The tension eased on Aidan's face. "When the queen said she could think of no suitable bride for Conn, I said I could. I said that I was a suitable bride for him, that the queen had promised my father she would find me a good husband, and now the queen needed a wife for Conn. I am half-Irish. I have monies and lands, and there was my father's t.i.tle. Conn is a wealthy man, and so the solution was a natural one.

"At first the queen was not certain, but Lord Burghley thought the idea an excellent one, and 'twas he who convinced her. The marriage was set for less than two days hence on the fourteenth."

"Then ye wanted to wed with my brother?"

"Oh, yes! But he must not know 'twas I who suggested it! He believes me as much a victim of the royal will as he is."

"Do ye love him?" Skye looked closely at Aidan as she answered.

"I don't know! I think I do, but I've never been in love before! He is so handsome, and so very kind, and I like him very much. I would die, however, if he knew what I had done! Look at me, Skye; I am not like ye. Yer the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I am not. Sometimes I am pretty, but other times I am not. What chance would I have had with Conn had not the queen agreed to see us wed? If it had been known that I was an heiress I would have been overwhelmed with suitors, but how could I have been certain that they sought me as a wife, and were not simply interested in my wealth? And I could not live with that doubt. In the entire time I was at court, and I was there five months, not one gentleman spoke to me freely. When I was spoken to by anyone it was in the line of my duties for the queen. I have never been more lonely in my entire life. Had'not my tiring woman, Mag, been with me, there would have been no one in whom I might confide.

"By choosing Conn, I was certain of a husband who does not seek my wealth, and who perhaps in time will learn to care for me. I know he likes me, but we are virtually strangers. How can I allow myself to be like all the women Conn has known by eagerly joining in his bedsport? Besides, the truth of the matter is that I know nothing of matters between men and women. My mother died when I was young, and my father certainly never spoke to me of such things."

"Then I must," said Skye firmly. "Aidan, ye cannot deny yerself to yer husband, and expect yer marriage to be successful. The truth of the matter is that men are charming but weak creatures who due to their natures need regular loving contact with women. If it is not their wives, then it will be other women. Another woman is not a good thing for a marriage. Conn has sown enough wild oats in his youth, but now he is a husband. If ye keep him happy, then he will never stray."

"Did any of yer husbands ever stray?" Aidan asked candidly.

"My first, but he was a pig, and I was glad when he strayed from my side. Glad? I was relieved!"

"I know nothing of womanly arts," Aidan repeated.

"I do." Skye smiled, and then she laughed. "My brother is a good man, if perhaps a trifle dull-wilted. Now tell me, have ye seen a man's body?"

"Only the back," said Aidan.

"Why only the back?" Skye was curious.

"Because I close my eyes tightly when Conn turns about," came the answer.

Skye m.u.f.fled a laugh. "The front is the more interesting part," she said. "Do ye know what a manroot is?" and when Aidan nodded, Skye said, " 'Tis in the front, and 'tis that part of a man that pierces a woman in a spot between her thighs. The first contact can be painful, but afterward it can be pure delight."

"Are the man and woman naked during this?" asked Aidan.

" 'Tis better when they are, but 'tis not always possible."

"What else is there to making love, Skye?"

"Kissing with the mouth, and the tongue. Caressing of each other's bodies. I have always believed that as long as pleasure is both given and received, there is no wrong thing lovers can do."

"It is still mysterious," said Aidan.

"And it will continue to be unless ye allow yer husband to make love to ye, Aidan. Yer fear stems from the unknown. How old are ye?"

"Twenty-four come summer."

"I have just had my thirty-sixth birthday this December past, and I have been making love since I was fifteen. Do I look any the worse for the wear?"

Aidan giggled. "No. On the contrary ye have a wonderful glow such as I have never seen in a woman."

"That," declared Skye, "is because I am very well loved by my Adam. Tonight we will snuggle beneath the down coverlet in yer guest chamber, and make delicious and pa.s.sionate love. 'Tis a fine activity for a stormy winter's night. Ye should do the same with Conn."

"But if I yield so easily to him will he not think me as brazen as the women who constantly chase after him?" Aidan was definitely in a quandary.

