Montgomery found that cooling his heels in Dover gave him too much time to think. Whenever thoughts of Hampton Court Palace tried to intrude, he ruthlessly pushed them away. They always came back to taunt him, however. The intimate setting was romantic, a place where the whole world could be shut out, a palace with a haunting history of love, liaisons and intrigue.
Montgomery rode out to the chalk cliffs each day with a telescope from the castle. He gazed out to sea, sighting ships and identifying their flags. The lonely, windswept cliffs of Dover, however, were conducive to introspection, so instead, he began to visit the foreign vessels that docked in the port, examining their cargoes and seeking out treasures from far-off exotic lands.
Amazing what exotic treasures can be found in Pall Mall.
Young Lord Cav glanced at the bill Charles Beale handed him, and then settled the account and added a bonus. “My cousin Velvet asked me to pick up her portrait. She couldn’t trust such a delicate errand to a footman, you understand,” Cavendish said with a knowing leer.
“Thank you, my lord. Your betrothed, Lady Mary, may have her first sitting tomorrow at eleven, if that is convenient.”
Cav picked up the painting that had been carefully crated and wrapped with brown paper. “Most convenient, Mr. Beale.”
Will Cavendish returned to Whitehall and asked his driver to carry the crate up to his chambers. When he was alone, he removed the painting, set it against the wall and stepped back so that he could appreciate the subject it portrayed.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Velvet’s naked image.
She certainly is an exquisite piece of flesh.
As he traced his fingertips up her long limbs and touched the red gold curls between her legs, his cock hardened and began to throb.
Little bitch! I’d like nothing better than to give you a good fucking, but you’d go running to that dark brute you married, and I’d end up in the Thames with a saber slash across my throat.
Cavendish smiled.
I’ll settle for something else I’ve always desired.
He put the painting back into its crate, and then he sat down at his desk to compose a letter.
Velvet was lonely. Though the Presence Chamber was filled tonight with the ladies and gentlemen of the Court who were her friends, the shallow existence of the Whitehall courtiers had begun to pall. Surely there was more to life than shopping, attending the theatre and losing money at cards.
She bit her lip and admitted that it was Greysteel’s absence that was making her lonely and restless. When the devil would he be back from Dover, and once he returned, would he be willing to overlook their differences and try to make a success of their marriage? She stiffened as she saw Will Cavendish approach.
“What the devil do you want?” she snapped.
Young Lord Cav bowed politely, handed her an envelope and went to join his future bride.
Velvet tore open the envelope and read the note inside:
I have your Venus portrait in my possession. I will happily exchange it for the deed to Roehampton. If you do not cooperate, the naked lady will be placed in the hands of one so high it will cause a shocking scandal that will rock the Court.
Velvet gasped and crumpled the letter in her fist. The walls of the Presence Chamber suddenly came together, and the floor seemed to come up and hit her in the face. Her legs turned to water and Velvet collapsed in a faint.
Chapter Twenty-four
“Oh, my dear! Lady Montgomery . . . do let me help you.” The Countess of Suffolk lifted Velvet to her feet, sat her down in a chair and began to fan her as other ladies gathered round. Some were concerned, others merely curious, but all came to the same conclusion : The Countess of Eglinton was with child!
“Thank you,” Velvet murmured, trying to catch her breath and compose herself before the semicircle of females. Relief washed over her that she was still clutching the note in her fist.
No one must learn of its contents.
“Here, Velvet, have some wine.” Anna Marie Shrewsbury offered her a glass of golden Rhenish.
“No, no, perhaps she shouldn’t have wine if she’s in a delicate condition,” Lady Suffolk advised.
“I’m not . . .” Velvet thought better of denying it or suspicion might fall on the letter she held. “I’m not thirsty. Perhaps I’d better go upstairs and lie down.”
“I shall escort you to your apartment,” Lady Suffolk offered.
Buckingham glanced archly at Barbara. “Egad, your condition must be catching. Perhaps I should keep my distance from you.”
Barbara tossed her hair. “I’m simply setting the fashion now that I’m a countess, George.”
