When Velvet looked skeptical, Christian explained with a straight face, “For if I take up streetwalking, darling.”
Velvet purchased French perfume and lace stockings as finespun as cobwebs. She bought a new mask, some ostrich feathers dyed in brilliant shades and a frilly parasol.
Back at Whitehall, she stepped from the carriage and thanked Christian for a lovely afternoon. “I had a marvelous time. We must do this again soon.”
“Good-bye, darling. Kiss your handsome husband for me.”
Velvet rushed upstairs and put away her purchases. She had time only to wash her hands and face and change her gown. Then she hurried downstairs to join her husband for dinner.
She spotted his tall figure across the chamber, and as she walked toward him she noticed that he did not greet her with a smile; in fact he turned to walk away. She hurried to close the distance between them. Then a voice she detested spoke her name. “Lady Montgomery.” She turned to face Lord Cav.
“I hope you enjoyed the play this afternoon. I envied you your vantage from His Majesty’s royal box that put you closer to the stage than the rest of us.”
“You are mistaken. I was not at the theatre, and certainly not with His Majesty,” she said coolly.
Cavendish glanced at Montgomery, then back at Velvet. “Ah, I see,” he drawled. “Forgive me. I am mistaken. The lady in the butterfly mask was not you after all.”
Velvet gasped. She knew exactly what the swine was doing. This was retaliation for last night.
Greysteel calmly took hold of the young lord’s lace cravat and smashed his other fist into his face. Cav went flying into a table before he lay stretched out on the floor. Montgomery turned on his heel and left the room.
Chapter Nineteen
Velvet stood aghast, rooted to the spot, as a couple of young courtiers helped Cavendish to his feet and handed him a linen napkin to stem the blood from his nose. The voice level in the dining hall had risen to a pitch over the incident and she felt everyone’s eyes upon her. She saw two ladies whispering behind their hands and feared the gossipmongers would have a feast.
Embarrassed down to her fingertips, she lowered her lashes, raised her chin and with quiet dignity left the chamber. Velvet returned to her own apartment. She expected to find Greysteel there, but instead she found Emma.
“I could scream! Lord Bloody Cav just blatantly lied to my husband. He told Greysteel that I was at the theatre with Charles this afternoon . . . hinting at an assignation !”
“What did Lord Montgomery say?”
“He knocked him down. Everyone’s talking about it.”
Emma clasped her hands together. “I knew something must be dreadfully wrong between you when he spoke to me this morning.”
“What do you mean? What did he say?”
“He asked me if I would mind moving my things into your dressing room.”
Velvet looked puzzled. “Has someone taken your chamber?”
“Yes.” Emma hesitated. “Lord Montgomery has taken it.”
Velvet went through to the large dressing room and opened her husband’s wardrobe. His clothes were gone and Emma’s hung in their place. She went pale and experienced a sinking feeling. “When did all this happen?”
“This afternoon while you were gone, my love.”
Anger rose up in her.
How dare he move out of our apartment without a word to me!
Velvet marched down to the end of the corridor and banged loudly on Emma’s chamber door. When there was no answer she turned the knob and found it locked.
You devil!
She kicked the door, hurt her toes and limped back.
Emma threw her a worried glance. “Did you have any supper?”
“I’m not hungry.” Velvet sat down to rub her toes and stared at the chair that had been split open.
“I’ll fetch some wine.” Emma left with the empty decanter.
Velvet’s thoughts chased each other like quicksilver.
He was gone when I woke up this morning. We made love last night; nothing was wrong.
Then she remembered how angry he had been after he’d seen her whispering with Charles. Her thoughts flew back to the previous week when he’d seen her coming from the king’s private chambers.
Did the guard tell him I was with Charles? Was Greysteel waiting for me?
She wondered how long he had been standing at the bottom of the private staircase. For every minute he waited, his jealous suspicions probably multiplied.
My God, does he believe I was at the theatre with Charles this afternoon?
Emma returned with the wine and poured her a glass of golden Rhenish. Velvet drank it and poured herself another. “I’ll never be able to show my face again, after what happened tonight. Montgomery is mad with jealousy.”
