Sandra Madden (20 page)

Visitors had been arriving for the past two days. The most important being Lady Mason, who would bend Edmund's aunt's ear all the evening with fresh gossip from London.

Laughter and music filled the great hall and beyond. 'Twas halfway through the feast and Edmund had only caught sight of Kate scurrying hither and yon. She had not sat to sup at any of the long trestle tables.

Christopher Carew had arrived late in the afternoon. Edmund had invited his friend to stay for the week. He sought his opinion of the tennis court, and looked forward to hunting with his friend following the Midsummer's Eve festivities. Carew was not the only special guest he had invited.

After wrestling with his conscience, Edmund invited his barrister, James Moore, to Rose Hall for Midsummer's Eve. He'd been much relieved to hear Judith Witherspoon would not be able to attend. She had made previous plans to accompany her mother to the waters at Bath. Edmund promised himself he would soon make up for his neglect of Judith. He would woo her like a queen as soon as Kate was wed.

When most of the party had finished the meal and was drifting toward the inner courtyard where the masque would soon begin, Edmund excused himself.

"I shall rejoin you soon, Christopher. A matter of importance requires my attention."

"Do not worry over me, friend. A young woman has caught my eye. I believe her to be a friend of your sister's."

"Ah, yes. Lady Mary Thorgenhope arrived with Jane yesterday in Lord Chumley's stead. The viscount could not leave London."

Edmund took leave of his sporting companion, and after searching near the length and breadth of Rose Hall, at last came upon his matter of importance.

Kate sat with little Frances on a stone bench at the entrance to the maze. The intricate maze located on the north side of Rose Hall had been designed by Kate's papa, John Beadle.

"I did not think to get lost," his little niece sniffled. "The hedges are low."

"But higher than your head," Kate pointed out. "Had I not heard you crying, you might still be wandering at dawn."

"You will not tell my nurse... or my mama?"

"Nay. 'Twill be our secret. Tomorrow when 'tis light, I shall lead you through the maze and show you how to be certain where you are at all times."

"Thank you, Mistress Kate."

Unwilling to eavesdrop further, Edmund made himself known, striding toward the two. "Have I fallen upon faeries in the garden?"

Frances giggled. " 'Tis Mistress Kate and I."

"I brought Frances to the garden so that she might calm herself before retiring," Kate said. " 'Tis quiet and peaceful here."

Edmund could only admire Kate's swift, smooth fabrication. Frances's eyes shone with gratitude.

"Aye, it is. But it is also time for Frances to be in bed. I shall help you return my niece to her chamber. The masque begins before long, followed by dancing. After traveling to Rose Hall I am certain Master Moore craves at least one dance with you, Kate."

"May I beg off? 'Tis weary I am from the preparations."

"I would not have guessed. You look well."

Too well. Lovely, actually. Her sea-green gown dipped to an alluring display of creamy décolletage. He could only imagine the lush contours of her hips beneath the wide farthingale. And he did. Edmund flushed, warm with the imaginings.

"My thanks, Lord Stamford," Kate responded politely to his compliment.

The moments requiring her to be formal with him had begun to annoy Edmund. She was at ease with him only when they were alone.

"Come, Frances." He held out his hand. When the little girl slipped her hand in his, Edmund's heart pitched unexpectedly. The feeling of her small, chubby hand in his was most pleasant. A trusting hand. Innocent eyes gazed up at him; small bowed lips smiled with love.

He wondered what it might be like to have a child of his own. He looked to Kate. "Kate, are you coming?"

"I thought to remain in the garden for a short time."

"But I should like to escort you back to the hall."

Frances screwed up her little lips. "Prithee, Mistress Kate, come to my bedchamber."

"Do you fear your nurse?" she asked the child.

The little girl bobbed her head. "And Uncle Edmund."

"Me? Why?"

"I gave you my measles."

Edmund chuckled. " 'Twas an unintentional gift. I do not seek revenge. You are forgiven, Frances."

After accompanying the child to her bedchamber and nurse, Kate begged off from accompanying Edmund to the courtyard.

"I must return to my own chamber. I forgot my fan, but I shall not be long."

