Masked they hurried from the royal chapel, and through the palace out into the gardens down to the quay where a barge awaited them. The tide was with them, and they swept down the river to Greenwood House where they might change into more comfortable traveling clothes before beginning their journey north to Pearroc Royal. It was damp and bitter cold upon the river, and Aidan shivered, snuggling down into her cloak. The sky was beginning to lighten, but the dawn was gray, and there was the slap of the wavelets against the barge.

Finally Robin said in an effort to break the tension, "Ye'll find my coach quite comfortable, and warm, Aidan. 'Twill make the journey bearable."

"I thank ye, Robin, for it would have been impossible for my coach to come from Pearroc Royal. Have ye sent men ahead along our route of travel to book us rooms at respectable inns?"

"Aye. Whenever we stop there will be comfortable accommodations for us all. Mag will ride in the baggage coach with Uncle Conn's man, Cluny, and will be as comfortable as we are. I want to ride a ways today so I hope ye will excuse my company."

Conn was quite impressed by his young nephew's command of the situation, and amused at his attempt to give himself and Aidan some privacy. He had not known Robin's father, but if the stories were true then Robin was certainly becoming as his father had been before him, a perfect courtier. Conn was amazed to realize that he could learn much from the boy.

The barge arrived at Greenwood, and Robin leapt lightly to the stone dock. Reaching down he aided Mag in clambering out. Conn followed, and turning back reached out to draw Aidan up.

"Good morning, Lady Bliss," he said softly.

"Good morning, my lord," she answered, her face grave and her eyes serious.

"Ye wore yer hair down," he said.

" 'Tis tradition, my lord, for a maiden to leave her hair unbound."

"Ye looked beautiful, Aidan."

"All brides are beautiful."

"I have arranged," he said as he escorted her up to the house, "that we break our fast before we begin our journey. Then ye will want to change into more comfortable clothing for traveling. We will eat together, alone."

"Alone?" She eyed him nervously.

"We are married, Aidan. Yet we know little of one another. I have not come willingly to this wedding for I wanted to choose my own wife, according to my own tastes. Instead I find that for my indiscretions I am punished by being given a wife not of my own choice. My views of marriage are varied, and most not pleasant. I barely remember my father who died when I was still in nappies, and long skirts. My mother never remarried. I have six half-sisters. One is a nun. Four are sour-faced, disapproving women made old before their time by the harshness of life in Ireland. Perhaps that is why I did not want to stay there. I cannot remember in my entire lifetime ever seeing my sisters laugh with their husbands, or share an intimate moment or touch with them. My brothers are not much better with their wives. Until I came to England I did not know that a marriage could be a good thing. I learned this from my sister Skye. Ye will meet her in a few days, and I want ye to like her, Aidan. She is the most incredibly loving and magnificent woman I have ever known."

"And ye wanted a wife like her," said Aidan in a small, tight voice.

"I don't know what I want in a wife exactly, Aidan, but surely Skye and Adam cannot be the only married couple in the entire world who share everything, and respect one another's individuality. That is what I have always wanted when the time came for me to marry. I still want it."

"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 s.p.a.cious. A maidservant came to take her cloak, and Conn ledher 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, la.s.s, 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 b.u.t.ter, a small cheese, and a choice of wine or ale. Conn was amused to find that Aidan had a hearty appet.i.te, 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 sec 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 G.o.d'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, la.s.s, 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 gla.s.s 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."

Now it was Conn's turn to flush, and then he laughed softly at himself. "I can see having a wife will involve getting used to many things. No woman has ever spoken to me of the necessary before."

Aidan began to see the humor in their situation. "I think this will not be the last time I mention it to ye on our long journey. Though I strive for delicacy of speech, my lord, I know not how else to word it."

"I, too, shall strive for delicacy of manner, my lady. I shall await ye in the dayroom," and giving her a bow and a mischievous wink he withdrew.

When Aidan entered the dayroom several minutes later she had bound her hair up into two thick braids which she had wound about her head.

"But I like yer hair loose," he protested.

"I will wear it loose in the privacy of our home, but I cannot travel with it that way, or wear it so in public. It is not seemly now that I am a matron."

"Do ye always behave according to convention, Aidan?"

"Yes, my lord, I do."

Moving to face her he locked her eyes with his, and pulled the pins from her hair in a slow and deliberate manner. "I do not behave according to convention, wife," he said, and his look dared her to challenge him as he ran his fingers through her tresses to loosen the braids.

The green eyes staring into her face mesmerized her, and as had happened the other day Aidan found herself forgetting to breathe again. The touch of his fingers was sending little shivers through her. Why, her numbed brain demanded, why could he have this effect upon her? Then she grew dizzy, and gasping gulped several breaths of air into her lungs.

If Conn noticed her peculiar behavior he said nothing. Instead he fastened the gold frog closings upon her cape, and drew her hood up over her hair. "There, no one will know of yer wanton behavior in leaving yer hair unbound, and I shall be able to enjoy the sight of it as we ride along. Do ye have yer gloves, madame? The dampness in the air makes it even colder than it is today." Reaching down he took her bouquet from the table and handed it to her. Then taking her arm when she nodded, still speechless, he led her from the room and downstairs to where the coach awaited them.

The staff of Greenwood House had lined up to bid Conn a fond farewell for he had been living there since his arrival at court over two years ago. He had been an easy master to serve; a courteous man who always remembered to acknowledge a kindness, or a service well done. Although their lives would be simplified by his going, they would miss him, and Walters said as much. It was unfortunate that Master . . . rather Lord bliss, was leaving them especially now that he had a wife. She was no beauty like Lady de Marisco, but they could see she was a modest and sweet-natured lady, just the sort of wife he should have.