Skye chuckled. "Even wives should occasionally be bold, my sister. You will soon learn to join in the bedsport, and tell Conn what it is that pleases you; ask what it is that pleases him. Most women have a tendency to lie in their beds like sodden lumps accepting only what is offered. Some, I have been told, even recite their rosaries silently to themselves as their husbands labor over them. No wonder men seek other women! My brother is very knowledgeable about lovemaking, Aidan, and knows more of pa.s.sion's pathways than I suspect even he is willing to admit. Ye've been very sheltered, and cannot possibly learn unless he teaches ye. Ask him!" Her gorgeous eyes twinkled. "Oh, what delights await ye!"

"I do not think I could be so bold as ye are, Skye," Aidan admitted. "Could I not ask ye the things I need to know about men, and about lovemaking? I should be very embarra.s.sed right now to speak with Conn of such things."

Poor girl, thought Skye sympathetically, and my poor brother who is used to loving the ladies as the mood suits him. If I do not aid her, heaven only knows how long it will take her to rouse up her courage. Conn will not wait forever, and I suspect with the right start they will be very happy. "Of course ye may come to me to answer yer questions, Aidan," Skye said, "but ye must promise me that tonight ye will encourage Conn to consummate yer marriage."

Aidan sighed. "I feel like such a ninny," she said. "I am competent to run an estate, and I am educated far beyond most women, yet any of my milkmaids knows more of love than I do. I haven't the faintest idea even of how to begin."

"It's really very simple," answered Skye. "When ye retire tonight, simply tell Conn that though yer innocent, and haven't the faintest idea of what to do, ye want to make love with him. Don't tell me he hasn't kissed and cuddled ye a little bit since yer wedding."

Aidan blushed pinkly, and Skye was relieved to know her brother wasn't so put off by his bride's innocence that he hadn't at least kissed her. "lt would seem odd to the servants if we didn't share a bed," she noted.

Skye laughed. "Have ye found it unpleasant?"

Aidan's mouth turned up in amus.e.m.e.nt. "Nay, I've not found it unpleasant at all," she admitted, "and I will admit to being curious about what comes after the kissing and the cuddling."

"Ye can find out tonight," Skye teased her gently, and then she said, "I imagine the gentlemen will be wondering what is keeping us. Let us return to the hall."

Together the two women left the master bedchamber, and descended to the main floor of the house. If Conn and Adam had missed their wives t hey gave no indication of it for they were engaged in deep conversation as Skye and Aidan returned to them. As Skye drew near to her husband's chair, however, Adam reached up wordlessly, and drew her down into his lap, never pausing once in his conversation. How marvelous, thought Aidan. He is so attuned to her, and she to him.

Conn looked up at his wife. "Will the supper be ready soon, sweetheart? I am ravenous with all our traveling."

"Erwina chased us from her kitchens, my lord, but from the delicious smells coming from that direction I would venture to guess that the meal will soon be served. If ye would care to wash the travel from yer person I shall take ye to our chamber while Skye leads Adam to theirs."

"Why, la.s.s, then the supper may never get eaten," laughed Adam de Marisco leering at his wife wickedly.

"Then, sirrah, ye must wash in the courtyard with the snowflakes blowing about ye!" Aidan said pertly.

"With the other rutting beasts," added Skye as she bounced off his lap. "Well, my lord, what is it to be? Will ye behave yerself, or shall we set ye outside to cool yer spirits?"

The laughter rumbled deeply up from Adam's big chest. "Should I tender ye my apologies, madame, for desiring my own wife? Ahh, Skye, yer a hard woman." He rose to his full height. "Very well, Lady de Marisco, lead me to our chamber, and I shall promise to behave myself."

"And what of ye, my Lord Bliss?" Aidan demanded coquettishly.

Conn was a trifle surprised, but not altogether displeased by this sudden flirtatiousness of his bride's. "Why, sweetheart," he said standing, "I shall promise most faithfully to behave myself."

"What a pity," said his sister mischievously, and to Conn's delight Aidan burst out laughing, then catching his hand led him off up the stairs. Once in their chamber she served him herself, pouring out warm water from a silver pitcher by the fireplace into a matching silver basin, presenting him with a cake of hard-milled soap with which to wash. It smelled of her lavender fragrance. When he had finally finished she offered him a fresh linen towel.

