A Rose for the Crown (56 page)

Kate smiled at Margaret’s relief, but she was disappointed that the men were not there to greet them. A night in Richard’s arms was all she could think about at that moment. Margaret presumed they would have more luxurious quarters once the king was installed, but at the end of the long day, the two women gladly shared a straw mattress and a blanket. Within minutes, Margaret was snoring lightly and Kate lay curled up, drifting in and out of sleep. She missed Katherine and wondered if her baby missed her. It was a few weeks since the wet nurse had taken over Katherine’s feedings, and Kate had been surprised by the fast onset of her monthly courses once she stopped breastfeeding. She had grimaced the first time she discovered she was back on a cycle; she disliked the confinement women were forced to endure every month. Thanks to sweet Mary for this timing was her final prayer before falling asleep to dream of Richard.

*   *   *

T
HE ROYAL ARRIVAL
was far grander than Kate could have imagined. The king was determined to show his subjects he was still the all-powerful ruler, despite the rumors of rebellions in the north. East Anglia was an area of the country he could depend on, he knew. After all, many here—Brandons, Wingfields, Hautes and Darcys—could claim kinship with the queen.

The beggars had been hustled away, and now cheering pilgrims lined the route and Edward waved and smiled broadly at them. His subjects gawked at the gorgeous figure on the great white horse, and Edward was well aware of the impression he made. Behind him, on his black mount, Richard also smiled and waved, basking in his brother’s popularity. He rode alongside Edward’s father-in-law, Earl Rivers, and two of the earl’s sons, Lord Scales and Sir John Woodville. Following at a respectful distance were other prominent members of the retinue, including Jack Howard. Kate and Margaret cheered along with the rest of the crowd outside the massive abbey door. Edward took off his hat and wheeled his horse around to acknowledge the spectators.

“God’s greetings, good people!” he cried. A hush settled over the square. “I am here, as you are, an unworthy pilgrim. I seek God’s help in my quest to rule you well. And ’tis thus, a penitent, that I enter to worship at the shrine of St. Edmund. Later I shall also seek the blessings of Our Lady of Walsingham. Perhaps we shall meet again there.”

A squire ran forward to hold his mount. Edward climbed out of his saddle and knelt humbly on the cobblestones in front of the abbey. The great doors swung open as if by magic, and he walked out of the sunlight and into the shrine’s darkness. The other nobles dismounted quickly and followed their king to the saint’s tomb. The Benedictines were sensible of the honor done their house by the king’s visit and had cleared the shrine of other worshippers before Edward’s entry.

Kate followed Margaret to a side door, and when Margaret revealed her identity, they were allowed inside by one of the monks. Once Kate’s eyes became accustomed to the gloom, she saw all of the king’s company lying prostrate on the flagstones, their arms outstretched towards the martyr’s tomb. It sat on a high pedestal in a gated chapel, the stained-glass windows behind allowing an eerie light to play upon it. Kate was immediately moved to kneel next to Margaret and cross herself reverently.
Then, as if a gentle hand from above were guiding her, she sank down on the stone floor in the same position as the others. She felt small and insignificant. She began to recite the
paternoster;
the familiar words comforted her. In the background, monks chanted and one of them circled the prostrate group carrying a golden incense burner, sending clouds of sweet smoke into the air. The beauty of the moment unleashed a stream of tears from her onto the floor, and Kate felt a cleansing of her soul.

“Forgive me, Lord. I have sinned against my husband and against You. But my love for Richard is pure and true, and I know he loves me alone as well. I pray to St. Edmund for a miracle that will free me from George and let Richard be mine.”

She knew she was begging, but if only the first part were granted, she would be happy.

“Do not look unkindly on my daughter, Lord. She has no fault in this. She is the innocent child of our great love. I shall bring her up to worship You and follow Your laws better than I.”

Edward was being helped to his feet, and Margaret resumed a kneeling position, waiting for Jack. Edward, surrounded by his nobles, was talking to the abbot, but Richard was still prone. Kate knew she was out of place in the royal party and slipped quietly outside.

