The Other Countess (16 page)

She sent him a shocked look at the familiar use of her name, but he didn’t regret it. That was how he was thinking of her. He hoped at least to be a friend if he could be nothing more.

‘Would the lady like a ride, O Great Master?’ Diego asked,
his tone innocent, but Will caught the sly humour in the boy’s eyes.

Ellie clasped her hands to her breast, bobbing on the spot with happiness. ‘Could I? He’s such a wonderful creature!’

More than pleased to oblige, Will swiftly mounted, making a note to give the boy a shilling for the thought. ‘I’ll take you down the lane. Come, sit in front of me.’

Cheeks pink with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement, she took his hand and used his boot to climb up. She ended up sitting sideways across the front of the saddle.

‘Oh,’ she exclaimed when she realized how close she was to him. ‘Perhaps I had better get down.’

‘Not if I have any say in the matter, my lady.’ He clicked Barbary into motion, removing that option from her power. ‘There’s no one about to see.’

As they jogged down the lane, Will had plenty of time to realize how perfectly they fitted together, her head resting just under his chin.

‘Comfortable, my lady?’

‘Yes, my lord. Barbary moves like a dream. I envy you such a fine horse.’ She turned to look up at him, her hair brushing his throat. ‘You’ve spoiled me now for the nags I usually ride.’

‘I know what you mean. I have ridden my fair share of sway-backed beasts that a farmer would be ashamed to own.’

She laughed at that. ‘I cannot imagine you on such a creature.’

‘Believe it, lady.’ He reached out and snapped a flower from the high bank of the hedgerow to tuck behind her ear. ‘So, Ellie, what do you do when you are not torturing poor pieces of cloth with your needle? I’ve heard you have an excellent grasp of Latin.’

‘I like reading the ancient writers, particularly poetry.’

‘You have a favourite?’

She gave the question serious thought. ‘Ovid. His imagery is quite exceptional.’

‘Rumour says you read Greek too.’

‘A little. Nothing to speak of.’

‘I doubt that most sincerely. I’m beginning to understand you. You are the Amazon of learning I first imagined, but you hide it well.’

Her face fell at this description, reminded of her problems back at home. ‘It does me little good, my lord. My father hoped my skills would win the Queen’s favour, but his activities put an end to that.’

They had reached an open field. ‘A canter?’ Will asked.

‘Yes, please!’

With a whoop, he kicked the horse into a faster pace, using it as an excuse to increase his hold around the lady’s waist. She was loving every moment of the ride, laughing as the wind whipped through her hair, the ends of her ribbon becoming completely entangled in the fancy buttons on Will’s doublet. As they reached the hedge at the far end, he turned Barbary’s head before the horse took it into his brain to leap. He was not going to risk the lady on such an exploit, tempting though it was to show off before her.

‘You enjoyed that, Ellie?’

‘You could tell?’ she asked, eyes sparkling.

‘Those squeals of pleasure betrayed you.’

‘I do not squeal!’

‘Yes, you do. You are like my little sister, Sarah. I would wager you giggle too.’

‘Sir, you quite destroy my claim to gravitas with your false accusations.’ She gave him a frown of mock-censure.

‘I’ll have to call Barbary as a witness to back up my claim then as I’ll not be accused of perjury.’

She giggled at that image, quite proving his case for him.

Will nudged the horse back towards the lane. ‘I would ask you a boon in return for the ride.’

‘What would that be, sir?’

‘That you think of me as your friend, Ellie.’

‘I do, sir. Now, at least.’

‘So will you call me Will when we are alone?’

She looked doubtful. ‘I suppose it was very wrong of me to agree to be alone with you, wasn’t it?’

‘I mean you no harm. You can trust me.’

She nodded slightly, as if in response to an internal debate that had fortunately declared in his favour. ‘I think that I do, sir.’

‘Will.’

‘Will.’ She smiled up at him and he could not resist brushing his lips across hers in the lightest of kisses.

‘A gesture of friendship only,’ he said quickly, excusing himself.

She touched her mouth reflectively, then surprised him by reaching up to press her lips briefly against his for another kiss.

‘To friendship then,’ she said.

12

Lady Jane drew her horse to a halt as the end of their journey came in sight.

