A Year & a Day (30 page)
Authors: Virginia Henley
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swept in like the angel of death. Jane almost swooned with fear for her brothers. How had he learned of their dealings with William Wallace so quickly? He knocked a cup of milk from her hand, shouting, "Don't dare drink that filthy stuff!"
Jane sank to a stool on shaky legs as she realized with relief that his anger was not directed at her brothers, but at her. She
watched him point an imperious finger at Megotta. "Old woman, if you have done aught to destroy my child, prepare to die!"
"Lord de Warenne, what are you saying? What is it you think we have done?" Jane cried.
"You are aborting the baby!"
"No, no, on my honor, I swear that I am not!"
"Women have no honor," he thundered.
Jane stepped close and took hold of his forearms. The moment she touched him, she felt his fear, experienced his agony, knew the anger that engulfed him. She dug her nails into his flesh to get his attention. "Lynx, I swear to you on my soul, I have not done this thing." She grabbed his hand and drew it to her belly. "Feel, feel! The baby lives . . . the baby thrives."
Some of the madness left his green eyes as he focused on the child that kicked inside her belly.
Jane reached up and touched her fingers to his cheek. "My lord, I know how much you love this child.
Please understand that I love it too, with all my heart and all my soul."
"Then why did you come here?" he demanded.
"I wanted to defy your orders! I heard your mistress in your chamber last night and I was furious with you! Who accuses me of this deed?"
"Alicia, and your sister Kate. I have seen with my own eyes the abortificiant herbs you gathered."
"I will go with you now and face my accusers."
Jane walked beside him in silence back to the castle. Her face was pale, her hands trembled, but her step was resolute. Jane climbed the stairs of the Master Tower slowly, the child now grown so much, her steps were slightly clumsy.
Her eyes fell on the pennyroyal immediately, then lifted until they looked directly into Lynx's eyes.
"I swear to you I did not gather this herb."
"The wine too is laced with the filthy stuff."
"Kate brought me the wine . . . praise God I did not drink
it," she murmured. Again she looked into his eyes. "You will have to decide who you believe."
Jory came in through the open door. "You both look so awful, what trouble is Alicia brewing between you?"
The lump in Jane's throat almost choked her. "She told my lord I was trying to abort his baby."
"My God, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Lynx, I have something to tell you, something I should have told you long ago."
Marjory led Jane to a chair. "Sit down before you fall down," she said softly, then beckoned her brother into the adjoining chamber.
"When Alicia and I were at Wigton, I found her hemorrhaging from a self-induced abortion. I was frightened to death for her, but she assured me she would be all right, because she'd done it before. She begged me not to betray her secret to you and I foolishly gave her my word."
"Damn you, Jory, why did you not tell me?"
"Because at the time I pitied Alicia and feared how angry you would become if you knew the truth! But her lies about Jane free me from my promise of silence."
Lynx de Warenne ground his teeth. "Breathes there a woman anywhere in this world who can be trusted?"
Jory shuddered as he stalked from the room; her brother looked capable of murder.
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bedchamber. "Leave us." His tone was so curt, his eyes so threatening, Kate dropped the garment she was folding and fled.
De Warenne confronted Alicia without preamble. "In the time we have been together, did you conceive?"
Alicia stared, knowing she was damned no matter her answer.
"Did you?"
Sheflinched as if he had struck her and uttered a half-truth. "I did, Lynx, but I lost it. I didn't want to tell you because I knew how much you wanted a child."
"So, it's true." The green fire in his eyes turned to ice.
"Damn Marjory de Warenne to hellfire!" Alicia cursed.
"Madam, it is you who are damned." He looked at her trunks, filled to overflowing with the things he had given her. "I'll see that you have safe escort to Edinburgh, or England or wherever it is you decide to go."
Alicia stared at the closed door, two spots of humiliation burning holes in her cheeks. He was ending it! How dare he think he could do that? She wanted to destroy the arrogance she had once found so attractive. Well, he might think it was finished, but it wouldn't be over until she had extracted her revenge. She'd go to neither Edinburgh nor England. She'd go to Fitz-Waren at Torthwald. "I'll bring you low," Alicia vowed, "and I'll use your own cousin to do it!"
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bed."
"But I'm not ill."
"Still, you should rest. You are very pale. I'll stay with you, if you like," Jory offered.
Jane conceded. "I'll put my feet up and perhaps I'll paint a touchstone . . . it's very soothing."
"Oh, will you make me one? Robert wears a talisman. Do you really believe they have magic power?"
"His symbol is the Celtic horse, which represents sovereignty. I believe the touchstone has the power to protect, but Robert's destiny lies within himself."
Jory searched Jane's face. "Do you know his destiny?" She quickly put a finger to Jane's lips. "No, don't
tell
me—Iwant
things
to
stay
the
way
they
are." 231
"The wheel of life turns, Jory. Everything changes. How would you like me to paint you a divine couple representing the sacred union of male and female energy? It stresses each partner's need for both independence and cooperation to enrich life's journey."
"That sounds perfect. Since the beginning of time people have believed in the mystic power of symbols. Let me tell you about the Roman phallic symbols on Hadrian's Wall that Robert showed me."
As the pair became absorbed in designing the touchstone they studiously avoided the subject of Lynx de Warenne and the unpleasant confrontation that had taken place earlier. It wasn't until hours later that they heard a low knock on Jane's chamber door. Jory openedthe door, then quickly excused herself so that Jane and her brother could talk in privacy.
"Are you feeling poorly?" Lynx asked.
"No . . . Jory thought I should rest. I've been painting her a touchstone."
