"Isn't it?" Aidan agreed. She was very proud of her home, and it pleased her that he was apparently appreciative of the aesthetics of the manor house. "My father put the wooden floors in. Beneath them are the original stone floors which were fine when we used rushes, but my father preferred fine carpets from the East."

"So do I," said Conn. "For one thing it is cleaner and warmer. There is no temptation to throw the bones upon the floor when ye've carpets."

The hall was a good-sized almost square room, and on one wall there was a large fireplace with a fine carved stone mantel, its great crowned lions seated, holding up the mantelshelf upon their heads. The frontal panel of the mantelshelf had a frieze of vines and fruits carved into it. Upon the mantelshelf were a pair of heavy silver candelabra that burned fine beeswax candles. On the far side of the fireplace was an oriel window facing west that allowed the hall to be flooded with bright sunlight even on a winter's day, and on the other side of the room was a matching window facing east. The east window was not actually a part of the Great Hall, but rather it belonged to a corridor outside the Great Hall that housed the staircase to the upper floor. There was no door, however, between the staircase corridor and the Great Hall, and so light could flow from the east window unimpeded unto the room.

Behind the Great Hall there were two rooms, one small, and one of medium size. The smaller of the two was used as the estate office, and was entered via the staircase corridor. The larger of the rooms was the family parlor, and entered from the office. This room had a fine fireplace, and windows facing west, whereas the office had but one little window. The rest of the ground floor of the house was given over to the b.u.t.tery, the kitchens, the pantry, and the family chapel, which was a small room located in the front of the house just off the porch. It was a pretty room with two tall arched windows of fine stained gla.s.s, a testament to the wealth of the St. Michaels. In the cellars below the ground floor was a laundry room with stone tubs, and a hearth for heating the water, a brew room, a wine cellar, and the servants' quarters.

Conn liked the look of the house which was furnished in st.u.r.dy oak pieces, pleasantly mellowed with time. The ceiling in the Great Hall was paneled in heavily carved sections of dark oak that contrasted with the white plaster walls which were hung with three well-worked tapestries. The rooms were well lighted with wall brackets made of iron that held candles, and tall candlesticks of the p.r.i.c.ket type stood upon their three legs in various parts of the chambers.

Aidan led her husband upstairs, and upon the second floor of the manor house there were five bedchambers, the master chamber running the width of the building at the south end; the other four rooms were set lengthwise along the west wall, their entry gained from a windowed corridor. The master chamber was s.p.a.cious, the other bedchambers comfortably large, and each room had the supreme luxury of its own fireplace. In the attics above were additional servants' rooms.

Conn stood in the center of their bedchamber which had a thick Turkey carpet upon its wide board floors. The fireplace was lit with a good fire, and the air was sweet with the fragrance of potpourri. "This is a fine house, Aidan," he said quietly. "More than a house it is a home. We can be very happy here, my wife."

"It has always been a happy house, Conn," she answered him. "It is not a grand place, but it is a good house for a family."

"A family?" he gently teased her. "And how, madame, do ye intend to manage that?"

Aidan blushed. "We have been wed only five days, sir," she protested. "Ye promised me that ye would be patient."

"And so I shall, Aidan, but until we come together as man and-wife there will be no children. We are wed, and there can be no changing that. The longer ye demur, the harder it will be to give yerself to me." He put his arm about her. "Come, la.s.s, we like each other, and that is a good start, better than many have."

She shook him off. "Must ye have every woman ye meet fall into yer bed immediately, sir? I may lack experience in matters between men and women, but I will not behave like all those highborn drabs who have warmed your backside these two years past!"

Conn burst out laughing. "Is that what is bothering ye, Aidan, my fiery wife? Ye would not have me lump ye in with all those delicious ladies who were so kind to a young Irishman, far from his home? Sweetheart, yer my wife! There is a difference between a wife, and a mistress."

"What difference?" Her voice was filled with suspicion. He was making her feel silly, and she didn't like it.

"A wife is not like other women."

"Oh?" She folded her arms across her chest, one foot tapping, and pierced him with a fierce gaze.

Suddenly Conn was most uncomfortable. Aidan's look bore into him, and he began to stutter and stumble over his words. "A wife ... a w-w-wife is t'to be . . . respected! Cherished!" he finished triumphantly.

"And a mistress is not? The poor woman gives ye her good reputation, and is scorned for it? That is unfair!"

"Aidan, G.o.d's foot! That's not what I meant!"