‘What do you think, Jane?’ her brother asked, scratching a fleck of dried mud off the hem of his short velvet cloak.

‘It is very fine. The family obviously had money at one time.’ She counted the chimneys with ornate pediments bristling from the roof – there had to be at least sixteen major rooms in Lacey Hall, almost as many as her own home of Stafford Grange. The walls were a pleasing golden sandstone, warm-looking even in the dull conditions of this cloudy day. A moat surrounded the dwelling, doubtless stocked with fish for the table.

‘It’s good land. Dorset will come around eventually even without your dowry,’ Henry noted.

‘But he could do with the money now.’ Jane sighed. She was no expert in land management, but she knew that it took investment to improve crop yields, establish markets and transport goods to the city.

‘It’s the way of the world. The earl would be a fine connection for our family. They say at court he has Burghley’s favour.’

‘So you want me to grant him mine?’

Henry raised a brow. She had been making such comments
with him since he had blackmailed her into coming to Lacey Hall. She no longer seemed to care to maintain the aura of innocence around him. ‘Not yet. We don’t want to shoot our bolt too soon now.’

Too late
, thought Jane grimly.
Your friend saw to that
.

‘And remember not to shock the countess with your ribald tongue, sister dear.’

‘You will have no reason to fault my manners. I am an accomplished actress after all, as you have often pointed out.’

Henry clicked his fingers and their retinue fell into position for their grand approach. ‘Ready?’

‘As I will ever be, brother dear.’

He smiled sourly at her acerbic tone and kicked his horse into a trot, knowing she would keep up so as not to be left eating his dust.

The earl must have had people on the watch for them as the family emerged from the house to greet their guests in the courtyard even as they clattered under the gatehouse. A blackamoor groom ran forward to hold the head of Jane’s horse and the earl himself took her hand as she used the block to dismount.

‘My lady, we are delighted to welcome you to our house. I trust your journey went well?’

‘It was tolerable, sir.’ Jane felt nothing seeing him again, not even the slightest lifting of spirits, despite the fact he looked very fine in his severe black doublet and white hose.

The earl led her to the front entrance where the family were gathered. ‘May I introduce my mother, the Countess of Dorset?’

An elegant woman in outmoded finery came forward, hands extended in friendly welcome.

‘The Dowager Countess,’ she corrected her son genially. She had her son’s golden hair, but her eyes were hazel.

‘Madam.’ Jane dipped a deep curtsy.

‘Lady Jane.’

‘Lady Dorset.’

‘Oh, you are a pretty thing!’ the lady said in delight. ‘I can quite see how my son came to choose you.’

‘Mother!’ growled the earl, embarrassed at his mother’s forthrightness, but Jane rather liked her for it. They all knew what she was here for. It would have been dishonest to pretend this was anything but a marriage negotiation.

Undeterred, the dowager turned to greet her brother, beaming at him with similar genuine warmth, which even Sir Henry could not fail to return. He usually despised women unless they were of use to him, either in his bed or as a step to his advancement, but the dowager had him charmed within a few seconds of being introduced.

‘My sister, Sarah,’ continued Will. A fresh-faced girl of about twelve bobbed a curtsy, her eyes devouring the detail of Jane’s riding habit – it was far from her finest but the child seemed enraptured by the embroidery on the bodice. ‘And this, I regret to say, is my younger brother, James,’ the earl said, taking her hand and leading her to a tall gentleman she had seen at his side at court.

‘My lady. I have admired you from afar and am honoured now to make your acquaintance,’ James said smoothly, sweeping a charming bow, his dark hair falling forward and brushing her hand as he kissed it. She felt a shiver of awareness of him as a man, a reaction that disconcerted her.

‘And where is your youngest brother?’ Jane asked quickly,
remembering the humorous youngster who had wooed a sleeve from her.

James beat a fist to his breast. ‘You wound me, lady, preferring the company of that scamp over mine.’

Jane smiled. ‘His manner was most refreshing.’

‘I believe he told you my esteemed older brother was an idiot.’

She tried not to laugh. ‘He may have intimated something to that effect. Is he wrong?’

James grinned at his brother. ‘No, but you won’t hear it from me. I fear him too much.’

The earl groaned. ‘Don’t believe him, lady. James fears nothing.’

‘Not true – our mother can box ears like none other. I live in mortal terror when I am at home.’

