Grasso, Patricia

by Love in a Mist

  How humiliated she would be if Morgana hurled insults at her in the presence of the earl, Keely thought. Though it could be for the best. The earl needed to learn what marriage to a bastard meant. He'd either break their betrothal or arm himself against the gossip that would assuredly follow her through life.

  Thinking of Richard reminded Keely that Baron Smythe would also be a supper guest that evening. Though she disliked the baron, she'd set her revulsion aside for the earl's sake. She started to worry her bottom lip with her teeth but stopped when a pinch of pain shot from her swollen lip up the side of her face.

  Keely gave herself a mental shake and rubbed the palm of her hand across an imaginary wrinkle on the skirt of her gown. To forever hide from her sister's hatred would be impossible. She lifted her chin a notch, squared her shoulders, and left her chamber.

  "Hello, beauty."

  With his arms folded across his chest, Richard leaned against the wall in the foyer. His emerald-eyed gaze swept over her petite form and gleamed with an emotion Keely failed to recognize.

  "What are you doing?" she asked, surprised to see him loitering there.

  "Waiting for you, of course."

  Keely cast him a pleased smile. " 'Twas unnecessary. I know the way to the hall."

  Richard raised his copper brows at her and said solemnly, "Brave knights always protect their ladies from dragons. I thought you would want me by your side when we enter her company."

  "How gallant of you," Keely replied, warmed by his thoughtfulness. "How could you know what my feelings would be?"

  "My heart is attuned to yours, dearest."

  "My lord, you do possess the most outrageous tongue."

  Richard gave her a wolfish grin. "After we're wed, I'll show you how truly outrageous my tongue can be."

  Keely blushed. She had no idea what he meant, but her short experience with the earl had shown her that his words usually had secret meanings.

  "You do blush prettily," Richard said, and planted a kiss on her flushed cheek.

  Instead of escorting her into the hall, Richard led Keely to a small family dining chamber, where the others awaited them. Seated at each end of the table were Duke Robert and Lady Dawn. Morgana and Willis Smythe were already seated on one side while Henry sat on the other. Beside him two places were set for them. Keely sat down between Richard and her brother.

  "Latecomers get no supper," Morgana announced. "They must wait until the next meal."

  "I'll decide who eats and who doesn't," Duke Robert said sharply.

  Steeling herself against her fears, Keely smiled as warmly as she could at the baron. "Seeing you again is a pleasure, sir."

  "Willis," he corrected, returning her smile. "You've injured your lip?"

  Keely nodded. "I fell."

  On either side of her, Richard and Henry cleared their throats to indicate their disapproval. Morgana's blue-eyed gaze shot daggers at them. For her part, Keely gave her full attention to her meal.

  A medley of appetizing dishes were laid out on the table in front of her. Cabbage chowder was the first course, followed by roasted chicken with rice and almonds. Braised spring greens and golden leeks with onions accompanied the chicken.

  "You look lovely in your new gown," Duke Robert complimented Keely.

  "Like a tiny gray pigeon," Morgana added with a malicious smile.

  "Or a pretty mourning dove," Richard said smoothly.

  Henry cleared his throat, and when he caught Keely's eye, he winked at her and said in a loud voice, "Lady Dawn, I would know all about the wedding preparations."

  " 'Twill be the wedding of the decade," the countess replied, ignoring the duke's warning frown. "Just think, Henry. Our darling Keely will be wed to England's premier earl, one of the queen's favorites, amid the splendor of Hampton Court."

  "Elizabeth plans to make this a grand affair," Richard added, taking his cue from the countess.

  "And I am honored to serve as your best man," Willis said, raising his wine goblet in a salute to his friend.

  "Is the queen paying for it?" Morgana asked.

  "The bride's father assumes the expenses," Duke Robert answered. "You know that."

  "Such fuss and bother for a bastard?" the blond beauty sniffed as if offended at the waste.

  "Morgana." Duke Robert's voice held a note of warning.

  Keely crimsoned but sat proudly erect in her chair. Though her sister's cruelty angered her, Keely refused to respond to it and thereby ruin the meal for the others. Besides, how did one refute the truth? She was, in fact, a bastard. Refusing to look at anyone, she kept her eyes downcast and folded her hands in her lap.

