The Everlasting Covenant (24 page)

She bowed away from Elizabeth and watched as many as a dozen high-flown noblewomen parade behind her. The evening would finally end. When Elizabeth was out of sight, Anne turned around. She did not see Brennan or any member of her family, but her eyes settled on a woman leaning tiredly against the wall. There was something oddly familiar about her, but Anne could not remember where they might have met. The woman
’
s cloth
ing was old though finely sewn, well kept, and clean, and she was about fifty years of age. Her auburn hair was grayed around
the edges, but she had a slim, firm figure. On instinct and nothing more, Anne approached her. And the woman
’
s eyes came alive.

“
Madam,
”
she said by way of greeting,
“
I am Anne of Ayliffe, Lady Forbes. I feel we were acquainted. ...
”

“
Not actually, my lady,
”
she said, smiling warmly and bowing graciously.
“
Although we have seen each other from across a wide expanse of lawn or field.
”
Anne
’
s brow wrinkled.
“
Daphne deFrayne, my lady, late of Heathwick.
”

Anne felt her cheeks grow hot.
“
Of course,
”
she said in a breath.
“
Of course it is you.
”
She wished to embrace her, but she knew the act of a Gifford woman treating a deFrayne woman thus would raise too many questions. And how did Daphne manage to smile? Did she not consider Anne the enemy? Mar
cella, despite everything, still harbored intense hatred for the entire family, although the deFraynes had lost everything and were reduced to impoverished flight. As thought of her mother crossed her mind, she glanced over her shoulder, but Marcella was not in evidence.
“
Madam, how do you come here?
”

“
By the gracious forgiveness of His Majesty. Anne,
”
she said softly, smiling tenderly as if they were old friends,
“
are you well? Happy?
”

Dylan had said his mother was sympathetic, but how much so was impossible to tell.
“
Aye, madam. I am well kept. And in good humor. How does your family?
”

“
We are all well, my dear Anne. I am in desperate hopes that
I
can gain an audience with Her Majesty on the account of my sons.
I
want to bring them home.
”

“
They are fit?
”

“
It has been a difficult separation for us all, but yea, they do write me that they are well, growing stronger. Hard times do that for men, I think. For all of us. Dylan is anxious. Cameron is impatient. They have both married. It is through their mar
riages that I hope to bring them home. Dylan
’
s wife is a cousin to Her Majesty and Cameron
’
s Bess comes from good Yorkist stock.
”

Anne suddenly dropped her gaze so that Daphne would not
see her eyes. So, he had taken a wife. But of course he should. And a wise choice: a woman who could help effect his return. She found she was twisting her hands, looking at the long, thin white line on the back of her hand.
Is she very beautiful?
Anne wanted to ask.
And does she adore him? Is there passion in their nights? Love in their hearts? Will there be children, sons?

“
My lady, you tremble,
”
Daphne said, pulling Anne
’
s moist hand into both of hers. Anne could not still her shaking hand as Daphne looked at the hand with the scar. Daphne seemed to caress the hand, squeezing it gently.
“
An odd coincidence,
”
she said in a near whisper.
“
Dylan has such a scar.
”

Anne slowly let her eyes rise to meet Daphne
’
s, eyes the same glittering turq
u
oise as Dylan
’
s. They were rich with knowledge and compassion.

“
My father said you were a woman to be admired,
”
she said.

“
Your father was a generous and gracious man. It is a terrible loss to us all, God rest his soul.
”

“
Do you stay in London?
”

“
Aye, my lady. Until I can manage some residence.
”

“
Let me ..
.
”
She remembered Ayliffe. She longed for the luxury of Ayliffe. Another day? Two?
“
Madam, I will see the queen on your behalf, but I beg you, say aught. My family ...
”

“
It is good of you, Anne.
”

“
Do not tell Dylan, I pray you.
”

Daphne
’
s eyes held the understanding glitter of lost love, recognition.
“
If that is your desire.
”

“
‘
Tis best. I shall leave shortly for the country. Patience, madam.
”
Daphne still held Anne
’
s hand, and Anne wanted to embrace her, kiss her, cry with her.
“
Please allow time. It may take time, madam.
”

“
Anne, my dear, I do understand. You must run along and not be caught with me. But if you should wish to see me, at any time at all, I am presently in a comfortable house near the queen
’
s residence, at Ormond
’
s Inn
--
easily found. And there I shall remain until my sons can afford me a retirement. I do not plan to go into seclusion so soon.
”

Anne laughed lightly and squeezed the hands that held hers.

“
It is good that you have made a prosperous life for yourself, Anne. You deserve happiness. You must be strong and happy, and raise many children.
”

She looked away uncomfortably. How much had Dylan told his mother? She felt tears threaten. She was so tired and had never imagined this meeting.
Does he still love me?
She
wanted to ask.
Does he dream that we are together, as
I
do? I have his son and I would cry it to the world. Each time I look at that, handsome little face, those haunting eyes,
I
think of my beloved Dylan.
I
have worried about his safety every day ... I cannot drive him from my mind. I love him still. I cannot help what I feel.
I
love. I love.

