“Those things come,” said Aidan, “from knowing, and loving one another. My parents loved each other dearly, and were always kind and thoughtful of one another. That is what I seek, Conn, so it seems, we are not too different in our goals for a married life.”
They entered Greenwood House, and Aidan looked about her with interest. It was a lovely house, small yet spacious. A maidservant came to take her cloak, and Conn led her up the stairs, and down a wide corridor into a cheerful and warm apartment.
“Greenwood,” said Conn, “belongs to my sister Skye, but she is banned from court, and so does not come to London. She was kind enough to put the house at my disposal.”
“And now ye are banned from court,” chuckled Aidan. “Is it a family tradition, Conn? Is this perhaps something that ye should tell me about?”
He laughed a deep, warm laugh, enjoying her teasing as much as the humor in the situation. “My sister, and the queen are very much alike, and as a consequence often clash. Unfortunately for Skye, it is Elizabeth Tudor who holds the supreme power, and so my sister finds herself living at
Queen’s Malvern.
” A young maid came forward, and Conn said, “Perhaps ye would like to refresh yerself, Aidan. We will eat very shortly.”
When she had washed her face and hands in a silver basin in the bedchamber of the apartment, she began to tidy her hair, pinning it up, but Conn seeing it from the doorway said, “Nay, Aidan, leave yer hair down,” and so pulling the pins from her head, she brushed it, and returned to join him.
The servants had set up a lovely table in the main room of Conn’s apartment. It was laid with a fine linen cloth, and silver, and her little wedding bouquet had been made into a centerpiece. After Greenwich Palace she found this room warm and toasty. Through the windows she could see that dawn had finally broken, but true to the earlier sky the day was overcast and gray.
Conn held out her chair for her remarking as he did so, “If ye’d worn gowns like that at court, Aidan, I certainly would have noticed ye, and so would every other man with eyes in his head.”
“I wanted to be liked for me, and not for my face and figure, or for the fact that I am an heiress.” She laughed. “Without something to recommend me, however, no one noticed the queen’s country mouse. I was as anonymous as bread pudding even considering my size.”
“When we return to court next year I want ye to wear only the most beautiful clothes, my funny wife, for I shall very much enjoy being the envy of the gentlemen of the court, none of whom could see the jewel beneath stone.”
“Hah, Conn St. Michael! Even ye did not see the jewel until the queen stuffed it in yer pocket!”
He laughed again. “ ’Tis a truth, Aidan.” Then he grew somber. “Conn St. Michael,” he said. “
Conn St. Michael.
Well, it has a good ring to it.”
“Is it hard, exchanging yer name for mine?”
“Perhaps not so much as strange. As the queen pointed out to me, there are plenty of O’Malleys, but without me, there will be no more St. Michaels. Do ye realize, lass, that we are the founders of a new family, a new dynasty? Shall we have many fine sons and daughters, Aidan, my wife? How many of each do ye desire?”
“Oh, I should think half a dozen of each, my lord. At least! But could we first eat breakfast? I am starving!”
He grinned delighted at finding to his immense surprise that he liked her. The queen had been correct in saying his bride had wit. Other than Elizabeth Tudor who was a law unto herself, he had never considered wit a virtue in a woman, but he was rethinking his position.
The servants offered beautifully cooked and prepared dishes of eggs poached in heavy cream and malmsey, thick slices of sweet, pink ham, and a bowl of stewed pears and apples. There was a fresh loaf of bread, still warm from the oven, a crock of sweet butter, a small cheese, and a choice of wine or ale. Conn was amused to find that Aidan had a hearty appetite, that she ate with a good will, and refused nothing. He was careful in his table manners for hers were delicately refined, and he was not used to sharing his meal with a woman.
When they had finished she sat back in her chair, and declared, “That is the best meal I have had since I left
Pearroc Royal
! The queen’s cooks are fine, but they tend to oversauce, and their food is not always the freshest. I could taste it beneath the spices. Did ye like those eggs? I will ask the chef for the recipe before we leave today.”
“Those things interest ye?”
“Everything that has to do with the running of a house and estate interests me. It is what my father raised me to do. How were ye raised, Conn? I know as little about ye, as ye do about me.”
