Over past years the small chambers, once used only for storage, had proved useful for another reason. As the Lord Humphrey grew, he developed strange habits. When he was at his most difficult he could be locked away in comfort and kept calm until his moods passed, when he could again resume a normal life. And sometimes, when secrecy was the only diplomacy, Vymer used the same rooms, either alone or in company with his brother.
Now they were Alysson’s rooms. She was not permitted to leave them.
The first day after Vymer had left, she was left alone. There was time to think herself ragged, imagining everything that frightened her most. She slept in her clothes, fearing to undress. Then in the morning Jennine had come, and Alysson discovered that many of those fears were coming true after all.
Jennine said, “It’s amazing how patient I’ve been. But then of course, there was plenty of time to wait since I had no immediate use for you. Then you and that irritating boy Ludovic spoiled my plans, with all your silly delays and excuses. But I was still content. I decided to keep you around long enough to help me once I needed it.” She sighed, spreading her polished hands. “But then, my dear, you plotted to leave. How could I allow it? After all my patient preparations, and just when my real need was closing in. So – this! I had to make sure of you, and now you’re mine.”
“You’re mad.” Alysson had crept from the bedclothes once she heard the door unlocked, and sat now, crumpled and bemused, on the quilted cover.
“Very, very sane, my dear.” Jennine shook her head. “I know exactly what I’m doing, unlike this castle-full of idiot puzzlers with their muddles of chivalry and greed all mixed together with arrogance and useless pride.”
Alysson had been frightened of Vymer but she was not scared of Jennine. “You’ve locked me in here just because you can’t bear anyone to leave you? You can’t stand to be flouted? Is that sanity?”
Jennine had laughed. “How naive you are, stupid child.” She lounged over to the bed, tilting up Alysson’s chin, gazing into her eyes. “No, you’re not as beautiful as me, my dear. But you are quite remarkable, and your eyes are almost unique. You’re here simply to save my marriage - which means to save me.”
For two days Alysson had been brought good food, ale and wine. She had been brought rosewater for washing, a brush for her hair and goose grease to soften the workaday roughness of her servant’s hands. She had sat in furious and bitter silence, staring and waiting through the long dreary hours. But then, later the next evening, something wonderful happened, which she had least expected. She was brought company.
As the door unlocked, expecting attack or abuse, Alysson stood, her back to the wall, the empty ale jug gripped tight behind her back for a ready defence. But the door was pushed open and the boy Clovis had been thrust into the chamber. He had crumpled on the stone, bleeding from the nose and mouth. Alysson rushed immediately forward, flinging her arms around him and helping the child to the bed.
He had been beaten but was not badly hurt, and sat up with an angry glare. “Bin bashed afore,” he remarked, wiping nose and mouth on the turn of his cuff. “Don’t worry me none. But them bastards, they took me from behind, or I’d have shook them off right enuff. I were searching for you. Two days and not a whiff of you, well I knew summit were up. But they knew I were asking around and getting mighty suspicious, so they nobbled me. And here you is all along.”
“I am so – incredibly – pleased to see you.” Alysson sniffed, resisting the temptation to wipe her own eyes and nose on her sleeve. But neither understood what had really happened, nor why. There was no news yet from London, no return of the earl, and no explanation for the sudden imprisonment. There was only Vymer.
Clovis had seen Vymer before. “His lordship done told me months back,” Clovis insisted. “Said as how there were someone looked mighty like his daft brother Humphrey, but wasn’t. Most like one o’ the earl’s bastards from way back, Lord Ludo reckoned, kept secret and paid to keep that loony Humphrey quiet. An’ I found the bugger I did, soon after I got ‘ere. I’m a good spy and I knows my stuff. But wot the bastard wants us for now, you and me, now that I don’t rightly know at all.”
“Vymer attacked me before,” Alysson said, “though I didn’t know it was him until now. I thought it was Lord Humphrey. Perhaps that’s why I’m here, though I can’t see why Jenny’s just handed me over to him. And why are you locked up here as well?”
“Ter shut me up and keep their secrets safe I s’pose,” announced Clovis, “And if this bugger comes to get you, I’ll have his guts wrapped around his bloody neck I will, like them wrigglers on the gallows gets their bellies slit and their ‘testines pulled out afore they dies.”
