“I knew it without you saying it, Elizabeth,” he replied. “After all, you have always had a weakness for Scots, haven’t you?” Baen teased gently.
She giggled. “Aye,” she admitted, “I always have, husband.”
He leaned forward, and their lips met briefly. “Go to sleep now, my love.”
“Stay with me,” she pleaded softly. “I think I will sleep better in your arms, Baen, than I will alone.”
And that was how Rosamund found them when she peeped into the chamber an hour later. Baen was lying with his back to the headboard, his arms protectively about Elizabeth, whose head was on his chest. His head rested atop her blond head. Both were sleeping soundly. Rosamund closed the door to the chamber as quietly as she had opened it. She could go home tomorrow knowing that a permanent peace had been forged between her youngest daughter and her husband. It was a great relief, and her heart was lighter than it had been in months. She went to the small library and, taking some parchment, wrote to Thomas Bolton, inviting him to his godson’s baptism on the first day of August. She smiled, almost hearing his protest at being disturbed yet once again, but the trip between Otterly and Friarsgate was hardly a great one. He would come. And Banon and her husband would come, but when Rosamund wrote to her middle daughter she insisted that her grandchildren, but for the two eldest, remain at home. And she, Logan, and their sons would come. And she would write to her uncle Richard Bolton, asking that he send John for the baptism of his new niece. John Hepburn might not be her blood, but he was Logan’s eldest son. It would be a wonderful family day.
Elizabeth was saddened to see her mother depart the next day, but she knew Rosamund’s place was at Claven’s Carn. The daughter had noticed that when her mother was at Friarsgate this time the servants deferred to her in a way that Elizabeth felt took from her position. She had been lax in her discipline in the last days of her confinement. It was time for the Friarsgate folk to be reminded again who the lady of the manor was. Within a few short days after young Tom’s birth she had Baen carry her to the hall, where she spent her days. And a week after that she was in her library again. And then she was walking and riding once more as her strength increased. By the time the day for the baptism arrived Elizabeth was her old self again.
“Dear girl!” Lord Cambridge said when he saw her. “You are in love! How simply marvelous! Is love not marvelous, Will?” he asked his secretary, who had accompanied him.
Elizabeth laughed. “Uncle,” she said, kissing him, “you are ever the romantic.” Then she kissed Will. “I can see you are taking good care of him. Thank you. He is my favorite relation. Come in! Come in!”
Banon and her Neville arrived shortly thereafter.
“Jemima is most put out that you would not include her,” Banon told her sister. “And I have never looked so well after a confinement as you do. My new bairn was a boy too! We have named him Henry, after the king.”
“I have not the accommodation for your family,” Elizabeth said, not in the least disturbed by her sister’s complaint. “Mama thought it best only the two eldest come. If we had included Jemima, then my namesake and your youngest daughter would have wanted to come. As it is our brothers are sleeping in the stables.”
“Why do you not simply enlarge the house?” Banon wanted to know.
“Actually we are considering it,” Elizabeth said.
“So I finally get to meet this Scot you married,” Banon responded. “Where is he?” She looked about the hall.
“He is the biggest man in the room,” Elizabeth said proudly.
“God’s wounds, Bessie!” Banon exclaimed. “He is gorgeous! How on earth did you manage to get him?”
“I seduced him,” Elizabeth answered her older sister. “And please do not call me Bessie!”
“You didn’t!” Banon sounded just slightly shocked. “I would have never thought it of you.” She giggled.
“Well, I did,” Elizabeth said with a grin. “The proof of my naughtiness is currently in Uncle Thomas’s arms.”
Banon’s eyes grew large as she looked at the baby Lord Cambridge held. “He’s huge!” she exclaimed. “And you birthed him when?”
“The morning after Midsummer’s Day,” Elizabeth said.
“God’s blood! It’s a wonder he didn’t kill you. None of mine have been that big at so young an age,” Banon told her sister.
“Baen helped me. He drew the bairn’s head and shoulders from my body,” Elizabeth exclaimed to Banon’s openmouthed amazement.
“He didn’t!”
“He did.”
Banon shook her head. “I never thought you would find a man to suit you, and to suit Friarsgate, but ’tis obvious you have, Elizabeth.” She put her arms about her sister, hugging her. “I am so happy for you! I can’t wait till Philippa sees him. Is she coming?”
“Nay. I wrote to her myself, but she says she is too busy attending to the queen while the court is in progress. Katherine was sent to Moor Park in Hertfordshire, and has since been removed to Bishop’s Hatfield. The king does not wish to see her face again, Philippa writes, and the princess has been removed from her mother’s custody now.”
“Poor lady,” Banon sympathized.
“Foolish lady,” Elizabeth said. “Anne told me she would be queen, and it would appear that she may be one day sooner than later. I do admire Philippa’s loyalty, however. It has never wavered.”
Banon nodded. “Aye, but then she believes her small success is owed to the queen’s patronage. I am glad I am not at court. I am quite content to be a country wife.”
