A Year & a Day (22 page)

"Well done, Jock. The only question that remains is will you be able to feed us all?"

"The kitchens are hives of activity, my lord, but we will need a few more cooks," Jock replied with understatement.

"Feel free to recruit my Welshmen. They're not used to being idle and they have healthy appetites.

Every man will earn his keep one way or another." Lynx started toward the river.

"We may not have enough hot water for all yer men to bathe, but we certainly have enough fer you, Lord de Warenne."

Lynx waved his hand dismissively. "A quick swim in the Nith will suffice, Jock. My sister has likely already used every last drop of hot bathwater in all of Dumfries."

When Lynx finally entered the castle, Alicia met him with a catalogue of complaints.

"Some dour-faced idiot has given me the wrong rooms. Then your stupid squire has compounded the error by carrying my trunks up there instead of to the chamber that adjoins yours, as I instructed him to do! In fact, every order I've issued at Dumfries has been ignored!"

"Then I suggest you stop issuing them," Lynx said bluntly.

"Oh! You delight in abusing me!"

Calmly, Lynx put his hands to her waist and lifted her from his path. "Alicia, use the chamber assigned to you tonight."

"I want you to tell the castle servants who I am!" she insisted. 164

"Did it ever occur to you to be just a tad discreet?"

Alicia was speechless at the suggestion. His uncle was the Governor of all Scotland. Surely Lynx de Warenne must realize how important he was and, as his chosen lady, how important
she
was?

Lynx spotted his squire Taffy. "Excuse me, madam, I have more pressing matters to attend to."

Putting distance between himself and Alicia, he muttered, "Bloody women! What problems has your charge created during my absence?" Lynx demanded of Taffy.

"None whatsoever, my lord. Lady Jane is no trouble at all. She is the least demanding lady I ever served. She already knew how to ride a pony, but I found her a well-bred mare as you instructed and I am sure you will be pleased with the way she handles the animal . . . she outrides me, now."

"An undemanding woman?" His mouth curved in amusement. "There's a unique concept. Sorry to put an end to your tranquil existence, but Jory and Alicia are here." "Yes, my lord, I carried up their baggage." "You poor sod, you must have the stamina of an ox." Taffy grinned. "It's good to have you back, my lord. I even missed Thomas."

Lynx couldn't help but laugh. "For God's sake don't tell him, he's insufferable enough."

"I've unpacked for you, my lord, and laid out fresh clothes." "Thanks; I bathed in the river with the men. I'll see you in the hall." Lynx climbed the stairs to the Master Tower. He entered one of the chambers beneath his that belonged to Jane. It was empty, so without pause, he went up to his own rooms. He looked about him with satisfaction as he removed his soiled clothes. It felt good to be back at Dumfries. He knew he had made the right choice, picking Scotland over France.

The responsibility of keeping the peace between Scots and English rested lightly on his shoulders.

In Lynx's experience, men

were men. When dealt with fairly, they would respond in kind whether they were Scot or Hottentot.

He donned the dark tunic and hose, then pulled on black boots whose leather was soft as butter.

He slicked back his wet hair and fastened it with a thong at his nape, then selected a heavy gold chain, a cabochon emerald ring, and his favorite dagger. Lynx suddenly realized he was ravenous. He picked up a russet apple from a bowl of fruit and bit into it with relish, then descended the stairs that led to Jane's chambers. Again, he found the room empty. He wondered idly where she was and stepped to the archway to glance into the other chamber.

Jane was standing on a high stool with her back toward him, putting up clean bed-curtains. Feeling decidedly playful at the sight of her, Lynx came up behind her silently, hoping to surprise her. As she stood on her tiptoes to thread the heavy material through the curtain ring, he growled low in his throat and pounced. "I've got you now!" he exulted, as he snatched her into his arms.

Jane shrieked and stared up into devilish green eyes as her heart pounded and her pulses raced madly.

Lynx stared at the small mound of her belly. "Splendor of God, are you with child?" He dropped the apple and his eyes widened. "You
are
with child!"

