down at her. “Don't be angry, Lynx. History is being made here in Berwick.”

His laugh rang out. “As if you give a damn for history! You couldn't resist the victory celebrations. You'll flaunt your beauty before the Scots nobles and dance till dawn every night.”

Lynx found them accommodation, making sure that Alicia's chamber was as far from his as possible and that Jory's was close to his own. He brought his sister wine, and found her unpacking. “I have a deal of news to tell you. Six months ago I garrisoned Dumfries Castle. It's in Annandale, about eight miles from the Bruce stronghold of Lochmaben.”

Jory's pulse raced. “I shall love living in Scotland.”

“I went through a handfast ceremony with a young woman by the name of Jane Leslie. She is the daughter of Dumfries's steward.”

“Isn't that an agreement to live together for a year and a day, then decide whether to part or to marry?” Jory puzzled.

“If she conceives a child, I will wed her immediately.”

“You'd marry your steward's daughter when you could have any noble lady in the land? You must be madly in love with her!”

“Splendor of God, we hardly know each other. Two days after the ceremony, the king recalled me to the army. That was six months ago—half my year is gone.”

“Won't flaunting convention raise eyebrows?”

“To hell with convention. What matters to me is a child. The Leslies are prolific breeders. Jane has nine brothers and sisters. When I told Robert Bruce and John their eyebrows stayed in place. I don't give a damn about the rest. It's my life.”

When Alicia finds out she'll run mad!

“The king is about to install our uncle as Governor of Scotland, while he goes to fight in France. I'm sick to death of war. All I want is the domestic peace of Dumfries.”

Jory's eyes widened in astonishment. “John is to rule all of Scotland?”
What on earth will Robert Bruce think of that?

 

On the journey to Dumfries, Jory occasionally left the company of Alice Bolton and Elizabeth de Burgh to ride alongside her brother and Robert Bruce. She did not intrude in their conversation, but instead listened to what they had to say.

“John de Warenne earned his governorship, but Edward should not have made Cressingham the treasurer. He should have given it to a Scots noble. It could come back and bite him,” Lynx declared.

“He thinks Scotland crushed, but it won't stay conquered. It will rise and fight again,” Bruce predicted.

Jory caught her breath.
Dear God, it will be just like Wales. The fighting will go on forever!

“Christ, Robert, let's enjoy our castles in peace, at least through the winter. Then in the spring, many of the Scots nobles will accompany Edward across the Channel. They've accepted the king's offer to fight in France in exchange for their freedom.”

“Let's see…This is October; there should be peace until spring.” He threw Jory a conspiratorial wink. “I'll be happy as long as he keeps my enemy Comyn locked up.”

Jory let out a sigh of relief. Spring was five or six months away. She and Robert would have plenty of time to indulge in a long, delicious winter romance.

When the cavalcade neared Dumfries, the Bruce bade them good-bye. “We are for Lochmaben. I'll be back to visit soon.”

“Bring your brothers,” Lynx invited. “My castle is yours.”

“It will be one day,” Robert said, laughing.

Both Lynx and Jory knew he was deadly serious.

W
hen Jory met Jane Leslie in the stables at Dumfries she saw how innocent and completely unspoiled the young woman was. She was also six months' gone with child and Jory was overjoyed that her brother would marry the lovely, sweet-natured girl.

Lynx de Warenne was over the moon when he saw that Jane was having his child. That night he made a proud announcement in the Great Hall. “Raise a cup with me and drink a toast to Dumfries.” Hundreds of hands were raised. “I am about to become a father!”

The whistles and shouts of joy were deafening as all but one person at Dumfries celebrated the event. Jory saw that Alice Bolton was filled with jealousy and hatred and she immediately vowed to protect the mother-to-be against the vitriolic woman.

When Jane revealed her innermost worries to Jory that Lynx cared only for the child she carried and was oblivious to her as a woman, a close friendship began to blossom between them. “Oh my dear, we shall indulge in the most fascinating game in the world. I will tutor you in infallible ways to attract the opposite sex. I shall thoroughly enjoy transforming you into
Lady Jane
!”

The lessons began, and Jane proved to be an apt pupil as Jory taught her airs and graces she had never known. Jory impressed upon her that she was the most important lady at Dumfries, and showed her how to put her domineering sisters in their place.

Jory taught Jane to be saucy and mischievous and not to jump to obey her husband when he issued his high-handed demands. “Men don't want meek, submissive women. They like vixens who will lead them on a merry chase. They love nothing better than a challenge.”

Lynx took it for granted that Jane would marry him, but at Jory's urging she temporarily refused. “We are handfast for a year and a day. When that time is up, you may ask me again.”

Though Lynx had severed his relationship with Alicia, it occurred to him that perhaps the presence of an ex-mistress prevented Jane from becoming his wife. He sought Jory's advice about how to rid himself of the woman.