“I
AM HAPPY
to see you here, Kate,” Richard said in the sanctuary of the cloister garden an hour later. “Jack Howard is true to his word. I have made arrangements for you to travel with us to Norfolk and thence to Walsingham.” He took her hand. “Where is Katherine?”

“She is safe at Tendring. I have found a wet nurse, and Katherine seems not to notice the change.” She glanced around, noting others walking in the quiet garden. “Are we able to be alone?”

“Meet me by the Northgate with your horse at half past the hour. I will make my excuses to Edward.” He kissed her hand and was gone.

They soon left the crowded town behind and urged their horses into a gallop across a meadow, scattering sheep and laughing at the silly creatures’ indecision. Kate pulled off her headdress and let her hair fly loose in the wind. Richard was reminded of their first meeting in the wood. Yes, Rob, you were right. I shall follow her to the ends of the earth, he
thought happily. Today he would not think about his station and its duty. Today he would just be a young man in love on a sweet summer’s day. The horses slowed as they neared a river. Its crystal-clear water bent the grasses in the current. Richard helped Kate out of her cumbersome saddle and she slid into his arms. He tilted her head and kissed her tenderly at first but then, responding to her desire, more passionately. They stood intertwined under the whispering poplars, reveling in each other’s touch. Each time Richard tried to catch his breath, Kate would pull his head back to her and continue the kiss. She thought she would drown in the intoxicating sensation. Richard finally took a breath and held her at arm’s length. He shook his head, laughing. “Why, Kate. ’Tis my belief you have missed me? I thought you would devour me with your kisses.”

Kate tossed her head and taunted him. “And you, my lord duke? Tell me you have not longed for me. Sweet Jesu, but I am hot. Can we not bathe in this heavenly water?”

Before Richard could answer, she pulled her gown over her head and stood there in her chemise. Richard’s cautiousness made him look anxiously up and down the riverbank, and Kate laughed at him. “Come, sir. You are a milksop! Who is there to see us but some cows. The trees will shade us from prying eyes in the fields, I daresay.” Without further ado, she removed her petticoat and ran naked to a natural pool carved out of the riverbank.

Richard was mesmerized. The sun shimmered on her russet hair, and her body was white as alabaster against the sparkling river. She gingerly put a toe in the water and finding it pleasantly refreshing, immersed herself in the shallow pool. Her hair floated like a red-gold cloud around her, and in the limpid waters, Richard could see her form clearly beneath the surface. Throwing caution—and his clothes—to the winds, he joined her in the cooling water. Like two children on a spree, they splashed each other, pushed each other under and spouted fountains from their mouths. Kate even clambered onto Richard’s shoulders and fell backwards into the stream with a squeal of delight. He turned and she stood facing him, droplets of water like crystal earrings suspended from her nipples, which were hardened by the cool stream. He reached out and playfully flicked the drop away from her right breast and took the enticing nipple between his teeth.

“Have a care, my lord,” Kate teased him. “Be gentle.”

His tongue warmed her cold skin and she shivered with delight. Reaching down, she fondled his prick, chuckling. “My tit is not the only hard thing between us, in truth.”

“You talk too much, my love,” he muttered, and pulling her towards him, lifted her easily onto his hips.

The sensation in the water was delicious, Kate thought, as they were gently buoyed up and down by the river. There was no rush, just a wondrous feeling of being suspended in time. When Richard was close to climax, Kate took his face in her hands and kissed him, eyes wide open. Watching his expression, she experienced his ecstasy in a deeper way than ever before, and her own rush was exquisite.

“I wonder what the fish think,” Kate laughed later, with her legs still wrapped around his waist. She absentmindedly fingered the French coin that he still wore next to his heart. “I wager they wish they were human instead of only able to lay eggs.”

Richard gave a shout of laughter. He held on to her tightly and staggered to shore, where she slithered down his hips and legs to the ground.

“God’s mercy, but you are no lightweight, Kate.” He pretended exhaustion and sank down beside her. They lay on the mossy bank, the sun warming their now shivering limbs.

“Beg pardon, sir. Mistress.” The man came from nowhere. “Be this your horse?”

