As they arrived a stableboy came forth to take their horses, and Beal hurried from the building. "My lord, there are some gentlemen awaiting ye."

"Thank ye, Beal," said Conn, and hurried into the house with Aidan There in the hallway were some half-dozen men, dressed in the uniform of the queen's Gentlemen Pensioners. Conn strode forward.

"Welcome to Pearroc Royal, gentlemen. I hope Beal has offered ye refreshment." He didn't recognize any of the men, but then men were always retiring as he himself had done, and it was a great honor to serve in the queen's own personal bodyguard. "How may I be of service to ye?"

The captain of the unit stepped forward. "Ye are Conn St. Michael, born an O'Malley of Innisfana Island, now known as Lord Bliss?"

"I am, sir."

"Then it is my painful duty to inform ye, my lord, that ye are under arrest in the queen's name."

"What?" Conn looked totally stunned.

"We are come, my lord, to escort ye to London where ye will be lodged in the Tower at her majesty's discretion."

"No!" Aidan had gone white with her terror. "No!" she repeated. "There is some mistake! There has to be!"

Conn put his arm about his wjfe. "It's all right, sweeting. I have done nothing wrong. This is simply a mistake."

"They have come to take ye to the Tower!" she cried. "I shall never see ye again!" Then she burst into tears.

He held her close, vainly attempting to comfort her. "My wife," he said to the distinctly uncomfortable captain of the guard, "is but newly with child." Then he tipped her tearstained face up to him. "I trust Bess, Aidan. Now get a hold of yerself, my love, and listen to me. I am going with these gentlemen. Ye are to send to Queen's Malvern for Adam, and tell him what has happened. He will know what to do. Do ye understand me, Aidan?"

"A-aye," she sniffled.

"Beal!" Conn called.

The butler was immediately there. "My lord?"

"Fetch my sword, immediately!"

They stood for what seemed an eternity in the main hall of the manor while Beal brought Conn's weapon. Aidan clung to her husband, unable to control her fear. Conn held her tightly against him, his own heart pounding nervously. He could not imagine what had happened to bring him to this. Could his elder 'brothers be acting up again, but if that was the case why hadn't the queen spoken of it while they were in London? The queen's own men shifted their feet restlessly as they waited. They knew nothing themselves except that they had been sent to arrest this man. Who knew what he had done? It could be anything from a serious offense like treason, to something totally silly like the seduction of an important man's wife or daughter. He had a reputation for such playful antics.

"Yer sword, my lord." Beal handed Conn the blade.

Conn nodded his thanks, and then releasing Aidan from his grasp, turned to the captain of the guard, and offered his weapon. "My sword," he said quietly.

The captain took it, and said, "May we have yer word, my lord, that ye'll not try to escape?"

"Ye have it," Conn answered with more calm than he was feeling.

"Thank ye, my lord, then we are ready to depart."

"No," Aidan cried, "surely not now, sir! It is late in the day. Wait until morning!"

"My lady, I have my orders to bring yer husband to London with all possible haste. We have at least six hours of light left, and we can be many miles on the road to London by the time it is dark." He looked to Conn. "Have ye ever been in the Tower, sir?"

"Aye," said Conn.

"Then ye know ye'd best bring a good purse with ye, my lord. The kind of lodging ye receive will depend upon yer ability to pay. Those who can't pay usually end up in the cells beneath the river, but those with silver can arrange for decent housing, and food, and on cold days even wood and wine to warm them. Everything costs in the Tower."

Aidan was beginning to calm down, and think. "Wait!" she said sternly. "Since ye yerself have said ye've plenty of daylight left to this day ye can bide but part of an hour while my husband changes his clothing, and I gather certain things for him. He cannot go as he is, and without funds."

"Agreed, my lady," said the captain. "I have no objections, but do not dally in an effort to prevent our departure, madame."

Aidan drew herself up to her full height, and stepped away from her husband. She was, the captain of the guard found to his great discomfort, as tall as he himself was. "Sir, ye have my husband's parole, and now I offer ye mine. We will not be long." Then she moved toward the Great Hall. "Come in, gentlemen, and wait here. The stairs to our chamber lead up from here."