Conn and Aidan were settled into Robin's large, comfortable traveling coach. Bricks warmed and wrapped in flannel were placed at their feet, a fur lap robe was tucked about them, a small bra.s.s brazier of lit charcoals was placed upon the floor of the carriage. The coach was upholstered both on its seats and walls in padded dark green velvet. It even had gla.s.s in its windows, and small interior carriage lamps that could be lit if it grew dark while they were still traveling.

Walters stuck his head in a final time to be a.s.sured that they were well settled. "The back of the front seat pulls down, my lord. Behind it ye will find a hamper should ye grow hungry before ye reach yer destination. G.o.d go with ye!" Then pulling his head back he slammed the door to the coach shut, and ordered the driver forward.

Because of the time of year it had been decided that they would travel the entire day, each day, stopping only to change horses, the earl's carriage animals having been taken ahead by his grooms to the various posting places. February weather could be treacherous, and under the best of conditions it was several days' journey from London to Pearroc Royal. Then, too, it being winter, the days were short. The hamper, which could be replenished each day, would serve to feed them until they stopped each night. The coachman and his a.s.sistant up upon the box had also been supplied with a filled hamper for not only themselves, but the dozen outriders who accompanied them to protect them from highwaymen. The smaller baggage coach that followed them was equally provisioned. The servants would eat as the horses were being changed, but the lord and lady who traveled in such style could eat whenever they chose.

The journey would take them five days for Pearroc Royal was outside the town of Worcester several miles to the west toward the Welsh border. Being deepest winter the landscape was somewhat dull, the bare-limbed trees, black and spare, reaching out to the slate sky. It was very cold, and although the Thames was open to traffic, there were sheets of ice floating upon it, and the ponds and lakes they pa.s.sed were for the most part frozen. As the day progressed they saw little sign of life except for smoke which came from the chimneys of the farms and other homes they pa.s.sed, or perhaps a dog which would run yapping from some farmyard to chase snapping after the wheels of the coach as it pa.s.sed by.

It wasn't until late morning that having traveled a distance of ten miles they stopped to change horses at a large inn. Robin was already there ahead of them, and had ordered hot mulled wine. Aidan was delighted to have the opportunity to alight from the coach, and move about. In the few minutes that they allowed themselves one of the servants from the inn reheated their bricks in the fire and rewrapped them as well as put' ting fresh, burning charcoals in the brazier.

Climbing back into the coach she found that the wine had made her sleepy, and the motion of the carriage lulled her. Her eyes grew heavy, and she never remembered dropping off. When she awoke it was growing dark with late afternoon, and she found herself nestled against Conn, their heads touching against one another as he, too, dozed lightly. The coach was cold, and her feet were chilled, but where his arm was about her she felt warm, and contented, and so she stayed quiet. The light was fading, and the inky darkness that was fast descending hinted of snow. Then up ahead she could see the lights of a village, or an inn, and feeling the horses slowing she knew that they were approaching their lodging. She felt just the tiniest bit of disappointment for it had been pleasant lying here in the gloom against him.

Conn had been awake, and he had also been aware of when she had awakened, but realizing she thought him asleep he had stayed still for he was frankly enjoying their closeness. He knew that if he spoke she would feel bound to break the contact. Sleeping had relaxed Aidan, and he had had ample opportunity to study her features. She had lovely skin, and her features were pretty, but her forehead was high, and her nose just a shade too short. She had thick, stubby eyelashes of a sandy hue, and thin brows that arched over her eyes, the color of which he was still not yet able to determine. The dimple in her chin was not deep, but he detected a strong hint of firmness about that chin. He liked her mouth best of all her features. It was a generous mouth, wide, the lips full without being ugly, and it seemed to him, infinitely kissable.

He would kiss that mouth tonight, but remembering the last time he had done so he amended his thought. He would teach her how to kiss him tonight, and he smiled to himself. He somehow thought he would enjoy playing the schoolmaster. She didn't dislike his kisses. Both on Twelfth Night, and two nights ago when they had met formally she had melted into his embrace. Then a thought occurred to him. Had she truly enjoyed his kisses, or had it simply been her inexperience, and she was indeed very inexperienced. He couldn't imagine a girl reaching his wife's age, and never having been kissed, or cuddled, but Aidan's behavior convinced him that she was telling him the truth.

Tonight. Tonight was their wedding night. For the first time in his life he had the legal right to bed a woman, and he didn't know whether he should or not. Lack of familiarity or knowledge of his bedmate had certainly never prevented him from enjoying a woman before; but this was his wife. He was going to have to live with this woman until death parted them. It was a sobering thought. What did she know of marital relations? Surely her mother had instructed her, but then he remembered that her mother had died when she was still a child, and he doubted her father had gone into such matters with her. He had never had a maid before, not even his own first time when full of whiskey and randier than a young billygoat he had caught a milkmaid and tumbled her beneath a hedge. To his surprise she wasn't the least bit shy, and had helped him to find his way egging him on with small cries of delight. Encouraged Conn had gone on to other women, and found that where lovemaking was concerned he had a definite talent.

On the mainland across from his island home of Innisfana he had caught the eye of an older woman, the widow of a n.o.bleman, whose name was Peggy Brady. Peggy had taught him patience, and how a woman's pleasure could only increase his own. She had shown him caresses and kisses that were daring and exciting, and when she had decided he had learned all she might teach him, she had dismissed him as if he were a schoolboy. He would always be grateful to Peggy, and particularly now. Another man might demand his rights from his bride, but Conn had already decided that he wanted Aidan to know him better, to feel comfortable with him, to perhaps even like him a little. Tonight he would tell her that; tell her that she need have no fears on his account.

Ahead he could see the lights of the inn where they would be staying tonight. Yawning, he stretched, and sitting up said, "Are ye awake, Aidan? We'll be at the King's Head in a few minutes."