“I have asked Angel to marry me, and, being the sweet child she is, she fears it is not at all a good enough match for me. She thinks the queen will not allow me to wed her, but I have explained that our mother wed my father under even more difficult circumstances with the queen’s blessing. We are going toArdern Hallnow, and Angel wants your support.”
“Do you love my brother?” Velvet was suddenly very protective of Robin. Men were such fools when it came to women. Dame Cecily had said it often enough.
“I-I don’t know, Velvet,” Angel answered honestly. “How can I know such a thing? I hardly know Lord Southwood.”
“It’s not important,” said Robin with a wave of his hand. “I love her, and most matches do not take into account whether the parties involved love each other. Alison and I didn’t love each other.”
“You knew Alison all her life, Robin,” said Velvet. “You have only just met Angel. Understand it is not just you I fear for, but also my dear friend, Angel. If this is some whim on your part, Robin, I shall be very angry.”
“When have you ever known me to be deliberately unkind, Velvet?” he chided her gently. “I realize that love at first sight is a rare phenomenon, but it has happened to me with Angel. I will devote my life to making her happy if she will but give me the chance.” His lime-green eyes were filled with such emotion that for a moment Velvet looked away in embarrassment. She had never known her brother to be this way.
She swallowed the little lump that had risen in her throat and, looking back at him, said, “Then, dammit, Robin, why are we standing here when we should be on the road toArdern Hall!”
Alex looked from one to the other, amused. What charmingly willful people they were, these children of Skye O’Malley. Both assumed that all was settled because it suited them. Neither had bothered to consult the other person most definitely involved. He looked at the beautiful blond girl and said quietly, “And what say you about all of this, Mistress Angel Christman? Are you content to rush off into the night to ask the queen’s permission to wed with the Earl of Lynmouth?”
“I think it is all madness, my lord,” she replied with a smile, “but if the earl be serious in his intent toward me, I could not receive a better offer. It is indeed amagnificentoffer for a maid in my position. I suppose I must be practical in any event.”
Velvet looked somewhat shocked. “You would be practical in the matter of marriage, Angel? What of love? This is a lifetime we are speaking about!”
Angel sighed and smoothed her palms down over her rather plain gown. “Velvet, you were born an heiress. I do not have your choices. Yes, I want to love the man I marry, but if the queen gave me to a stranger, I could not refuse. In the little time I have known your brother he has shown himself to be a kind and gentle man of the most delicate breeding. He says he loves me, and I do not believe he is a man easily confused by his own feelings. In time I believe I can learn to love him, and that is as good a basis for a marriage as any maid in my position has ever had.”
Robin put a protective arm about Angel and softly kissed the top of her golden head. “Thank you, sweetheart, for giving me your trust. I shall endeavor not to disappoint you. Now, little sister, if you are satisfied as to our intentions, may we be on our way?”
“Oh, no, my lord,” said the blushing bride-to-be. “Not until I have changed my gown. I cannot appear before Her Majesty in this travel-worn garment. Will you help me, Velvet?”
“Aye,” came her friend’s reply. Then Velvet said to her brother, “I assume you can arrange a coach for us?”
“A coach?” Robin laughed. “I had thought to have you ladies ride pillion behind Alex and me.”
“Pillion? Nay! We would arrive atArdern Hallso covered with dust they would take us for gypsies! Angel and I have but one other dress apiece, and we will need them again tomorrow. You must find us a coach! I shall leave it to you, Robin. Come, Angel!” Her eyes twinkling, tossing her curls, Velvet took her friend’s arm and led her back into the inn.
In the short time it took for Velvet to help Angel from her worn blue gown and relace her into the magnificent turquoise one that matched her eyes, Robin did manage to find them a coach. He also learned that the queen was supping with the Earl of Leicester in his tent in the middle of the army’s camp.
It was but a few moments’ ride from the Mermaid Inn to the encampment. Upon arriving, the young earl requested a brief audience with the queen, and a few mintues later the four were ushered into Dudley’s quarters.
The queen was gowned in a magnificent black and gold dress, the bodice of which was covered with pearls. She smiled graciously and extended her hand to Robin and Alex. Once the men had paid their homage, it was the girls’ turn to curtsy, which they did prettily and in unison.
“Well, now, my lord of Lynmouth,” said Elizabeth, “what is so very important that it cannot wait until this business with the Spanish is over and done with?” She peered at him, genuinely curious.
Robin smiled warmly at his queen. “Do you remember, madame, when I first came to court to serve you and I cried for my mother? You told me then, in order to stop my weeping, that I might have anything of you that I desired. I was so enchanted at the time by the prospect of my queen giving me anything I wanted that I could not decide.”
The queen laughed at the memory. “As I recall, my lord Southwood, I then said that the offer was an open one; a promise from me to thee that might be claimed at any time. Tis that not correct?”
“Aye, madame. Your memory does not fail you.”
“I should hope not!” The queen chuckled. “I am not yet so old that I grow forgetful.” She peered at him again. “So you have finally decided after almost twenty years have passed what it is you would have of me, Robert Southwood. Is that not it?”
“Aye, madame, I have finally decided, and I come before Your Gracious Majesty to ask for the hand in marriage of your royal ward, Angel Christman.”
The queen’s surprised glance swung to Angel as she attempted to exercise her memory once again. There were several royal wards. Who was this one? Ah, yes! Her eyes lit up. “You are aware that the maid is penniless, my lord. She will bring you nothing but her maidenhead if you have not stolen it already.”
Angel flushed crimson, and Robin quickly said, “Nay, madame! I have far too much respect for Angel’s reputation to compromise her.”
The queen smiled, a trifle bitterly, Velvet thought, and said, “You may look like Southwood, but you are your mother’s son in many ways, my lord. I believe you when you tell me that you have had a care for the girl’s honor. It is an incredible offer you make to Mistress Christman. What, however, will your mother say to such a match when she returns from her voyage? Will she approve? I wonder.”
“Yes!” he said firmly.
The queen laughed again. “Aye, you are right. She will be glad, I have not a doubt, to see you happily settled, for Skye O’Malley has always been a woman for a happy ending. Very well, Robert Southwood, Earl of Lynmouth, you may marry my royal ward, Angel Christman. When may we expect to be invited to your wedding?”
