The Velvet Promise (28 page)

"You should have stayed at home and waited with your embroidery frame," he said in disgust. "Then we would have had time. Now you must buy us time. Agree to nothing Demari says. Talk to him of women's things, but don't talk to him of annulment or your estates."

"He thinks I'm a simpleton."

"Deliver all men from such simple women! Now you must go."

She stood. "I will bring more food tomorrow."

"No! Send Joan. No one will notice that cat slipping from one bed to the next."

"But I will come in disguise."

"Judith, who else has hair the color of yours? If one strand were to escape, you would be recognized. And if you were found out, there would be no reason to keep the rest of us alive. Demari must think you will comply with his plans. Now go and obey me for once."

She stood and nodded as she turned toward the ladder.

"Judith," he whispered. "Would you kiss me again?"

She smiled happily and before he could stop her, her arms were about his waist, holding him close to her. She could feel the change in his body, the weight he'd lost. "I have been frightened, Gavin," she confessed.

He lifted her chin in his hand. "You are braver than ten men." He kissed her longingly. "Now go and don't come again."

She nearly ran up the ladder and out of the dark cellar.

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The castle was quiet when Arthur finally allowed his anger to explode. He knew he should have kept his temper under control, but he'd seen too much in one day.

"You are a fool!" Arthur said with a sneer. "Don't you see how the woman plays you like a master harper plays a psaltery?"

"You overstep yourself," Walter warned.

"Someone must! You're so besotted by her that she could slip a knife between your ribs and you would murmur, 'Thank you.' "

Walter suddenly looked into his cup of ale. "She is a sweet and lovely woman," he murmured.

"Sweet! Bah! She is as sweet as verjuice. She has been here three days, and look at how far you have gotten with negotiations for an annulment.

What does she say when you ask her?" He didn't give Walter time to reply.

"That woman has a convenient hearing loss. At times she just looks at you and smiles when you ask her a question. You would think she is both deaf and dumb. You never press her, but only return her smile with a mindless one of your own."

"She is a beautiful woman," Walter said in defense.

"Yes, she is enticing," Arthur acknowledged and smiled to himself.

Judith Montgomery was beginning to stir his blood also, though not in the holy way she affected Walter. "But what has her beauty accomplished?

You are no nearer your goal than when she arrived."

Walter slammed down his goblet. "She is a woman, damn you, not a man you can reason with! She must be wooed and won. Women must be loved. And there is her father and that vile husband of hers. They have frightened her."

"Frightened!" Arthur snorted. "I have never seen a woman less frightened in my life. A frightened woman would have stayed home in her bed behind her castle walls. This one comes riding to our gate and—"

"And asks for nothing!" Walter said triumphantly. "She has asked for nothing but better quarters for her mother, a simple request. She spends her days with me and is pleasant company. Judith has not so much as asked about the fate of her husband. Surely that shows she doesn't care about him."

"I'm not so sure," Arthur said thoughtfully. "It seems unnatural for her to care so little about him."

"She hates him, I tell you! I don't see why you don't kill him and be done with it. I would wed her atop the dead man's corpse if the priest would allow it."

"Then you would have the king upon your head! She is a rich woman.

Her father had the right to give her to a man, but now he is dead. No one else has the right except the king. The moment her husband is dead, she becomes the king's ward, the revenues from her estates his. Do you think King Henry would give a rich widow to the man who tortured and killed her husband? And if you took her without his permission, he would be even more angry. I've told you time and again: the only way is if she stands before the king and asks publicly for a release from her marriage and declares for you. King Henry loves the queen and is greatly moved by such sentimentality."

"Then I am proceeding properly," Walter said. "I'm making the woman love me. I can see it in her eyes when she looks at me."

"I say again, you are a fool. You see what you wish. I am not so certain that she doesn't scheme something. A plan of escape, perhaps."

"Escape from me? I don't hold her captive. She is free to go when she wants."

Arthur looked at the man with revulsion. He was not only a fool, but stupid as well. If Arthur were not cautious, all his carefully laid plans would be destroyed by a golden-eyed goddess. "You say she hates her husband?"

"Yes. I know she does."

"Do you have proof other than servants' gossip?"

"She never speaks of him."

"Perhaps the love she bears him hurts her too much to speak of him,"

Arthur said snidely. "Perhaps we should put her hatred to a test."

Walter hesitated.

"You're not so sure of her now?"

"I am! What do you plan?"

"We will bring her husband up from the pit, bring him before her and see her reaction. Will she cry in horror to see him as he must be now? Or will she be glad to see him so tortured?"

"She will be glad," Walter said firmly.

"Let us hope you are right. But I believe you are not."

The new quarters Judith had gotten for Lady Helen were large, airy and cleaner. A stout wooden partition had been nailed into the walls of the fourth-floor solar, creating the room. It was secluded from the rest of the castle, protected by a door of four-inch-thick seasoned oak.

There was little furniture. A large bed draped with heavy linen occupied one corner. A straw pallet was on the other side of the chamber. Two people sat across from the glowing brazier, their heads nearly touching over a chessboard set on a low table.

"You have won again!" John Bassett said in astonishment.

Helen smiled at him. "You seem pleased."

"Yes, I am. At least these days haven't been dull." During the time they had been together he'd seen many changes in her. She had gained weight; her cheeks were losing their hollows. And she had begun to relax in his presence. Her eyes no longer darted from side to side. In truth, they rarely left John.

"Do you think my daughter is well?" Helen asked as she set the chess pieces back in their original positions.

"I can only guess. If she had been harmed, I think we would know. I don't think Demari will lose much time in seeing that we suffer the same fate."

Helen nodded. She found John's harsh truthfulness refreshing after having lived with lies for so long. She hadn't seen Judith since that first night, and had it not been for John's steadiness, she would have worried herself into illness. "Another game?"

