The Velvet Promise (41 page)

"Will you excuse me?" Alice murmured demurely and dismissed the men around her as she walked toward the man against the wall.

"She is lovely, isn't she?" Alice asked, gritting her teeth against the words.

"Yes," he whispered, the word coming from his soul.

"It's sad to see a woman such as that so unhappy."

The man turned and looked at Alice. "She doesn't look to be unhappy."

"No, she makes a good show, but the unhappiness is there."

"You are Lady Alice Chatworth?"

"Yes. And you?"

"Alan Fairfax, my beautiful countess," he said as he bowed and kissed her hand. "At your service."

Alice laughed gaily. "It is not I who need your service, but the Lady Judith."

Alan looked back at the dancers. "She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen," he whispered.

Alice's eyes guttered like blue glass. "Have you told her of your love?"

"No!" he said, frowning. "I am a knight, sworn to honor, and she is a married woman."

"Yes, she is, though most unhappily."

"She doesn't look to be unhappy," he repeated as he watched the object of his affections look up at her husband with great warmth.

"I have known her a long time and she is indeed miserable. Only yesterday she was crying to me that she desperately needed someone to love, someone who would be sweet and gentle with her."

"Her husband is not?" Alan was concerned.

"It's not common knowledge"—Alice lowered her voice—"but he beats her often."

Alan looked back at Judith. "I don't believe you."

Alice shrugged. "I didn't mean to spread gossip. She is my friend and I would like to help her. They won't stay at court for long, and I'd hoped that before they left dear Judith could find just a few moments of pleasure."

It was true that Lady Judith was lovely; her radiant coloring saw to that. Her auburn hair was visible beneath a veil of transparent gauze. The silver tissue of her dress hugged lush curves. But what Alan thought was even more striking than her beauty was the vitality she seemed to emanate. She looked at everyone, from king to serf, with a calm level look that said she cared. She never giggled or flirted or played the coy maiden.

Alan was truly fascinated by her. He would give a lot to have her once turn those warm golden eyes on him.

"Would you like to see her alone?"

Alan's eyes sparkled. "Yes, I would."

"Then I will arrange it. Go to the garden and I'll send her to you. We're great friends and she knows she can trust me." Alice stopped and put a hand on Alan's arm. "She'll worry that she is safe from her husband's finding her. Tell her he is with me—then she'll know that she has no fear of being discovered."

Alan nodded. It wouldn't hurt to spend some time with the lady, and since her husband rarely let her out of his sight, Alan would use this opportunity.

Judith stood close to Gavin, drinking a mug of cool cider. She was warm from the dancing, and it was pleasant to lean against the cool stone and watch the others. A man came with a message for Gavin, which he repeated quietly, for Gavin's ears alone. Gavin frowned.

"Have you had bad news?" she asked.

"I don't know. Someone says I must meet them."

"No name?"

"No. I asked a horse merchant about a mare—perhaps it's only that." He turned and caressed her cheek. "There is Stephen. Go and stay by him.

This won't take long."

"If I can find a way through the women around Stephen!" she laughed.

"You will do as I say."

"Yes, my lord," she said mockingly.

He shook his head at Judith, but smiled, then turned and left.

She went to stand by Stephen who strummed on a lute and sang for a group of pretty and adoring young women. Stephen had told her that he meant to use his last days of freedom to advantage.

"Lady Judith?"

"Yes." She turned to a maid, one she did not recognize.

"There is a man waiting for you in the garden."

"A man? My husband?"

"I don't know, my lady."

Judith began to smile. No doubt Gavin planned some moonlight tryst.

"Thank you," she said, leaving the hall to go to the garden. The garden was dark and cool, with many secret shadows that told of several couples locked together in each other's arms.

"Lady Judith?"

"Yes." It wasn't possible to see clearly but she saw a tall, slim young man with bright eyes, a prominent nose and lips a little too full.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alan Fairfax of Lincolnshire."

She smiled at him as he took her hand and kissed it.

"Are you looking for someone?"

"I thought my husband would be here."

"I haven't seen him."

"You know him then?"

He smiled, showing even white teeth. "I have seen you. It is more that I know you and am aware of who is near you."

She looked at him in wonder. "A very pretty speech, sir."

Alan held his arm out for her. "Shall we sit here a moment while we wait for your husband?"

She hesitated.

"As you see, the bench is in plain view. I ask nothing of you but that you sit and talk to a lonely knight."

The bench was directly under a bright torch held in the garden wall.

Judith could see him more clearly. His lips were sensual, his nose thin and aristocratic. His eyes were almost black in the darkness. Judith was wary of him. The last man she had sat and talked with was Walter Demari, and that had led to disaster.

"You seem ill at ease, my lady."

"I'm not used to courtly ways. I've spent very little time with men who aren't related to me."

"But you wish to spend more?" he encouraged.

"I hadn't thought about it. I have my husband and his brothers. They seem to be enough."

"But here at court a lady may be freer. It's acceptable to have many friends, both men and women." Alan took her hand from her lap. "I should very much like to be your friend."

She jerked away from him, frowning, then rose. "I must return to the hall and my husband."

He stood beside her. "There's no need to fear him. He is safely away. He is with your friend Alice Chatworth."

"No! You insult me!"

"No," Alan said, bewildered. "I didn't mean to. What have I said?"

So! Gavin was with Alice. Perhaps he arranged that she should spend this time with another man in the hope that she would be occupied. But she had no desire to stay with a stranger. "I must go," she said quickly, turning on her heel.

"Where have you been?" Gavin demanded, meeting her before she reached the hall.

"With my lover," she said calmly. "And you?"

His hands tightened on her arms. "Are you teasing me?"

"Perhaps."

"Judith!"