Lynx took a few restless paces, then came back. He obviously felt awkward about whatever he had come to say. He hooked his thumbs into his belt. "You won't have Alice Bolton to contend with anymore. She's gone."
Jane saw that was all he was going to say about the woman, there would be no detailed explanation. "Thank you for believing me." Jane knew that he did not completely believe her, but he was giving her the benefit of the doubt. He had made his choice between herself and Alicia, but she knew that in his heart Lynx de Warenne did not trust any woman.
"I acted too harshly this morning." Jane knew it was the closest he would ever come to an apology. He strode to the window, then came back to the settle where she reclined. "I am a military man, responsible for my own army. I am used to issuing orders and having those orders obeyed without question."
Was he explaining himself to her or taking a stand? "I am used to complete freedom," she countered softly.
The gulf between them was wide. If it was not to widen further, clearly they would have to compromise. Jane's glance fell on the divine couple she had been painting, and she was struck by how closely it represented their union. Their need for independence was too great. They must learn to cooperate and start to trust each other before they could find any happiness together on life's journey.
"I prefer that you stay at the castle rather than go back to your old home."
Jane was grateful that he had not issued an order and she saw that it was a great concession on his part. "I'll stay, my lord, and promise to do nothing incautious that could harm the baby." They felt awkward and ill at ease with each other, but at least they were no longer quarreling.
"I am going to Edinburgh to see the governor. The time apart will give us a breathing space from each other. I never meant to make you feel like a prisoner, my lady."
They were back to being formal and polite. When he returned they would have to start all over again.
"Godspeed, Lord de Warenne."
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Castle, he was surprised to learn that Robert Bruce was already ensconced with his uncle. When his arrival was announced, Lynx was allowed to join them. One look at the Bruce's lowered brows told him his friend was incensed about something.
Wearily, John de Warenne held up his hands. "I have enough trouble, Lynx. If you are here to report more of it, I might be tempted to slay the messenger."
"The king has freed Comyn," Bruce growled.
John de Warenne explained the circumstances to Lynx. "By the time I got your message that Andrew Moray had escaped, he was already organizing a rebellion in the north. Edward freed
Comyn on the condition that he put down the rebellion and keep the peace north of the Forth."
"Moray is a
kinsman
of Comyn for Christ's sake!" Bruce cursed.
"That's precisely why Edward chose Comyn," John pointedout.
The Bruce still protested. "They'll work hand in glove with each other. Comyn has his eye on the throne of Scotland for himself!"
"He's not the only one." John de Warenne looked pointedly at Bruce.
Lynx rubbed his chin. "I think Comyn has persuaded Edward that it is not safe to give the Bruce a free hand in Scotland. He has likely pointed out that your power will grow unless Comyn acts as counterpoint. It's the king's favorite game to set one noble against another; it leaves Edward conveniently free to sail to Flanders."
"Damn you both. The things you say about the king border on treason," John warned. "I don't know what you expect from me, I cannot and will not countermand the king's orders," he told Bruce flatly.
"I want a formal complaint sent to Edward Plantagenet. Comyn shouldn't have free rein in the north. The Earls of Atholl and Fife should be made wardens."
"Your suggestion has merit; I'll pass it on to the king," John agreed reluctantly.
"Is there trouble elsewhere?" Lynx asked John.
"Has either oneof you heard of a man called William Wallace?"
Both men shook their heads.
"I've a report here from Henry Percy that this Wallace and a band of ruffians attacked and killed Percy's steward in the marketplace of Ayr. Percy issued a warrant for his arrest, but they failed to find him." John de Warenne brandished a report from the
sheriff of another county. "They couldn't find Wallace because he was attacking a peel tower in Lanark!"
"Who is he?" Lynx asked.
"A nobody! No lands! No title!"
"I hate to point out the obvious," Lynx said, "but a man with nothing to lose makes the most formidable enemy."
John de Warenne seemed confounded. "When the king departed, most of the Scottish leaders had sworn their fealty, the armies had disbanded, and every main stronghold was garrisoned by English. I was convinced their cause was hopeless."
"Never underestimate a Scot," Robert Bruce said lightly.
Lynx de Warenne sensed a warning behind his friend's words.
"I've an anteroom filled with petitioners and I'm drowning in a sea of paperwork. Can we talk later?" de Warenne asked.
Lynx was concerned about his uncle. He looked as if he had aged ten years in less than two months. Clearly, John de Warenne was far better suited to the battlefield than administration.
They left through a side door and the moment they were alone, Robert Bruce said, "Let's get something to eat and I'll fillyou in on William Wallace."
Lynx raised an eyebrow. "You said you'd never heard of him."
"I lied. I've known of the king's enemy for some time."
Twenty-One
Robert Bruce drained his tankard of ale and wiped his mouth. "I knew trouble would spring from some quarter, so I set a trap. When I took the baggage train from Carlisle along the western route, I expected it to be raided before it reached Glasgow. I wasn't disappointed, though trouble came a hell of a lot closer than Glasgow. The packhorses were snatched at Ayr by a reckless lad called William Wallace."
"You didn't kill him, you didn't arrest him. What
did
you do?" Lynx asked bluntly. He had no illusions about Robert, the Bruce would do what was expedient for himself, not the crown.
"I listened to him, I sized him up, I assessed him."
"And your conclusion?"
"Wallace is formidable. He's a young giant. You are a tall son of a bitch, but Wallace must be six and a half feet. He has shaggy, wheaten-colored brows and beneath them strange, pale eyes, lit with a zealous light. There is a wildness about him, a bloodthirsty ruthlessness that borders on madness. He wields a gigantic double-edged claymore as if it's an extention of his arm."