He was an arrogant-looking boy, tall and lanky with a shock of dark hair, and amber-gold eyes. He spoke English carefully, with measured tones, but a distinct Scots accent. He was educated, attending the university of Aberdeen, but he had never been out of Scotland before although his father did mention something about future schooling in France as he had had.
The betrothal was celebrated just within the immediate family including Sir Robert Small and his sister, Dame Cecily. The Mass was currently forbidden, but none of the servants at
Queen’s Malvern,
most of whom were old church, would have informed on the de Mariscos, or their priest, a young French relation who was much beloved in the district. The tiny bride-to-be was adorable in a pale rose silk gown, a wreath of wild pink roses in her auburn hair. She was very proud that even given her youth she was able to sign her own name to the legal document right next to that of her bridegroom.
Aidan watched the couple with some amusement, and thought how glad she was that her father hadn’t betrothed her young. Alex was embarrassed by the display of affection being made over him, and the little girl who would be his wife someday. Looking at her he could not imagine her grown, a state he believed he had already attained. In an effort to be friendly he had offered the little maid some sweetmeat. She had taken it from him, lisping her thanks, and then with a strangely adult glance at him from beneath her lashes she had hurried back to the protection of her mother’s lap.
It had been a short affair, lasting only a day for Angus Gordon’s only daughter was being married in a few weeks’ time, and he had left both her, and his wife behind in Scotland during troubled times in order to quickly come south to see the betrothal of his heir. It was also not particularly wise to leave his holding without its lord. The morning after the betrothal saw the Earl of BrocCairn and his son ride north, but not before an exciting end to the previous day when Skye’s daughter Willow went into early labor and delivered her first baby, a healthy, squalling boy, who because of the unusual circumstances of his birth, was baptized immediately with the newly betrothed couple standing as godparents.
As they rode back across the fields to their own home the following afternoon Aidan was still laughing over all the excitement that young Willow had caused, and how her sister-in-law, usually totally in control, had been visibly shaken by her daughter’s ordeal.
“I can’t believe it,” said Conn for what seemed the hundredth time. “I never thought to see Skye get so upset. She’s had enough babies of her own.”
“But this was
her
baby having a baby,” replied Aidan. “It’s one thing to suffer yer own pain, but to see yer child suffering is a completely different matter. I am only to be a mother, but already I understand these things.”
He reached over and took her hand as their two mounts plodded placidly along. “I love ye,” he said quietly. “I love ye very much.”
They rode across a field of yellow yarrow, and up a very gently sloping hillock. Stopping a moment upon its crest they gazed down upon
Pearroc Royal,
peaceful in the late-afternoon sunlight. The camomile lawn was neatly cropped, and looked like a piece of pale green velvet spread out about the house. The gardens were a riot of bright color, and upon the estate lake waterfowl swam serenely upon the untroubled waters. On one side of the lake there remained the small forest that was home to the deer of
Pearroc Royal,
and as they watched a doe with her twin fawns came out of the woods to drink in the lake. No words passed between Conn and his wife. None were necessary. They simply sat quietly smiling at each other, then looking back down upon their unruffled little world. Finally the horses began to stir restlessly beneath them and they began the easy descent to the manor house.
As they arrived a stableboy came forth to take their horses, and Beal hurried from the building. “My lord, there are some gentlemen awaiting ye.”
“Thank ye, Beal,” said Conn, and hurried into the house with Aidan.
There in the hallway were some half-dozen men, dressed in the uniform of the queen’s Gentlemen Pensioners. Conn strode forward.
“Welcome to
Pearroc Royal,
gentlemen. I hope Beal has offered ye refreshment.” He didn’t recognize any of the men, but then men were always retiring as he himself had done, and it was a great honor to serve in the queen’s own personal bodyguard. “How may I be of service to ye?”
The captain of the unit stepped forward. “Ye are Conn St. Michael, born an O’Malley of Innisfana Island, now known as Lord Bliss?”
“I am, sir.”
“Then it is my painful duty to inform ye, my lord, that ye are under arrest in the queen’s name.”
“What?”
Conn looked totally stunned.