“How was I raised?” He thought a moment, and then he said, “I was the youngest of my father’s sons. His first wife had produced six daughters before my eldest brother, Michael, was born. Michael is the priest. His mother died birthing him, and my father quickly remarried, this time choosing a young, healthy girl although I’ve no doubt his first wife was healthy enough before all her confinements. She bore ten children, losing three sons in infancy, before her own death.
“My mother quickly proved a fertile breeder to my father’s delight, I am told. He doted upon her, they say. She bore him four healthy sons in as many years. He died when I was three, and I remember little of him but for a big, black-bearded man with a deep laugh and a voice like thunder. My mother is a sweet woman, but without Dubhdara O’Malley she was lost. My brothers and I ran roughshod over her. Only Michael, our half-brother, respected and honored her properly. When she could our half-sister Skye tried to tame us, even sending my two eldest brothers off to learn the sea as our father had before us. Then my third brother wanted to go, and finally myself.”
“Did ye like the sea?” Aidan questioned him.
“I hated it! I was always getting sick at the least sign of rocky weather, and how Brian, Shane, and Shamus teased me for it. When Skye found out, however, she brought me home, and sent me off to St. Brendan’s where my brother Michael was in school. Michael, of course, was studying for the priesthood, but Skye simply wanted me educated enough to handle the trading company she had formed in the name of the O’Malleys in an effort to make our family more respectable. Our father was little more than an elegant pirate who lured treasure ships to their doom along our rocky coast, and then helped himself to the salvage.
“I didn’t take to school any better than I had taken to the sea, and I stayed just long enough to learn how to read, and write. The good monks were happy to see me go,” he chuckled. “I returned home where my mother spent the next several years spoiling me. I outgrew my seasickness, and eventually went off to sea for a time with my brothers, but it wasn’t what I wanted.”
“How did ye come to England?” Aidan queried him. She was absolutely fascinated with his small history which was so unlike her own.
“Several years ago my brothers joined with a distant cousin in privateering ventures against English ships. Her name is Grace O’Malley, and she is called the Pirate Queen of Connaught. Her fleet was made considerably stronger by the addition of our ships. The queen wished it stopped, and so she kidnapped my infant niece Velvet de Marisco in order that my sister Skye, who was then the head of our family, help her.
“Skye suggested that the queen give my brothers letters of marque to sail for England rather than with Grace against it. When she came home to Ireland to persuade them, I returned with her afterward to England, and that is how I arrived at court. Bess liked me from the start.”
“Robin says ye were bearded, and wore trews and a plaid when ye came. He says ye could barely speak English.”
“He’s right,” chuckled Conn. “I was a true Irish savage as that fancy little milord, my nephew, has noted.”
“He admires ye,” said Aidan not wishing to cause a breach between the two.
“He’s in love with ye,” said Conn mischievously.
“What?” said Aidan, very surprised.
“ ’Tis puppy love to be sure, but I’ve been warned to be good to ye else I face young Lord Southwood’s wrath.”
Aidan smiled a soft smile. “He was so good to me when I first came to court five months ago. Without him I should have been totally miserable.”
“They say he is like his father, and Skye certainly loved Geoffrey Southwood. He was a child born of love.”
“All children should be born of love. I know I was.”
“Did yer parents know each other long before they married?”
Aidan laughed. “They never laid eyes upon one another until the day my mother arrived from Ireland, and the wedding was almost immediately. My mother was a wonderful woman. I never heard a harsh word from her. She always seemed to be gay, and even in the bad times when she would lose her babies she was convinced that the next time would be different. She and my twin sisters died when I was ten. My father never really recovered from her death. He devoted himself to me, and I to him.”
There was a knock upon the door, and Walters, the majordomo of Greenwood House, entered the room. “My lord, the coach is ready for ye anytime ye wish to leave, and may I say that we shall miss yer lordship, and are sorry to see ye go.”
“Thank ye, Walters, but I shall be returning in another year with Lady Bliss. My wife must change her clothing for she does not wish to travel in her wedding gown. We will not be long.”
