The Everlasting Covenant (52 page)

Then came the letters. Anne was astounded to see a large trunk filled to the top with bundles. Marcella
’
s letter writing had always been remarkable in its amount, but she had no idea that so many people actually responded to her. She picked up a bundle, untied it, glanced through a long page of dull history written by another dowager countess from Yorkshire. She sifted through many, just reading the date and the name of the cor
respondent, the most recent letter was over ten years old. With a bored sigh, she read.

Soon she was kneeling on the floor beside the trunk, a candle beside her, reading passages from page after withered
page. Her cheeks grew flushed –
her heart pounded. Through the subtle remarks written to Marcella by her acquaintances it became clear that Marcella had never really held tight her secret about Anne. All through Anne
’
s years of marriage to Brennan Forbes, Marcella had dropped inn
uendo and gossip about Anne ..
. until Tren
ton took custody and censored her.
“
I had thought C. of Ayliffe so demure and shy,
”
one correspondent wrote,
“
but it is clear she deceives as you say.
”
“
I saw him, the one you say she slipped past Lord For
bes, and perhaps you are right –
perhaps he got sired on the wrong side of the sheets.
”
“
She fools him now, but not for long. Do you dare name the sire? Is it the king?
”
And finally,
“
I would not breathe a word, my dear, for I could not bear to be the cause of your banishment by your selfish daughter.
”

It came as little comfort that most of the correspondence was from old women with much in common with Marcella. It ap
peared that her mother had written to most of England, accusing Anne of infidelity, and naming Sloan a bastard. Her mighty
secret, confining her all those years with Brennan, was hardly a secret at all. How many knew? How different would things have been had Brennan actually learned the truth, as he had earlier claimed, and confronted her before the tryst that got her Gage? Had she not been full of Dylan
’
s child, she never would have wed Clifton. Had she only known how early Marcella loosed her tongue. How many wondered? How many believed they knew? If there had been whisperings in Ayliffe, Jane would have dutifully reported them. Anne almost laughed, for in the end her mother had proved smarter. From the grave, Marcella could still do damage to her.

The noise in the hall below began to quiet. The candle burned low. Anne found the treasured letter, carefully wrapped, that had been written to Lord Gifford from Lord deFrayne. She carefully placed it aside to save: the letter that began their feud. She found several letters from her father to her mother, but one that caught her attention was not addressed to Marcella. Tears came to her eyes. The letter was dated January 12, 1435, ten years before Anne was even born. Though Daphne deFrayne was already married and a mother, Ferris tried to explain his own marriage, and his admission of unfaltering love. He wished his love well, he hoped she would find contentment. He hoped he would. She could only wonder why her mother had it. Ferris must have thought better of sending it, or Marcella had some
how intercepted it.

Over the years this attraction and collision between various deFraynes and Giffords had grown and waned, only to arise again and again. Did Daphne know of Ferris
’
s undying love? Did she know how he suffered in his marriage to Marcella? Had Daphne likewise suffered in her wedded ties? Was it really only Lord deFrayne and Marcella who kept the feud alive because of jealousy?

And now, of course, Clifton had taken up the hatred. He had no real quarrel with Dylan. Even when she was pregnant with Dylan
’
s child, Clifton had been aware of her circumstances. All he had demanded was loyalty, and she had not tested that oath once, not with so much as a glance But as her sons grew
tall and strong, Clifton had become more and more jealous that they were not of his loins. He often raged, accusing Anne of wanting Dylan still. When he learned that she had spent a few days at Heathwick with Dylan in residence, he would never believe she had been faithful. He would very likely beat her senseless regardless of her actions.

She dressed herself for bed and, taking only a candle, ventured down the cool, unlit gallery. The celebrating below was barely surviving the effects of drink and night. She did not knock, but slowly pushed the door open. Dylan leaned against the wall beside the hearth, staring into the flames, and then he slowly turned to look at her.

“
Your nephew is settled with his bride,
”
she said, her voice trembling.

Dylan stood straight, his eyes roving over her.
“
Two years ago he thought of nothing but wenching. I warned him some vixen would make him sing the vows from his aching heart.
”
He smiled at her.
“
Would that I could sing them. Someday, then.
”

She dropped her gaze.
“
Did you know I would come?
”
she asked in a whisper.

“
Some things, it seems, are more powerful than we are.
”
She looked up into his smiling eyes and slowly entered the room, closing the door behind her.
“
Come, my Anne,
”
he said, opening his arms.
“
Let me love you again.
”

They were not the same people they had once been,
Anne reminded herself. The bodies that strained together now were older, not the young, well-muscled, firm bodies of their youth. Even their fears were tempered after having survived so many secret meetings. There seemed no hurry, they had lingered at the doorway of danger so many times before. But when Dylan
’
s hand touched her flesh, she became alive in the same way. Passion was not only for the very young. Passion could endure.

