Grasso, Patricia (20 page)

"Great fires are lit inside and outside the house," Keely told him, her excitement infectious. "The doors are thrown open, and a sumptuous feast is served."

"What about the disguises and pranks?"

"You must wear your clothing turned inside out and blacken your face with soot so evil spirits won't recognize you," Keely went on. "For three days, you may trick anyone you want. Without repercussions, I might add."

"I can hardly wait," Henry said, rubbing his hands together. A mischievous gleam lit his blue eyes. "Giving the fig is the only English tradition for All Hallow's Eve."

"What's that?"

Henry made a fist with his right hand and stuck his thumb up between his first and second fingers. "See," he said, holding his hand out. " 'Tis a fig. Give it to family, friend, or lover on All Hallow's Eve. The fig means 'I like you.' "

"What is so special about that?" Keely asked. "I could do that any day."

" 'Tis the English custom," Henry insisted. "You wouldn't give a friend a New Year's gift on Midsummer's Eve, would you?"

"No."

"We give New Year's gifts on New Year's and the fig on All Hallow's Eve. Understand?"

Keely gifted her brother with a beguiling smile and nodded.

"Pranking the Countess of Cheshire would be fun," Henry said, thinking of that lady's pendulous breasts heaving with her fright. "What do you say?" When she nodded, he added, "Lean close. We want no one to overhear us."

Keely and Henry bent their heads together and plotted pranks against the inhabitants of Talbot House. So intent were they on their outrageous schemes, they never heard the intruder's approach.

"Hello, beauty."

Keely snapped her head up at the sound of that voice, and before she thought to mask her feelings, she gifted the earl with a dazzling smile that told him how happy she was to see him. The butterflies' wings returned to her stomach, but Keely cared not a whit. The sight of the earl's handsome face cheered her.

"Did you miss me, dearest?"

"I might have, but the countess kept me busy."

"You wound me, sweetheart," Richard said. "Each moment at court felt as long as a day. I feared I'd expire pining for you."

Keely arched an ebony brow at him. "How fare the Ladies Sarah and Jane?"

"Who?"

Keely burst out laughing, more at his expression of feigned innocence than at what he'd said. How one man could be so devastatingly charming boggled her mind. "Henry and I were plotting our Samh—I mean, our All Hallow's Eve pranks."

Henry stood up and offered the earl his seat on the bench beside Keely, then winked at him. "Congratulations on your forthcoming marriage, my lord," he said. "Any good hunting at court?"

"I've quit that sport," Richard replied, winking back at the boy. He looked at Keely and lost his good humor. "What's wrong with your mouth?" he demanded. "And your eyelids are heavy. Have you been crying?"

"I fell," Keely lied. "The pain brought me tears."

Richard surprised her by putting his arm around her shoulder and drawing her close. In a gently chiding voice, he said, "Do you see how much you need me to protect you, dearest?"

"No one could have protected her from the bitch's wrath," Henry said, earning himself a censorious frown. "Morgana smacked her."

"Henry." Keely's voice held a warning note.

"Give us a few moments of privacy," Richard said to the boy, his irritation apparent. It was a command, not a request.

"Certainly." Henry turned to Keely and said, "I do wish you weren't my sister so we could practice my new hobby together."

"I can help you," Keely offered.

"Not with this hobby."

"Why can't I?"

Henry winked at the earl and then walked away, calling over his shoulder, " 'Tis making love."

Keely blushed scarlet. She refused to look at the earl.

"Never lie to me again," Richard said, close to her ear. "I despise liars."

"Telling the truth would only have created more problems," Keely tried to explain, her violet-eyed gaze pleading for understanding. "Besides, you neglected to tell me that Morgana and you had intended to wed. 'Twas by omission a lie."

"Morgana intended to marry me, but after passing the longest week of my life at Ludlow Castle, I had no such intention toward her," Richard replied. "Only a man enamored of misery would offer for that one."

Keely felt relieved. "Disagreeable people are usually unhappy. Try to be more sympathetic."

"Could you be jealous?" Richard asked.

"No. Of course not," she answered too quickly.

Richard raised his brows, a habit of his that was becoming more endearing to her with each passing day. "What were Henry and you planning?"

"A special All Hallow's Eve celebration."