“Mayhap you could go to Roehampton for a few days.”
“I’ve done nothing wrong! Why should I run away?”
“But if you can’t show your face, my love—”
“Hell and furies! Men sow all the trouble in our lives and leave women to reap it! Fighting and brawling is all they know. Yet I warrant a man wouldn’t hide in his room. I shall go downstairs and brazen it out. Help me change my gown.”
Velvet arrived in the Presence Chamber wearing a silver tissue creation with small black bows leading from her tiny waist to the low-cut neckline. She had pinned black ostrich feathers into her red gold curls, and a black silk beauty spot sat at the corner of her mouth.
She paused at the entrance and languidly wafted her large fan as she decided who to join that would garner her the most attention. She saw Lord and Lady Arlington laughing with Barbara and Buckingham and knew she’d found her mark.
George held up his hand in mock alarm. “Pray tell me I will not suffer anatomical indignities if I speak to you, my lady.”
The others laughed that he had dared to touch on the subject.
“Intercourse with me is not without risk, my lord.”
Arlington guffawed. “Touché! Top that one, George.”
Barbara touched her belly and said archly, “Risking intercourse can have its rewards.”
George shuddered. “And its anatomical indignities.”
Everyone laughed, including Barbara. “I swear you are the most inconsiderate brute alive, George.”
The Duke of Lauderdale and Anna Marie Shrewsbury joined them. “We’re on our way to the gaming room and need a laugh before we get plucked like partridges. What’s so funny?” she asked.
“We were laughing at you, Anna Marie,” Buckingham drawled. “Now we’ll have to find another butt for our jests.”
Lauderdale winked. “Any of you lasses fancy a plucking?”
“I’m always game,” Barbara murmured suggestively.
“Then stick a feather up yer arse and start crowing.” The coarse Scot laughed at his own joke.
“Don’t encourage her; Barbara never stops crowing,” Buckingham said. “Shall we all have a game of bassette?”
Velvet felt a twinge of panic. “I’m not good at cards.”
“Och, lassie, I’ll tutor ye.” Lauderdale took her hand.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
The wine has made me reckless.
He squeezed her hand. “Call me Johnnie.”
They all made their way to a round card table with a few empty seats. Velvet drew in her breath at the sight of her husband. She had never seen him gamble before.
Since Court was a place of loosest morals but strictest manners, Montgomery nodded politely to his wife. Henry Jermyn, who sat next to him, immediately offered Velvet his chair.
Velvet wanted to hurt Greysteel, as he had hurt her. “Pray don’t disturb yourself, m’lord. The honeymoon is over. We lead separate lives, as Court fashion dictates for married couples.”
As they all took seats, Montgomery threw in his cards and stood up. “I won’t take advantage. I only play to win.”
King Charles strolled into the room. He knew that his presence would keep Barbara from wagering recklessly and losing his money. He stopped to talk with Montgomery.
Greysteel knew Charles would have heard about the punch he’d thrown. “I’ve been thinking of withdrawing from Court, Sire.”
“We won’t permit it. Who would teach young pups their manners? You pledged to stay until after my coronation.”
“Any leads yet on the missing royal regalia?”
“The search is futile. Melted down to fill some Roundhead general’s coffers, I warrant. New crowns and scepters are being ordered. I’m having a saddle, worked with gold and jewels, made for the horse of state.”
Buckingham, tired of cards and the company, joined them. “You will look like King Solomon, Sire.”
Montgomery grinned. “Dazzling pageantry will assert the triumph of the monarchy.”
“Speaking of horses, I know you both share my interest in racing. Newmarket was the Mecca for horse races in my father’s time and will be again with my support. I’ve decided to go for a couple of weeks in autumn. I’m negotiating with the Earl of Suffolk to buy Audley End. The Jacobean mansion is large enough for the entire Court and there’s enough land for a breeding farm. Nothing like horses for relaxation.”
“Racing is the sport of kings.” Buckingham glanced over at Barbara. “Though some might disagree.”