Here, in Dylan
’
s arms, she could even afford to think of the good years she had had. All things considered, she had been fortunate. Three children were born healthy and strong, smart
and determined. Dylan, who had always been taken away from her at the worst possible times, had always returned. She had never really forgotten, never was able to truly convince herself that he would take her advice and forget their love. The time was too precious for sleep. She curled up close to him, her head on his shoulder, her leg resting over his.

“
I will be a grandmother within a year. An old woman
--
”

“
Hah,
”
he said in a breath, brushing her back down to her buttocks in one long, slow caress.
“
Your body is as
I
remember it –
no older by a day.
”

“
Even though I worried about the consequences,
I
did as you instructed. In the late nights, if I felt afraid and alone, I re
membered that you would always love me. It gave me comfort.
”

“
As did I, my Anne.
”

“
But I sent you away with a denial.
”

“
Aye. How else could you survive? I knew, just the same.
”

“
And never doubted? Never?
”

“
Sometimes I feared that our time would never come. But doubt you? Nay. How could I?
”

“
Oh Dylan, the barriers only become larger. Once it was our parents
--
now it is our children. And Clifton
--
he will be an adversary to remember.
”

“
Don
’
t go back to him,
”
he urged.

“
Abandon my sons? Nay, my love, that I will never do. Even this will pass.
”

“
I will wait, in that case.
”

“
You may be a very old man before ...
”

“
Hush,
”
he cautioned.
“
With you in my arms, I am forever young. There are troubles enough to keep us talking through the night, but my mind is turned to other things.
”

“
I feel no older than in the cask room,
”
she murmured.

“
Nor I. But once I was driven by lust, and now, though my desire does not wane, I long for the comfort of the true substance of love. I would have long hours of quiet with you, walks along a country road, perhaps, with no troubles to discuss, no plans to hatch. My Anne, I love you as never before. Each year that we are apart it grows stronger, deeper. Do you lament your lost
youth? Not I. Tis better, what we have now. Though we never had our day, never had the sanctity of marriage and public affection that we longed for, we have had each other just the same, and all I ever wished was to grow old with you. I was with you before and after our children. I was given the gift of watching you grow round with Deirdre, and though she was not mine, I felt more a part of you then than at any other time. And even now, while our youngsters test the boundless joys of love
’
s pleasures, I suspect our own passion rivals theirs. Aye, my love, my Anne, little has changed. I am still your slave. I would die for your love. And ... I will wait for you. Forever.
”

She turned her head slightly and kissed his lips lightly. The kiss grew deep and his hands moved again. He covered her body with kisses, stroked her thighs, her hips, pulled her hard against him and moved into her again. Just as the first time with Dylan, this felt natural and right. Their bodies together were like a rhythmic song, never a note out of tune.

Anne did not question it any longer. There was something eternal that happened between a man and a woman when there was deep love, when it was right. Dylan touched her just as she was meant to be touched, making her body rejoic
e. And it was the same for him –
her touch caused him an agony of pleasure. Whether their mood was desperate and clutching, or easy and slow, the rapture was incomparable.

What can be done?
she asked herself, relaxed again in the aftermath of love.
How will my sons love me, an adulteress? How will my daughter accept me? How do we finally make right a love that was forbidden from the beginning?
The answer kept coming back
--
it has endured through so much, it cannot be wrong.

“
Dylan, do I shame my children with my sins, or do I cause them more pain in attempting to live in such deceit? Should they be protected from the slander that will surely come? Or, should they know their father? Sloan is grown now,
”
she whis
pered.

“
Aye.
A good man –
it makes me proud just to see him from a distance. You did well with him, Anne. Thank you.
”

“
The choice
of futures is his, Dylan. I can
not mother him any longer.
”

He squeezed her closer.
“
Deirdre is married now,
”
he said.
“
And Sir Clifton is no longer a good teacher for Gage.
”

“
It will be difficult, Dylan,
”
she said, her voice soft and almost distant.

“
It has never been easy, my love. Tell me what you want.
”
“
Come for him. Quickly and secretly. As soon as possible.
”

Chapter Nineteen

Anne
, with Jane and the small e
scort troop, finally returned
to Ayliffe in the fall when the crops were in and the animals were being stabled. King Edward had been dead only six months, but for England and the countryside it had been a confusing time. Her people seemed glad enough to see her finally return, but their questions were all about Richard, how he had become King, and what had become of the princes. She fended off the questions as well as she could, making no real commitment for herself, but stressed that Sir Clifton had won a barony for himself and was hard for Richard
’
s cause. Many eyebrows were raised above surprised mouths. She thought perhaps she had been wrong to call her best and most loyal people simpleminded. She wondered if they had long ago known Clifton
’
s true colors.