"And what might that be?"

" 'Tis a surprise."

Richard planted a chaste kiss on the uninjured side of her mouth and coaxed, "Share it with me, dearest."

Keely shook her head. " 'Tis a secret between my brother and me."

Richard longed to press his lips on hers but controlled the urge because of her injury. He contented himself with nuzzling her neck instead.

Keely wondered what to do as delicious shivers of delight danced down her spine. Should she allow him this liberty because of their betrothal? Or ought she to stop him—something she didn't want to do?

"Several reports await me," he murmured against her ear, "but I'll sup with you tonight."

"That's not a good idea," she tried to refuse. "Morgana—"

"Baron Smythe will keep her occupied," Richard said, brushing his lips against her temple. "Willis is interested in Morgana."

Keely suffered a chill feeling of dread at the mention of the black-haired baron. Worry etched itself across her delicate features.

"What's wrong?" Richard asked.

"I don't like the baron," Keely answered honestly.

"But you scarcely know him."

" 'Tis a feeling I have—and trust."

"Woman's intuition?"

Keely didn't smile. "The aura of untimely death surrounds him like a shroud. The baron is a dangerous, untrustworthy man."

Richard chuckled. "Are you a fortune-telling gypsy?" he teased. "Or a witch?"

"I am a—" Unwilling to jeopardize their marriage, Keely broke off. She wanted this pagan god sprung to life, if only for a brief time.

"You're a what?" Richard prodded with an amused smile.

"A silly woman."

"Not so," Richard said, rising and kissing her hand. He cast her a purposefully smoldering look and whispered huskily, "You are as lovely as the legendary goddess Venus and as sweet as marchpane.... But, you are wrong about Willis."

Keely managed a smile. "I'm certain you're correct."

"Until supper, dearest." Richard turned and walked away. Almost home, he stopped short as he recalled Burghley's warning to him at Kenilworth Castle. Richard whirled around and retraced his steps back to the garden, but Keely had already vanished inside Talbot House. Was it merely coincidence that she'd used the exact words to describe Smythe that Burghley had?

Early evening's supper hour found Keely lingering in her bedchamber. Her reluctance to face her sister's hatred had imprisoned her there all afternoon, but delaying the inevitable was now impossible. Only the delivery of her new gowns cheered her flagging spirit.

Keely wore a pale gray velvet gown with an underskirt and an underblouse of ivory silk. Its subdued color reminded her of the mountain mists in Wales and matched her mood. The only splashes of bright color were the violet of her eyes and the glittering dragon pendant she always wore.

How humiliated she would be if Morgana hurled insults at her in the presence of the earl, Keely thought. Though it could be for the best. The earl needed to learn what marriage to a bastard meant. He'd either break their betrothal or arm himself against the gossip that would assuredly follow her through life.

Thinking of Richard reminded Keely that Baron Smythe would also be a supper guest that evening. Though she disliked the baron, she'd set her revulsion aside for the earl's sake. She started to worry her bottom lip with her teeth but stopped when a pinch of pain shot from her swollen lip up the side of her face.

Keely gave herself a mental shake and rubbed the palm of her hand across an imaginary wrinkle on the skirt of her gown. To forever hide from her sister's hatred would be impossible. She lifted her chin a notch, squared her shoulders, and left her chamber.

"Hello, beauty."

With his arms folded across his chest, Richard leaned against the wall in the foyer. His emerald-eyed gaze swept over her petite form and gleamed with an emotion Keely failed to recognize.

"What are you doing?" she asked, surprised to see him loitering there.

"Waiting for you, of course."

Keely cast him a pleased smile. " 'Twas unnecessary. I know the way to the hall."

Richard raised his copper brows at her and said solemnly, "Brave knights always protect their ladies from dragons. I thought you would want me by your side when we enter
her
company."

"How gallant of you," Keely replied, warmed by his thoughtfulness. "How could you know what my feelings would be?"

"My heart is attuned to yours, dearest."

"My lord, you do possess the most outrageous tongue."

Richard gave her a wolfish grin. "After we're wed, I'll show you how truly outrageous my tongue can be."

Keely blushed. She had no idea what he meant, but her short experience with the earl had shown her that his words usually had secret meanings.