“Very good, my lord. Please convey the staff’s good wishes to Lord and Lady de Marisco,” said Walters, and then he discreetly withdrew.
“I shall need Mag, and one of my trunks,” said Aidan standing up.
“There is no need,” replied Conn. “I shall maid ye myself. I have a surprise for ye in the bedchamber. Come along, wife!” and standing up he took her hand and drew her into the next room.
There upon the bed was a beautiful, high-necked gown of a rich, brown velvet, trimmed in gold. Next to it were several flannel petticoats, and a pretty pair of knitted woolen stockings in a natural color. On the other side of the dress was a matching full-length cloak with gold frog closures, a corner of which had been turned back to show its furred lining. Next to the cape was a pair of Florentine leather gloves, soft, cream-colored leather embroidered in tiny pearls.
Aidan’s mouth formed itself into an O of surprise much to her new husband’s pleasure. “Where . . . ?” she began. “How . . . ?”
“Yer wedding gown came from my sister’s dressmaker. Robin had told me that. After we spoke two days ago I went to her, and requested she make several gowns for ye that would flatter yer coppery hair. I dislike all the black ye wear. I realize that yer mourning yer father, but now I would like to see ye in colors that complement yer hair, and yer skin. Yer father obviously had old-fashioned ideas about dressing ye.”
“My father—” began Aidan hotly, but Conn interrupted her.
“Yer father looked at ye as a daughter. I, however, am looking at ye like a husband, and a lover. Now turn around, Aidan, so I may unlace ye!” and he spun her about so he might undo her gown.
“Ohhh!” Aidan was outraged. She was also suddenly very aware that she was alone with this man, and he was undoing her gown. Her first instinct was to protest, and the words of outrage were already forming upon her lips. Then she remembered who this man was. He was her husband, and every law known, both England’s and God’s, gave him the power of life and death over her. Aidan stood very still as Conn pushed her long hair aside, and undid her gown.
“There, lass, now I’ll leave ye to change out of my own finery. When ye need me to redo yer new gown, I’ll come.”
Aidan whirled about. “Conn!” He stopped, and turned back to her. “The gown, it’s lovely! It all is!”
“There’s more coming from the dressmaker, but ’twill be sent to
Pearroc Royal.
I convinced Madame to hurry one gown so ye’d have it for traveling.”
“Thank ye.”
He flashed her a grin, and then left her.
Aidan stepped from her wedding dress, eager to try on the lovely brown velvet gown. The color had almost a faint golden tone to it, or was it the gold embroidery upon the bodice, and the creamy antiqued color of the collar that made it appear that way? She kicked her silken petticoats aside, and gratefully slipped into the flannel ones he had provided. She appreciated again Conn’s thoughtfulness which had first been evidenced in the fragrant white violets he had given her for a wedding bouquet. She rolled her elegant silk stockings from her long legs, and put on the gossamer fine woolen ones. How had he guessed the proper length? She was certain that the dressmaker did not have those measurements, and yet the stockings fit her perfectly. Then she saw by the side of the bed a pair of beautifully made brown leather boots that were lined in rabbit fur. She didn’t even have to try them on to know that they would fit, she thought as sitting upon the bed she pulled the boots onto her feet. Standing up again she was finally ready to put on the velvet gown, and when she had slipped it on she twirled before the long pier glass at her reflection in the mirror. Never before had she noticed the faint rosy shade of her cheeks, or the rich color of her copper hair. It was amazing, and yet Conn had known what this color would do for her.
“Here,” he said coming up behind her, and startling her, “let me fasten yer gown for ye, Aidan.” When he had finished he whirled her about, and looking at her critically finally smiled saying, “I knew it! It’s a perfect color for ye!” He, too, had changed into warmer, more practical clothing of less spectacular elegance. Gone was his splendid jewel-encrusted doublet, and in its place was a plain dark green velvet one to match his trunk hose. He wore leather boots to his knee, and a wide belt from which dangled a rapier and a short dagger. “Are ye ready now?” he asked her.
Aidan bit her lip. “There is one thing I must do, my lord, and then I shall be ready.”
“What?”
She blushed. “I must make a trip to the necessary, my lord.”