Alone in their bedroom Aidan turned a white face to Conn, but her voice was calm. "Do ye know what this is all about?"

"Nay, unless my brothers have been up to some mischief again. Bess usually holds Skye responsible for them. She's done her time in the Tower, and come out safe."

"Skye was in the Tower?" Aidan was amazed.

"Aye, Deirdre was horn there. Skye and the queen have been at odds for many years, sweetheart. They are much alike, ye see. Two strong women, each of whom has always fought to control her own destiny despite her s.e.x. In the beginning when Skye first came to England, and was wed to Geoffrey Southwood she and the queen were friends. Then Southwood died along with their younger son. In his will he left Skye completely in charge, but the queen ignored the earl's last testament, and placed Lord Dudley in charge of Robin. Bess knew that Dudley l.u.s.ted after Skye, and because she herself was unable to wed with him she sought to please him in other ways. She knew that Skye disliked Dudley, and so she felt my sister would be no threat to her own relationship with the man. Robert Dudley raped Skye, and when she complained to the queen, Bess admitted to her that she knew what Dudley wanted of Skye, but that she would turn a blind eye because she wanted to make him happy.

"From that moment on the relationship between the queen and my sister turned. English merchant ships began being pirated off Ireland, and in the waters between England and Ireland. The queen lost a great deal of revenue. She blamed Skye for the piracies."

"Was she indeed responsible?" Aidan was wide-eyed at these new revelations about her beautiful sister-in-law.

Conn chuckled. "The queen could never prove it," he answered his wife, but his merry countenance even as he spoke told Aidan what she wanted to know. Conn continued. "Skye married again. This time to Niall Burke. She was not yet, however, finished with the queen. Bess, however, set a trap for Skye which my sister skillfully evaded. Furious, the queen ordered her arrest, and lodged her in the Tower for some weeks. That is how Deirdre came to be bom there.

"Finally with the help of Adam and Lord Burghley, Skye was released, and she and Niall returned first to Devon, and then to Niall's home in Ireland where Padraic was born. After Niall's death Skye needed Bess's help in holding the Burke lands for Padraic was only an infant of less than a year. The queen agreed provided that Skye would make a political marriage for England which she did, but she was quickly widowed again, and when she and Adam married in France without the queen's permission Bess stole the Burke lands and gave them to an Englishman.

"Again peace was made between them, and then the queen took Velvet from Skye and Adam because once again she needed their help. Of course when she got it she returned my niece to her parents, gave them the use of Queens Malvern, gave Padraic lands in England, and banished my sister from court, and from London. She pretends it is because she fears Skye near the sea can cause her danger. She made my sister pa.s.s on her authority as The O'Malley to our brother Michael, the bishop of MidConnaught, so that the tale does not hold water to my mind. Actually I think she is jealous of Skye as much as she secretly admires her. As for Skye she actually likes Bess though she would never admit it aloud." He smiled rea.s.suringly at his wife. "Ye see, sweeting, it's really not terrible my going to the Tower. Many good people have come and gone into it, the queen included, and come out safe."

"And many have gone in alive only to exit without their heads," she answered.

"Aidan, I have done nothing wrong. Whatever this is about will be quickly straightened out. Now help me change, and then fetch me a fat purse. I'm unhappy enough at having to return to London in the summer. At least I'll be comfortable in the d.a.m.ned place."

She laughed. It was almost a relief to see him cranky instead of so elegantly polite as he was with the captain of the queen's guard. "I'll pack some clean linen for ye, my darling, and alert Cluny. I want him to go with ye." Now calm Aidan went about her tasks quickly, making a small bundle for her husband to take with him that contained clean stockings, and other personal items, brushes for his hair and teeth, and his dice that he might have something to amuse him. Then she hurried off to find Cluny.

Cluny, however, had already been alerted by Beal of the rather startling developments that had occurred. When Aidan returned to the Great Hall he was already booted and waiting for his master. She called him to her side.

"Ye know?"