He feared she would disappear again. She had been elusive of late. "I shall come with you."

"Your guests must miss their host," she argued.

"James Moore has come especially to dance with you."

"Did you invite the barrister because you still seek a husband for me? Edmund, you promised not to interfere—"

"Do you not trust me?"

"No. Not in this matter."

The gardener's daughter was much too candid.

Kate sailed along the corridor. Did she hope he could not keep up with her?

"Why have you avoided me?" Edmund demanded.

"I have done no such thing. Lady Cordelia has given me much to do preparing for Midsummer's Eve."

"Have you thought more about what you will do since no goldsmith in London recognized your ring? Will you abandon the search for your birth mother now?"

Kate slowed, lowering her gaze to the gold band upon her finger. "Jutta said the answer will come to me. I should look no longer."

"The answer will come. Hah!"

"I do not appreciate your scorn," she snapped. And once more, Kate hastened her pace.

"You must look to yourself instead of the stars for answers."

"And pray what can I do?"

"Marry."

Eyes flashing with anger, Kate spun on him. "Why are you so eager for me to take a husband? I am still young. Do you think no man shall want me if I delay? Shall I become as shriveled as a dried fig in mere months instead of years? Do you fear I will be hideous by my twenty-fifth year?"

"Nay. I—"

" 'Tis none of your concern!"

"I wish only for you to be safe and well supported.

You have been my friend since childhood, and I desire more for you than false predictions offered by a foolish stargazer. I wish you to have a good and happy life, Kate."

Kate opened the door to her chamber with admirable vigor. "You cannot enter my bedchamber!"

"I have been here before," he reminded her in a husky tone as he followed.

" 'Twas necessary... to call off your beast."

He drew himself up to his full height. He towered over her. "Have you forgotten? I am the Earl of Stamford, Edmund Wydville, master of Rose Hall."

"You do not let me forget." Kate balled her fists and planted them on her hips. "Papa warned me about you."

"By your leave!"

"He warned you might attempt to take advantage of me."

"Not I! If I wished to take advantage of you I would not be searching diligently for a husband for you."

"Oh, fie! Edmund, you promised that you would do no more matchmaking. Are you so eager to see me gone from Rose Hall?"

Whirling away from him, without waiting for an answer, the fates combined to overcome Kate. She stepped upon the train of her dress and fell forward just as Percy bounded through the open door.

Kate cried out but Edmund moved quickly and caught her in his arms.

"Percy! Go!" he ordered the hound gruffly.

Percy whined. But he did not move. The tail-wagging bloodhound stared up at Kate's horror-stricken face.

"Your beast is on a mission from the devil," she blurted on a ragged breath.

"Percy!"

"He lives to torment me."

"Go!"

At last, objecting with a whimper and his head dipping low, Percy turned and strolled away, his tail between his legs. Which is rather how Edmund felt at the moment.

Unwilling to release Kate, he held her fast, reveling in the warm fullness of her breasts pressed against his chest, the scent of lavender in her silky hair. Her new scent. Desire washed over him like soft summer rain. He grew hard and short of breath.

"Do not be angry with me," he murmured in her ear. His heart raced. Could she feel the evidence of his desire? "I will leave off."

He would find another way to provide for her.

"Why should I believe you?"

"It would grieve me to have anything come between us that might end our... our friendship."

Wrenching out of his arms with a small cry, Kate wobbled slightly.

Edmund dared not reach out for her again. He ached. His gaze drifted to the bench. To a missive lying there.

Kate answered Edmund's unspoken question. "I received an offer for a position of nurse in Manchester."

Her news was like an iron-fisted blow to his mid-section. "No, you cannot go. Aunt Cordelia has come to depend upon you," he protested. "You must reject this offer."

A terse, hot silence enveloped the room. Laughter and music from the Midsummer's celebration drifted through the open window.

"I cannot, Edmund," Kate replied softly. She'd expected him to be angry with her for leaving his aunt. The burden of Aunt Cordelia's aches and pains and endless goblets of sack would fall upon Edmund once again until another gentlewoman could be found.

"I will raise your wages," he countered.