  Both Richard and Henry reached over to give her hand an encouraging squeeze, but they caught each other's instead. Seeing their hands entwined across her lap, Keely giggled and placed her two hands on the table. Realizing their mistake, the man and the boy snatched their hands back.

  "I hope I'm allowed to attend," Henry said to his father. "Keely needs someone to watch over her cousins."

  Richard snapped his head around to stare at Keely. That she expected the two thieving giants to attend his wedding surprised him. In fact, the thought of those bumbling blockheads mingling at court filled him with dread.

  Catching the earl's reaction, Morgana asked, "You actually intend to present those louts at court?"

  "Odo and Hew are family," Keely told her. "Of course they will see me married." She looked at the earl for confirmation. "Won't they?"

  "I never intended otherwise, dearest," Richard assured her, recovering himself. "May, June, and Henry will guard—I mean, keep them company."

  "May and June?" Willis asked.

  "Richard hired two cousins to serve as Keely's tiringwomen," Lady Dawn told him.

  "Why does she need two?" Morgana whined, jealous. "One will suffice."

  "Dear Richard is twice as wealthy as any other Englishman, so Keely requires twice as many women," Lady Dawn answered, confident in her nonsensical logic. "Have you seen her betrothal ring?"

  Keely instantly hid her left hand on her lap. Annoying her sister made no sense.

  "Let's see," Henry said, yanking her hand high into the air for all to see. With great exaggeration, the boy inspected it, saying, "Diamonds, emeralds—"

  "Papa," Morgana interrupted, enraged by her brother's baiting, "did you know that Henry's been frittering Ludlow's maids?"

  Richard and Willis burst out laughing. The Countess of Cheshire chuckled throatily. Keely bit her lip to keep from laughing, then regretted doing so when she felt the pain. Only Duke Robert appeared unamused.

  " 'Tis an unfit topic for the table," the duke informed his daughter. Turning to his son, he added, "We'll discuss this later."

  "Now, Tally," the countess drawled, coming to the boy's defense. " 'Tis natural for boys to—"

  "Chessy, the last thing I need is a castle filled with my son's b—" Duke Robert broke off. As far as the world knew, his own bastard sat at the table with them.

  Morgana broke the uncomfortable silence that followed. "What made you decide to marry our dear, lamentably illegitimate sister?" she asked the earl.

  "Devereux wanted her so badly," Henry blurted, "he tricked her into a compromising situation."

  "How difficult could that have been?" Morgana sneered. "She probably inherited her mother's wanton habits."

  As the duke reached out to slap his daughter, Keely leaped out of her chair so quickly, it toppled over. Glorious in her fury, she placed the palms of her hands on the table and glared with murderous intent at her sister.

  "Heed my words," Keely warned the other girl. "I can and will bear the insults you heap at my feet, but speaking ill of my mother is quite another matter. Megan was the gentlest woman who ever walked upon this earth and would forgive whatever you said; however, Englishness taints my blood, and I am decidedly less forgiving than she. If you even whisper her name, 'twill be your final earthly act, for I will kill you. Understand?"

  Shocked, Morgana c
ould only stare at her.

  "Answer my question," Keely shouted. "Do you understand?"

  "Y-y-yes," the blonde stammered, bobbing her head up and down.

  "Your continued good health depends upon your remembering that," Keely threatened. Then with her head held high, she quit the chamber.

  Richard saw the tears that welled in Keely's eyes as she turned to leave the chamber. "Bloody hell," he muttered and went after her.

  Slowly and deliberately, Duke Robert rose from his chair. His gaze never wavered from Morgana's as he walked around the table. Grasping her upper arm, the duke yanked her out of the chair and dragged her out of the chamber.

  "More leeks, baron?" Lady Dawn asked with a feline smile.

  His lips quirked. "No, thank you, my lady."

  "Tell me, darling," she said, her gaze sliding to the younger Talbot. "However did you become interested in flittering maids?"

  Henry choked on his wine....

  Richard caught up with Keely in the foyer as she was about to run up the stairs. He reached out and grabbed her upper arm to prevent her flight.

