The Kadin - Bertrice Small [187]
“Good night, Marian.”
Janet walked to the fireplace, and reaching into a jar on the mantel, drew out a handful of aloes, which she threw on the fire. Standing by the window she gazed into the silver-lit black night The moon rode high. He would come she knew. For over a month now he had been paying her secret visits, entering Glenkirk by a hidden door at the base of this tower. Besides herself and Colin, only Marian and Ruth knew of the door’s existence. She had discovered it when she was a child
Feeling a draft she turned. He stood, the tapestry to his back, stripping off his gloves. He tossed them along with his cloak on the wooden settle by the fireplace.
“Jesu, sweetheart it’s cold tonight!” He opened his arms. “Come warm me.”
“And be frozen to death? No thank you, m’lord. When ye’ve thawed, I’ll consider yer offer.” Walking to the cupboard she took out a decanter and goblet and pouring him some wine, handed it to him. “Are you hungry? Marion has left fresh bread and some mutton.’
“Later.” He drained the goblet “That gown screams rape. If ye dinna want it ruined, take it off.”
Sprawled on the bed he watched her. Her slender fingers undid the ribbon on the cape, which slipped to the floor. She shrugged the ribbons off her shoulders and untied the one at her waist He caught his breath as the gown slid slowly to the floor caressing her ripe breasts, hips and long legs as it sunk into a mass around her ankles. She stepped out of it and joined him on the bed. Laying back she looked up at him. “Good evening, my lord Hay.”
“Madame.” He chuckled, and bending kissed the tip of each breast Instantly they sprang erect “So,” he smiled lazily, “that’s how it’s going to be.” Standing up he stripped off his clothes.
Hungrily she drew him down, and a few moments later they both lay spent and exhausted. For a while only their breathing broke the stillness. Then Janet said, “Are ye warm now, my lord?”
“Aye, and hungry too.” Grinning he stood up and helped himself to the bread and meat in the cupboard.
“Gi’ me some wine, Colly.” He handed her a cup which she sipped slowly. “I told Charles he might have the East Wing of Sithean. He’s delighted.”
“He should bel Yer damned generous, but I’ll feel better knowing that there’s a man in the house.”
“Red Hugh is a man. He’ll be living there, too.”
“Still after little Ruth, is her
“Aye, but he’ll have to wed wi’ her to get what he wants. Marian’s daughter is no wanton ready for a quick tumble under a hedge.”
“Will he?”
“I think so. What he wants of her no other woman, even a virgin, can gie him. My nephew hasna realized it yet, but he’s in love!”
“And young Ruth,” said Colin, “following yer instructions, no doubt, will first drive poor Hugh wild and then drive him to the altar. Yer a wicked lass, my Jan!”
She laughed. “Ye make it sound so odious! I simply want them both happy.”
“If yer for them, they will be, my dear. Now if ye would agree to marry me I should be happy, also.”
“Colin, my hinny, ye may have my love, my body, my undivided attention—and aye!—even my money! But I’ll nae wed again! It’s extremely pleasant being yer mistress, but ‘tis even more pleasant being my own mistress.”
“I’ll keep asking.” His eyes twinkled.
Putting her goblet on the table by the bed she held out her arms to him. He accepted the invitation. They made love tenderly, slowly, each striving to prolong the other’s pleasure, and as the moon began to set, they fell asleep.
44
SITHEAN WAS DEDICATED on Saint Andrew’s Day in the year fifteen hundred and thirty-three. Janet had been home six months. Afterwards there was a feast The Lady of Sithean had taken into her household a cook, a bailiff, a dozen housemaids and kitchenmaids, a laundress and two assistants, a spit-boy, three byremaids, a head groom, three undergrooms, a head gamekeeper, two assistant gamekeepers, twenty men-at-arms, their captain, her own personal body servants, two nursemaids for the nursery, and a priest In all she was to be responsible for feeding, clothing, and housing fifty-three souls, not including her own