“
Madam, I ..
.
”

“
I miss him too, Anne. Go, darling,
”
Daphne whispered.
“
Hurry now, before you make too much of this chance meeting. Be well. God
speed.
”

Daphne released Anne
’
s hand and gave her a gentle nudge, turning her about and facing her into the wide chamber, still filled with people. She saw Brennan not very far away and took two steps toward him. Then on impulse she turned back toward Daphne, but she was gone.

When she was again at Brennan
’
s side she realized that Daphne had stopped her just as emotion was getting the better of her. Seeing Dylan
’
s mother brought the memories, the loss, and the enduring love brimming up, almost to her lips. In another mo
ment she would have burst into tears, perhaps clinging to Dylan
’
s mother, weeping for joy and heartache all at once. She took a deep breath.
Daphne is wise
.
It is better this way,
she thought.
We can never regain what we
’
ve lost. We must carry on. We must be strong.
I
must be stronger than I feel.

“
Finally, my love.
”
Brennan dropped a husbandly kiss on her brow. Happy marriages were rare.
“
Are you eager for your be
loved Ayliffe?
”

“
Aye, Brennan, but it appears Elizabeth will detain me for another day, at least.
”

“
That suits me, since I must remain for at least another fort
night. I do not rest well without you at my side.
”

“
Then you must hurry to Ayliffe, my lord, where I plan to take my slumber through the summer.
”
She smiled up at him.
“
You are so good to me, Brennan. Please, let
’
s return to our lodgings now.
I
have never, ever felt so drained.
”

***

Brennan rode toward Ayliffe with the hot July sun pounding at his back. He was displeased with the time he had been forced to spend away from home, but there was trouble brewing. It was buried under still waters, unmentioned except in the shad
owed corners of private chambers, but Brennan knew how dan
gerous the problem could be.

The Earl of Warwick was displeased with the king. Warwick had made it possible for Edward to become king and had in
tended to rule England through him. Edward not only defied him with his marriage to Elizabeth, but he was now surrounded by the enormous Woodville clan, which drove Warwick even farther away from that coveted dais. Warwick was the richest man in England. To whom did one pledge
--
the king, who owned the crown, or the powerful earl, who owned everything else? The answer was simple for Brennan, but not so simple for others whose fortunes might rest on choosing the most profitable side.

All Brennan had wanted was to be with his wife. He chafed impatiently at the meetings, and when other men were appre
ciative of the excuse to be away from their wives and were more happily occupied with their mistresses, Brennan only wanted to hold Anne in his arms.

He ached with the thought.
Over fifty years old and as smitten as a lad,
he thought. Once the notion that Anne could make him feel so young brought him pleasure and amusement, but now it only aggravated him. He remembered the passion he felt the first time he touched her silken flesh
--
he thought he would burst into a ball of flame from the sheer power of his lust. And it had energized him to feel so. These feelings had never quieted or calmed. He was still filled with a savage, rutting madness that he had to struggle to subdue so as not to ravage his own wife.

Any man would feel so with Anne,
he reminded himself. Her fresh, clean beauty was stimulating in itself, but in addition she was smart, kind, and sweet. Early in their marriage he had been concerned that she was too sweet, too vulnerable, but in the past four years she had proved him wrong on that account. She could be quite firm as she managed the household affairs at Ayliffe, and he had never seen anyone, man or woman, who could spot a lie more easily. The people had come to love her, if not worship her. She was a woman among women: good, industrious, efficient, intelligent, beautiful. He had had two decent wives before her, but there was no denying the fact that Anne was the most perfect.

She did not, however, share his hunger. He almost flushed with shame as he thought it. He had no right to complain. She did not shrink from his touch. She did not avoid him, dissuade him, refuse him. She did not even relish time away from him
;
she seemed to prefer their life together and complained when they had to be separated. She saw to his every need, waited up long past exhaustion for his return to her, and rose early to be with him in the morning. But when he touched her, feeling the explosive passion surging inside him, she returned his touch only with warmth. His wife was not the hot vixen of his dreams, as he wished her to be. She was more his friend and ally.

Brennan
’
s second wife had not been as domestic as Anne had proven to be. She was not pretty or even bright. She forgot things, could not manage well, and had a hard time with even the outstanding castle servants at Ayliffe. He had not even lov
ed her so much when he wed her;
he had still missed his first wife, though it had been many years. But in their common bed she had reached heights of ecstasy that had surprised Brennan. It was with his second wife that Brennan learned how much women could enjoy the act of love. In Anne he wished to have a com
bination of those two wives
--
the deep love he felt for his first wife and the ecstasy he could feel from his second. He wished for Anne to have that pleasure, that desire, and he tried to bring it to her. But while she allowed his every whim, she never once lost control. She did not yearn for him.