"Then what did ye mean? I am eager to understand, Conn! When ye have sorted it all out I hope that ye will tell me!" Then with a swish of her skirts she departed the room leaving him standing openmouthed.

How the h.e.l.l had she done it? One minute he was trying to ease her into normal marital relations, and the next she was confusing him totally by demanding to know what made her different from other women. Suddenly Conn laughed, for he realized that the joke was on him. She was a d.a.m.nably clever wench! It was going to take a great deal to outsmart her. Following her back downstairs to the Great Hall he saw her giving Beal orders for their supper.

Then suddenly upon the door came a great knocking, and Beal hurried to answer the pounding. Aidan was close behind bun, for she was curious as to who was out in such a snowstorm with night upon them. Beal opened the heavy oaken door, and in with a gust of wind and snowflakes two caped figures came. One was a tall man, taller than Conn, with an elegantly barbered black beard, and deep blue eyes. His companion threw back the furred-edge hood of her cloak, and Aidan found herself face to face with the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. The face was a perfect heart, the eyes a wonderful blue-green, the hair a ma.s.s of dark curls. She knew at once that this was Conn's sister, and her heart sank. How could she expect to compete with such a woman?

"Skye!" Conn dashed forward, and embraced his elder sister. "How the h.e.l.l ... I mean, what brings ye out on such a night?"

"What brings me out?" The voice was musical. "Robin comes home unexpectedly, and tells me that ye've been banned from court, and are at Pearroc Royal, less than a mile away across the fields, and then laughs uproariously saying ye've a surprise for me. What have ye done, ye young sc.r.a.pegrace? I thought ye had that Tudor b.i.t.c.h wrapped about yer little finger! Why are ye banned? For how long? Why are ye here?"

While she pummeled him with her barrage of questions, her companion turned to Aidan.

"I am Adam de Marisco," he said quietly.

"I am Aidan St. Michael," she answered him.

"The young heiress? Of course! We came to call after yer father had pa.s.sed on, but yer servants told ye were gone to court."

"It was my father's wish that the queen find me a husband, my lord."

"A husband?" Then suddenly Adam's eyes began to twinkle, and looking to Conn he then looked questioningly at Aidan.

"Yes, my lord," she confirmed, and when her mouth turned up into an impish smile he saw how pretty she actually was, and he began to laugh.

Diverted, Skye turned from her brother. "What is so amusing, Adam?" she demanded.

"Will ye tell her, Conn, or shall I?" chuckled Adam.

"I am married, Skye." Conn took Aidan's hand, and drew her into his sister's line of vision. "This is my wife, Aidan St. Michael. Aidan, my sister, Lady de Marisco."

"Bess banned ye for marrying! Of course! 'Tis just like her, dried-up old maid she is!"

"No, no!" Conn began to laugh. His sister and the queen had always been at loggerheads. "I was brought kicking and protesting all the way to the altar, my dear sister."

"What?" Skye looked somewhat surprised, and then her eyes narrowed, and she hit her brother a hard blow upon the arm. "Did ye seduce this poor la.s.s?" she demanded, outraged.

"Nay, madame," said Aidan beginning to see the humor of the whole affair, and the only one able to explain, as both Conn and Adam were doubled over with mirth.

"Nay?" said Skye. "Then why are ye married if he did not seduce ye, or ye did not elope?"

"Conn is, I am afraid, rather high-spirited," Aidan said with great understatement. "If he could learn to confine himself to one lady at a time, but alas for him, he could not. He was caught in a rather delicate situation with an amba.s.sador's wife, and then while the entire court was laughing about that, it came to light that yer brother, my husband, had been involved not only with Lady Glytha Holden, but her two comely daughters, Grace and Faith, as well! The queen had no choice with not only the amba.s.sador crying for Conn's head, but Lord Holden as well, than to send Conn from court in disgrace."

"With an heiress for a wife?" said Skye. "Ye have yet to tell me how that all came about."

"Come into the hall," said Aidan graciously. "I am a bad hostess to keep ye both here in the corridor. Beal, fetch some mulled wine. Lord and Lady de Marisco must be chilled to the bone."

"Conn, ye young devil," said Adam de Marisco, "yer a lucky man! She's a bonnie la.s.s!"