Alysson frowned. “I think,” she said, “this man is a little too large and strong for that.”
“Reckon you don’t know how I was brung up,” Clovis shook his head. “Can handle meself, I can. Big buggers – well they fall harder, that’s all.”
“I imagine this one can handle himself too,” sighed Alysson. “But I won’t argue with you, and after all, Ludovic must have trusted you very highly to send you here on purpose. And I’m terribly grateful – really I am – for all your loyalty and courage – past and present. But I just wish,” she wiped her eyes with the corner of her apron, “that I understood what – and why – and could somehow manage to escape. If only Ludovic would come.”
“He might just do that, if we waits,” Clovis nodded vigorously. “Never give up heart, that’s wot I says. Lord Ludovic, now he’s a right enterprising gent he is, never known anovver like him. He’ll rescue both of us, you’ll see.”
Alysson and Clovis slept together like the brother and sister they had once pretended to be. But there was no need of protection. She had expected molestation, even rape, but day after day there was no change, merely Jennine’s page bringing food while Vymer stood guard, glowering from the shadows.
Unable to change her clothes or bathe properly, Alysson knew herself more of a slut than when Ludovic had first seen her, when life had been simple, and though miserable, less difficult than now. She was well fed, encouraged to soften her hands with ointments and comb rosewater through her hair, yet was given no chance to brush out her gown or change her linen. She could make sense of nothing.
Then finally the person she had least expected came to visit her.
The Countess of Sumerford swept into the small solar with a swish of damasks and her nose high. Jennine came close behind, then the page bearing a tray with wine. Her ladyship surveyed Alysson, who was curled on a chair in the watery sunshine, her eyes closed. Clovis was clearing out the garderobe. He poked his nose around the corner, glowered at the visitors, and retreated quickly back to his work.
Alysson opened her eyes. She did not scramble up to curtsey, nor hurriedly mumble her apologies as once she would have done. She stayed where she was and stared in angry silence.
The countess said, “I have never liked this girl. She is common and quite rude. But if you assure me that my son wants her, then I am prepared to comply. But why is she not clean? Someone should scrub her.”
“She will be, my lady, when the time comes.” Jennine sat opposite Alysson and sipped the wine she was handed. Wine was not offered to Alysson. “But she is for Vymer first, and I doubt he’ll notice one way or the other. Indeed, I think he likes them rough.”
The countess sighed, and sat very carefully on the edge of the settle beside Jennine. “He is certainly rough himself. As long as he doesn’t damage the girl irretrievably. My son should not be offered soiled goods. But I imagine you know your business best.”
“I do, my lady.” Jennine smiled. “It’s a business I’ve been in for many years, and earned my way to the top. And I understand your dearest son and heir very well too, and know exactly what he needs.”
“I chose well, when I chose you, my dear.” The countess finished her wine and demanded another. Her voice seemed already a little slurred and her cheeks were flushed. “Vymer proved his
usefulness as usual when he found you and brought you to me. I’ve been well satisfied with the bargain, though in the end you stand to gain far more of course. But Humphrey’s happiness shall be my most precious reward.”
The page Remi stepped forwards to fill her ladyship’s cup. As he stepped back again, Alysson noticed his small smirk, his bright blue eyes and his deep madder hair. Jennine said, “Humphrey’s happiness is equally important to me, my lady. And in a few weeks, when he is ready and demands her, this girl will ensure it.” She nodded towards Alysson. “In the meantime, since Ludovic did not oblige, I shall give her over to Vymer for training. He will not be such a refined tutor, but as Humphrey’s tastes are deteriorating somewhat, it will hardly matter. In fact, it may prove more fitting.”
The countess blanched slightly. “I’ve no wish to concern myself with such matters. That is what you were hired for, and I shan’t ask questions. Besides, dearest Ludovic might have been more of a disadvantage in many ways, since he became far too fond of the wench for my liking.” She looked suddenly and directly at Alysson. “And that would have been disastrous. But under the circumstances, it is no longer a problem.”
Alysson had kept quiet. Seething but intimidated, she had waited, hoping to understand. Now she sat forward. “My lady, have you news of him from London?”
