Amethyst (56 page)
"So you're an accessory to the crime," Colin accused, with that devastating smile that made Amy's heart turn over, even after all these years.
"I suppose one could conclude that."
"Which reminds me: How did she manage that hay trick? You must know."
Amy did know. Jewel and Benchley, whom she'd long ago charmed into acting as her willing accomplice, had placed a board against the open wardrobe and stuffed hay behind it, then closed the door most of the way, pulled the board, and slammed the wardrobe shut. When Colin opened it to hang his shirt on a peg, he'd turned into a human haystack.
Watching from their bed, Amy had laughed herself sick. Jewel had run in, crowing with delight, prompting Colin to initiate a wrestling match that resulted in an explosion of sweet-smelling hay spread all about the chamber. And after Jewel returned to bed, Colin had picked the strands of hay from Amy's hair, one by one, running them over her body…
Amy shook her head to clear it. No, she hadn't the right to give away Jewel's secrets. "I have no idea," she said coyly. "Jewel doesn't confide in me."
But Benchley does, she amended to herself. Benchley was forever boasting about Lady Jewel's accomplishments. To everyone but Jewel's father, that was.
Benchley was loyal to a fault.
"Are you quite certain?" Colin asked, his mouth against hers.
"Quite."
His arms tightened around her, and his lips pressed closer, warm and demanding. Her mouth opened beneath his, and his tongue plunged deep, exploring possessively. Amy's knees turned to pudding, and she felt the blood coursing through her veins, spreading the familiar tingling weakness to every part of her body, but most especially the part that was reserved for Colin.
His hand reached down to tug at her skirts, and then it was under them and his fingers were cupping her. She throbbed, unbearably so, and if Colin's arms weren't supporting her, she would surely have slipped to the floor.
His kiss intensified, claiming her as his alone.
Her senses whirled, and her heart pounded so loud she was certain he could hear it. She vaguely wondered how she could feel this way—she, a grown lady of twenty-nine, with three children. But inside, she felt no older than when Colin first kissed her, so many years ago. And his kisses still affected her the same way, only more so.
"Amy…" Colin murmured into her mouth.
"Hmm?"
His hand stilled, and he pulled his lips from hers. But he pressed her even tighter to his hard body, his other hand in the small of her back. "How did Jewel pull off the hay trick?"
His lips brushed hers teasingly, his hand a warm promise beneath her skirts.
And she almost told him…
"Lord Greystone?" A sharp knock came at the door.
Colin jumped away with a groan. "Yes?"
Lydia opened the door and stuck her head in just as Amy smoothed down her skirts, her cheeks hot with arousal and embarrassment.
"Lady Jewel says you were supposed to tell her a story?"
"Oh…yes…I did promise her a story…didn't I?"
Though Lydia kept a straight face, Amy hid a smile. She knew she and Colin shared an unconventional marriage. Colin laid down the law with each new servant: One didn't just open a closed door when Lord and Lady Greystone were in residence. It didn't matter whether the door led to the bedchamber or the buttery, one knocked first—or risked being sorry later.
When Lydia hurried back to her charge, Colin groaned again. Amy knew he would follow—he'd never disappoint his precious Jewel.
A Chase promise was not given lightly.
"This will be continued," Colin vowed before going to his daughter. His deep, husky voice held a challenge, and Amy knew he was referring to the hay episode and what he doubtless considered an ingenious, delicious new method of inducing her to confess what she knew about it.
But, her body still tingling, she chose to interpret his words in an entirely different context.
This will be continued.
For a long, long, long time.
Forever.
Thank you for reading
Amethyst
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If you'd like to learn more about the
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Amethyst
,
read on for my Author's Note.
Author's Note
Books by Lauren Royal
Contest
Excerpt from EMERALD
A Gift for You
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Contact Information
Dear Reader,
When I read a historical novel, I always find myself wondering what and who (besides obvious people like the king and queen) might actually be real. In case any of my readers share this curiosity, I thought a bit of information might be welcome.