“Send Alice Bolton to Edinburgh, where John de Warenne has his headquarters. She'll flaunt her connection with the governor of Scotland and will soon find a wealthy noble to take care of her.”

“Thanks for the advice, Minx. I'll pack her off today.”

 

Robert Bruce was a frequent visitor. One day he arrived when Lynx had gone hunting and Jane found herself trapped in Jory's wardrobe as the lovers shared an afternoon of shameless passion. When Jory discovered her, she feared Jane was deeply shocked, but instead she revealed her secret longing. “Oh Jory, what you have with Robert…that's what I want with Lynx.”

Jory recruited Robert and his two brothers to aid their cause. They promised to pay the little mother-to-be every attention and drive their friend Lynx mad with jealousy.

As the time for the birth of his child drew near, Lynx was in a fever to persuade Jane to marry him, but though her words were soft and gentle, she always postponed the reckoning. By this time Jory realized that Jane was deeply in love with her brother and she would not consent to marry him until Lynx loved her in return.

 

Jane gave birth to a healthy boy and Jory knew that her brother was the happiest man alive. He was humbled by Jane's generosity and, because she had given him his heart's desire, she could do no wrong. Jory worked on Jane with a vengeance, designing a new wardrobe of beautiful gowns to show off her newly slim figure, and advising her to un-plait her lovely red hair so that the long curly tendrils fell to her waist.

“During the upcoming New Year's celebrations you must exercise your newfound power as chatelaine of Dumfries. Let him see your fine hand in everything. Lynx will see you through new eyes and will not be able to resist you. Men want what they cannot have. Refuse him and he will turn over heaven and earth to get you.”

The Bruces arrived from Lochmaben loaded down with presents and a determination to indulge in festive fun and games. Nigel appointed himself Lord of Misrule and mayhem ensued for an entire twelve days and nights.

Jory watched Lynx become enamored of Jane right before her eyes. The pair became intimate again and it was obvious to all at Dumfries that Lynx de Warenne was falling in love for the first time in his life.

Jory too was filled with happiness. She savored every moment of Robert's long, ardent wooing and knew without doubt that the time she'd spent at Dumfries had been the most joyful of her life.

At the end of January the castle and townspeople gathered to christen the baby in Dumfries's chapel. Robert and Jory stood as godparents and the name Jane chose was Lincoln Robert de Warenne.

After the baptism, the Bruces departed for Lochmaben. Lynx watched Jory dash away a tear and slipped his arm about her. “Don't wish for his child. It would be disastrous. The scandal would ruin you and bring shame on the de Warennes.”

Her eyes widened. “We've been so careful. How did you know?”

“There's little about the Bruce that I don't know. He'll not wed you, Jory. His driving ambition to be King of Scotland stands in the way. The people would never accept an English queen.”

“You're speaking of the future. I live for today; I'm not greedy enough to want tomorrow also.” Though her words were deliberately light, her heart was suddenly heavy. That night she studied her reflection in her mirror.
I don't want him to marry me! Being a widow suits me far better than being a wife. I want things to remain exactly as they are between us.
She stared defiantly at her reflection.
I could make him wed me if I chose—he is madly in love with me!
She believed it with all her heart.

 

In February, a Scot called William Wallace started a rebellion and John de Warenne summoned Lynx and Robert Bruce to Edinburgh. Bruce, incensed that Edward had freed Comyn, ignored the summons.

“The king has ordered me to reassemble the army. We are to sweep through the Lowlands from the Border to the Firth of Forth. He wants this rebellion nipped in the bud and he wants Wallace.”

Lynx sent Bruce a message telling him the king was testing his allegiance. If he refused, his English estates would be forfeit.

Bruce brought five hundred from Annandale and pledged another thousand from Carrick. “I would have ignored the call if you hadn't warned me. My spies tell me Comyn is in league with Wallace. Once Edward sails to France, all hell will break loose.”

By the end of March, de Warenne, Bruce, and Cressingham had marched through the entire Border region. Treasurer Cressingham became adamant that the exercise was wasting the Crown's money and sent reports to the king that the back of the Scots resistance had been broken. As a result, Edward Plantagenet sailed for France in April and left the governing of Scotland to John de Warenne.

Just as Bruce had predicted, William Wallace joined with Comyn and the clan of William Douglas. The Scots marched on the sacred town of Scone and took it back from the hated English.

John de Warenne ordered Lynx to march on Scone and retake it, and the Bruce agreed to secure the surrender of William Douglas.

Outside Scone, at a strategic place called Irvine, Lynx de Warenne prepared his men for battle. At dawn he led the charge as always and by dusk his army had won victory for the English and defeated the enemy, but not without a horrendous cost. His lieutenants found Lynx de Warenne on the battlefield close to death. He had sustained a massive belly wound and his lifeblood was almost drained away. Even his Welsh bowmen who practiced healing arts feared they would lose the race with death before they could get him home to Dumfries.