"You do blush prettily," Richard said, and planted a kiss on her flushed cheek.

Instead of escorting her into the hall, Richard led Keely to a small family dining chamber, where the others awaited them. Seated at each end of the table were Duke Robert and Lady Dawn. Morgana and Willis Smythe were already seated on one side while Henry sat on the other. Beside him two places were set for them. Keely sat down between Richard and her brother.

"Latecomers get no supper," Morgana announced. "They must wait until the next meal."

"I'll decide who eats and who doesn't," Duke Robert said sharply.

Steeling herself against her fears, Keely smiled as warmly as she could at the baron. "Seeing you again is a pleasure, sir."

"Willis," he corrected, returning her smile. "You've injured your lip?"

Keely nodded. "I fell."

On either side of her, Richard and Henry cleared their throats to indicate their disapproval. Morgana's blue-eyed gaze shot daggers at them. For her part, Keely gave her full attention to her meal.

A medley of appetizing dishes were laid out on the table in front of her. Cabbage chowder was the first course, followed by roasted chicken with rice and almonds. Braised spring greens and golden leeks with onions accompanied the chicken.

"You look lovely in your new gown," Duke Robert complimented Keely.

"Like a tiny gray pigeon," Morgana added with a malicious smile.

"Or a pretty mourning dove," Richard said smoothly.

Henry cleared his throat, and when he caught Keely's eye, he winked at her and said in a loud voice, "Lady Dawn, I would know all about the wedding preparations."

" 'Twill be the wedding of the decade," the countess replied, ignoring the duke's warning frown. "Just think, Henry. Our darling Keely will be wed to England's premier earl, one of the queen's favorites, amid the splendor of Hampton Court."

"Elizabeth plans to make this a grand affair," Richard added, taking his cue from the countess.

"And I am honored to serve as your best man," Willis said, raising his wine goblet in a salute to his friend.

"Is the queen paying for it?" Morgana asked.

"The bride's father assumes the expenses," Duke Robert answered. "You know that."

"Such fuss and bother for a bastard?" the blond beauty sniffed as if offended at the waste.

"Morgana." Duke Robert's voice held a note of warning.

Keely crimsoned but sat proudly erect in her chair. Though her sister's cruelty angered her, Keely refused to respond to it and thereby ruin the meal for the others. Besides, how did one refute the truth? She was, in fact, a bastard. Refusing to look at anyone, she kept her eyes downcast and folded her hands in her lap.

Both Richard and Henry reached over to give her hand an encouraging squeeze, but they caught each other's instead. Seeing their hands entwined across her lap, Keely giggled and placed
her
two hands on the table. Realizing their mistake, the man and the boy snatched their hands back.

"I hope I'm allowed to attend," Henry said to his father. "Keely needs someone to watch over her cousins."

Richard snapped his head around to stare at Keely. That she expected the two thieving giants to attend his wedding surprised him. In fact, the thought of those bumbling blockheads mingling at court filled him with dread.

Catching the earl's reaction, Morgana asked, "You actually intend to present those louts at court?"

"Odo and Hew are family," Keely told her. "Of course they will see me married." She looked at the earl for confirmation. "Won't they?"

"I never intended otherwise, dearest," Richard assured her, recovering himself. "May, June, and Henry will guard—I mean, keep them company."

"May and June?" Willis asked.

"Richard hired two cousins to serve as Keely's tiringwomen," Lady Dawn told him.

"Why does she need two?" Morgana whined, jealous. "One will suffice."

"Dear Richard is twice as wealthy as any other Englishman, so Keely requires twice as many women," Lady Dawn answered, confident in her nonsensical logic. "Have you seen her betrothal ring?"

Keely instantly hid her left hand on her lap. Annoying her sister made no sense.

"Let's see," Henry said, yanking her hand high into the air for all to see. With great exaggeration, the boy inspected it, saying, "Diamonds, emeralds—"

"Papa," Morgana interrupted, enraged by her brother's baiting, "did you know that Henry's been frittering Ludlow's maids?"

Richard and Willis burst out laughing. The Countess of Cheshire chuckled throatily. Keely bit her lip to keep from laughing, then regretted doing so when she felt the pain. Only Duke Robert appeared unamused.