  "Leave me a—" Keely broke off when she saw who it was.

  Richard flicked a meaningful glance at the curious servants, who understood his unspoken command and dispersed. "You mustn't let Morgana upset you. Spitefulness rules her tongue," he said once they were alone.

  "The other courtiers will assume a similar attitude,"

  Keely told him, her violet eyes glistening with unshed tears. She started to slip the betrothal ring off her finger.

  "Don't you dare!" Richard ordered, staying her hand.

  "Marrying me is a terrible mistake," she said.

  "I'll be the judge of that." Richard drew her into the protective circle of his embrace and traced a finger down the side of her silken cheek. "You're merely upset with Morgana at the moment, and 'tis understandable."

  Keely sighed and relaxed against him. "My lack of patience worries me as much as what she said. How can I ever atone for that sin?"

  "You needn't worry about atoning for sins, dearest. You're a saint."

  Keely gave him a lopsided smile. "Perhaps you'll add a chapter about me in Lives of the Saints?"

  Richard planted a kiss on her cheek. "Go to bed, dearest. Remember, if you should execute Morgana, Queen Elizabeth is an intimate friend of mine...."

  Meanwhile, Duke Robert pulled Morgana down the corridor in the opposite direction from the foyer and kicked the library door open with his booted foot. Shoving his daughter into the chair in front of the hearth, he snarled, "Move, and I'll beat you within an inch of your life."

  Duke Robert grabbed an old Bible from a bookshelf and thrust it into her hands, ordering, "Read this and reflect upon the error of your ways." Without another word, he stormed out of the chamber.

  How humiliating to be treated so crudely in the baron's presence, Morgana seethed. This is the bastard's fault. She's stolen my gowns, my intended husband, and even my father's love.

  Frustrated beyond measure, Morgana flung the Bible onto the floor. An old yellowed parchment fell from between its pages and fluttered to the floor. Without much interest, she picked it up and glanced at it.

  "Oh, my lord," Morgana gasped in horrified shock. Hiding her face in her hands, she wept uncontrollably.

  The library door opened. Willis Smythe crossed the chamber, glanced indifferently at the Bible on the floor, and knelt beside her chair. Putting a comforting arm around her, he said, "Don't cry, sweetheart. If you would only try to be civil to—"

  "You don't understand," Morgana sobbed. " 'Tis scandalous. Oh, whatever shall I do?"

  "Once Lady Keely's wed to Devereux, no one will dare—"

  "I don't give a fig about her!"

  "Then what has brought you to this sorry state?" Willis asked in a soothing voice, his blue eyes shining with sincerity. "Trust me, gentle lady."

  Morgana passed him the yellowed parchment and studied his expression as he perused it. Bewilderment crossed his face first, and then recognition.

  " 'Tis a marriage document," Willis said as he read. "That Duke Robert wed Lady Keely's mother upsets you?"

  "Her mother is only recently dead," Morgana whispered, unable to meet the censure she was certain she'd see in his eyes. "Keely is my father's legitimate heir, while Henry and I—" She broke off, unable to voice the horrible truth.

  "His Grace will never jeopardize Henry's inheritance," Willis assured her. "Your tragic secret is safe with me."

  "Burn it," Morgana ordered.

  "We dare not destroy it here," Willis replied, folding the parchment and putting it into his pocket. He drew her into his embrace. "Trust me to take care of it," he said.

  Willis's mouth swooped down and covered hers in a passionate kiss. Then he pressed her head against his shoulder and stroked her back soothingly.

  Never again would he be forced to scrounge for a coin, Willis thought. The means to insure his good fortune sat folded in his pocket.

  "Trust me, dear lady," Willis whispered against the blond crown of her head. "Your best interest is my sole concern."

  "I do trust you, sir," Morgana said, relaxing against the comforting solidness of his masculine frame, "with all of my heart."

  Chapter 9

  I do love him with all of my heart.

  That staggering thought hit Keely with the impact of an oak tree falling on top of her.

  "Por tous jours," she whispered. "For always."

  Keely stared out the window in her bedchamber and waited for sunrise. She shivered with the early morning chill, but duty was more important than physical discomfort. False dawn brightened the eastern horizon, heralding the sun's impending appearance.