Upstairs, Velvet sat down before the fire and with shaking fingers read the letter once again. “How the devil does that filthy swine know that I own the deed to Roehampton?” She began to piece things together and realized that she had told Christian Cavendish of Greysteel’s gift to her when they had attended Henry’s funeral. She cursed Lord Cav under her breath, and then she cursed herself for leaving her portrait at the Pall Mall studio after it was finished.
“The whoreson is blackmailing me!” She jumped up quickly, paced across the chamber and was swept with a wave of nausea. Velvet sat down quickly and covered her mouth with her hand.
Well, one thing is certain—the lecherous pig will never get his hands on Roehampton so long as there is breath in my body!
She read the note once more and flung it into the fire, watching with glittering eyes as the flames devoured it. Velvet tasted fear. How wickedly impulsive she had been to have her portrait painted as a naked Venus. Now her sins would catch up with her, for she had no doubt that Cavendish would do as he threatened and cause a shocking scandal.
As Velvet sat gazing hopelessly into the fire, she remembered the lessons that had been drilled into her as a child.
Never show fear; it is a contemptible sign of weakness. Timidity, anxiety, alarm and panic are other names for cowardice! Pride must always take precedence over fright.
Emma opened the door and hurried in. “Whatever happened, my love? Lady Suffolk’s maid told me that you fainted in the Presence Chamber.”
“Don’t be alarmed, Emma. I’m feeling much better now.” On the inside she was riddled with fear, but the face she presented to her woman was calm and collected. She stood and went into the dressing room.
“What are you doing? You should rest, my dear child.”
“I am going to wash my face and brush my hair. Then I am going back downstairs.”
“If you are hungry, I can fetch you a tray.”
“Thank you, no, Emma. I am hungry—ravenous in fact.”
I am going to make a meal out of Lord Bloody Cav and lick my lips over the bastard!
Velvet selected an ostrich feather fan from the wardrobe and swept from the room.
Downstairs, she stalked through the chambers like a predator hunting its prey. She finally spotted him in the ballroom, dancing attendance on Mary Butler.
Velvet approached him directly, without hesitation. She knew that at all costs she must present a bold facade.
“Your attempt at blackmail is pathetic. You will get Roehampton over my dead body!” She wafted her fan with the assurance of a royal empress. “As for my naked portrait, you may display it in the Presence Chamber for all to admire.” Her smile was a bold challenge. “Do your
worst
, my lord.”
Velvet didn’t sleep well that night. She wished she knew some way to get her portrait from Lord Cav’s clutches, and worried hour after hour of what the consequences of her bravado would be. She fell asleep just before dawn and had a nightmare.
When she awoke, the sun was high and Emma was tiptoeing about so that she wouldn’t disturb her. Velvet threw back the covers and set her feet to the floor. The moment she sat up, she vomited. “Oh, dear, I had no warning.”
“That is how morning sickness takes you, my love.”
Velvet’s eyes went wide. “Do you really think I could be having a baby, Emma?”
“Of course you are. You fainted last night, and now your morning sickness confirms it.”
Velvet counted on her fingers the days since the last time she had bled. “Emma, I think you are right! Oh, this is marvelous . . . a baby of my very own to love and cherish. I cannot believe my good fortune!” Her joy swept away her worry about Will Cavendish and put the paltry matter of her naked portrait into perspective.
Emma began to clean up the mess. “No more jumping out of bed like a cricket. You must lie quietly for a few minutes after you open your eyes in the morning.”
“I’ll clean it up, Emma. You shouldn’t have to do it.”
“What nonsense. You cleaned up after me when I was seasick coming from France. Now I can return the favor.”
“Thank you. Oh, I’m so happy, Emma. . . . My heart is singing!”
“You need to nibble on dry toast and sip some ginger wine. I shall go to the kitchen and get some, if you’ll be all right?”
“I’m perfectly all right. In fact, I’m euphoric!”
When Emma departed, Velvet went to the mirror and put her hand on her belly. “Flat as a fluke,” she muttered, but when she looked at her face, it was wreathed in smiles, and joy shone from her eyes. She immediately thought of Greysteel and wondered what his reaction would be.