It was impossible to imagine the lady reaching up to chastise her two grown sons, so Jane raised a sceptical brow.

‘You believe me not?’ asked James. ‘I will have to do something outrageous in your presence to provoke her to anger. The ladies of our family have terrible tempers.’

‘And the gentlemen are models of good humour?’ she asked in a tone resonant of her disbelief.

‘Of course. At least I am. I can’t answer for my brother; he’s an idiot after all – not that you’ll hear me say that.’

Jane laughed openly at the brotherly banter, so unlike the casual cruelty that passed for a relationship with Henry. She was warming to this family, particularly James, who it had to be admitted, sparked her interest more than his sober elder.

‘My lady,’ said the earl, presenting her with his arm again, ‘rooms have been prepared for you. Perhaps you would like to refresh yourself after your journey?’

‘Thank you.’

‘We dine at noon.’

Jane gave a regal nod and allowed herself to be led into the house.

Nell stayed outside as her mistress disappeared within. The family’s steward approached to ask about the luggage and she was kept busy for the next hour ensuring all ended up in the right chambers. While she planned which outfit she would lay out for Lady Jane, Nell contemplated the household, potentially her new home if her mistress made the expected match with the earl. It was comfortable enough. The steward could be a possible catch for her, though she would have to find out if he was already married. He was a big man, far from comely, but that was not as important as power. It would be a shame to lose Sir Henry’s attentions, but she had always known that they would be fleeting. Yes, all things considered, it may well be a decent place for her.

‘Mistress, is there anything further you require for the lady?’ the steward asked, dismissing the man who had carried up the trunk.

‘No, I have everything I need, Master …?’ She stood close to him, letting him feel his superior height over her middling stature. Men liked that sort of thing.

The steward flushed slightly. ‘Turville. Affabel Turville.’

‘And I am Nell Rivers.’ She dipped her eyes demurely, hoping he would imagine her cheeks were modestly flushed.

Turville bowed. ‘Mistress Rivers. May I welcome you to Lacey Hall? If there is anything, anything at all, you require, you only have to ask me and it will be yours.’

‘Thank you, Affabel – I mean, Master Turville.’

Flustered, the steward backed out of the room, then barked some unnecessary orders to a passing servant to impress her with his commanding presence. Nell chuckled. Landing him would be like tickling trout – almost too easy.

A hollow round of applause sounded behind her. Nell spun round quickly to see Sir Henry at the connecting door to his apartment.

‘Excellent work, my little vixen. That’s what I like most about you: your unashamed self-interest.’

Nell shrugged and opened up the trunk. ‘I must think of the future. If my lady marries into this family, I’ll have to make a place for myself.’

Henry came up behind her and rubbed himself against the back of her thighs. ‘I have a place for you, Nell.’

She smirked. ‘And don’t I know it.’

He hitched her skirts a little higher. ‘Do we have time?’

‘No, sir.’ She shivered as his fingers touched the back of her knees.

‘Good, I like a challenge.’

‘But I’m afraid it will have to wait, brother.’ Lady Jane sailed into the room, not even pretending shock at his antics with her maid. ‘I have more need of Nell than you do.’

Henry gave Nell a wicked grin. ‘I doubt that.’

‘I will wear my rose damask silk,’ Lady Jane continued, ignoring the remark.

‘Very good, my lady.’

‘And Henry, if you insist on debauching my maid, I request that you are more discreet about it.’

‘Oh, come on, Janie, the earl won’t care less.’

‘But I do. I find it … tasteless.’

Henry guffawed. ‘Very well.’ He winked at Nell. ‘I’ll see you later.’

His departure left the two girls in an awkward silence.

‘What will you do when he gets you with child?’ Jane asked bluntly, before moving to the mirror to remove her cap. She cast it on the bed behind her.

Nell shrugged. ‘It’s not happened yet, mistress.’

‘You can’t trust Henry to look after you.’

Nell carefully unpacked a new ruff, pleased to see the starch was still keeping its shape. ‘Then I’ll apply to your father, mistress. He has enough by-blows to his name to not remark another one.’ Nell’s tone was more carefree than she felt; she knew she took a big gamble. A child would tie her down, limit her choices, remove her power, and more than anything she wanted to be in control of her destiny.