"So this is to be our bedchamber," he said as he tossed the towel aside. "'Tis a lovely room, warm and comfortable, I can see."

"Will ye mind sharing a chamber with me?" she asked. "This is not a great house like Queen's Malvern, or Greenwood. We have no room for separate bedchambers, and when the children come I am not certain we will even have room for guests."

"We can always add on to the house to make it larger. Are ye antic.i.p.ating a large family, madame?" He was curious for the truth was that he knew so very little about her. He wasn't even certain that she liked children.

"I never had a large family," replied Aidan, "but I always thought it would be wonderful to have several sisters and brothers. Yes, my lord, I do believe I should like a big family. Then none of my children should ever find themselves alone as I did when my father died last summer. It is a terrible thing to be that alone."

He was touched by her admission, and reaching out he gently pulled her into his arms, and her copper head rested against his chest. "Ye'll never be lonely with me, Aidan," he promised her quietly, and he felt her sigh, and thought that she snuggled herself for just a moment against him. It came to him suddenly as he held her so lightly within his embrace that he was falling in love with her. There was something about Aidan, a serenity, a steadfastness, a permanence, that reached out to him to ensnare him. He wondered if Elizabeth Tudor had been aware of the real favor she had done him by marrying him to Aidan for Aidan was the kind of woman with whom a man could found a dynasty. Tipping her face to his he brushed her mouth softly with his own.

Skye is right, Aidan thought, as she had nestled against Conn. This man is my husband until death parts us. I chose him freely, but I cannot continue playing the coy virgin any longer. It is ridiculous. My own mother didn't know my father, and yet she wed him and bedded him in the same day. If I lose Conn to another woman I shall have no one but myself to blame. Then his lips found hers, and Aidan knew that whatever scruples she had were now gone. She wanted to be Conn's wife in every sense of the word.

"Will ye make love to me tonight?" she heard herself ask him. "Here in our own bed, in our own home?" She felt her cheeks growing warm with the boldness of her own words.

Instinctively his arms tightened about her. "Are ye ready to be my wife now?"

"Yes," came her answer, so low in tone that he had to bend his head to be certain he had heard her. "I am a little frightened of what is to come, but I am not afraid of you, Conn. Does that make any sense to you?"

"Aye, sweetheart, but don't be frightened. I'll love ye so sweetly, so gently that afterward ye'll realize how foolish yer fears all were." His hand stroked her head.

Suddenly upon their bedchamber door came a loud knocking, and Adam de Marisco's voice called, "Come now, ye two! If I am forbidden from taking my pleasure with my wife at this time, then so should my host and hostess be forbidden!" and he pounded upon the door.

"Adam!" Skye's voice admonished her husband, but they could hear the laughter in her tone.

Loosing Aidan Conn grinned down at her. "He has a rather wry sense of humor, our brother-indaw."

"I am being a rather bad hostess," Aidan said.

"Nonsense! We are supposed to be on our honeymoon."

Aidan hurried to open the door, and as it swung wide she scolded Adam mischievously. "My lord, what a noisy fellow ye are! The way ye bray and bellow I am not certain that I should not house ye in the stables! Come along now, sir, for Erwina does not like to be kept waiting when she is ready to serve the supper," and she swept by him with a twitch of her skirts.

"What, madame!" Adam chased after her. "Are you calling me an a.s.s or a bull that ye suggest I bellow and bray?"

"Perhaps, my lord, a little of both," said Aidan with a laugh.

Both Skye and Conn joined in the laughter as the four of them returned to the Great Hall. "My dear little brother," Skye said, "I am so glad that Bess Tudor had the good sense to add this quick-wilted la.s.s to our family."

"So am I," replied Conn, and putting an arm about his wife he drew her close.

"And I also," added Adam. He grinned at Aidan. "I'm afraid ye've got to be a sc.r.a.pper, and able to hold yer own in this pack. I think the quietest members in this entire family are Skye's daughters-in-law, Gwyneth and Joan."