The king's mistress, Barbara Villiers Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine (and later, after this story takes place, the Duchess of Cleveland), was indeed real. As King Charles's mistress on and off for at least ten years, she bore him four sons—all of which he created dukes—and a daughter. Charles granted lifetime annuities of £6000 a year for Barbara and £3000 for each of their sons. These were amazing sums at the time and more than he granted any other mistresses or children, yet he must have known Barbara had other lovers—a vast string of them, including not only many English and French courtiers, but also actors, a playwright, a Groom of the King's Bedchamber, and even a rope dancer!
I tried my best to recreate Barbara's vibrant personality from contemporary accounts of her life. I'll never forget the first time I read one of her early biographies, as a college student in the library at UC Irvine. The book, almost 300 years old, was much too valuable and brittle for them to lend out, but (unbelievably!) they did let me touch and read it. I remember my hands shaking—I found it so incredible that someone's words had come down to me through all that time. Years have passed, and I now have several very old books in my own library, but I still touch them reverently—such is the power and endurance of the written word.
Though Barbara Palmer presented Charles with more children than any of his other mistresses, many other women shared his bed. He eventually acknowledged nine sons and five daughters, and it's assumed that he had more. Sadly, Queen Catharine never did present him with legitimate offspring, but at long last a descendent of his is poised to sit on the throne, since Princess Diana's sons are descended from Charles II and Barbara, through their son Charles Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton, born in 1663.
As for Frances Stewart, the gorgeous but empty-headed courtier that Barbara and Colin were gossiping about, Charles did decide to forgive her for marrying the Duke of Richmond and eventually succeeded in wooing her as well. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter she fell ill of smallpox, and the resulting facial disfigurement seems to have cooled Charles's passions. But Charles was ever kindhearted, so she remained his friend. Before Frances succumbed to the dreaded disease, Charles's sister described her as "the prettiest girl in the world," and Charles immortalized that famous beauty when he had her pose as Britannia: Frances's face and torso still grace English coins.
Cainewood Castle is loosely modeled on Arundel Castle in West Sussex. It has been home to the Dukes of Norfolk and their family, the Fitzalan Howards, since 1243, save for a short period during the Civil War. Although the family still resides there, portions of their magnificent home are open to visitors and more than worth a detour, should you ever find yourself in the area.
Greystone was inspired by Amberley Castle, also in West Sussex. Charles II visited the castle in 1651 and 1685. The then tenant, Sir John Brisco, commemorated the second visit by commissioning a mural of Charles and Queen Catharine, which can still be seen in the Queen's Room, now a gourmet restaurant. The castle has passed through many hands and is now run as a luxurious country house hotel. The walls exude the spirit of dreams and legends, and a stay there is the stuff memories are made of, well worth the splurge.
For their London town house, the Chases have borrowed Lindsey House bordering Lincoln's Inn Fields. Attributed to the esteemed architect Inigo Jones, it is the only original house left in the square. The house takes its name from Robert, third Earl of Lindsey, who purchased the property in the 1660s from the family of Sir Theodore Mayerne, who had been doctor to James I and Charles I. There have been various distinguished occupants since, including James Whistler, who painted the famous portrait of his mother there.
To see pictures and learn more about the
real places
and
real people
featured in
Amethyst
, please visit my website at
www.LaurenRoyal.com
, where you can also
enter a contest
, sign up for
my newsletter
, and
find a recipe
for the Rabbit Stew that Amy made for Colin. If you try the recipe, I hope you'll e-mail me at
[email protected]
and tell me what you think, because I love to hear from readers!
For a chance to revisit Amy and Colin, look for
Emerald
and
Amber
, the other books in my
Jewel Trilogy
. You'll find an
Emerald
excerpt
in the back of this book. You can also read Clarice and Mary's story in my novella,
Forevermore
. (But don't read it before
Emerald
unless you don't mind spoilers!) And Ford's story is in
Violet
, the first book in my
Flower Trilogy
.
To hear about my
upcoming releases
, my
contests
, and other news, please sign up for my
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I hope you enjoyed
Amethyst
—thank you for reading!
Till next time,
