In Bed With A Stranger(50)

"Seeped in wine, it will send the drinker into a sleep they never awaken from."

Mary gasped, but a look of savage enjoyment crossed her face. She  reached out to touch the jar. "Once the baby is born, we'll mull some  wine and give it to both of them."

"Exactly." Philipa looked behind her once more. When she was assured  that Ivy and Anne did not hear, she patted her daughter's cheek. "No  more fits from you. It will all be done shortly."

Mother and daughter shared a smile that was pure evil. The jar sitting on the vanity awaited its moment of use.

Scotland

"Good God, man, ye look exhausted." Druce stood up, offering his chair to Captain Murry.

The McJames' retainer didn't take the chair. He offered Brodick a quick pull on the corner of his bonnet before speaking.

"The mistress was taken back to England."

"What?"

It was impossible to tell which man spoke first. Brodick, Cullen and  Druce's voices all bounced around the small town house together. Brodick  held his hand out, authority rippling out of the gesture.

"Why did ye allow that?"

"She snuck out of the castle, made her bed look as though she was in it."

A deadly look passed over the earl's face.

"There's more my lord and it isnae good."

Brodick listened as Captain Murry explained the details. He shook his  head, unable to absorb the deception completely. Who plotted such a  thing?

There was a snort of laughter from the other side of the room. James Stewart hit the table top as his amusement grew.

"I didnae think the English had such cunning in them." He chuckled and  raised his tankard towards Brodick. "Well, my friend, I suppose ye'll be  wanting yer leave. 'Tis yers. Go fetch yer wife back."

"Yet is she yer wife, my lord?" Captain Murry lowered himself before the king before turning to ask the question.

"She sure as hell is, man! She's carrying me son." Brodick was on his  feet. He reached for his sword and tied it into place with stiff  motions.

"Aye. I agree with that." Druce nodded his head and reached for his own sword.

The king looked pensive for a long moment, too long for Brodick's taste.

"She's also the Earl of Warwickshire's daughter and his wife sent her with me. Told me that was the bride I'd come for."

James Stewart raised an eyebrow. "Yer too passionate by far, man, but 'tis the truth that I envy ye."

The king stood, the two men-at-arms with him, keeping close to their  master. "I agree that the marriage is valid. But I'll ask ye this, do ye  want a woman that lied to ye?"

Brodick stared at his king, his mind replaying that first meeting.

"She didnae lie to me."

James raised an eyebrow.

Brodick clenched his fists. "She said nothing at all. That bitch of a  countess should be flogged for abusing her position so greatly."

James snorted. "Aye, I see yer thinking there, man." He nodded. "Go  fetch her back and I'll see that the wedding agreement is honored."         

     



 

There was nothing more to be said. Brodick quit the room with Druce and  Cullen on his heels. Their men hurried to saddle the horses. Leather  snapped in the autumn morning air. Bridles and reins were secured while a  few meager supplies were strapped to the horses. Brodick swung up into  the saddle, his heart pounding.

What have ye done, lass?

He didn't care. He was the McJames and she was his. According to the  laws of both her country and his, and by right of possession. If he had  to take her back, he would. Leaning over the neck of his mount, he urged  the animal forward.

His …





Chapter Thirteen


Warwick Castle

Anne awoke in a surly mood. It was odd the way she noticed her own ill  temper. She was not hungry and did not care for what was offered to  break her fast, either.

She sniffed at herself because what did it matter what was served to  them in their prison if she was not hungry? With a huff she paced around  the solar. Anne stopped to pick at the finished tapestry, the silk  thread having brought Brodick to life in stunning display. She fingered  his dark hair. Her mother was abnormally quiet this morning, slowly  knitting on the round. Looking back at the tapestry, she felt a shiver  race down her spine. It was almost as if she heard him riding towards  her.

Which was foolish.