Word came from Clifton that Richard had put down Buck
ingham
’
s rebellion swiftly with the help of his supporters, and Buckingham and others were executed. Anne felt her heart lurch, but there was no mention of Dylan or Trenton as a part of that conspiracy against the king. Another messenger came, Clifton was staying at Westminster for Christmas. He did not wish to look after a family now. He was busy with his king. Anne
breathed a sigh of relief. The longer Clifton was absent, the better for her.

Christmas was a lavish affair at Westminster, and word of it was brought to Ayliffe by traveling merchants, always the best route for news. It was said that Richard was enjoying the pomp and expensive possessions that had belonged to his brother. Despite the poor weather and the bad conditions of the roads, Richard continued his progress through England in January. Clifton
’
s messengers with his word were frequent, and rested horsemen, archers, and knights were sent to replenish him at his command. There was no word of Dylan, and on a warm April morning in 1484 Clifton finally returned to Ayliffe. He returned in a high temper. He felt betrayal deeply.

“
Where is she? What have you done with her?
”

Anne was seated in the common hall on a large stuffed settle. There were only a few servants in the room, and only two knights of Ayliffe were present with their squires. At the sound of his booming voice uncertain frowns crossed the faces of those present and brought more of the curious to the doorways and stairs.

Clifton was travel-weary, dirty, and, Anne suspected, drunk. He looked unwell and had gained a great deal of weight over the winter. His tunic was stretched to its limits and he wore no armor. He displayed the badges of Ayliffe and the boar for Richard on his broad chest.

“
Who, my lord?
”

“
‘
Who, my lord?
’
”
he mimicked.
“
Your daughter, madam! Deirdre!
”

“
Countess Heathwick,
”
she confirmed.
“
I took her to her dower demesne, my lord. With Edward dead and Elizabeth in sanc
tuary, there was no purpose in leaving her alone at Westminster.
”

He approached her in a few quick, long strides and slapped her so hard across the face that she tumbled from the settle, her lip cut and her face instantly beginning to swell. Gage was halfway down the stairs and stopped in a state of shock. He had been the recipient of such a blow a few times, but he had never before seen his mother so abused. The two knights who
previously might have left the room stood, but did not interfere.

“
You
’
ve wed her to deFrayne,
”
he thundered.
“
Against my wishes!
”

Anne looked up at his towering form, gingerly touching the bruise on her cheek. She knew she stood on trembling ground on this issue.
Some decisions were her right –
some were not. She could gainsay Clifton in the marriages of her two eldest children, and the management of the Ayliffe estates, but in her position as his wife, the mother of the son he claimed, she was the subordinate.
“
She is my daughter, milord,
”
she said quietly.
“
It was my obligation to see her wed where the queen willed it.
”

“
The queen is Anne Neville, Queen Anne.
”

“
Deirdre was wed secretly, in London, before King Edward
’
s death. And yea, against your wishes, but with the sanction of the king and queen. There is a royal seal.
”

“
She has been married for a year?
”
he asked, stunned.

“
Aye,
”
Anne returned skillfully.

“
You lie,
”
he screamed, jerking her to her feet and giving her a violent shake that she thought might break all her bones.
“
You played me false! I forbade you to wed her to a deFrayne! Do you expect me to believe you hid a marriage that took place in London? That you lied to me, all these many months?
”

This time the me
n in the room were not so slow –
both of them rushed toward Clifton, pulling him back from his attack. Gage came running the rest of the way down the stairs, but as he ran to his mother, his frightened eyes were focused warily on Clifton.

Gage, at the age of thirteen, was a large boy and equal in height to his mother, and he helped her to sit again on the settle. Clifton
’
s face was twiste
d with his impotent rage –
he was held most securely from behind. It brought to mind another time, long ago, when Clifton held a man who would attack her. Tears of pain and regret came to her eyes.

“
I meant you no disrespect, my lord, but I had no choice. I could not tell you the truth sooner for fear you would interfere.
I meant only to settle my daughter. It is a good match, one Lord Forbes would have approved.
”

“
Hah! The very notion makes me laugh! Forbes, approving a deFrayne!
”

“
By his own lips, Clifton. I swear.
”

“
Unhand me,
”
he ground out to the guards.

“
You do not strike the Lady Anne, milord?
”

“
I am her husband,
”
he said in a threatening tone.