Kate screamed and sat up, hugging her knees and attempted to pull strands of wet hair around her. Richard quickly turned over on his stomach and gazed up at the gray-bearded peasant standing over them holding Cornflower’s bridle. The man seemed unperturbed by the scene. Without the benefit of clothes, Richard assumed the fellow had no way of knowing he was addressing a royal duke. A naked royal duke, he thought, amused.

“Aye, my good man. She is indeed ours. I thank you.” Richard got up and walked over to his clothes with as much dignity as a naked royal duke could muster. His undershirt covered him adequately. Retrieving Kate’s chemise, he returned it to her, and she gratefully covered herself. He picked up his purse and gave the old man a coin from it, taking hold of Cornflower’s reins.

“Good day to you, man, and God speed,” Richard dismissed the peasant pleasantly.

“Thank’ee kindly, sir. And, if I may be bold, ’tis no wonder you forgot the horse when you have a filly like that to ride!” The old man showed his blackened teeth in a lecherous grin. “Tee-hee, tee-hee,” he tittered as he ambled off back to the fields. Richard was too stunned by the fellow’s impudence to take him to task and simply stared after him until he heard Kate’s unbridled laughter from within the folds of her petticoat.

“I
AM MORTIFIED
you bestow your favours on Richard and not me,” Rob Percy whispered to Kate in mock indignation one evening after supper. The company was being entertained in Norwich by the dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk, although the king was housed in the bishop’s palace adjacent to the cathedral. The rich wool merchants of the city had served a splendid feast at the guildhall on the marketplace. The chequered flint building had not seen such a gathering since it had been built in the days of the fifth Henry. After London and York, Norwich was the most populous and important city in England, and its citizens were happy to welcome their king and show him their hospitality. Edward was quite happy to be there, surrounded by his most faithful supporters. Only John de Vere, earl of Oxford, was a constant thorn in Edward’s side here, but after the brief imprisonment of the previous winter, even he seemed to have accepted Edward as his liege lord.

Richard had forewarned Kate that he had let their secret out to Rob, and she was happy she was important enough to him to confide in his best friend.

“Oh, Rob, do not be such a tease. If you had not been so uncivil in your remarks about Kent—”

“Me, uncivil? You placed me no higher than the beasts, I seem to remember, madam!” Laughing, he took her arm and walked her to a window embrasure, where they were out of earshot of those engrossed in a mummers’ play. “’Tis of no import, Kate. I am pleased for Richard. He has not had much happiness in his life so far, for all he is brother to the king. He has softened since he has known you. There is more to his life now than jousting and book-learning. Why, I have seen him read poetry of late instead of books about the law or warfare. He is a serious man, in
truth, Kate, but you have brought out a side of him we have not seen before.”

“I am pleased we have your approbation, Rob.” More seriously, she said, “He talks much of you and your friendship. ’Tis difficult to know, when you are the king’s brother, if a friend is truly a friend or is one seeking to elevate himself.” She paused. “Now soft, for the subject of our discussion approaches.”

Richard’s eyebrow was raised as he made his way over to them. Kate admired his burgundy jacket threaded with silver to form huge roses and the heavy gold collar studded with rubies. She did not care for the high hat he was wearing and was about to tell him so when a familiar figure came between them.

“George!” she exclaimed. “Why are you here?”

“I might ask you the same question, wife,” George retorted, his eyes glittering. He took Kate roughly by the arm and pulled her to him and away from Rob’s side. “So,” he hissed loudly enough for Rob to hear, “is this the father of your bastard?”

Kate saw Richard freeze behind George, who had not seen him, and her eyes implored him to leave. He hesitated but then turned on his heel and went the other way.

Rob leapt immediately to Kate’s defence. “Unhand the lady, sirrah! I know not what you mean by your insinuations, for Dame Katherine and I have not long become acquainted. There is nothing untoward between us, I swear to you.” Rob stared pointedly at George’s grip on Kate’s wrist and then into his eyes. “Robert Percy of Scotton swears this to you. I presume you are the unlucky lady’s husband.”