A Woman of Passion

by Virginia Henley

  He reached out and took firm hold of her hands, forcing her to stop pacing. He spoke quietly. “Women will always gossip about you, Bess, because they are jealous of your beauty and envious of your sexual attraction.” He slanted a dark brow. “Do you really care what people think or say about you?”

  “I don't care what they say, so long as it's true! I am no plaster saint! I freely admit to being ambitious. But what nobody seems to realize, including you, is that I am more ambitious for my children than I am for myself! Don't you think I would love to be Countess of Shrewsbury and lord it over everyone?”

  “Then marry me, for Christ's sake!”

  “No, Shrew, I'm returning to Court,” she said quietly.

  “I forbid it!” He jumped up, grabbed her by the shoulders, and shook her like a rag doll. “I forbid it, do you hear me?” He was in a towering rage and determined to show her who was master. “At Court you attract men like bees to a honeypot! I let you escape me once; I'm not such a bloody fool as to let it happen again!”

  “Are these arrogant commands your way of saying that you love me, you black devil?”

  “Oh, Vixen, you know I love you—I adore you!” His arms enfolded her and held her tight against his heart. “If you'll marry me you can have your damned lawyers draw up any kind of a marriage settlement you want. If you're happy, I'm happy.”

  “I'm going to be the next Countess of Shrewsbury!” Bess made the announcement to her mother, Jane, and Marcella as if she didn't quite believe it.

  Her mother and Jane were absolutely speechless. Marcella looked at her with startled admiration. “What a clever girl you are, Bess. I told your mother when you were still a child that you would be our salvation, and my prophesy has always proven true.”

  “But Shrewsbury is the most powerful earl in the land,” her mother protested. “Are you certain his intentions are honorable?”

  Bess threw back her head and laughed. “I know the difference between a proposition and a proposal—I should, I've had more than my share of both!”

  “Bess!” her mother reproved. “You'll have to watch your tongue and your temper, or you'll lose him, mark my words.”

  “We are well-suited. 'Tis a match made in heaven!” Bess laughed as if she had just said the funniest thing in the world and hurried back up to the library to write her letter to her lawyers.

  The women looked at each other and shook their heads in disbelief. “Do you think it's true?” asked her mother doubtfully.

  Jane said, “It's quite possible. Bess isn't like other people; she's unique.”

  “But they are both so dominant and willful. Their strong personalities are so totally unsuited, they will clash every day of their married life.” Her mother shuddered. “What could possibly have attracted him?”

  Marcella pursed her lips. “It's the breasts—it's got to be the breasts. There is no other answer!”

  It was now impossible for Bess and Shrewsbury to see each other alone. There could be no flagrant behavior between the earl and the lady he intended to make the Countess of Shrewsbury. Though the upcoming marriage was not yet common knowledge, once their families, their lawyers, and their servants knew, there was no hope of keeping it secret.

  Bess gathered her sons and daughters together and gave them the momentous news that Lord Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, was going to be their stepfather. Her sons were aware of the great power and prestige of Shrewsbury, who had made it possible for William to be accepted at Cambridge. Her young daughters were more interested in the prospect of having three new sisters to play with.

  When Shrewsbury told his children he was going to marry Lady St. Loe, they were overjoyed. The older ones would have a confidante and a buffer against their autocratic father, and the younger ones would have a mother who not only laughed and played games but actually gathered them in her arms and sat them on her knee.

  At Bess's insistence Shrewsbury brought his family to visit at Chatsworth for a few days, and little Grace Talbot fell in love with the place. It was such a beautiful new house, in stark contrast to the massive and gloomy Sheffield Castle and the fortified Wingfield, where she had spent most of her life.

  Bess and Francis Talbot became allies when she promised to see that he and his bride would get their own wing at Sheffield once she was officially his stepmother. And when she saw that her eldest son, Henry Cavendish, and Gilbert Talbot were becoming fast friends, she promised to persuade Shrewsbury to allow them a grand tour of Europe, as the earl had had in his youth.

