Page 35 of Love, Remember Me

"Not now, Nyssa," he said grimly.

"I have a right to know!" She did not look at him, and her voice was ragged with her emotion. "I went to sleep in the Maidens' Chamber. I awoke here to find myself in the center of a maelstrom."

"I promise that I will tell you, but not now," he said. "I know that under the circumstances I have not the right to ask it of you, but please, Nyssa, trust me. You will not come to any harm."

Now she turned to look directly at him. "Trust you, my lord? Why should I trust you? Your reputation is foul, and whatever has happened here tonight has done little to reassure me otherwise. No! I do not trust you. Indeed I think I could hate you for your part in this charade. My parents always promised me that I should choose my own husband. Now it seems that decision has been taken from me by strangers, and I would know why. I think you owe me that."

"And more," he agreed, "but I cannot tell you now. You will have to accept that, and be patient."

"Patience is not one of my long suits, my lord," she warned him. "You have much to learn about me."

"How old are you?" he asked her.

"Seventeen, the last day of December past," she answered. "How old are you, my lord? Are you very old?"

"I will be thirty the last day of this month," he replied, smiling at her. There was so much he needed to learn about Nyssa Wyndham.

He has a nice smile, she thought; neither too broad nor too thin. I could almost like him.Almost.

"Where do you live when you do not live at court?" she asked.

"My estates are across the river Wye from your house at Riverside," he said. "Until recently I did not possess the river frontage, but now I do. My house is on a hill a mile from the water. My estate is called Winterhaven. Your uncle, Lord Kingsley's lands, partly border it."

"Why have we never met before I came to court?" she asked him. She was surprised, nay amazed, at her calm.

"Because I have lived with the Duke of Norfolk's household since I was six years old. My father, Henry de Winter, the previous earl, died when you were just a very little girl. I come to Winterhaven only for a few weeks each summer to escape the court, and to be private. I have never entertained, or socialized with my neighbors there. Had I, we might have met before you came here. I hope you will not be disappointed, but I should very much like to leave the court and live in the country, Nyssa. I know this must be exciting for a young girl, but I am weary of it all."

"I had planned to go home once this business with the king's marriage was settled. My mistress will not need me when she is no longer Queen of England," Nyssa said. "I will not be unhappy to leave court." It was not calm she felt. It was cold. She suddenly realized she felt cold. Was she in shock? Or was she simply stunned with outrage?

There was a knock upon the chamber door, but before the earl might say "Enter," Bliss FitzHugh rushed in, her beautiful blue eyes wide at the sight of her naked niece in bed with the Earl of March.

"Ohh, Nyssa," she said, nearly weeping. "What have you done, my child? I have just received the most dreadful scolding from the king himself. He says you must marry immediately." She turned her gaze on Varian de Winter. "You are a scoundrel, my lord, to have seduced an innocent maid! At least this time you will not be able to leave her with child, to kill herself over the shame of your betrayal!"

"As we are to be related, madame," Varian de Winter said with as much dignity as an unclothed man might muster, "I will overlook your thoughtless remarks. You have been misinformed by that great gossip, Adela Marlowe, I am most certain. When we know each other better, I shall enlighten you with the truth. I assume you can recognize the truth, Lady FitzHugh."

Bliss gasped, and Nyssa could not help the little giggle that escaped her. It was not often that someone could set her aunt back on her heels so firmly and neatly.

"You dare to laugh, mistress?" Bliss said, outraged. "Your parents will be heartbroken when they learn of your behavior. Get out of that bed, Nyssa Wyndham! You are to be married at once, and I do not know what you can wear under such circumstances as these!" She snatched up Nyssa's little silk shift and threw it at her. "As for you, sirrah, get some clothing on this instant unless you intend to be wed to my niece in the altogether!" She glared fiercely at them both.

The Earl of March, sheepishly pulling the coverlet about his loins, climbed gingerly from his bed and slowly backed into the dressing room where his clothing was hanging. Nyssa pulled her shift over her head and climbed from the bed.

"Well," Bliss said, "he's handsome, I'll give him that. At least his blood is noble.A Howard!You've caught a big fish in your net, my child!"

"I did not catch him at all," Nyssa said irritably.

Bliss paid absolutely no attention to her niece. "What can you wear? Oh, lord! The king said you were to come immediately to the chapel. What are we to do? You cannot stand before the archbishop in your shift!" Her blue eyes suddenly lit up. "Of course! You can wear my cloak over your chemise. It's trimmed in fur, and the rose velvet is very flattering to you. Your hair needs brushing, Nyssa. My lord," she called out. "I shall need a brush to neaten Nyssa's hair." She fussed about her niece, settling her ermine-trimmed cape over Nyssa's shoulders, fastening it shut with the small gold frog closures. Bliss snatched up the brush that Varian de Winter handed her and vigorously removed the tangles from the girl's lovely dark hair. Then suddenly she began to weep. "Ohhh, your mother will never forgive me for letting this happen to you! And to not be at your wedding! Tony will be simply furious, my child. You know how he dotes upon you. He did not want you to come to court."

Nyssa said nothing for the moment. She let her aunt babble on, for it would have been impossible to get Bliss to cease. I have imagined my wedding my whole life, Nyssa thought, but I could have never imagined anything like the reality I now face. Am I dreaming? She pinched herself, but she was not dreaming. This was truly happening. Her aunt's strident tones brought her back to the present.

"My lord de Winter!" Bliss's beautiful face was the picture of perfect outrage. "Surely you are not going to your wedding dressed in such a manner? This matter is scandalous enough as it is!"

"I do not choose to outshine my bride, madame," he answered her calmly. "To do so would be unforgivable. Unless Nyssa has some objection, I will remain as I am. What say you, Lady Wyndham?"

For the first time since this dreadful affair had burst upon her, Nyssa truly liked Varian de Winter. Whatever else he might be, he was a man with a sense of humor. He stood before her in a white silk nightshirt, over which he wore a deep green velvet robe trimmed with dark sable. His feet were as bare as hers.

Nyssa giggled, much to her aunt's mortification. "I am content with your garb, sir. It seems appropriate to this particular occasion." She curtsied to him, and he bowed in return.

Bliss sighed dramatically. "Then there is no help for it," she said, "and if we keep the king waiting much longer, all our heads will roll, I fear. Come along, both of you. We have a wedding to go to. Ohhh, Nyssa! I can but imagine what your parents will say! Hurry now! Your uncle is awaiting us outside the door. He did not want to come in for fear of embarrassing you, but you do not seem the least ashamed of your actions this night. I do not understand you at all!" She bustled from the room, her skirts flying about her.

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