His compliment warmed Aidan, and gave her the courage she needed to continue on with this beautiful and commanding woman who was her sister-in-law. Settling her guests before the blazing fire she continued. "Marrying Conn was actually Lord Burghley's idea. He felt a good wife would settle Conn so that when he came back to court he would not cause any more scandals. I was a royal ward and as my estates are near to yers both the queen and Lord Burghley thought a marriage between yer brother and myself the ideal arrangement."

"I do not like arranged marriages," said Lady de Marisco. "I have had six husbands, and of the six, two were arranged marriages. They were appalling mismatches. I detested both men, and neither were kind to me."

"This is different," cut in Conn.

"How?" demanded Skye.

"Although Aidan and I were somewhat surprised to find ourselves man and wife, we like each other. Dammit, Skye, most marriages are arranged by others, and not the people involved. Ye know that! Ye've lived differently because ye are an unusual woman."

Skye turned to really look at her new sister-in-law. She was no beauty, thought Lady de Marisco, but she seemed a good young woman. "Are ye happy about this marriage, Mistress O'Malley?" she asked.

Aidan smiled. "Aye, madame, I am, but 'tis not Mistress O'Malley. When my father died he requested two things of the queen, both of which she agreed to grant. The first was that she find me a good husband, and the second was that my husband take our family's name of St. Michael since my father was the last of his line. When Conn married me five days ago he become Conn St. Michael, Lord Bliss."

Surprised, Skye looked at her youngest brother. "Ye would give up yer name?"

"Da left four other sons, and three of them have between them eleven boys for the next generation. The O'Malleys of Innisfana don't need my offspring, but the St. Michaels of Pearroc Royal do. Besides, 'twas not my choice, but rather Bess's decision."

"Well, that's settled," said Adam de Marisco turning to his wife. "Now, little girl, can we go home?"

"Oh, no!" Aidan cried. "Night has fallen, and the storm is fierce. Listen! Hear the wind? Ye must stay with us at least until morning, and longer if the snow has not stopped! Beal!"

"M'lady?"

"Tell Mrs. Beal to prepare the best of the guest chambers for my lord's sister and her husband, and tell Erwina that we have guests at our table."

"Yes, m'lady," said the white-haired butler, and he backed from the hall.

"There!" said Aidan, and they all laughed.

"Well at least Elizabeth Tudor has found my brother a wife who I can see will stand up to him, not some milk-and-water miss who is impressed by his beauty," said Skye matter-of-factly.

"He was called the Handsomest Man at Court," said Aidan softly, "but then I heard it said that ye were the most beautiful woman at court when ye were there. I think Conn looks like ye."

"Nay," teased Adam, "Conn is prettier!"

"May I remind ye, my lord," said Skye sweetly, "that 'tis a cold night, and if ye expect to share my bed ye had best be kind to me."

Lord de Marisco's blue eyes smoldered, and leaning forward in his chair he pierced his wife with a pa.s.sionate look. "And when, little girl, have I not been kind to ye?"

Aidan blushed at the sight of such raw pa.s.sion between these two people. They were obviously very much in love, and she was a little jealous. Would Conn ever look at her like that? Would he ever love her like that? A small ache began in her chest. She could not bear to sit here a moment longer, and watch them. Standing she said briskly, "I must see that Erwina has her kitchens under control. It is our first night home, and they had no notice of our coming."

"Oh, let me come with ye," said Skye. "I am curious to see the house."

"But ye have not had yer wine," replied Aidan, remembering it now as Beal entered the Great Hall with a tray.

"Let the men sit and drink," said Skye. "I have admired this house ever since we arrived at Queen's Malvern."

"Queen's Malvern is much larger than Pearroc Royal," Aidan noted. "Like this estate, it was a royal possession."

"The queen gave it to my husband since she took his own holding from him."

"Why on earth did she do that?" Aidan was surprised.

"Because, my pretty sister-in-law," said Adam who had been able to overhear them, "I am married to this rebellious Irishwoman who persists in offending the queen. The truth of the matter is that I got the better of the bargain."

"Elizabeth Tudor was simply afraid that ye would rebuild Lundy Castle when ye married me, and she wasn't going to let ye," snapped, Skye.

"Go and see the house with Aidan, Skye. 'Tis too cold a winter's night to argue the matter. Besides we are here, and here I intend to stay. Lundy was a place for me to hide from hurt. I no longer hurt, little girl."

The two women left the Great Hall, and went to the kitchens, but Et-wina, the fat cook, chased them out. "Go on now, m'lady, ye'll spoil the surprise!" she scolded waving her wooden spoon. Laughing, Aidan and Skye ran from the warmth and good smells, and back into the main corridor.