  Bess seemed undaunted at the prospect of doubling the size of her family and becoming mother of twelve, and to help Shrewsbury get used to the idea, she suggested they make a progress together that would include all her properties and all his. When Bess saw romantic Rufford Abbey, she was so enchanted that Shrewsbury knew he had found the place to take her for their honeymoon and began to make secret plans.

  In the meantime the Earl of Shrewsbury's attorneys met with Lady St. Loe's and began to thrash out a marriage settlement. His lawyers were appalled that he was willing to concede so much and argued against it. Hers were astonished that she was driving such a hard bargain, when any other woman in the realm would have taken him on any terms whatsoever. The negotiations between the lawyers went back and forth, dragging on for three weeks to a stalemate.

  The earl's impatience grew daily, until finally he declared he had had enough. He and Bess sat down together with their lawyers and dictated how the papers were to be drawn up for their signatures. Bess would be entitled to a wife's share of the vast Talbot wealth, which encompassed money, land, estates, lead and coal mines, ironworks, and a thriving wool market with overseas exports. And in a separate document she also was allowed to retain her Hardwick, Cavendish, and St. Loe landholdings and the income they brought in for her lifetime, to be passed in succession to any children she and the earl might produce together. The only exclusion was Chatsworth, and a legal paper was drawn up deeding her magnificent house to her eldest son and heir, Henry Cavendish. On top of everything else, Shrewsbury very generously agreed to give her other two sons, William and Charles, considerable lump sums of money when they became twenty-one.

  When all the legal documents were signed, sealed, and witnessed, Shrewsbury heaved a great sigh of relief and proceeded with the secret plans he was making for their wedding. He took Bess's family into his confidence, telling them his intent to carry her off and swearing them to secrecy so they wouldn't spoil the surprise.

  On a gloriously warm day in August, Shrewsbury arrived at Chatsworth with only a groom in attendance. “I want you to ride out with me today.”

  “Shrew, you know we cannot run off alone. Besides, I'm trying to pack all the things I'll need to take to Sheffield.”

  “I'd like your opinion on a piece of property.” He knew that nothing in the world was closer to her heart than land. “It will be perfectly proper; I have a groom with me, and you can bring Cecily along if you're worried about your damned reputation.”

  “All right,” she agreed with a radiant smile. There was a serious matter that Bess wished to discuss with him, and this might be the perfect opportunity. She had long harbored the ambition of betrothing a couple of her Cavendish children to Talbots but had never dared broach the subject, especially in light of all the concessions he had made in her marriage settlement.

  Her head told her to wait until they were securely married before she revealed her ambitions, in case he became incensed at her audacity. But her conscience nagged at her to be open and honest in her dealings with him, and she decided to speak of it today if she got the chance.

  When they rode into Nottinghamshire, Bess realized they were going in the direction of Rufford Abbey, on the edge of Sherwood Forest. “Is this property close to Rufford?”

  He heard the excitement in her voice. “Extremely close,” he admitted.

  “You black devil, if I'd known of such a property, I would have bought it for myself!”

  “Vixen, you are
going to have to stop thinking in terms of yours and mine. From now on it is ours.”

  “Do you truly mean that?”

  “I do,” he vowed solemnly. “What's mine is yours”— he slanted an amused brow at her—“though obviously what's yours you are determined to keep, you avaricious little jade.”

  Her laugh was sultry. She knew he was mad in love with her and ready to give her the moon and the stars. “Let's visit Rufford. I vow ’tis the most romantic place I've ever seen.”

  He pretended reluctance but gave in to her wishes and sent his groom and Cecily ahead to warn the servants of their impending arrival. When they came to the first stream, they let their horses drink, and Shrewsbury lifted her from her saddle and sat her before him between his thighs.

  She reveled in his great strength and lifted her mouth to his for the first kiss they had shared in weeks. She wondered if she dared make love on the forest floor and arrive at Rufford flushed and disheveled, with every Talbot servant guessing correctly what they had been up to.