When Jory saw them bring her brother in on the litter, she was in despair. On the journey home the flesh had melted from his body and he was emaciated. It stirred graphic memories of Humphrey and convinced her that Lynx's wound would prove fatal.

Jane, strangely calm, looked at her husband's wound without flinching, then firmly took over as chatelaine of Dumfries. “Carry him to our chamber in the master tower. Fetch the priest quickly.” Under her watchful instructions they lifted him onto his own bed. Jane took her beloved's hand and nodded at the priest. Solemnly he began to give Lynx de Warenne the last rites.

“What in the name of God are you doing? I sent for you to marry us. Get on with it; he is in agony.”

The priest began the Solemnization of Matrimony. “Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

Lynx's green eyes glittered and all agreed that he nodded.

The priest then repeated the vows for Jane, adding, “Wilt thou obey him and serve him?”

“I will,” she vowed solemnly, and her father stepped forward to give his daughter to Lynx de Warenne.

Jory, who had been hovering tearfully at the door, stepped into the chamber. “I will plight my brother's troth.” She placed her hand on Jane's, which in turn covered Lynx's, and said the words that bound them together as husband and wife.

Jane, who had an abundant knowledge of herbs and their healing powers, seldom left her husband's side in the weeks that followed. She had other Celtic powers, including the ability to take away pain, and though his life hung by a thread she believed that if she loved Lynx enough, she would save his life.

His punctured bowel stank with putrefaction, but with the use of strong herbs and meticulously clean dressings it slowly began to heal. The problem was that Lynx could keep nothing in his stomach and the total lack of nourishment threatened his life.

Jane solved this by tenderly feeding him her breast milk and finally the danger passed and Lynx began to regain his strength.

The Bruces came to Dumfries, overjoyed that Lynx had cheated death and that his fighting strength was steadily being restored.

After the Bruces' visit, Jane told Lynx of a dreamlike vision she'd had about Robert. “I saw him surrounded by a brilliant light with a golden crown upon his head.”

“Bruce is the rightful King of Scotland, Jane. I won't oppose his bid for the throne, but he'll need more than my cooperation.”

“But the lady beside him was not your sister, Jory—it was young Elizabeth de Burgh!”

Lynx laughed. “If Robert could get the power of the Earl of Ulster behind him, he'd soon be wearing the Crown of Scotland.”

 

Jory could see that the bond between Jane and Lynx strengthened with each passing day and night. Jane had become a part of him, wife, lover, friend, nurse, and his trust in her was absolute. Jory lay abed, remembering that Jane had once said she wanted what Robert and she had.
What we have pales beside the selfless love and adoration these two now share.
Jory could not help but wish that Robert loved her with his whole heart. “I once teased him that I was his obsession,” she whispered into her pillow, “but I was wrong. The Crown of Scotland is his obsession. I fear I will never hold first place in his affection. Perhaps he doesn't truly love me. Perhaps all he feels for me is lust, pure and simple.”

Jory felt deeply conflicted. Part of her wanted to believe that Robert Bruce loved her, but the other part was filled with questions and doubts and fears.

The Bruce visits continued throughout the summer months as Lynx gradually regained his fighting strength.

“The news from John de Warenne is all bad. His forces lost Stirling to Wallace and Comyn, and Treasurer Cressingham was killed. The king signed a hasty peace treaty with France and has returned to organize his army to reconquer Scotland. He has the levies of Warwick, Bohun, and Ulster's Irishmen,” Lynx told Robert.

“When the army moves north of Edinburgh, it will find only blackened fields and burned farms. Edward's soldiers will find no food, nor fodder for their horses. My country is being torn asunder by both the English and the Scots,” Bruce said bitterly.

“Poor Robert, you wish the English out of your country completely, do you not?” Jory asked with heartfelt sympathy.

“In truth I do,” Robert acknowledged.

“What about the Irish?” Elizabeth de Burgh asked with a blush. It was plain to all that she hero-worshiped the Bruce.

Robert ruffled the young girl's hair. “The Scots hate only the English, not the Irish. We share Celtic blood.”

“Elizabeth is excited because her father will be accompanying the king,” Jane said. “We should invite him to Dumfries.”

“I suppose I'll have to house some of Edward's forces at my castles if I hope to keep them in my possession,” Robert said.

When Lynx took the Bruce to the armory, Jory and Elizabeth rushed to their chambers to don prettier gowns. Jane followed Jory. “I cannot bear the thought of Lynx going to battle again.”

“Darling, never let him know you are afraid for him. Let him think he is omnipotent. It frightens me out of my wits that Robert will someday make a bid for the Scottish Crown. But he believes it's his destiny and because I love him, so I must too.”