“We are come, my lord, to escort ye to London where ye will be lodged in the Tower at her majesty’s discretion.”
“No!”
Aidan had gone white with her terror. “No!” she repeated. “There is some mistake! There has to be!”
Conn put his arm about his wife. “It’s all right, sweeting. I have done nothing wrong. This is simply a mistake.”
“They have come to take ye to the Tower!” she cried. “I shall never see ye again!” Then she burst into tears.
He held her close, vainly attempting to comfort her. “My wife,” he said to the distinctly uncomfortable captain of the guard, “is but newly with child.” Then he tipped her tearstained face up to him. “I trust Bess, Aidan. Now get a hold of yerself, my love, and listen to me. I am going with these gentlemen. Ye are to send to
Queen’s Malvern
for Adam, and tell him what has happened. He will know what to do. Do ye understand me, Aidan?”
“A-aye,” she sniffled.
“Beal!” Conn called.
The butler was immediately there. “My lord?”
“Fetch my sword, immediately!”
They stood for what seemed an eternity in the main hall of the manor while Beal brought Conn’s weapon. Aidan clung to her husband, unable to control her fear. Conn held her tightly against him, his own heart pounding nervously. He could not imagine what had happened to bring him to this. Could his elder brothers be acting up again, but if that was the case why hadn’t the queen spoken of it while they were in London? The queen’s own men shifted their feet restlessly as they waited. They knew nothing themselves except that they had been sent to arrest this man. Who knew what he had done? It could be anything from a serious offense like treason, to something totally silly like the seduction of an important man’s wife or daughter. He had a reputation for such playful antics.
“Yer sword, my lord.” Beal handed Conn the blade.
Conn nodded his thanks, and then releasing Aidan from his grasp, turned to the captain of the guard, and offered his weapon. “My sword,” he said quietly.
The captain took it, and said, “May we have yer word, my lord, that ye’ll not try to escape?”
“Ye have it,” Conn answered with more calm than he was feeling.
“Thank ye, my lord, then we are ready to depart.”
“No,” Aidan cried, “surely not now, sir! It is late in the day. Wait until morning!”
“My lady, I have my orders to bring yer husband to London with all possible haste. We have at least six hours of light left, and we can be many miles on the road to London by the time it is dark.” He looked to Conn. “Have ye ever been in the Tower, sir?”
“Aye,” said Conn.
“Then ye know ye’d best bring a good purse with ye, my lord. The kind of lodging ye receive will depend upon yer ability to pay. Those who can’t pay usually end up in the cells beneath the river, but those with silver can arrange for decent housing, and food, and on cold days even wood and wine to warm them. Everything costs in the Tower.”
Aidan was beginning to calm down, and think. “Wait!” she said sternly. “Since ye yerself have said ye’ve plenty of daylight left to this day ye can bide but part of an hour while my husband changes his clothing, and I gather certain things for him. He cannot go as he is, and without funds.”
“Agreed, my lady,” said the captain. “I have no objections, but do not dally in an effort to prevent our departure, madame.”
Aidan drew herself up to her full height, and stepped away from her husband. She was, the captain of the guard found to his great discomfort, as tall as he himself was. “Sir, ye have my husband’s parole, and now I offer ye mine. We will not be long.” Then she moved toward the Great Hall. “Come in, gentlemen, and wait here. The stairs to our chamber lead up from here.”
Alone in their bedroom Aidan turned a white face to Conn, but her voice was calm. “Do ye know what this is all about?”
“Nay, unless my brothers have been up to some mischief again. Bess usually holds Skye responsible for them. She’s done her time in the Tower, and come out safe.”
“Skye was in the Tower?” Aidan was amazed.
“Aye, Deirdre was born there. Skye and the queen have been at odds for many years, sweetheart. They are much alike, ye see. Two strong women, each of whom has always fought to control her own destiny despite her sex. In the beginning when Skye first came to England, and was wed to Geoffrey Southwood she and the queen were friends. Then Southwood died along with their younger son. In his will he left Skye completely in charge, but the queen ignored the earl’s last testament, and placed Lord Dudley in charge of Robin. Bess knew that Dudley lusted after Skye, and because she herself was unable to wed with him she sought to please him in other ways. She knew that Skye disliked Dudley, and so she felt my sister would be no threat to her own relationship with the man. Robert Dudley raped Skye, and when she complained to the queen, Bess admitted to her that she knew what Dudley wanted of Skye, but that she would turn a blind eye because she wanted to make him happy.