Charles followed his glance. “Next weekend there is a race meet much closer to home, at Epsom Downs, Surrey. I’ve decided Montgomery and I will attend. It will show our ladies that they do not lead us around by the nose. Won’t you join us, George?”
“If my dearest wife gives her permission,” Buckingham said with a straight face.
“May I offer the hospitality of my house at Roehampton, Sire? ’Tis only a few miles from Epsom.”
“Excellent. We’ll celebrate
before
the races in case we lose. I’ll have food, wine and other things sent for our enjoyment. With your permission, I shall invite Lauderdale.” Charles walked over to the gaming table and stood behind Barbara to watch the play.
George lowered his voice. “My cousin has decided to withhold her favors until he agrees to ennoble her. I wonder which one will give in first?”
Montgomery frowned. “In a battle of the sexes, the king should reign supreme.”
“Only in chess, my friend, not in bed.”
Though it was most convenient to have Emma on hand to do her hair and entertain the ladies of the Court when they gathered in Velvet’s chambers to sample the face creams and cosmetics that she and her woman concocted, she found sleeping alone more than inconvenient. After sharing a bed with Greysteel Montgomery, she found sleeping alone almost impossible. She lay awake, hour after hour, as her body ached to be fulfilled. Her skin became so sensitive, the touch of the sheet against her flesh made her want to scream. Yet it wasn’t just the sex she missed. She longed to be held, safe in his powerful, protective arms.
In the evenings the Montgomerys often attended the same Court functions. They were unfailingly polite to each other in company but never spoke or even met in private. Their actions mirrored those of every other married couple at Whitehall and caused little comment.
In the afternoons Velvet, along with the other ladies of the Court, went into London to shop, to have their fortunes read or to attend a performance at the play-house. Greysteel of course had not kept his promise to take her to the theatre, so she pretended it was of no consequence and went without him. She attended with the dowager countess, and also accepted an invitation to join His Majesty, Barbara Palmer and Anna Marie Shrewsbury in the royal box.
That night in the Presence Chamber Barbara remarked, “The king has attended every performance this week. The play holds him in thrall. The novelty will soon wear off.”
“Are you speaking of the novelty of the saucy actresses singing titillating ditties, or the novelty of the dancers baring their pretty legs?” Buckingham asked blandly.
“The costumes were rather revealing, but the girls on the stage were all exceedingly pretty,” Velvet conceded wistfully.
“Common as muck,” Barbara sniffed. “Promiscuous trollops—half a crown would lay one down.”
“We all have our price,” George drawled.
Barbara’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
George shrugged negligently. “If the shoe fits, cousin—”
“The bloody shoe certainly fits you to a tee. You held on to your vast fortune by marrying the daughter of Fairfax, the Roundhead general who got your land.”
Velvet was shocked. Men were all devious swine, especially when it came to landholdings and estates.
“Dr. Fraser could give you something for your distemper.”
“The Court physician who cured your pox, George?”
Velvet wished with all her heart they would stop fighting. Witty rejoinders were one thing; vicious slurs were another.
“Is it any wonder His Majesty is escaping to Epsom this weekend? Two days free of
demands
will be a welcome respite.”
Barbara yawned in his face and took Velvet’s arm. “Excuse us, George. We need a welcome respite
now
.”
“It’s very warm in here. Would you like some fresh air?” Velvet asked as they walked away from Buckingham.
“Yes, let’s get some wine and go out on the balcony.” George’s barb about her
demands
had found its mark. She wondered if Charles had said something about her, and George was giving her a subtle warning.
I refused to sleep with him, so he has no reason to stay in London. Perhaps I should relent.
They carried their wine out onto the balcony and sat down on a stone bench. “When you want something from Montgomery, what d’you find most effective, vinegar or honey?”
“Sometimes neither is effective. He likes to be in control.” Velvet immediately wished she hadn’t confided such an intimate thing to Barbara.
“Yes . . . yield a little and allow him to think he’s in control. That’s very clever.” Barbara drained her glass. “Lud, it’s even hot out here, and the river stinks tonight. I have an idea. Why don’t we take my carriage and drive to Epsom on Saturday? The country seems an inviting alternative to London.”