Page 34 of Love, Remember Me

Her eyes widened. Gasping, she clutched at the coverlet, peeping quickly beneath it. "Ohhhh!" Her shock was obvious as her cheeks reddened.

At that moment he heard movement outside the bedchamber door. Reaching out, he tangled his hand roughly in her hair and said, "Forgive me, Nyssa Wyndham!" Then his mouth came bruisingly down upon hers, even as the door to the room burst open and he heard his grandfather's voice say, "You see, Your Grace! I was not misinformed."

Henry Tudor could not believe his eyes. They bugged from his head. There she lay, a startled look upon her beautiful face, one perfect little breast exposed to his view, her ripe little mouth absolutely bruised with kisses.Nyssa Wyndham!His little country girl's daughter, as wanton a wench as her mother had been good and decent. It was patently obvious to him what was going on. It would have been obvious to anyone. "Madame!" he roared. "I would have an explanation for your disgraceful behavior, although I can think of no explanation that would excuse your lewdness!"

"Your Grace," Nyssa began, half sobbing. Where in God's name was she? How had she gotten here? The sensation of the Earl of March's leg against hers was exciting, but it shouldn't be.

"Silence, girl!" the Duke of Norfolk said. Then he turned his gaze to his grandson. "Varian, I am outraged that you would debauch an innocent maid of good reputation and family. You have gone too far this time, I fear. There is but one solution open to us to prevent a scandal and save this lady's heretofore good name."

"They're to go to the Tower!Both of them!" the king snarled.

"Wait, Your Grace," Bishop Gardiner said in conciliatory tones. He had been standing behind the duke, but now he moved forward with the Archbishop of Canterbury at his side. "There can be no scandal at this particular time in your court—particularly as it has been whispered that you favor this young woman."

"Favor Nyssa?" the king said. "Of course I favor her. She is the daughter of my friend, Blaze Wyndham. I promised Nyssa's parents that I would look after her as if she were one of my own daughters. God's blood, Gardiner! Certainly you did not think that I looked upon her with romantic intentions? If you did, you are a fool!" he shouted.

"No, no, Your Grace," the bishop said, nonplussed. The king had once again surprised him. Why was it he was always able to do that?

"I do not know how I came to be here," Nyssa cried out, but no one except the Archbishop of Canterbury heard her.

Thomas Cranmer saw the honest confusion on the girl's face. He noted the barely masked worry on the earl's handsome visage and knew instantly that there was some plot afoot. Since he could not imagine what it was, he kept his suspicions to himself. Lady Nyssa Wyndham's reputation must be protected. The girl was obviously innocent of any wrongdoing, although he would be hard-pressed to convince the king of it. Henry Tudor would only believe what he considered the evidence of his own eyes.

"Your Grace, there is but one remedy to this situation," the archbishop said in his soft, soothing voice.

The king looked questioningly at him.

"Lady Wyndham and Lord de Winter must be joined in matrimony this very night, before any word of this incident gets out. I am certain that Bishop Gardiner and the duke will agree with me, will you not, my lords?" The archbishop smiled gently, encouragingly, at them.

"Of course, of course, my lord," the bishop said.

"He's right, though 'tis not often I agree with the archbishop," the duke said. "We can silence the gossip by saying my grandson fell in love with the chit; that the king gave his permission for them to marry, and that because of your grace's own marital difficulty, they chose to be married by the archbishop quickly and quietly so they might continue to serve you and the queen during this difficult time for you both."

"If you were an animal, Tom, you would be a fox," Henry Tudor said grimly. He turned to the couple abed and said to the earl, "How long has this been going on beneath my very nose, my lord?"

"Lady Wyndham only came to my bed this night, Your Grace," Varian de Winter answered truthfully.

"And have you breached her defenses yet, or did we arrive in time, sirrah?" The king was very angry, but he was not certain which of them angered him more. He had certainly thought better of Nyssa Wyndham, but then these young women today were not like their mothers.

"I am a virgin!" Nyssa said furiously, glaring at them all. "I do not know how I came to be here, Your Grace,but I did not come to his bed!I do not know how I got here!"

"Madame," the king said coldly, "your mother never lied to me. I am sorry that you see fit to do so."

"I am not lying!" Nyssa almost wept.

"Madame, am I a fool?" the king roared angrily. "Is that what you think of your sovereign? I find you naked as the day your sweet mother bore you, in the bed of an equally naked man. Am I to believe that you came here by magic? If you indeed did not come here willingly, or under your own power, then how did you come here, Nyssa Wyndham? Answer me that? How came you to the Earl of March's bed?"

"I do not know!" she sobbed.

"Your Grace," the archbishop said quietly, "I think perhaps it would be wise to send for Lady Wyndham's aunt. Her guilt has obviously overcome her, and she is in need of female comfort. In the meantime, Bishop Gardiner and I will repair to the Chapel Royal to make our preparations for the wedding of these two young people. I know that they are both distressed to have caused your grace such acute suffering."

"Aye, go along, both of you. I want them married within the hour," the king said, glaring at the couple. "I will witness their nuptials myself, as will the duke. In the morning, Lord de Winter, I shall expect to see proof of Lady Wyndham's defloration. You will marry her, and you will remain married to her. There will be no excuse for an annulment. Do you understand me, my lord?"

"Aye, Your Grace, completely, but I assure you that I am eager to marry Lady Wyndham, and will endeavor to be a good husband to her in all ways. We will name our first son after you, will we not, sweetheart?"

"I will not marry this man!" Nyssa shouted. "I do not love him! I do not even know him! I will only marry for love!"

"You knew him well enough to creep into his bed!" snapped the king. "God's blood, wench! Who the hell do you think will marry you if not de Winter once this scandal is out, and it will get out, I assure you. The walls have ears, you may be certain. You are ruined, girl. I gave your mother my solemn word that I would care for you and keep you safe. You have made your bed, by God, and now you will lie in it. You will accept the consequences of your actions! There is no other choice, Lady Wyndham. You will marry Varian de Winter because I, your king, order you to marry him. To disobey my order is treason. Your mother has always been my most loyal servant, and I expect no less of you, Nyssa Wyndham." He sighed. "At least the man is of equal birth to you. I can but hope you are satisfied with your choice, girl, for you have no option in this matter now. You will be married to this man within the hour." So saying, Henry Tudor departed the earl's bedchamber in the company of the Duke of Norfolk.

For several long moments the silence within the room was thick. Then Nyssa said to the man by her side, "How came I here, my lord?"

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