A Year & a Day (14 page)

When the servants withdrew, Taffy said, "If there is any-

thing you desire, lady, please tell me. It is my responsibility to plenish your chamber."

Before she could thank him, another knock came at the door. Taffy opened it to find Thomas.

"Lord de Warenne has the papers ready—" he stopped in mid-sentence. "She cannot go down looking like that," he said in a low voice.

Taffy bent toward him and murmured, "She has no gowns, no jewels—nothing pretty at all."

Thomas's eyes swept over Jane from head to foot. "Wait here," he ordered Taffy.

Thomas sought Lord de Warenne in the small room off the great hall. Jock Leslie and his eldest son, Andrew, Dumfries' steward-in-training, were already present as Jane's witnesses to the legal handfasting.

When Lynx looked up from the papers on the table, Thomas said, "The lady has no decent clothes, my lord."

Jock Leslie looked offended. "Until now she has led a simple life."

Lynx bade his squire, "Fetch the lady as she is. Her clothes matter not; her signature is all that counts."

******************

was flanked by the lord's squires, who would act as his witnesses.

Lynx had one moment of misgiving. Thomas was right, she looked exactly like a peasant girl. He executed a formal bow to her. "You have not changed your mind?"

Her lashes flew to her cheeks, trying to mask the fear and outrage she felt. How could she change her mind when he had threatened her grandmother? How could she refuse the handfasting with her father's stern eyes upon her? Being in a small room with five men who would hear her give her pledge was most intimidating. She shot de Warenne a look of pure hatred and shook her head. 102

Her father gave her the words. They were simple enough. Lynx de Warenne came to her side, took her hand in his, and waited for her pledge.

"I, Jane Leslie, pledge thee my troth in handfast for a year and a day." Her words were clear, without hesitation, surprising even herself, but silently she added:
And not one moment longer!

"I, Lynx de Warenne, pledge thee my troth in handfast for a year and a day." His deep solemn voice rolled over her, filling the room, dominating the very air they breathed.

In fact, the verbal pledge was enough to make the agreement binding, but Lynx wanted everything to be legal for both their sakes. He was in a position of power, while Jane Leslie had no power at all. If she conceived and aught happened to him before they could wed, Lynx wanted his child to be his legal, ironclad heir, so was leaving nothing to chance.

When Lord de Warenne handed her a quill, Jane was thankful she knew how to sign her name.

When she was finished, he took the quill from her hand and signed "Lynx de Warenne" with a bold flourish. Though Jane could not read, she studied his signature intently, so that she would recognize it in thefuture. She had no idea how she had kept her hand from trembling. So, it is done! she thought wildly.

The lynx owns me body and soul for the next year.

When the witnesses added their signatures to the paper, Lynx sanded it and rolled it up. He said to Jock, "We'll have a small celebration in the hall tonight. Thank you all for attending us." Lynx held out his arm in a polite, formal gesture and Jane felt panic rise within her. Where was he taking her? What would he do? It was only afternoon; surely he would wait until nighttime to consummate their union?

Her pulses raced and her heart began to pound as she tried to recall what had happened at her sisters' handfastings. She swallowed with difficulty as she remembered that their husbands hadn't waited five minutes before they had taken them to bed! With great trepidation Jane placed her hand upon Lord de

Warenne's arm.. As he led her through the hall toward the MasterTower, their thoughts mirrored each other's:
It is done . . . there is no turning back.

Thomas and Taffy trailed after them, quietly talking in earnest. "The hall will be crowded tonight.

Every man jack of them will want a good look at her," Taffy said tight-lipped.

"He pretends indifference to the way she looks, but I know better," Thomas asserted. "Lord de Warenne's pride rivals that of King Edward Plantagenet. We have to do something; dinner is less than two hours away."

"I'll search every wardrobe in Dumfries. Perhaps there is a gown some female discarded," Taffy offered.

"I'll look through my lord's wardrobe and my own," Thomas said. "We'll have to find something for her."

******************

she had no maid to fetch and carry for her, no female to bathe and dress her. "Would you like your sisters to be with you to serve you?" he asked politely.

Jane's face showed relief at his suggestion, even though it was ridiculous. Kate and Mary would never serve her. She was the youngest and had always served
them.
"Thank you, I would like their company, though I am used to doing for myself."

He frowned. Did she not realize her status had been elevated above that of all other women who had ever lived in Dumfries Castle? "I hope you will be comfortable here. This tower should serve us well.

My rooms are above, up these steps, but I needn't disturb you every time I come and go. My chambers open onto the parapet walk and there is another staircase that leads down from there. You will have relative privacy." And so would he, Lynx thought silently. There was no way he would allow this young woman to disrupt his life.

When Lynx saw Thomas hovering at the open door, he welcomed the interruption. "I'll take my bath now, Thomas." 104

"The servants are bringing Lady Jane's bathwater, my lord."

"Good, I'll take my bath at the same time."

Jane went stiff as she pictured herself naked as they bathed together. She sagged with relief as she saw the two men disappear up the stairs and she realized she had misinterpreted her lord's meaning.

*************

length. He scrubbed first at the hard calluses on his hands, then at his nails with theluffa.

"Will you wear the green, my lord?" Thomas took the dark velvet tunic from the wardrobe.

Lynx frowned. "It's on the plain side for a festive occasion, don't you think?"

"Even so, it will make you look a peacock beside Lady Jane."

"Ah," Lynx murmured, lathering the soap into his hair. "Has she not even one suitable gown?"

Thomas laid the green tunic on the bed and picked up the bucket of water beside the tub. He dumped it over Lynx unceremoniously. "She has nothing, no bedgowns, no jewels, no ribbons; she doesn't even have a hairbrush. She uses a currycomb that looks like it came from the stables."