She glared at him. "Wasn't the Lady Alice especially lovely tonight?

Gold cloth goes well with her hair and eyes, don't you think?"

Gavin loosened his hold somewhat, smiling slightly. "I didn't notice. Are you jealous of her?"

"Do I have cause?"

"No, Judith, you do not. I have told you she is gone from my life."

She sneered at him. "Next you will be telling me your love is now mine."

"And if I did?" Gavin whispered with such an intensity she was almost frightened.

Her heart fluttered. "I don't know if I would believe you," she said quietly. Or was she afraid that if he said he loved her that she would return the words? Would he laugh at her? Would he and his Alice lay in each other's arms and make light of what to Judith was life and death?

"Come inside, then. It grows late."

What was there in his voice that made her want to comfort him?

"You leave tomorrow?" Gavin asked as he wiped sweat from his brow.

He had been training since sunup on the king's long sand-covered field.

There were many knights and squires present from all over England.

"Yes," Stephen said with an air of gloom. "I feel as though I'm going to my death."

Gavin laughed. "It won't be so bad. Look at my marriage. It has turned out quite well."

"Yes, but there is only one Judith."

Gavin smiled and scratched at the heavy armor he wore. "Yes, and she is mine."

Stephen returned his smile. "All is well between you then?"

"It's coming along. She is jealous of Alice and forever accuses me of all manner of happenings with her, but Judith will come round."

"And what of your Alice?"

"I'm no longer interested. I told her so yesterday."

Stephen gave a low whistle. "You told Alice, whom you once loved, that you now prefer another? I would fear for my life if I were you."

"Perhaps from Judith, but not from one as sweet as Alice."

"Alice Chatworth? Sweet? You are truly blind, my brother."

As always, Gavin was angered when someone spoke ill of Alice. "You don't know her as I do. She was very hurt when I told her, but she accepted it regally, as I knew she would. If Judith hadn't captured me so completely, I would still think of Alice as a choice for my wife."

Stephen thought it was better not to comment further. "Tonight I plan a splendid drunk. I will drink the castle dry. Then, when I see this bride of mine, I'll be better able to stomach her. Would you care to join me? We shall celebrate my last moments of freedom."

Gavin smiled in anticipation. "Yes, we haven't celebrated our escape from Demari's. Stephen, I didn't tell you my thanks."

Stephen hit his brother on the back. "You must return the favor when I need you."

Gavin frowned. "Maybe you can find me a man to replace John Bassett."

"Ask Judith," Stephen said, his eyes twinkling. "Perhaps she can run your men also."

"Don't even hint such an idea to her. She complains now that she has too little to do here."

"That's your fault, brother. Don't you keep her busy?"

"Have a care! I may begin to hope that your Scottish heiress is as ugly as you think she is."

Judith sat in the great hall amid a group of women. All of them, including the queen, sat behind beautiful rosewood and brass embroidery frames. Their hands flew deftly and swiftly over the fabric, beautiful colors of silk streaming from their needles. Judith sat quietly in a chair, a piece of embroidery before her, too; but she merely stared at it, feeling awkward, not knowing what else to do with herself. At least Gavin could do his work even when he was away from home. But he had threatened her against cleaning the king's fishpond… or his pantry or anything else, for that matter.

"I think that sewing is the most feminine of arts. Don't you agree, Your Majesty?" Alice said quietly.

Queen Elizabeth didn't even look up. "I believe it would depend upon the woman. I have seen some women use a crossbow, yet retain their femininity, while another who looked sweet and performed all the female arts to perfection, could underneath be cruel."

Judith looked up in surprise as a giggle escaped from a pretty young woman next to her.

"You don't agree, Lady Isabel?" Queen Elizabeth asked.

"Oh yes, Your Majesty, I most certainly do." The two women exchanged understanding glances.

Alice, furious at being set down, continued. "But would a true woman wish to use a crossbow? I cannot see that there would be a need. Women are always protected by men."

"May a woman not help her husband? I once took an arrow meant for John," Lady Isabel said.

Several of the women gasped in horror.

Alice looked at the green-eyed woman with disgust. "But a true woman could not do violence. Could they, Lady Judith? I mean, a woman couldn't kill a man, could she?"

Judith looked down at the empty canvas on the stretcher.

Alice leaned forward. "Lady Judith, you couldn't kill a man, could you?"

"Lady Alice!" Queen Elizabeth said sharply. 'I believe you pry into matters that are not your concern."

"Oh!" Alice feigned surprise. "I didn't know the Lady Judith's handiness with a sword was a secret. I won't speak of it again."

"No, you won't," Lady Isabel lashed out, "now that you have told everything."

"My lady!" Joan announced loudly, "Lord Gavin requests you immediately."

"Is anything wrong?" Judith asked, rising quickly.

"I don't know," Joan said, an odd, blank expression on her face. "You know how he cannot bear for you to be out of his sight for very long."

Judith gave her a look of astonishment.

"Come quickly. He won't wait long."

Judith refrained from reprimanding her maid before the queen. She turned and excused herself from the women, glad to see that Alice's eyes smoldered in anger. When they were away, Judith turned back to her maid. "You forget yourself."

"No! I only helped you. That cat would tear you to shreds. You're no match for her."

"She doesn't frighten me."

"Then perhaps she should. She is an evil woman."

"Yes," Judith agreed. "I am aware of that. I am grateful though that you took me from that place. I almost prefer Alice's company to sewing, but the two together are more than I can bear!" She sighed. "I suppose Gavin didn't send for me."

"Why must he send for you? Don't you think he will be pleased to see you?"

Judith frowned.

"You are a foolish woman," Joan said, risking harsh words from her mistress. "The man wants you, yet you don't see it."

Once outside in the bright sunlight, Judith forgot all thoughts of Alice.