The countess became pink. “Normally I would refuse to answer you,” she said, eyes cold. She had finished her third cup of wine. “But I have some compassion. So yes, I will tell you that I have received news.” She stood abruptly. She did not look at Alysson as she answered, but walked instead, rather unsteadily, to the door. She did not turn around. “My sons have been executed,” she said softly from the doorway. “The king has taken their lives. Ludovic is dead.”
The page opened the door for her, and when she left, he followed behind and the sound of the key turning echoed back. Jennine stayed. She sat, ankles crossed, hands clasped neatly in her lap, and smiled, watching Alysson. Alysson stared back. Her mind was utterly blank. The shock of the words was like sudden cold water and she could not think or speak.
Jennine nodded. “So now you know, my dear. And you also know my plans. I persistently encouraged you into your chivalrous hero’s arms for this reason alone. It should have proved a perfect training as a knight’s mistress. And once he discarded you and moved on to some other woman, you would have been left ruined, and ready to listen to your dear and trusted friend Jenny’s advice to save your reputation and keep hold of your newly discovered comforts.”
“He knew?” Alysson sat with her mouth open and her mind in a panic. She could only whisper, now more afraid than she had ever been before.
Jennine laughed. “Naturally. But he didn’t want to force you, and Humphrey was happy with me and didn’t need you yet. There was still time.”
“And now? Why this?” She found the words stuck in her throat.
“To stop you running off,” Jennine said. “You are to stay here and save me. For without this marriage, I’d be back in the brothel, or even back on the streets.” She tossed her head, frowning. “Not that I planned any of this from the start you know, and might never have thought of it until Ludovic brought you to me. He’s to be commended, for my husband approves of you, and now I know you’re the answer to what I need. Humphrey’s asked for you a few times already, but I’ve kept him too interested in me, and he’s still fairly tame to my call. Before I ever arrived here he was getting far too difficult and her ladyship had lost almost all control over him, which is why she sent Vymer looking for the perfect woman. Now the countess and I have made a good bargain, and I shall keep to my side. I’m no romantic, and I know if I fail, I’ll be discarded. But I’m getting older, and that damned child played havoc with my figure. For a woman with little else to my fortune except my looks and my experience, that’s a great risk. In a short time Humphrey will start to stray. And like all stray dogs, he’ll become dangerous. I shall need to keep him busy, and in check, which means something new to divert him, with special treats as bribes for bad days. While he had me every night, and the child to play with each day, it was easier and he stayed tame. But now the brat is dead and I’m aging, so he needs – a little more.”
“Are you really that – vile?” Alysson paused, horrified. “All that time, I honestly thought you were my friend. But Ludovic knowing – I don’t believe it. It can’t be true. It’s all a hideous, unbelievable nightmare.”
Jennine stood with a flounce, and stamped her foot. “Fool. Nightmares are real and all around us. How do you think the brats in London’s shitty alleys grow up? How do you think I grew up? In a nightmare, until I scratched my own way out of it. Do you think I enjoyed being a whore? Another nightmare, but at least I got rich. Rich enough to buy my own Stewe House, and employ others off the street. Your nightmare will be comfortable enough. You’ll be well fed. You’ll have nice clothes. You’ll never know the horrors I grew up with. You should be grateful.”
Alysson stared. “So what – exactly – will you do with me?”
“In a few weeks Vymer moves in here.” She loomed over Alysson, hands on her hips, glaring down. “Not yet, because if I let him have you too soon, he might ruin you. But a week or two before Humphrey needs you, Vymer will start your training. Then, when Vymer and I think you’re ready, I’ll get you cleaned up and plumped out, and pass you over to Humphrey. My dear husband has special needs as I’ve told you already. I won’t bother to explain them yet, but Vymer knows exactly what they are and he’ll teach you. I’ll continue your training afterwards, since Humphrey will probably need both of us by then. You’ll go on living up here, and Humphrey and Vymer will both stay here with you whenever Humphrey needs particular restraint. You’ll obey them both of course, but I shall be your main controller.”
“And Clovis?” Alysson whispered.