"Come and see the chapel," said Aidan, and she proudly showed this treasured room to Skye.

"Are ye of the Mother Church?" asked Skye.

"I was raised in England's church," came the quiet reply, "and 'twas in that church that Conn and I were wed."

"It matters not," said Skye. "Our dear Uncle Shamus was the Bishop of Mid-Connaught, and our brother Michael a priest. We have a sister, Eibhlin, who is a nun. Ye must have her come to ye when yer going to give birth. There is no one like Eibhlin for doctoring! Do ye know what the queen once said to me? There is but one Lord Jesus Christ. The rest is all trifles. 'Tis the one thing on which Elizabeth Tudor and I agree although we worship in different churches."

They reentered the Great Hall, but the men before the fire paid them no heed, and Aidan led Skye to the second floor of the house to show her the bedchambers. There were two maids in the largest of the guest chambers airing the bed, and remaking it with herb-scented sheets. Already a fire had been laid in the fireplace. Secretly Skye was delighted by the house, and pleased that her brother had married so well thanks to the queen. Wordlessly she followed Aidan to the very end of the upstairs hallway, and into another room.

"This is the master chamber," said Aidan.

Skye clapped her hands in pleasure. "What a charming room!" she exclaimed, her eyes taking in the blazing fire, the fine big bed with its linenfold-paneled headboard, the green velvet draperies and bed hangings. " 'Tis a wonderful room to make love in, to bear yer babes." Then she saw Aidan's face. "G.o.d's foot! What is the matter? Has Conn been unkind or rough with ye? I'll soon set him straight!"

"Nay, 'tis not that," said Aidan hastily.

"Then what is it, Aidan? Ye looked distressed when I mentioned lovemaking and babes."

"Conn and I . . ." began Aidan, and she blushed to the roots of her copper-colored hair. "Conn and I haven't. . ."

"Why not?" demanded Skye knowing precisely what it was her sister-in-law wasn't saying.

"I ... I can't!"

"Are ye afraid?" Skye was distressed for Aidan.

"A little, but that is natural, I imagine."

"Yer a virgin?"

"Of course!" This said indignantly.

"Tell me," said Skye gently. "Yer married to my little brother and I want ye both to be happy. As happy as Adam and I are!"

"There are several reasons, Lady de Marisco," said Aidan.

"My name is Skye, Aidan."

"I do not really know Conn, Skye. When I went to court I asked the queen not to reveal that I was an heiress lest I be falsely courted by men seeking only my wealth and my lands. I had never been away from Pearroc Royal in my entire life, but to go to Worcester. My father and I lived quietly after my mother and sisters died. I had no suitors. I am no beauty like ye are, and feared to fall prey to an unscrupulous man. So the queen honored my request, and no one knew of my wealth. I was virtually ignored, but I did not really mind for it gave me opportunity to observe everything and everyone about me."

"Did you like the court?"

"It is an exciting place, but I far prefer living here in my own home. The court can often be like a dark and dangerous forest. Ye never know where the danger is coming from there."

"Aye," said Skye. Then she smiled at Aidan. "I like ye better with every word ye utter, sister! Tell me the rest."

Aidan smiled back. How nice Conn's sister was! Not at all as she had expected the famed beauty to be. "On Twelfth Night Conn was playing a game of Blind Man's Bluff with the maids of honor. He was 'it,' and we were all avoiding him quite successfully. Then one of my companions pushed me into his path as he swung about. Naturally he caught me, and before he even removed his blindfold he claimed a kiss as a forfeit. It was a wonderful kiss, and I ... I'd never been kissed before.

"Several weeks later when the scandal surrounding Conn broke it was I who was with the queen. She was at her embroidery frame, and 'twas my job to keep her workbox neat, and to hand her the threads as she needed them. When Lord Burghley had come into her private closet she had dismissed all the girls but me, and so I was privy to all that was said. When Lord Burghley said that Conn must be wed to curb his exuberance the queen demurred at first. She said she could not think of any suitable bride for him." Aidan stopped in the middle of her tale, and drew a deep breath. "Skye," she continued, "what I am about to tell ye ye must promise me ye will not reveal to Conn. Will ye promise me?"

Skye looked into the girl's face. There was nothing in her eyes that would lead Lady de Marisco to believe she was a dishonest person. What secret was it that she was keeping? It was too fascinating. "I promise!" she agreed.