"No. I must have a rest from your attacks."

"It is late. Perhaps…" she began, not wanting to go to bed and leave his company.

"Will you sit by me a moment?" he asked as he rose and stirred the coals in the brazier.

"Yes," she smiled. This was the part of the day she loved the best—being carried from one place to another in John's strong arms. She was quite sure her ankle was well, but he didn't ask after it, and she did not mention it.

He looked down at her head cradled against his shoulder. "You look more like your daughter each day," he said as he carried her to a chair closer to the fire. "It's easy to see where she gets her beauty."

Helen didn't speak, but smiled against his shoulder, delighting in the strength of him. He had no more than deposited her in the chair when the door burst open.

"Mother!" Judith said as she rushed to Helen's open arms.

"I have been worried about you," Helen said anxiously. "Where have they kept you? They haven't harmed you?"

"What news?" John's deep voice interrupted.

Judith pulled away from her mother. "No, I am unharmed. I couldn't come because I've had no time. Walter Demari keeps me at something every moment. If I mention a visit to you, he finds someplace I must go."

She sat down on a stool John placed behind her. "As for the news, I have seen Gavin."

Neither John nor Helen spoke.

"They keep him in a hole below the cellar. It is a slimy place, and he cannot live much longer in it. I went to him and—"

"You went into the pit?" Helen asked, astonished. "Not while you carry a child! You endangered the baby!"

"Quiet!" John commanded. "Let her tell of Lord Gavin."

Judith looked at her mother, who usually cowered away from a man's sharp tones, but Helen only obeyed and showed no fear. "He was very angry at me for being here and said that he had already arranged for our rescue. His brother Stephen has been sent for."

"Lord Stephen?" John asked, then smiled. "Ah yes. If we can hold out until he comes, we will be saved. He is a good fighter."

"That is what Gavin said. I am to keep Demari from me as long as I can, to give Stephen time to bring his men."

"What else did Lord Gavin say?"

"Very little. He spent most of the time listing all that is wrong with me,"

Judith said in disgust.

"And are you able to keep Demari from you?" Helen wondered.

Judith sighed. "It's not easy. If he touches my wrist, his hand slides to my elbow. A hand on my waist rides up my ribs. I don't respect the man. If he were to sit down and talk reasonably to me, I would sign half the Revedoune lands over to him for a copper if he would only free us all.

Instead he offers me daisy chains and love poems. There are times when I want to scream in frustration."

"What of Sir Arthur?" John asked. "I cannot see that man making daisy chains."

"No, he just watches me. I am never away from his eyes staring at me. I feel there is something he plans, but I don't know what."

"It will be the worst, I'm sure," John said. "I wish I could help you!"

"No, there is nothing I need help with now. I can only wait for Lord Stephen to arrive and negotiate or fight—whichever must be done. I will talk with him then."

"Talk?" John raised one eyebrow. "Stephen is little given to talking over his battle plans with women."

A knock sounded on the door. "I must go. Joan waits for me. I'm not sure I want Demari to know I'm here."

"Judith." Helen grabbed her daughter's arm. "You are caring for yourself?"

"As well as I can. I am tired—that's all." She kissed her mother's cheek.

"I must go."

When they were alone, John turned to Helen. "Here, don't cry," he said sternly. "It will help nothing."

"I know," Helen agreed. "She is just so alone. She has always been alone."

"And what of you—have you not also always been alone?"

"I don't matter. I am an old woman."

He grabbed her harshly under her arms and pulled her to him. "You are not old!" John said fiercely before his mouth came down on hers.

Helen had been kissed by no man except her husband—and him only at the beginning of their marriage. She was startled by the chill that ran up her spine. She returned his kiss, her arms going about his neck, drawing him closer to her.

He kissed her cheek, her neck, his heart pounding in his ears. "It is late," he whispered, then swung her into his arms and carried her toward the bed. Each night he helped her unbutton her simple gown since she had no other maid. He was always respectful and kept his eyes turned away when she climbed into bed. Now he set her on her feet by the bed, then turned to walk away.

"John," she called, "you will not help me with the buttons?"

He looked back at her, his eyes dark with passion. "Not tonight. If I were to help you undress, you wouldn't climb into that bed alone."

Helen stared at him, the blood pounding through her body. Her experiences with a man in bed had been brutal times. But now she gazed at John and knew he would be different. What would it be like to lie happily in a man's arms? She could hardly hear her own voice when she spoke. "I will still need help."

He walked to stand before her. "Are you sure? You are a lady. I am only your son-in-law's vassal."

"You have come to mean a lot to me, John Bassett, and now I would have you be all."

He touched the hood at her forehead, then pushed it away completely.

"Come, then," he smiled. "Let me see those fastenings."

In spite of Helen's brave words, she was afraid of John. She had grown to love him over the last few days, and she wanted to give him something.

She had nothing except her body. She gave herself as a martyr. She knew men received great pleasure from the joining in bed, but for her it had only been a quick, rather messy affair. She had no idea it could be any different.

She was surprised when he took his time undressing her. She thought a man would have thrown her skirts over her face and been done with it.

John seemed to enjoy touching her. His fingers along her ribs sent little shivers through her skin. He lifted her dress over her head, then her underdress. He stepped away from her and looked at her as she stood wearing only the thin cotton chemise and her hose. He smiled warmly at her as if her body pleased him. He put his hands on her waist, then lifted the chemise away. His hands were on her breasts instantly, and Helen gasped in pleasure at his touch. He brought his lips to hers. She kept her eyes open as she stared in wonder. His gentleness sent waves of delight through her body. Her breasts ached against the rough wool of his doublet. She closed her eyes and leaned against him, her arms tightening.