  When had the English earl become so important to her? Keely wondered. He'd weathered the previous evening's storm, but she knew better than most that a man's affection is as constant as the fickle moon. Would his tender regard for her survive the tempest at court?

  Keely didn't trust him. Yes, the earl had kept his promise regarding her cousins, and he even appeared unashamed of her less-than-honorable beginnings. But Megan had trusted Robert Talbot and suffered for it.

  "Trust the king who wears the fiery crown and possesses the golden touch...."

  Richard Devereux wore a fiery crown, and the queen called him Midas in honor of that legendary king with the golden touch. Was the earl the one whom her mother had seen? What if she gave him her trust and he proved unworthy? Would her life be endangered or merely her heart?

  The turmoil in Keely's mind and heart made her yearn to sneak outside and feel the rising sun as well as see it. Keely needed a favor from nature's forces. She would ask the Mother Goddess to bolster the earl's inner strength.

  Ignoring the poisonous tongues set against her would require patience and fortitude.

  The solemn sanctity of that rare holy place in the earl's garden would insure a successful intercession. Where the birch, the yew, and the oak conversed dwelled powerful magic.

  Without bothering to change out of her nightshift, Keely grabbed her ceremonial robe and wrapped it tightly around herself, then padded on bare feet across the chamber to the door. Excitement coursed wildly through the life's blood in her body. She hadn't properly worshipped since the evening before she'd met her father. No wonder her mind seemed cloudy and her heart heavy.

  Pressing her ear against the door, Keely listened for footfalls in the corridor. There were none. She opened the door a crack and peered outside. No one was about, the hour still too early for the servants to rise. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she stepped into the corridor and closed the door noiselessly.

  Hugging the wall with her back, Keely glided down the dimly lit corridor and then started down the stairs. Reaching the bottom, she saw that the path across the foyer to the door was clear. Unless an early riser loitered in the courtyard, she would escape outside undetected.

  On tiptoes, Keely scurried across the foyer. In one swift motion she opened the door and flew
outside. The courtyard was deserted.

  Keely glided like an angel of the night through the heavy mist that clung like a lover to the earth. She stopped once to verify that no one watched her progress, then slipped down the path that led to the earl's estate.

  Holy stones! Keely thought, stopping short. She'd left her golden sickle and magic stones behind. Keely glanced over her shoulder but then decided that forward was the only way to go. The duke's servants would be rising by the time she reached her chamber and retrieved what she needed. She'd never make it back here without being seen.

  Towering above the mist, the three holiest of trees stood together like old friends. Keely smiled at the shining whiteness of the sacred birch, the dark evergreen spikes of the sacred yew, and most sacred of all, the majestic oak.

  Keely pulled the hood of her robe up to cover her head and advanced on the holy place. Worshipping at nature's sacred shrine made her feel like the most fortunate of souls. As she walked toward the trees, Keely chose eight common rocks at random.

  Casting the enchanted circle, Keely set the rocks in their proper places: northwest, north, northeast, east, southeast, south, and southwest. She entered the circle from the west and closed it behind her with the last rock, saying, "All disturbing thoughts remain outside."

  Reaching the center of the circle, Keely turned in a clockwise circle three times until she faced the east, where the sun was beginning to reach for the world. She closed her eyes and focused her breathing.

  "The Old Ones are here, watching and waiting," Keely spoke into the hushed dawn air. "Stars speak through stones, and light shines through the thickest oak." In a louder voice, she called, "One realm is heaven and earth."

  Keely paused to gather the proper emotion, then opened her arms and implored, "Spirit of my journey, guide me to hear what these trees say. Spirit of my ancestors, guide me to hear what the wind whispers. Spirit of my tribe, guide me to understand what the clouds foretell.... Myrddin, greatest of Druids, open my heart that I may see beyond the horizon."

  Long moments passed. And then it happened— Strong hands grasped her upper arms in a steely grip and whirled her around. Keely's hood fell off in the movement, revealing the ebony mane that cascaded to her waist. At the same time, her eyes flew open and focused on the earl's angry face.