“He’ll be proud as a peacock.” Velvet was thankful that she had married Greysteel Montgomery. He would be a perfect father. She thought fleetingly of the coolness that had developed between them before he departed, but quickly dismissed it. Her momentous news would heal their silly rift and draw them closer than they had ever been.
The following day, she again experienced morning nausea. This time, however, by moving slowly and sipping watered ginger wine, she found it soon passed off.
Velvet decided to visit her dear friend Christian at Bishopsgate and share her wonderful news. She decided too that she would mention the despicable actions of the dowager’s grandson. Perhaps Christian could help get her portrait back.
As her driver, Ned, was harnessing her carriage horses, one of the king’s Royal Guards rode into the stables.
“Fenton, are you back from Dover?” Velvet asked hopefully.
“Aye, Lady Montgomery. The captain sent me to deliver a message to His Majesty.”
“You are alone, then? My husband isn’t with you?” Velvet could not hide her disappointment.
“No, ma’am. The good news is that Princess Mary and her entourage have landed safely in Dover.” Fenton bent closer so he wouldn’t be overheard. “Captain Montgomery will do his best to herd the gaggle of ladies as quickly as he can.”
Velvet laughed. “I can see the relief on your face that you were not chosen to ride herd. It will take four or five days.”
“Yes, ma’am—at least, ma’am.”
“My dearest child, that is the most wonderful news I’ve heard since I learned Montgomery carried you off and married you.” Christian rang for tea. “When your husband came to collect Mr. Burke last month, he never mentioned a word.”
“Greysteel doesn’t know! It happened when we were at Audley End, so I’m only about two months. I can’t wait to tell him. You knew that he went to Dover to escort Princess Mary to London? Her ship has finally arrived, so he will be back in a few days.”
“Yes, the queen is looking forward to Mary’s visit. You are absolutely blooming, darling. Has anyone at Whitehall guessed your secret?”
“I believe the entire Court knew before I did. I fainted one night and everyone immediately assumed I was
enceinte
.”
“What a dramatic way to announce you were carrying Eglinton’s heir. Let’s hope it knocked Castlemaine from the center of attention for once.”
Velvet laughed. “Barbara is my friend.”
“All the more reason to rub salt in her wounds whenever you get the chance, especially when you are the one who has inflicted the wounds. She must seethe with jealousy every time she looks at your flawless complexion, darling.”
“Ah, that reminds me. I have brought you some of your favorite face cream.”
“Thank you so much, darling. I have a flagrant fondness for your miracle cream. My skin used to be chafed and red as a lobster before you concocted your luscious face cream. You must try it on your belly—I trow it would prevent stretch marks.”
“Stretch marks?” Velvet puzzled.
“Darling, you are such an innocent. Babies ruin your figure, especially large ones such as your husband is likely to father. Henrietta Maria and I used olive oil. It didn’t help the queen much. She was such a tiny thing, and carrying Charles stretched her belly out of all proportion.”
“I refuse to let that spoil the pleasure I am taking in this baby. It’s a price I’m willing to pay.”
Christian rolled her eyes. “The things we do for love.”
Velvet sipped her tea slowly, and nibbled on a biscuit. “Did you by any chance tell your grandson, Cav, that Greysteel had deeded Roehampton to me?”
“I believe I did, darling. He asked me if I thought Montgomery would be interested in selling the Elizabethan manor to him. I told him your husband had signed it over to you as a gift and that you loved the place so much, there was no chance you would sell it. Did I guess right?”
“Yes . . . I would never sell it. But Cav didn’t offer to buy Roehampton; he tried to get it by blackmailing me.”
“Blackmail? Whatever are you talking about, darling ?”
“It’s a long story.” Velvet sighed.
“Well, I have all day and vow to keep you prisoner until you confess all the delicious details.”
Christian listened avidly as Velvet told her about asking Mary Beale to paint her in the nude, and by the time the tale was finished, the dowager was agog.
“You actually told him to display it in the Presence Chamber for all to admire? Darling, how I wish I had been there to witness your triumphant declaration!”