  His arms encircled her, his hands captured her breasts, then he bent his head to whisper in her ear. “I have abducted you, beauty. We will share a bed tonight. I give you no choice in the matter.”

  Bess thrilled at his possessive tone and knew a protest would be useless. Once Shrewsbury made up his mind about something, it was impossible to dissuade him. And why would she do such a ridiculous thing anyway? It seemed they had waited a lifetime.

  He dismounted and lifted her down to him, and the two horses contentedly nibbled the lush green grass that sprang up against the cloistered walls of the ancient abbey. He took Bess's hand and led her beneath a stone arch into a small open courtyard, surrounded by a secluded covered walk. “I want us to exchange vows today, here in the abbey's chapel. I want it to be simple and private. Will you marry me, Bess?”

  She was taken by surprise. “You brought me here to get married today?” It is August 20, my fateful day, and the day I married Cavendish all those years ago. Her eyes sought Shrewsbury's, and suddenly, realization dawned on her. He knows.… He knows exactly what day it is. He is determined to lay the ghost of Rogue Cavendish to rest. The corners of her mouth went up. “Yes, I will marry you, yes,” she said quickly.

  At dawn this morning, when she'd first opened her eyes and realized it was her wedding anniversary with William, she had said her final farewell to the father of her children. She knew he would approve of this marriage that would elevate her to the highest ranks of the nobility, and not only because of the advantages it would provide for their Cavendish children. He would heartily approve of her finding a great love once again.

  When they entered the chapel hand in hand, a priest awaited them at the altar. Cecily and the groom, sitting in a side pew, were their only witnesses. Bess suddenly felt shy, as if she were becoming a bride for the first time. She looked up at the darkly handsome man at her side and felt tears flood her eyes. Lovingly, he raised her hand to his lips, then drew her down to kneel beside him while they pledged their vows.

  The priest solemnly charged Shrewsbury: “Wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, as long as you both shall live?”

  Shrewsbury squeezed her hand. “I will.”

  He has just vowed to be faithful to me for the rest of his life —and he means it! Her heart overflowed with love.

  Now the priest was charging her, adding two more questions: “Wilt though obey him and serve him?”

  “I will,” Bess promised. At least I'll try! She added the qualification silently.

  Shrewsbury let go of her right hand and took hold of her left. He removed the huge diamond and emerald ring from her finger and slipped on a wide gold band, set with matching stones. “With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee honor, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” He then slipped the priceless betrothal ring back onto her third finger.

  He has just made me the wealthiest woman in England, after the queen! Bess suddenly felt dizzy. She heard the priest pronounce them one flesh and knew that they were now man and wife. She felt her husband's arm slip about her and draw her into the vestry to sign the register, which lay open on a refectory table. As their witnesses joined them, the groom smiled down at her and handed her the quill. Bess hesitated, her mind going blank for a moment, then a radiant smile transformed her face and she signed with a flourish, Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury.

  The bridegroom added his signature to the chapel register, then he enfolded her in his arms. “May I kiss the bride?”

  Bess laughed up into his face. “I've never heard you ask before.” She lifted her lips and was amazed that he did not ravish her mouth. The kiss was perfect.

  When he lifted his mouth from hers, he murmured, “Bess, this is easily the happiest day of my life—I want it to be happy for you too. We are going to steal a whole week alone together.”

  “Oh, Shrew, I am happy—you've fulfilled all my dreams!”

  “Once, years ago, you asked me to give you a wedding ring; you asked me to give you my name, do you remember?”

  “I was being very wicked. You were married—I knew it was impossible.”

  “But you'll never know how much I longed to give you those things. Bess, you are my true sweetheart. I've never been in love before. You're the first … and the last.”

  She stood on her tiptoes to brush her lips against his. “I shall love you forever.”

  With arms entwined they made their way along the cloisters to the adjoining manor house, all built from the same beautiful old weathered stone. Bess sighed. “This place is so romantic.”