"Nay," Skye corrected her husband. "Gwyn has shown admirable backbone since Ewan took her to his estates in Ireland. She marshaled the housemaids the last time old Black Hugh Kenneally and his sons came raiding. Ewan was away for the night, and they knew it. Gwyn was with child, but gathering the women together she held off that old reprobate and his robber band by pouring the contents of the household slop jars upon them from the upper windows of the house."

"Erwina is ready to serve dinner, my lady," said Beal coming to Aidan's side.

Aidan wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes, and led her husband and their guests to the high board where four places had been set. She and Conn, as lord and lady of the house, sat in the center two seats while Adam sat to her right, and Skye to Conn's left. The oak table had been laid with a white linen cloth of exceptional quality, and despite its many years of use it had a shimmering, silken look to it. There were twisted silver candelabra with good beeswax candles in them, and place settings consisting not only of silver spoons, but forks and knives with horn handles as well. At each place there was a heavy silver goblet carved around with vines and grapes that were obviously of Italian design. A young footman now poured a dark red wine into each of the footed goblets. The plates, too, were silver, with the letters St. M. engraved upon each. It was, Skye noted, a nicely set table.

The servants began to arrive from the kitchens bearing bowls, and platters, and plates. Skye was totally amazed to be offered oysters, cold and raw and very, very fresh.

"Where on earth did yer cook find oysters so far from the sea?" she asked, unable to prevent her curiosity.

Aidan shrugged. "Erwina's sources have always been a mystery. My father always said 'twas better not to inquire lest we offend her. He said as long as the sheriff didn't object to Erwina's actions, then neither could he."

"I'm sorry we didn't know yer father," said Skye.

Aidan nodded. "I understand, and besides he was already ill when ye arrived at Queen's Malvern. He would have liked ye though. He always liked the Irish, and enjoyed a beautiful woman better than most."

"Ye loved him very much, didn't ye?"

"Aye, I did," she admitted, "and he was so lonely after my mother died, We only had each other."

"Then that is why ye never married?"

"I never wed because my fattier never made a match for me. There always seemed time, and then suddenly one day there wasn't any time left at all. Oh, how distressed I was when I learned that he planned to put me in the queen's charge, that he had asked her to find me a husband! I have never felt so helpless in my entire life. I suddenly realized that I was to be put in the care of a stranger. That someone other than my father was to be master over me. Father had never appeared to me in that light. He only partly calmed my fears by telling me that half of his wealth would be mine and mine alone so that I would have a certain measure of freedom from my husband. That was an unusual thing for my father to do for he was an old-fashioned man. I think because he could not choose my husband himself he worried." She smiled at Conn. "He need not have feared. The queen chose me a good lord."

"She chose me a good wife," Conn replied gallantly, and when their eyes met there was something there that had not been before. Each saw it. Each felt the funny, little tug upon their heartstrings.

Skye felt the sting of tears in her eyes. They're falling in love, she thought. Before our very eyes, mine and Adam's, it is happening; and she was relieved and happy not just for her brother, but for Aidan, too.

The meal continued on, the footmen coming to each place to present each offering. There was a platter with small trout that had been broiled and were now settled upon individual beds of watercress; and cod that had been creamed and flavored with sherry. There was a lovely plump capon, roasted golden, and stuffed with apples, bread, and chestnuts; a duck, its skin crisp and black, and sauced with plums and cherries; a small leg of baby lamb with tiny roasted onions set about it; three ribs of rare beef that had been packed in rock salt and then roasted to seal in the juices; a large rabbit pie, its pastry flaky and brown oozing fragrant steam from the carefully decorative vents in its top crust. There was a bowl of new lettuce braised in white wine, and another of carrots. Newly baked bread with egg-glazed crust was set upon the board along with sweet b.u.t.ter.

"Your Erwina is an amazing lady to have produced such a fine supper with such short notice," Skye noted.

"The larder is always well stocked," said Aidan. "We did not entertain greatly during the last year of my father's life, but before then one never knew who would arrive upon our doorstep. It might be some of father's relations from London, or traveling merchants who did business with my family's firm. Father's hospitality was famous. He and my mother both loved company. Erwina has been the cook in this house all my life, and before her there was her mother. We do not change our ways easily here at Pearroc Royal."