"Aye, and I'd be interested to know what it's all about, too, m'lady. I'll get word to ye as soon as possible. Servants get to come and go in the Tower as they please." He hesitated a moment, and then said, "Keep an eye on Mistress Mag for me, but for mercy sakes, m'lady, don't tell her I asked. I'll ne'er hear the end of it if ye do. That old woman of yers is bad enough as it is."

Aidan hid her smile. She knew that Mag was fonder of Cluny than she would admit, but it pleased her to know that Conn's man returned the sentiment. "Yer a good man, Cluny," she said quietly. "Watch over my lord, and see he comes to no harm."

"I will, m'lady."

Aidan then hurried into the estate office to fetch a purse for her husband from the strongbox. She filled it with silver, but also added ten gold pieces. Then as an afterthought she added a smaller purse to give to Cluny for an emergency, and so instructed him when she once again regained the hall.

Conn was awaiting her now, and she handed him the purse which he put within his doublet. He was now dressed for travel, in high st.u.r.dy boots, an embroidered brown velvet doublet which was unb.u.t.toned several b.u.t.tons as was his silk shirt unlaced beneath for comfort, and he carried a long cloak.

"Where are yer riding gloves?" she asked. "Ye can't ride all the way to London without them, Conn."

"I have them, Aidan," he said softly, and he held them up.

"How long?" she whispered.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it can't be serious. Not long, I think."

"I love ye," she said low.

"I love ye," he said, and then pulling her to him he kissed her pa.s.sionately, his lips tracing hers as if he were memorizing them. "Take care of the baby," he instructed her, and then loosing her he strode from the hall.

"Conn!"

He stopped and turned. "Stay here, Aidan," he ordered her. "I don't want my last glimpse of home to be ye waving me off. Rather I would prefer my first sight of home to be of ye waiting for me in the door."

She nodded, understanding him totally. "G.o.dspeed, my lord," she called, "and bring ye safely home to me."

Blowing her a lighthearted kiss he turned and hurried from the house. He was d.a.m.ned near close to tears, and he certainly didn't want her to see them. They mounted their horses.

"Ye'll ride next to me, my lord," said the captain of the guard. "My name is William Standish."

Conn nodded. "Thank ye, Captain Standish."

They had not yet come to the end of the drive when two figures came galloping across the fields halloing to them to stop.

" 'Tis my sister, and her husband, Lord and Lady de Marisco," said Conn.

"By G.o.d, my lord," said Will Standish with a smile, "news travels faster here in the country than it does at court."

"One of the servants probably set off the second we knew yer mission," said Conn. "We're a close family."

Skye and Adam drew abreast of Conn and his escort, and Skye demanded, "What is this, Conn? Is it true that ye've been arrested? Why? I thought ye said yer trip to London was successful, and that ye were back in her good graces once again."

Captain Standish was openmouthed at the beauty of the woman before tutu. He had heard stories of Skye O'Malley, and he had never expected the legend to outstrip its reputation, but she did.

"Skye, as G.o.d is my witness, I do not know what is going on. I have no idea why I have been arrested, and don't bully this poor captain here because he doesn't know either."

"Doesn't know, or won't tell," she snapped. "Will that woman never leave our family alone? I'm going to London with ye!"

"Ye can't, Skye. Yer forbidden London and the court. Adam, reason with her! Yer her husband."

Adam de Marisco chuckled a deep, rumbling sound. "I very much appreciate yer confidence in my ability to deal with yer sister, Conn, but ye know better. However in this particular instance I am going to try." He looked straight at her. "Listen to me, little girl, yer brother is right to worry. The queen has sent ye here out of her sight. If she wanted to see ye in this matter she would request yer presence, and she may yet. If she does then ye may go to London, but for now, ye'll stay home and watch over yer two daughters both of whom need ye a great deal more than Conn. I will escort Robin and Padraic back to their respective posts, and see what I can learn."

"But ..."

"There are no buts, Skye! Do ye think ye can aid yer brother by offending the queen?"

"Skye, please look after Aidan. She's very frightened. Her whole life has been a quiet one, and I'm afraid for both her and the baby," Conn pleaded with his sister.