"Yes, my lord." Jane held her breath, uncertain of his reaction.

"But that's marvelous! What a clever girl you are." Lynx began to laugh with joy and Jane let out her breath and laughed with him. Suddenly he sobered. "Are you mad?" He felt anger and joy simultaneously. "What the devil are you doing up on a stool endangering the baby! You must not engage in these kinds of activities while you are in such a delicate condition. There are servants to do this sort of thing. In fact, you must not engage in any work at all until after the child is born."

Jane felt resentment rise up in her as she envisioned every freedom being taken away from her. He was far too dominant,

issuing orders the moment he returned. "We are only handfasted, not wed," she reminded him.

"You have no authority over me."

The expression on his face was incredulous. "I have every authority over you. Shall I prove it by ordering you to bed until my child is born?"

Jane's resentment melted into panic and she knew she must placate him, rather than challenge him.

"Don't be fierce with me, my lord. I am perfectly well and so is the baby. It won't be here for three more months."

Lynx's momentary flare of anger changed to concern. Gently, he set her down in the big chair and carried over a cushioned stool. "Put your feet up," he suggested. "The baby you're carrying doesn't appear to be very big, are you sure it's all right?" Without waiting for a reply he ordered, "You must eat more." A terrible thought struck him. "Christ almighty, that young fool Taffy has let you ride! The irresponsible young devil has no notion of the danger to which he has subjected the child."

Lynx began to pace. "No more riding. I'll have a litter made for you. You must be more careful . . .

nothing must happen to thischild."

"Lord de Warenne, I swear to you that the baby will be all right."

Lynx stopped pacing and looked down at her earnest face. "You must think me the world's greatest fool."

"Nay, my lord, I think you the world's most concerned father."

He laughed then. "I'm going to be a father! If I don't tell someone, I'll burst. I'll announce it in the hall!"

Jane tried to rise, but he stayed her with his hand. "Don't exert yourself, lady, I'll have a tray sent up. There must be no more running up and down stairs!"

Jane hadn't known what Lord de Warenne would say or do when he first saw her. She had both dreaded and anticipated his greeting. Would he be pleased about the child? Would he embrace her? She certainly hadn't expected his grave anxieties over

such a natural condition. Jane felt frustrated. He had demanded that she eat more, stop riding, and stay in her chamber with her feet up!

She told herself that when he became accustomed to the pregnancy, he would see how irrational his orders were. Lynx de Warenne had embraced her after all, but that had been before he realized she was carrying his child. He had been in a teasing mood, growling like a lynx and playfully pouncing on her.

Jane sighed; was she relieved or disappointed that his game of seduction had ended so abruptly? She pushed the question away and decided to go down to the stables to take another look at the palfrey's leg.

Jane murmured the mare's name as her hands slid down over Sheba's fetlocks. She was so deep in thought she did not see the lady approach and was unaware of her presence until she spoke.

"I didn't introduce myself before, or even ask your name, and you have been so kind to my mare.

I'm Marjory de Warenne."

Jane straightened and saw Lynx's sister extend her hand. She had changed into a gown the shade of amethysts and Jane thought she looked even more beautiful than the first time she had seen her. "My name is Jane Leslie, my lady."

"Jane Leslie?" Jory's green eyes swept over the plainly clad girl before her in amazement. For once she was rendered almost speechless. Her glance paused on the girl's midsection, then Jory lifted her eyes to the young woman's face and smiled tenderly. "Jane, I'm so very happy to meet you. Does my brother know he's going to be a father?"

"Yes, and I know he is overjoyed at the thought of a child, but he wants to totally control me. The child is everything to him while I am nothing more than a broodmare."

"Oh, my dear, I'm sure Lynx doesn't think of you that way. You are a very beautiful young woman. I'll help you to get him to view you as desirable in your own right," Jory promised. "But,

Jane, you shouldn't be tending my horse, you are the Lady of Dumfries!"