Anne bolstered herself.
“
Clifton, use caution, I beg you. Do not abuse this dominion you have over me, for all our sakes.
”
And then in a quieter voice she added,
“
Let my husband loose.
”

“
Dominion?
”
he laughed cruelly, shaking off the men
’
s slack
ened grips.
“
Not yet, but soon.
”
He shook himself free of the guards and took a step backward, showing that he would not strike her again. Still, the guards did not leave.

“
He told me to use patience,
”
Clifton babbled.
“
After all I have done, he told me not to be greedy, but to be patient! You knew I wished for Deirdre
’
s marriage to put me closer to the king
’
s generous hand. Richard
’
s son is dead, did you know it? Edward of Middleham, dead as a youth. An heir for an heir!
”
He began to laugh cruelly.

Anne
’
s heart was in her throat. Richard
’
s son, dead? An heir for an heir? Did Clifton admit that the princes were dead? He had done some dreadful errand for Richard, had he killed chil
dren to secure the crown?

“
Clifton, what do you say?
”

“
He promised me I would have Ayliffe one day, but he delays. He prompted Parliament to pass new laws of property. Property cannot be transferred while prisoners await trial. Now, I am to wait. I gave him Brainard!
”

Anne rose in spite of herself.
“
What?
”
she asked, confused, stunned.

“
The rebellion is put down. Richard is king, Richard will be king. We marched from Devon to London. We put down the rebels, capturing, killing, and sending them fleeing. Ha! Your daughter
’
s husband, his uncle
--
deFraynes unwisely chose the
wrong side. They are gone, madam. Expect no support from that quarter.
”

Gone? Her mind asked the question, but her voice did not dare. Gone where? To flight? To death? Poor Deirdre. She could not even have her mother
’
s consolation now.

“
We took Brainard from his old Welsh Ramsford and liberated the keep for the king
’
s men –
Buckingham was killed, but Brainard is in the Tower. Alive. He could have been so easily killed, I should have killed him when I had the chance.
”

Anne did not see but sensed the men who stood behind her looking at each other. Many remembered the days when Bren
nan ruled Ayliffe wi
th Anne faithfully at his side –
th
ey remem
bered Brainard. Anne
’
s rule was not hard to abide when Brennan was gone and Brainard was sent away, and they were faithful to their lady. With Clifton, the people had continued to thrive through the peaceful years of Edward
’
s reign. But Clifton had lately outdone even Brainard in his cruelty. The men of Ayliffe, bidden to protect the magnificent castle and towns, would not know whether they would do better by having Brainard or Clif
ton.

Her instincts told her not to discuss political matters with him, especially finding him in this enraged and unkempt manner, but she foolishly sought answers. While Clifton paced back and forth like a caged beast, Anne questioned him.
“
Did the king tell you why he chose to preserve Brainard
’
s life? Was Brainard bidden to the rebellion, or was it only Ramsford keep that Richard wanted?
”

“
He uses my strong arm to possess the crown, to hold it against usurpers, with promises of great rewards, and all he gives me is Wressel. The Ayliffe heir was in hand and could have been finished; there is no need for him to live. How can
I
have Ayliffe if he lives? And Richard has promised me. He promised me!
”

Anne almost breathed a sigh of relief.
So Brainard was still the heir –
Richard had not yet given Clifton his coveted title.

“
Brainard has not bothered us for many years. He has been quiet at Ramsford,
”
she said softly.

“
He betrayed me,
”
Clifton said, and she knew that he spoke of Richard, his king.
“
And even you betray me. You swore your loyalty to me, but the first time ever that I denied you something, you defied me and went your own way. Does everyone betray me?
”
He stepped closer to Anne, Gage still sitting on the settle, partly behind his mother
’
s skirts, which earned him even more scorn.
“
Do you call yourself a man, you sniveling baby, hiding behind your mother?
”

“
Leave the boy alone, Clifton. You confuse and frighten us all with this anger. Brainard
’
s capture was none of our doing.
”

He whirled away, running a hand through his overlong hair. Anne wondered about his presence when he was with the king. Did he allow himself to become fat and dirty even with Richard, or was this only the effect of the hard ride, the long campaign?

“
No one here means to betray you, milord,
”
she said to his back. She watched anxiously as he drew himself a full cup of wine and slugged most of it down too quickly, dribbles running down over his chin. He closed his eyes briefly, as if the brew calmed him. Then he smiled, and his eyes shone with mischief.

“
You delivered Deirdre to Heathwick?
”
he asked. She slowly nodded.
“
To accept her property?
”

“
And to join the husband she had been denied.
”