by Anne Herries
Chapter Eleven
‘You must wait here,’ Stefan said, a determined glint in his eyes as he saw the wild look on his wife’s face. ‘You have not been bidden to the hearing and you may not attend.’
‘I should be there,’ Anne said, her eyes blazing with passion. ‘It is unfair that I must remain here and have no say in what happens at your hearing.’
‘You know I would take you if it were possible,’ Stefan told her. ‘I cannot allow it, my love.’
‘But…’ Anne protested. She was silenced by a kiss that sent her senses swirling. ‘Stefan…’ She saw the anguish in his eyes and said no more. ‘Forgive me. This is as hard for you as it is for me.’
‘I would never leave your side again if it were my choice,’ he told her harshly. ‘The King commands and I must obey, Anne. Wait here and Andrew will come to tell you what has happened if I cannot.’ A cry reached her lips but did not leave them—she could not bear to think that he might be returned to the Tower or worse.
Her heart felt as if a giant hand had squeezed it, but she stood back and allowed him to leave her. To make a scene would cause him pain and avail her nothing. She must wait in patience, hard as that might be.
‘I am sorry that you have been summoned here when you should have been with Anne,’ Andrew said as they waited in the antechamber. ‘I pleaded your case with Henry but he was adamant that you should put your case yourself.’
‘You have done all you could, Gifford,’ Stefan said, ‘and I am grateful for it. All I ask is that, if the worst happens, you will make sure that Anne is safe. She has some idea of sharing my imprisonment, and I know she would do it—but it cannot be allowed to make such a sacrifice.’
‘She would do it, too,’ Andrew said. ‘Anne has courage and she is stubborn—very like her father. However, I shall make sure she returns home to wait for you there should Henry see fit to punish you with another sojourn in the Tower, though I hope he will not.’ He turned his head as a page came to the door to summon them. ‘It is time, my friend. Be of good heart. Henry Tudor is a harsh man, but fair.’
Anne could not rest in the house. After wandering about like a lost soul for what seemed like hours, she donned her cloak and went out to the garden. She walked to the river’s edge, standing in contemplation of the dark waters. If Stefan were lost to her, she thought that she would prefer to cast herself into the river rather than live on in a world that was empty because it did not contain him.
She stayed in the garden for almost an hour, and then, driven by the cold, went in to sit by the fire, but she was too restless to work at her sewing or read from her Bible, though it might have given comfort to a less rebellious soul. Anne was ready to rage against the world and God, for it was cruel to give so much and then take it away almost as soon as it was given.
The day had gone and it was growing dusk when at last she heard the sound of voices. Jumping to her feet, she rushed into the hall, tears springing to her eyes as she saw both Andrew and Stefan.
‘Oh, thank God!’ she cried. ‘I have been so afraid…’
She rushed at Stefan. He caught her in his arms, laughing down at her, his eyes filled with such love and pride that her heart leapt for joy.
‘I should have sent word,’ he said. ‘Forgive me, my love, but the King kept me with him the whole day and I have not had a moment to call my own.’
‘Well, Anne, you have your husband back,’ Andrew said and grinned, looking very pleased with himself. ‘I shall leave you to tell her your news, Stefan. Catherine will be waiting for me and I shall return to Melford with the glad tidings. Then we shall go home.’
‘Goodbye,’ Anne cried. ‘I forgot my manners, Andrew. Thank you so much for all you have done for us.’
‘I did very little,’ Andrew said. ‘It appears your husband hath done the King a service…but he will tell you himself.’
Anne looked at Stefan as the Earl left. He smiled, took her hand and led her into the chamber where a fire had been lit to drive away the chill of a November evening.
‘It seems that I have rid Henry of an enemy,’ Stefan said as he drew her near to the fire. He stood gazing down at her face. ‘At least, you were the reason he was dealt with—by Andrew’s men, as it happens. However, since I was the first on the scene, his Majesty chose to reward me. I have been made Earl Montifiori, and Henry’s ambassador to France, if I choose to take the honour. Do not look alarmed, for it is a post I declined. However, I have agreed that I will take a message to his brother monarch in France.’
‘I do not understand.’ Anne was bewildered. ‘Are you saying that Comte De Vere was an enemy of the King?’
‘Henry believes that he came to court to spy for Spain. His Majesty was not deceived, for he had his suspicions some time ago. England has many enemies, though some disguise themselves as friends. He was not sure whether I might also be involved in the plot, but apparently the fact that he was willing to kill me has convinced Henry that I was blameless. I am free to return home when I choose…and my father’s estate is mine to do with as I please.’
‘Oh, Stefan…’ Anne’s face lit up. ‘That is so wonderful. I spent the day thinking the worst and now…’ She fell silent as he bent his head and kissed her. ‘We are so lucky…so very fortunate.’
‘I am fortunate to have found you,’ Stefan told her. He smiled, touching her cheek with the tips of her fingers. ‘So, my love, do we stay here or do we go to Normandy?’
‘We go home,’ Anne told him. ‘We shall visit your home here when you wish, but I would choose to live at the chateau, because it is where we first fell in love.’
‘So romantic,’ Stefan said and laughed huskily. ‘It is my choice, too. I have asked Fritz if he will be my steward and live in my father’s house as the master, caring for the house and lands as if they were his own. For that he will receive one half of all the rents and tithes. The house will be there if we wish to visit and as an inheritance for one of our children one day.’
‘Yes, that is a good solution,’ Anne said. She smiled at him. ‘So, my lord—when do we go home?’
Anne had been busy all day, supervising the unpacking of the trunks that had come with her from England. There were many wedding presents, which would add to the store of treasures the chateau already possessed. In the past few days since their return from England, she had gradually brought out many of the fine artefacts that Stefan had collected over the years, arranging them in an eclectic mix that gave the house a charm and mystery all its own.
The house had become a home, warm and comfortable, scented with the perfume of flowers and exotic spices that added to the atmosphere. They had not yet held a banquet to celebrate their wedding with friends, but Stefan had issued invitations for a few days’ time and she was looking forward to meeting the friends she had met when she had stayed here before, but this time as Stefan’s much loved wife.
She had wondered what kind of reception the French King would give them when they visited the court, but they had been welcomed and received warmly. It seemed that King Louis had also known that De Vere was a traitor both to France and England, for his loyalty lay with Spain. As he died without issue, his estate was forfeit to his king, and therefore Louis had no reason to regret his passing. His lands and house would be sold or given to one of the King’s favourites, and they would have a new neighbour.
Anne looked about her, feeling pleased with the atmosphere that now prevailed in her home. It was ready for visitors, and her brother Harry and his wife would be amongst the first when they visited Claire’s father at Christmastide. However, Catherine and Andrew had also promised to visit, and Anne’s mother might be persuaded to make the journey in the New Year.
Her heart quickened with joy as she heard footsteps and then her husband walked in, accompanied by Hassan. They were laughing together, at ease and happy in each other’s company. Stefan saw her, his face lighting up as he came to greet her. She went to meet him, lifting her face for his kiss.
; ‘You are home,’ she said and smiled. Love flowed from her, wrapping about him like a warm, scented cloud of silk.
‘Yes, I am home, my love.’ His eyes were as blue as the summer sky and reflected their love for one another. ‘For wherever you are is my home.’
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
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First published in Great Britain 2011
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Anne Herries 2008
ISBN: 978-1-408-92320-7