" 'Tis not the wages."

"Why, then?" he demanded in a timbre at once deep and ominous. His scowl alone would cause a courageous knight to become faint at heart.

Kate stood her ground. Why, then?

She could not say...
Because I love you, Earl of Stamford, too much to stay a day longer than necessary.
How foolish he would think her to pine after the most handsome nobleman in all of England!

Straightening her shoulders, Kate inched her chin toward the top of her ruff. " 'Tis precisely the position for which I have longed."

Edmund punched the wall and roared. "You would leave my sickly aunt to take a position as nurse to a stranger's children?"

"I must."

"Bloody hell." He turned to leave.

"Edmund."

He looked over his shoulder.

"I did not... do not heed Papa's warning. I know you would never hurt me."

Lord Stamford's only response was a slight dip of his head before stalking away.

She had angered him. But if she stayed he would certainly discover how much Kate cared for him. She could not hide her feelings forever.

Further, she had never traveled as far north as Manchester. 'Twas possible she might find a goldsmith there who would possess knowledge of her ring. In the meantime, there was naught to do but ease Edmund over his anger and make these last days together pleasant. Vowing to do what would please the earl for the remainder of their time together, Kate decided to rejoin the festivities and dance with James Moore as Edmund wished.

Kate found her fan and made her way to the main hall. She was just in time to see the door being opened to yet another traveler. The walls and chambers of Rose Hall were bursting with guests as it was.

"Good e'ven. Donald Cameron, the Duke of Doneval to see Lord Stamford."

Upon hearing his voice, Kate flew down the remaining steps to greet the Scotsman. During her stay in London, she had enjoyed his company above all. And despite what Edmund thought, the duke had no untoward designs upon her.

"Weel na, Kate Beadle! How grand you look."

"My lord," she blurted excitedly, "what brings you to Rose Hall?"

Chapter Thirteen

With the sun in aspect to Jupiter 'twill be a merry month

The whim of an old man had brought Donald Cameron to Rose Hall. A man who'd had little gaiety in his life and whose curiosity had been roused by the enchanting gentlewoman and the taciturn Earl of Stamford.

"Can ye take in this weary traveler?" he asked. "I dinna know ye were celebrating Midsummer's Eve."

"Aye. There will always be room for you at Rose Hall. Lord Stamford will be most happy to see you, as am I." She tucked her arm through his. "You look well."

"For an old Scot?"

Her amber eyes sparkled up at him in genuine pleasure. Perhaps 'twas the lass's lack of pretense that drew him to her. Donald only knew that he'd taken instantly to her natural warmth and blithe spirit. Kate Beadle possessed qualities that were at once familiar to him, yet elusive. He felt she would make a fine companion to his Anne.

"You shall find peace in the country, my lord. No guest of Rose Hall dares offend another, 'else heads roll,' " the young beauty assured him with a teasing roll of her eyes.

"Ye canna be certain Stamford will welcome me. Most Englishmen consider a Scot to be as good as an Irishman. An' that's none too good at all."

"Lord Stamford harbors no such feelings," Kate stated quite simply.

Donald had not the heart to destroy the naiveté of the lass. Scotland was regarded as an uncivilized nation by her countrymen. They regarded the Scottish as little more than barbarians, fighting among themselves and wholly incapable of honoring a treaty. His frequent visits to the English court had done little to affect a different opinion. Nonetheless, he, the barbarian duke, persevered.

Queen Elizabeth respected King James and hoped to unite Scotland and England through him. Many Scots feared their country would be consumed by England. Donald spent his days appeasing either the English court or the Scottish lords. He wished each country might take a lesson from him and Lady Anne. They would then understand it was possible to strike an accord, respect one another, and live in harmony.

"Come with me to the banquet house, my lord," urged Kate. "I am certain some still feast. A hearty tankard of ale and a dozen or more oysters will refresh you after your journey."

"I dinna mean to keep ye—"

"The butler will see that your man settles you in a comfortable chamber. And I promise not to make you dance with me. Tonight."

Like sun on snow, Kate's broad smile melted the tension and troubles that had besieged Donald for the past months.