"Do ye have monies?" she demanded of him. "It costs a fortune to survive in the d.a.m.ned Tower."

He nodded, giving her a smile.

How alike they are, thought Captain Standish seeing her return the smile.

"Then G.o.d speed ye, little brother, and if that woman should harm a hair on yer head, I'll . . ."

"Skye!" cautioned Adam, and with a little moue of her mouth she ceased speaking, and turning her horse about galloped off. "Don't worry, Conn. She'll ride off her bad temper, and her fears for ye before she gets home. She'll watch over Aidan, and I'll be in London by week's end, my lad." He held out his big hand, and Conn grasped it with an equally large paw.

"Thank ye, Adam. See what Robin can ferret out."

"I will." Adam backed his horse up a bit, and addressed Captain Standish. "Ye'll see that my brother-in-law arrives safely?"

"Ye need have no fears on that account, my lord de Marisco," was the reply. "We are ordered to deliver Lord Bliss to the Tower, and that is precisely what we will do."

Adam nodded. "Then I'll wish ye a G.o.dspeed, too," he said, and with a wave to Conn he followed his wife's trail back across the fields again.

Conn and his escort rode until past ten that night, only stopping when the twilight grew too thick and dark for them to continue on their way. They sheltered in the large barn of a prosperous farm whose goodwife offered them nut-brown ale, fresh bread and a tasty hard cheese the following morning to break their fast. Conn's easy manners, and good looks brought him a great deal of attention from the farmer's two buxom daughters. As they were preparing to leave he gave them each a kiss, and dropped a silver penny down their bodices to the accompaniment of high-pitched giggles.

"We've done naught fer yer generosity, me lord," said one of the girls.

"But if yer not in too much of a hurry," said the other, "we'd be happy to take ye to the loft."

"Ahh, la.s.sies, I do regret refusing such a kind offer," Conn said, "but 'tis the queen's business we're about, and it cannot wait."

They rode off, and the Gentlemen Pensioners accompanying Conn voiced their admiration amongst themselves while Cluny grinned like an idiot, as Conn quickly told him, and thought that it was just like the old days.

"Ye've quite caught the attention of my men," Captain Standish said, smiling.

"They're young," noted Conn dryly, "and youth is easily impressed."

Each day they rode from dawn until dusk, stopping only to rest their mounts, eat, drink, and relieve themselves. Reaching the city Conn was escorted to the Tower, and admitted as a prisoner. His silver bought him a fairly decent-sized room with both a fireplace, and a small window that looked out upon the river. The room was empty, but for a pile of moldy straw and a slop bucket, and more silver was required to acquire pallets for them both, a table, and two chairs. When a guard came to inform Conn that he was wanted for questioning Cluny said, "I'll be going out, m'lord, to buy us some things we're going to need."

Conn nodded to his servant, and followed the guard from his cell through the corridor, and down three flights of stairs to a dark, window-less room. It took a moment for his eyes to grow used to the dimness, but when they did he realized that the room was indeed lit though not particularly brightly. He also saw William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and another man he didn't recognize sitting before the table. He was brought to stand before them.

"My lord Burghley?"

"Lord Bliss," came the reply.

"My lord, why am I here?"

"Come now, Lord Bliss, let us not be coy with one another. Ye are caught in yer treason. Tell me all, and we will see what can be done to aid ye."

"Treason!" Conn's jaw dropped. "I know naught of treason! All I know is that several days ago I was arrested without explanation, and brought from my home to London. My wife is frantic with worry. She is expecting our first child. Who accuses me of treason? Against whom? Against what?"

"Come now, Lord Bliss," said Lord Burghley in a fatherly tone. "Will ye deny that ye are yet a member of the old faith?"

"Nay, though G.o.d knows it matters not to me."

"And will ye deny that with others of yer persuasion ye have plotted to a.s.sa.s.sinate the queen, and place Mary of Scotland upon the throne?"

"What?" Conn shouted outraged. ''Kill Bess? Nay! Never! Replace her with that poor misguided Scots wh.o.r.e? Nay! A thousand times nay!"