“He can stay locked up here while he makes himself useful.” Jennine turned to go. “But if he misbehaves, then Vymer will get rid of him. So you’d better warn the brat to keep quiet and do as he’s told.”
Alysson felt the tears slip noiselessly down her face. She tasted the salt. But she was quite unable to speak, her eyes stung and became blurred and she could not think clearly about anything at all. It was when Jennine left, that Alysson collapsed.
Clovis hurried to her, his own cheeks wet and his eyes bloodshot. He gathered her against him, rocking her is if she were a fractious infant. “I don’t believe it,” he muttered. “Lord Ludo ain’t dead. His lordship’ll come. I knows it.”
Alysson curled over, choking suddenly on her tears. “How can he? He’s dead, Clovis, executed by the king. Ludovic will never come – never again.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Clovis sat at her feet, his arms folded on her lap, and gazed up at her. “P’raps females is braver than I thought,” he conceded. “And you’re doing very good at it, being mighty brave that is, and I’s proud o’ you. But you gotta listen to wot I says now, or we’re lost, both of us.”
Alysson swallowed hard. “I know. We must rescue ourselves, because there’s no hope anymore of rescue – from him.”
Clovis was supposed to sleep on the pallet in the small outer chamber, but desperate for comfort, they curled together in the wide bed, like mother and son or brother and sister. Clovis frequently had night terrors, crying out often in his sleep. Alysson had not told him of this, nor of how she woke and wrapped the warmth of her arms around him when he sobbed. She did not want to wound or embarrass him with tales of how she comforted his fears. Her own dreams were terrible and sometimes she wondered if he did the same to her, and if for the same reasons, he never spoke of it.
Now he patted her knee. “So, listen proper now, for I’ve got it worked. It ain’t no good, wotever I’d like to think different, planning to knock off that bastard Vymer. But if your pissing nasty lady Jenny ever comes alone with just her sneaky little bugger of a page, well, we gotta be ready. We can grab ‘em, one each, and squeeze the bloody life out of them
both.”
“I will,” said Alysson sitting up straight. “I could easily strangle the vile treacherous creature, I know I could. And that horrid little boy is no patch on you.” She nodded. “I never thought of it before of course, but do you think he’s another – of them – you know?”
“Reckon so. Could be another of the earl’s side-slips. Or even that bugger Vymer’s own brat. Remi they calls him. Pig bastard, I calls him.”
“We’ll wait for the right moment, but it must be before Vymer moves in here,” said Alysson. “I couldn’t bear – really, really couldn’t bear that. I’d die, I’m sure of it, long before I gathered enough strength to retaliate.”
“Don’t you worry none,” Clovis assured her. “You don’t know wot I can do yet. Lord Ludo, he didn’t send me here for nuffing you know.”
“You’re very kind,” Alysson said softly. “But I wish you wouldn’t – talk about him yet. It still hurts – so very much. I shall get over it soon I promise. And then I’ll be as strong as you like, and we’ll beat our enemies together.” She looked away with a sigh. “But Jenny never comes without Vymer standing outside with the keys you know. And there’s no point us strangling Jenny and that horrid little child if the door’s locked against us, and Vymer waiting. Perhaps we should kill him first after all. I do at least have my own little knife for cutting my meat at dinnertime.”
Clovis grinned. “Knew you was a cockproud female all along,” he said. “I reckon we’ll make a grand pair, and when we’s free, I’ll take you to my ma in Browny. Her and the captain and me, we’ll look after you.”
There was little to do throughout the long days. Clovis, trained as a ship’s cabin boy and itching for action, was happy to clean and tidy, fussing over the creased linen on the bed and brushing down the hangings. Although also long trained as a servant, Alysson found nothing to do. She asked for paper and quill to teach Clovis numbers and letters, but was refused. She asked for a change of clothes and was also denied. Until, Jennine told her, she was ready and willing to obey orders when she would get clothes aplenty, she could receive no favours. Eventually, as the Lord Humphrey’s accepted mistress, she would be presented with fine materials, bed robes and blanchets of muslin and velvet, shifts of the finest linen, stockings and gowns of silk, and slippers of softest leather. In the meantime, she could satisfy herself with her broadcloth livery and keep it as clean as she might.
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