  He brushed his lips across her temple. “That's why I chose it for our honeymoon. I wish we had longer than a week.”

  She looked up at him, starry-eyed. “I am only just beginning to realize that you are a romantic at heart.”

  He swept her up into his arms and carried her into Rufford. It wasn't until he set her feet down on the ancient stones that she realized a score of servants had gathered in the hall to await their arrival. One by one the steward, housekeeper, cook, laundress, footmen, maids, gamekeepers, gardeners, grooms, and body servants either bowed or curtsied and said respectfully, “Welcome to Rufford, Countess.”

  Bess caught her breath. “How lovely of you to welcome me. I can see you were all in on the secret. It is the best surprise I've ever had.” Bess won their hearts immediately.

  Cecily came forward and curtsied. “Lady Talbot, all your things are upstairs, even your portable bathing tub.”

  “How on earth did you manage to spirit everything away without my knowledge?” Bess asked, utterly confounded.

  “It was simple enough,” Shrewsbury teased. “You were closeted with lawyers and couldn't see what was going on under your nose.” He dipped his head to whisper in her ear, “If you hurry, there will be lots of time for us to bathe before dinner.”

  Bess decided two could play a teasing game. She blushed and reached up to whisper back, “No, no, Shrew, if we bathe together, they'll all know!”

  He kept a straight face. “Nonsense. Talbot servants are trained to notice nothing of a salacious nature.”

  “That's a relief.”

  “That they are well-trained?”

  Her laugh was sultry. “No, that you intend to be salacious!”

  “I love you, Vixen.”

  “You'd better, you black devil!”

  Upstairs, he had chosen adjoining rooms for them so they would have extra space. Cecily had brought Bess so many clothes they took up an entire double wardrobe; then of course there was the huge bathing tub. Shrewsbury decided one of the chambers would be their bathing and dressing room, the other their bedchamber.

  One of his gifts lay across the bed. Bess saw it immediately and lifted it to her cheek to caress the delicate material. It was a white silk b
edgown, edged in white fox. On the breast was embroidered a gold coronet with her new initials above it: E.S.

  “Shrew, it's exquisite, but woefully impractical.”

  “What do you mean?” He knew she adored beautiful lingerie.

  “My lover is impatient—he'll tear it to tatters.”

  “Then leave it on the bed and we'll just look at it.”

  “Not a chance! Perhaps my husband has more patience than my lover?”

  “I doubt that, my beauty.”

  But miraculously, as he began to undress her, Bess found his hands amazingly gentle. He handled her as if she were precious and fragile as porcelain. When they were both naked he lifted her tenderly and carried her into the adjoining chamber, where the bathing tub of steaming water awaited them. He stepped in first to make sure it was not too hot, then gently scooped her up and eased them down into the water, with her in his lap.

  She rested her head against his shoulder and gazed up at him in wonder. He was so big and dark and dangerous-looking that gentleness was the last thing she expected from him.

  “Did I not just vow to cherish you?” he murmured, lifting her fiery hair from the nape of her neck and nuzzling it sweetly. He wrapped his arms about her, kissed the tip of her ear, then whispered all the things about her beauty that enchanted him. “The curve of your back is so sinuous, it makes me want to stroke you like a feline— stroke you until you purr. Your waist is so small, I can span it with my hands. One of my favorite things to do is splay my fingers out across your rib cage, like this, then slowly move them up beneath your breasts, like so. You have so many soft, silken places I like to touch, and the most exciting part is your eager, passionate response to everything I do to you, my beauty. You allow me to indulge all my fantasies. What man hasn't dreamed of bathing with his beloved? Holding you captive in my lap allows me to touch and caress all your most intimate, vulnerable places.”

  He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and his possessive hands stroked down her body until they captured her hips. He lifted her slightly so that his thick shaft lay in the cleft between her legs, then his fingers threaded through the red tendrils that covered her mons. He toyed with her lightly, arousing her, but taking great care not to bring her to climax.