He'll come for you …

Bonnie's sweet words echoed from her memory. It seemed so long ago that  they had shared that last moment together. One short season, and so many  things were changed. Her entire body quivered as she recalled watching  her sire depart that morning. Sweat popped out on her forehead as she  heard Bonnie talking about the child she would birth in the fall.  Through the windows, she could see the scarlet leaves. Bundles of barley  were standing in the fields, drying in the last of the warm weather.

She was so lonely, the sight of the tapestry made her want to cry. She  paced around the room, hating the stone walls. A chill raced down her  back and then her entire spine turned warm. She stopped as a cramp  tightened along her hip line.

Her surcoat was too warm. Opening the buttons that closed the top of it,  Anne laid it over the foot of the bed. It was still much too hot in the  solar. Her body shuddered as another cramp moved through her. A rush of  warm fluid down her thighs made her gasp.

"Well, I thought it was that time."

Her mother calmly knelt and wiped up the puddle. The cloth she used turned pink.

Ivy stood up. "Don't worry, Anne, that is the way it goes. It is normal."

She didn't have time to argue with her mother's calm statement. Another  cramp began and this one was much stronger. Leaning over, Anne braced  her hands on her thighs while the pain moved through her.

"Breathe, Anne. Long, deep breaths. You must for the child."

The curtain suddenly moved, Lady Mary looking in.

"Is it time?"

Ivy glared at the girl but Mary didn't wait for an answer. She smiled, greed brightening her eyes.

"Mother, Mother … it's time."

There was a scuff of shoes against the stone floor. Philipa peered into the room as Anne straightened up.

"Good. Very good. I'll get the cook to keep the water at hand." Philipa  nodded. "Mind your screams, girl. Make too much noise and I won't be  able to make the staff believe that your child is Mary's."

"Now is not the time for threats."

Philipa was stunned by Ivy's words. She pushed her lips into a line of disapproval but Ivy was not intimidated.

"We've work to do here. Birthing is not an easy task."

Philipa bit back her words. "No, it is not." For a mere moment there was  a glimmer of compassion in her face but it died quickly and the curtain  dropped back into place.

"Bitter, poisonous woman," Ivy said as she began arranging the items  she'd had brought to the room. "Take no notice of her, Anne."

Anne couldn't have, even if she'd wanted to. She was held captive by her  own body. The day bled away as she walked around the solar, stopping  for each cramp. She shed her under gown, only able to tolerate her  chemise. Even her stockings irritated her legs. The stone floor was cool  beneath her bare feet. She sighed as she paced more, at last free of  the overwhelming heat.         

     



 

"It's time … it's time."

Mary twirled around the room, adding a few dance steps into her motions. "Oh, Mother, you were so right."

Philipa basked in the admiration from her child. Contentment mixed with a  sense of achievement inside her. Mary would never have to endure the  things that she had been forced to when her father ordered her to marry.  She had succeeded in giving her child a better life than her own.

That was the greatest gift a mother could give.



"Here now, Toby, lend a hand."

Joyce scolded her son when she caught him watching the guards in the  lower courtyard. The clang of swords drifted in through the window,  drawing his young attention. He'd watch them train all afternoon if she  allowed it.

"Mother, can I be a knight?"

"If a saint or two looks kindly on you, blessing you with strength and  skill. Mayhap." Joyce kissed the top of his head, smiling with a  mother's joy. "We'll have to place you in the captain's path and see  that he gets a good look at how tall and strong you are growing. You  shall have to look him straight in the eye, though, so that he knows you  have courage."

Toby grinned, showing off the gap where his front teeth had fallen out.

"But that's for later. The mistress will be having her comforts and  there is supper to get on the tables. For now, you earn your keep in the  kitchen like your mother."

Joyce turned to apply her tongue to the hands that had begun working  slowly as the morning faded away. Clapping her hands, she shook her long  wooden spoon at her staff. Lazy wenches, they took advantage of her  good will when Toby was in the kitchen. Aye, they slowed down knowing  that she was soft toward her youngest child.

"Get that wine mulled before the mistress calls for it. I'll see you  bent over in the fields if you get me summoned to her chamber because  you're dreaming the day away."