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and
this year s was promising. Several people disputed what they owed, and
Elizabeth
listened with grudging respect as John asked careful questions, consulted the
accounts paid in previous years, and made decisions. On at least one, he was
going to have to explain to Milburn why he d allow the rent to be delayed,
but
John seemed not to be worried. He was a confident man, one used to being in
charge.
And she was destined to marry him.
To look at the man she was supposed to give herself to had a strange reality
to
it. She had spent the last eleven years of her life imagining herself married
to
another man, one so perfect in form and face and comportment.
But John Russell had far too many flaws, too many deceptions. After all,
might
he really have taken his family s money? And if he had, how could she marry
him?
They were invited to the local tavern for supper, and this time John accepted
without even glancing at her. Apparently he didn t want to eat alone with her
again. As if she could ever go back to the dappled glade by the stream
without
remembering
The pleasure of his kiss?
Or the eventual feelings of betrayal it had resulted in?
The tavern was hot and crowded, with so many farmers in the village for the
day.
Elizabeth, who d been to the king s court in London, had never been allowed
inside such a place before, and she found herself curious. She took in the
beamed ceiling hung with hams and strings of onions, and she watched John
good-naturedly dodge around them. She wished she knew how much of his
behavior
was for the part he was playing.
Hugh brought them to a table near the wall. There were few women here except
the
serving maids, so Elizabeth found herself standing uncertainly as the men
began
sliding onto benches. John would have to remain on the end, due to his
broken
leg, so she slid in next to Hugh, and John pushed in against her. She was
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shocked how easily people seemed to forget that she was the earl s daughter.
Perhaps she looked so different in her plain garments and wimple that they
had
already forgotten the truth. Since she was used to being deferred to, more
than
once she almost gave an order, especially where the seating arrangements were
concerned.
She tried not to touch Hugh too familiarly, so that put her against John,
whose
hip was pressed to hers. Their shoulders overlapped, or rubbed against each
other as they moved. Serving maids handed out tankards of beer, and the men
raised them in salute to their own bailiff s improving health. Elizabeth
tried
to take small sips, but the beer was potent, and she was soon feeling rather
pleased with the world.
Sir John, Hugh said, wiping the foam from his lip, what part of the
country
do ye come from?
Cornwall, John answered.
As John leaned forward to see around her, his arm briefly brushed the side of
her breast. She froze, but he didn t seem to notice. He was watching Hugh
with
interest.
Is it so different than our rolling hills? Hugh asked.
As long as John wasn t touching her intimately, she was able to pay
attention.
And she was interested. It had been a long time since her year at Rame
Castle.
She found it sad to imagine it neglected.
My village is on a cliff above the sea, John said. We spend much of our
lives
in boats riding waves to catch fish to feed our families.
That didn t sound like the truth for him personally.
There is always wind, and storms are frequent, but tis a beautiful place.
Yet
the sea makes one think of wandering, and in my youth, I traveled much in my
quest to become a knight.
And ye still travel as a bailiff, Hugh said, smiling.
John leaned toward Hugh as if to impart a confidence, and she held her breath
as
his arm pressed and stayed against her breast.
Wandering has always called to my soul, John said.
She could barely concentrate on his words, so warm was she becoming, so much
did
her flesh tingle at his touch. But she sensed that he was telling the truth.
Each day is different, John continued. Each place is new and exotic and a
thing to be explored and mastered. And the women are never the same.
All the men at the table laughed. John openly elbowed her, everyone laughed
harder, but at least his arm was no longer riding her intimately. Maybe he
hadn t even noticed or cared.
She remembered that he had left home at sixteen. Could such a man be content
at
Castle Alderley? Or did he want the money to finance his travels?
She told herself she had always wanted a husband who would go off to court
regularly, leaving the running of the estate to her. William would have been
such a man.
But strangely, the thought of John doing so made her uneasy and sad now.
Surely she was only missing the life she d planned with William.
On the journey home, the cart contained a small coffer of coins, so the
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guards
rode one in front, one behind, as they watched the hills, the hedgerows, and
occasional woodland for thieves. The rain had let up, and the setting sun
peaked
through the low clouds directly ahead of them. Elizabeth shielded her eyes
and
saw John squinting, but he drove without complaint.
She again felt uncomfortable sitting so close beside him. Her nerves were
still
frayed from the endless touching they d shared in the tavern, and she found
herself sullen that he hadn t seemed to be bothered. After all, didn t that
prove that he hadn t really desired her, had been flirting with her only out
of
necessity?
But then she realized he was sitting at the absolute edge of the cart, as if
he
didn t want to touch her either. She tried not to feel too pleased. Surely it
was only the beer she d drunk, giving her fanciful notions.
What is Lady Elizabeth like? John suddenly asked.
Taken by surprise, she saw the ghost of her deception rise between them. She
reminded herself he deserved it.
You spent a year living in the same castle with her, she said primly.
And she turned eleven in that time. I barely knew her.
And why not?
Because she did not have time for me. William was the shining beacon of the
family.
There was irony in his tone that reminded her of the lies he thought his
brother
capable of. Was John jealous that she had paid no attention to him? Or did he
only want her because his brother had her?
You wanted to spend time with an eleven-year-old girl? she asked slowly.
I thought she was& amusing. He sighed. And lovely. I am quite certain she
grew
into a beautiful woman.
Elizabeth looked down for a moment. And is beauty so important to you?
Nay, although, forgive me if I offend you, but is it to her?
She stiffened. I do not understand.
She knew nothing about William. He was eight years older than she, and had
no
time for little girls. But all he had to do was smile at her& His voice
faded
away, and then he smiled. Ah, but I am not perfect. I fear I was the same
with
her.
Anyone could say such a thing to win a woman s favor, she thought. He
probably
expected her to run and tell her mistress, easing the way for him. But still
she
felt& flustered.
With me, Lady Elizabeth will not have to worry about other women swooning
over
the beauty of my face. He laughed quietly.
Did he want a compliment from her? She didn t understand his motives, so she
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