"Then take her some of my brushes and combs for God's sake, until we can remedy the situation.

Get cloth from the stores and have some gowns made for her. There must be seamstresses and needlewomen here in the castle or in Dumfries'town, and there must be women who card and weave wool. Ask Jock, he'll know."

"Aye, my lord, but that doesn't solve tonight's dilemma, does it?"

Tonight's dilemma. Thomas didn't know the half of it!

As the squire opened and closed drawers and chests, his eye fell on the cloth jupons that Lord de Warenne

wore

over

his

chain

mail.

The

fancy

silk

ones

were

reserved

for

tournaments. 105

Thomas realized that one of these would make a pretty night rail, though it would be open at both sides. He felt his groin harden and grinned, knowing the jupon would more than serve the purpose. His hand hesitated over a black silk one emblazoned with a silver lynx, then moved on to choose a far more suitable plain white silk jupon.

Meanwhile, Taffy didn't have much luck finding discarded gowns. Women were too avaricious to leave their garments behind when they departed. He consulted Sir Giles Bernard, who was the most fashionably dressed knight in his lord's mesne. Sir Giles opened his wardrobe along with his heart when he heard of Lady Jane's plight. Giles selected a deep purple calf-length tunic. On Jane it would fall to her ankles. He generously added a heavy silver chain for her to use as a belt.

Because there was not one yard of ribbon to be found in all of Dumfries, Taffy went out into the castle garden to get flowers for Jane's hair. He cut a hawthorn branch covered with blossoms, dethorned it with his knife, and fashioned it into a small crown. As he headed toward the Master Tower, he was relieved to see that Jane's sisters had come to help her dress for the celebration.

Ten

Jane was thankful that her favorite sister-in-law, Judith Leslie, accompanied Mary and Kate when they came to her new chambers. Her sisters kept telling her how lucky she was to have Lord de Warenne choose her for a mate, but as Judith helped her into the huge tub, she looked into Jane's eyes with gentle concern. "Are you afraid?"

Jane sank down in the warm water. She was about to deny her fear vigorously, but Judith's soft words brought a truthful response from her lips. "Yes, I'm afraid ... I don't know what to expect from him."

Kate laughed suggestively. "Expect the worst."

"That way, you won't be disappointed," Mary added.

Judith chided them both. "Jane has no experience with men. She needs our advice, not dire warnings!"

"Just keep your mouth shut and your legs open," Kate advised. "Men don't want conversation, they want action."

"The bigger the man, the bigger the appetite, if you know what I mean," Mary informed her, holding her hands apart to show her the size of his parts. "They don't call it a
yard
for nothing!"

Kate laughed at Mary's rude gesture.

"They are just teasing you, Jane, take no notice of them," Judith urged.

"Oh, I know they are enjoying themselves at my expense."

Kate stopped laughing. "All right, then, here's some real advice. Don't cry, no matter how much he hurts you. Men hate tears."

"It's time to get dressed, Jane. Step out of the water." Judith held up a big towel.

"No, I'm going to drown myself," Jane said, only half jesting.

"Stop feeling sorry for yerself; every other woman in Dumfries would sell her soul to be handfasted to Lord de Warenne," Mary informed her.

"She's right," Judith admitted. "It's a blessing, not a curse. Try to please him and obey him in all things and everything will go well for you, Jane."

When she was dressed, Judith brushed Jane's hair until it fell brilliantly to her hips. Against the purple velvet of the plain-cut tunic, her hair was a lovely red-gold.

When Lynx de Warenne came to escort her to the hall he stared in surprise at the transformation that had taken place. Instead of a peasant girl he found a beautiful young woman in her place. He was impressed by his squires' efforts on behalf of his lady. The simple wreath of flowers crowning her glorious red hair was more exquisite than costly jewels. She looked more desirable to him than any woman he had seen in a long time.

******************

the entire family of Leslies, Jane gripped his arm so tightly, he knew immediately she was terrified. Unlike most women she seemed to dread being the center of attention.

"I'm sorry, Jane. Everyone is curious about us. Once they've had a good look at you, I'm sure the novelty will wear off." He put his hand over hers and squeezed his encouragement. Up on the dais Lynx held up his hands for silence. His speech was short and sweet in deference to her shyness. "I present the Lady Jane. Please join me in a toast to welcome and honor her." Lynx raised his goblet and everyone in the hall toasted Jane.

A thunderous cheer followed by applause rolled around the

hall. Jane lowered her eyes. She did not dare look up at the sea of men before her, nor raise her eyes to acknowledge her family. Neither did she dare steal a glance at Lord de Warenne. But she was acutely aware of him. When they were seated, his chair was elevated higher than hers as befitted his station, and his two squires stood behind their chairs to serve them.

"It is customary for you to acknowledge the toast."

Her lashes flew up, she stared at him for a moment, then picked up her goblet of wine and drained it.

Lynx quirked an eyebrow in amusement. "A simple 'thank you' would have been a more appropriate response for a lady."

The wine brought instant heat to her cheeks. It felt as if a bright red rose unfurled in her breast and brought her a small measure of recklessness. "If you had wanted a lady, my lord, you should not have chosen
me."

"Are you deliberately trying to goad me,
chérie?“

Thomas refilled her goblet and Jane eyed the wine uncertainly. Seeing her speculative glance, Lynx recalled the time she had deliberately spilled hot soup on him. Before she could reach for the goblet, he took her hand and gave her a warning glance.

Jane read his thoughts and the corners of her mouth lifted in amusement. "Have no fear, the wine is too good to waste on you." She pulled her hand from his as if his touch offended her.

"Insolence will soon make me tire of you," he said silkily.

"I am relieved it won't take a year and a day."