The Devil Claims a Wife (29 page)

Jane’s stomach growled to the lovely aroma of ham. By the soft, gold, rosy light of morning, she opened her eyes to find the terror of the king’s fighting force was watching her with a tender, slightly doting smile on his ruggedly handsome face.

‘Only if you will join me.’

Chuckling softly, he gathered her against him, his good arm draped around her bare shoulders. ‘Not yet, my sweet,’ he said between kisses. ‘Lay back. I’m starved for you.’

‘And I for you, my love—my husband,’ she whispered, the word delicious on her tongue.
She smiled into his eyes. ‘You cannot know how good it feels to freely admit it.’

‘You cannot know how good it is to hear it. Nearly as good, in fact, as …’ His hands wandered boldly, his purpose clear. When she laughed and playfully rolled away from him, he grasped her wrist and drew her back into his embrace. ‘Trust me.’

‘I do,’ she whispered.

He let out a grateful sigh. ‘At last. It does my heart good to hear you say it. Thank you.’

‘It’s my pleasure.’ She brushed a lock of his dark hair from his brow, her hand straying in a lingering caress. ‘Why did you not tell me what really happened to Andrew at Towton, Guy? Why did you let me think you gave the order for his execution?’

‘Who told you?’

‘Cedric. I asked him. After the battle, when news reached us of Andrew’s death, we were told he was just one of multiple prisoners put to death by you. Cedric told me a different story, that Andrew was killed by an archer while attempting to cross the River Wharfe—that you saw him.’

Guy sighed and lay back. ‘I did, but I was wounded. I’d also been issued with the unenviable task of rounding up prisoners. I’m not
proud of what I did that day, Jane, but Towton was like hell on earth. It was intense and fearful, the noise like nothing you’ve ever heard—so many bodies.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let me go on believing ill off you?’

‘Because had he not been shot by that archer, I might very well have issued the order for his execution. There would not have been a thing I could have done about it.’

Jane rested her head on his chest and sighed. ‘Then if he had to die, I’m glad it was the arrow that killed him.’ Tilting her head back, she looked at him lovingly. ‘I do love you, Guy. You are the centre of my life—although soon I shall have another to dote on,’ she said, resting her hand on her abdomen. ‘But for the time being I belong entirely to you. I trust in you and believe in you with all my heart. Don’t ever think of going away from me, because if you do I swear I shall go with you and stick to you like your shadow.’

Guy hadn’t imagined he could have fallen any more deeply in love with her than he already was, but her artless pledge positively enslaved him. ‘Just being with you feeds my soul,’ he declared. ‘I wish we were back at Cherriot.
There I would have you all to myself and not have to share you with the queen and courtiers.’

‘But we have only just arrived at the court—and I accept it will be an important part of both our lives since you are one of the king’s most loyal advisors. We must also remember that the king is the source of all patronage, and very soon,’ she said, giving him a tantalising little smile, ‘we may be granted the joy of pretty daughters who will one day need to marry well.’

He looked at her in surprise and found a teasing twinkle in her eyes and a saucy smile on her lips. He arched an eyebrow, shooting her a droll look. ‘Good Lord! It would appear I have married an ambitious female after all.’

‘I can be when it is necessary. But I am happy at Sinnington Castle and would not wish to be a courtier spending all my time at the Palace of Westminster.’

The infant named Thomas Edward St Edmond was born in early summer at Sinnington Castle after a quick and easy labour. Jane’s mother and Kate were lovingly present throughout her ordeal.

Perfect in every detail, he was rosy cheeked and dark haired like his father and had the appetite
of a horse. From the moment his parents beheld him they adored him. He was the centre of their lives.

‘You are a perfect mother,’ Guy said with satisfaction, kissing her tenderly as she nursed their son. He turned his head to look at her, his brilliant blue eyes open wide. ‘As long as you don’t forget all about being a wife and a lover and make me feel a miserably neglected man.’

Jane knew he was joking, for he revelled in the beauty of young Thomas. She smiled at him with drowsy contentment, seeing so much love in his serene gaze—love and gratitude—and a wicked glint of a promise of something naughtier for later. ‘It would not be possible for me to do that. You know how much I love you. How much do you love me?’ she asked, placing the babe in his crib. Taking his hands, she held them to her heart.

‘More than life itself,’ he replied, looking deep into her eyes.

‘And if you had a price to put on it? What would it be?’

‘You are my joy, my love. If I had to name a price, it would be a fortune—nothing less than a king’s ransom.’