“From that moment on the relationship between the queen and my sister turned. English merchant ships began being pirated off Ireland, and in the waters between England and Ireland. The queen lost a great deal of revenue. She blamed Skye for the piracies.”
“Was she indeed responsible?” Aidan was wide-eyed at these new revelations about her beautiful sister-in-law.
Conn chuckled. “The queen could never prove it,” he answered his wife, but his merry countenance even as he spoke told Aidan what she wanted to know. Conn continued. “Skye married again. This time to Niall Burke. She was not yet, however, finished with the queen. Bess, however, set a trap for Skye which my sister skillfully evaded. Furious, the queen ordered her arrest, and lodged her in the Tower for some weeks. That is how Deirdre came to be born there.
“Finally with the help of Adam and Lord Burghley, Skye was released, and she and Niall returned first to Devon, and then to Niall’s home in Ireland where Padraic was born. After Niall’s death Skye needed Bess’s help in holding the Burke lands for Padraic was only an infant of less than a year. The queen agreed provided that Skye would make a political marriage for England which she did, but she was quickly widowed again, and when she and Adam married in France without the queen’s permission Bess stole the Burke lands and gave them to an Englishman.
“Again peace was made between them, and then the queen took Velvet from Skye and Adam because once again she needed their help. Of course when she got it she returned my niece to her parents, gave them the use of
Queen’s Malvern,
gave Padraic lands in England, and banished my sister from court, and from London. She pretends it is because she fears Skye near the sea can cause her danger. She made my sister pass on her authority as
The O’Malley
to our brother Michael, the bishop of Mid-Connaught, so that the tale does not hold water to my mind. Actually I think she is jealous of Skye as much as she secretly admires her. As for Skye she actually likes Bess though she would never admit it aloud.” He smiled reassuringly at his wife. “Ye see, sweeting, it’s really not terrible my going to the Tower. Many good people have come and gone into it, the queen included, and come out safe.”
“And many have gone in alive only to exit without their heads,” she answered.
“Aidan, I have done nothing wrong. Whatever this is about will be quickly straightened out. Now help me change, and then fetch me a fat purse. I’m unhappy enough at having to return to London in the summer. At least I’ll be comfortable in the damned place.”
She laughed. It was almost a relief to see him cranky instead of so elegantly polite as he was with the captain of the queen’s guard. “I’ll pack some clean linen for ye, my darling, and alert Cluny. I want him to go with ye.” Now calm Aidan went about her tasks quickly, making a small bundle for her husband to take with him that contained clean stockings, and other personal items, brushes for his hair and teeth, and his dice that he might have something to amuse him. Then she hurried off to find Cluny.
Cluny, however, had already been alerted by Beal of the rather startling developments that had occurred. When Aidan returned to the Great Hall he was already booted and waiting for his master. She called him to her side.
“Ye know?”
“Aye, and I’d be interested to know what it’s all about, too, m’lady. I’ll get word to ye as soon as possible. Servants get to come and go in the Tower as they please.” He hesitated a moment, and then said, “Keep an eye on Mistress Mag for me, but for mercy sakes, m’lady, don’t tell her I asked. I’ll ne’er hear the end of it if ye do. That old woman of yers is bad enough as it is.”
Aidan hid her smile. She knew that Mag was fonder of Cluny than she would admit, but it pleased her to know that Conn’s man returned the sentiment. “Yer a good man, Cluny,” she said quietly. “Watch over my lord, and see he comes to no harm.”
“I will, m’lady.”
Aidan then hurried into the estate office to fetch a purse for her husband from the strongbox. She filled it with silver, but also added ten gold pieces. Then as an afterthought she added a smaller purse to give to Cluny for an emergency, and so instructed him when she once again regained the hall.