They had all eaten heartily, the ladies perhaps a little less than the gentlemen, although both Skye and Aidan enjoyed good food. Now suddenly into the hall came Erwina herself bearing a silver tray upon which rested an exquisitely decorated little wedding cake complete with a spun sugar bride and groom. The fat cook was beaming from ear to ear with her own pleasure at this feat. Boldly she strode up to the high board, and plunked her offering down before Conn and Aidan.

"Mag tells me, my lord and my lady, that ye had no time for a proper wedding feast or the cake because of the hurried nature of yer nuptials. We love ye, my lady, and we would have ye remember yer marriage celebration even if it is a few days after the fact." Then she curtsied, the look upon Aidan's face telling her that she had made her lady very happy.

But it was Conn who spoke first. "Yer a fine woman, Mrs. Erwina, and one of great sensitivity. The court is a fabulous place, but there could be no real celebration for my lady and myself until we came home to Pearroc Royal, and her people who are our family. Thank ye all!"

"Oh, yes, Erwina! Thank ye from the bottom of our hearts," Aidan managed to say for she was still overcome with the thoughtfulness of the cook.

Conn saw that most of the servants had crowded into the hall now, and he called to Beal. "Wine for everyone, Beal. We should appreciate everyone's good wishes."

Beal had antic.i.p.ated his lord's request, and in short order everyone within the Great Hall had been given a draft. On the butler's command they raised their cups and cried out, "Long life, prosperity, and many children to ye!"

When the toast had been drunk Aidan and Conn sliced into the wedding cake, and everyone in the hall was given a little bit of Erwina's wonderful confection. The unmarried maidservants kept part of their portions, for they intended to sleep with it beneath their pillows this very night, and dream of their true loves. Everyone else, however, enjoyed the treat with much lip smacking before returning to their duties. When the hall had emptied save for the two couples, and those serving them, Aidan arose from her place.

"We have been several days on the road from Greenwich," she said, "and I should very much like to bathe before I retire. Will ye excuse me?" Then with a pretty curtsy she departed up the stairs. Gaining her chamber she discovered to her delight that Mag had already antic.i.p.ated her desire. To one side of the fireplace which was merrily burning with scented apple logs the large oak tub had been brought and filled. Warm steam, redolent with lavender, perfumed the room.

"Oh, Mag, bless ye!"

"Do I not know ye?" huffed the older woman affectionately. "Not that I approve of all that bathing ye do but it's harmless enough, I suppose. Here! Let me help ye with those laces, my lady." She kept up a steady line of chatter as she worked to undress her mistress, taking the clothing into Aidan's dressing room which was adjacent to the bedchamber, and putting it away but for the underclothing which she would take to the laundress. In very short order Aidan was settled in her tub, seated upon a small wooden stool, her hair pinned atop her head. The fragrant water was just the right temperature, and felt wonderful after several days on the road, and nothing but little basins in which she could only wash her face and her hands.

"This is heaven, Mag."

Mag chuckled. "Yer just happy to be home, my lady."

"That too, but how I missed bathing in this marvelous tub when we were at court! That little thing we carried with us was barely big enough to contain me, and my knees were always sticking up out of the water, and getting cold."

"And the good silver we had to bribe them uppity footmen of the queen's with in order to get some hot water," said Mag. "I hope yer not going to be of a mind to travel again soon. The inconveniences are not to be borne, my lady."

"Nay, Mag. I don't ever want to leave Pearroc Royal again! Why should we? I do not think my lord is of a mind to either. I know he will love it here when he sees the estate, and gets to know everybody."

Mag nodded. "He seems a sensible sort for all he's an Irishman. The Blessed Mother only knows that we come from a land of dreamers, poets, and fools, yet my lord seems a good man, and I like his lady sister, and her husband. They have welcomed ye nicely, my chick, and the gossip in the servants' hall is that they are good people. Yer dear lord father, may G.o.d a.s.soil his soul, would have approved this match ye've made." She gathered up Aidan's stockings and undergarments from the pile in which she'd placed them. "Ye sit quietly and soak now, my lady. I'll just take these things to Leoma for washing. Ye know how she dislikes having the laundry pile up." The door clicked closed behind Mag.