"Nay, I'm not a lady because I am not of noble birth. I am not married to your brother, I am handfasted for a year and a day. 'Tis a Scottish custom whereby a man and woman live together. At the end of the allotted time they either decide to marry or to part." She decided to be forthright with Jory. "I never wished to marry. This is what I like to do. I have a gift for healing animals. Your Sheba has a weakness in her legs, but with the right exercise, I can make her legs strong."

Again, Jory was momentarily speechless. "How kind and thoughtful you are. Jane," she said impulsively, "let's be friends?"

Jane nodded. "I would like that very much."

Jory's eyes sparkled. "Oh, my dear, I'm going to turn you into Lady Jane. Nay, more than that; when I'm done with you, you'll be
Lady Jane Tut!”

Fifteen

Jory entered the dining hall accompanied by Alicia and Elizabeth de Burgh. "Let's sit here, let's not go up on the dais tonight," Jory suggested as she was eagerly greeted by Lynx's knights.

Alicia agreed instantly. After the indifferent way Lynx had treated her, she decided to respond with cool disdain. A rebuff might be just what he needed to make him eager for her company.

When de Warenne arrived, accompanied by a dozen knights and their squires, all were laughing in great good humor. They filled the dais, never seeming to notice that the ladies sat elsewhere.

As the fish course was followed by haunches of roast mutton, Lynx was relieved to see that as usual his steward had coped, and an influx of over four hundred hungry men had not daunted him.

Tonight, Lynx felt there was no finer place on earth than Dumfries. He no longer doubted the wisdom of the handfasting he had entered into with Jane Leslie; she had proven amazingly fertile.

A great feeling of well-being enveloped him and spread to include everyone in the vast hall. Finally, he would have an heir and the child would be born here at Dumfries. He took a deep breath of satisfaction and in that moment felt omnipotent. Lynx surged to his feet and held up his hands to quiet the din.

As Jory gazed up at him with affection, she wondered why on earth Jane was not at his side.

Alicia caught her breath as she watched Lynx. He was the most compelling man she'd ever known and now that his uncle

was Governor of Scotland, he was a rare prize indeed. She instantly changed her mind about treating him with disdain.

"Raise your cups with me and drink a toast to Dumfries." Hundreds of hands were raised. "I am about to become a father!"

Pandemonium broke loose. Men hooted, whistled, and banged their dagger handles on the tables.

Jory looked at her dinner companion's stunned face and murmured, "Alicia, you're leaving teeth marks on your goblet."

Alicia banged her goblet down so hard, her wine sloshed over the rim. "Where is the slut? I'll soon put an end to her little schemes!"

Lynx came down from the dais and joined the Leslie family, who were all sitting together tonight.

All his men joined him in toasting them, then Jock Leslie proposed a toast to Lynx de Warenne.

Alicia hissed, "Who are these people?" as her eyes narrowed on the females at the Leslie table.

"Jock Leslie is Dumfries' steward. Jane is his daughter," Jory explained.

"He's been dallying with his steward's daughter? Then she's just a servant," Alicia said with contempt.

"It's not
dallying
; Lynx and Jane are handfasted."

"Handfasted? What the devil is that?"

" 'Tis an honorable Scottish custom, whereby a man and woman are pledged for a year and a day.

If they suit each other, they marry."

"Honorable custom my eye. 'Tis just another scheme concocted by men to get between a woman's legs! As if Lord de Warenne would wed a slut!"

"But, Alicia, you expected Lynx to wed with you," Jory pointed out sweetly.

"You bitch! You think this amusing. You knew about this and didn't have the decency to tell me.

Which one is she?"

"Oh, Jane isn't here. A tray was carried up to her. She and Lynx share the Master Tower."

The knights at their table were listening avidly to Alicia's outburst of temper. When she realized the display she was making, she stopped speaking immediately and began to plot in silence.

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

his health and that of his unborn heir. When the atmosphere in the hall proceeded from boisterous to uproarious, Elizabeth de Burgh's women ushered her up to bed. Jory took herself upstairs shortly thereafter, but Alicia lingered, biding her time.