Page 63 of By the Sword
He drew her into his arms and kissed her with a passion that was only met by her own.
‘Are we doomed forever to meet like this? Hurried kisses behind closed doors?’ he whispered when they drew apart.
‘It seems so.’
Kate held him closer, breathing in the scent of man and horse and the reassuring pulse of his heart beneath her cheek. There was so much to say and this might well be their only chance ofprivacy, but reluctantly she laid her hands on his chest and took a step back.
‘What are you really doing here, Jon?’ she asked.
He turned away from her and crossed to the window where he stood looking out at the newly mown fields. ‘You heard me tell Tom, the King entered England with a Scottish army about a month ago. Giles and I have come on ahead to try and raise some support for the cause.’ He shook his head and his tone was bitter as he continued, ‘To little avail. Unless the Welsh can join us at Worcester, this is a battle that will be lost before it is even begun.’
‘How many men do you have?’ Kate asked.
He turned to face her, leaning back on the window sill. The grim line of Jonathan’s mouth spoke more eloquently than his words. ‘Barely thirteen thousand to Cromwell’s thirty thousand.’
‘Why Worcester?’
‘It’s strategic to Wales and London and well protected by the Severn and the Teme.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s as good a place as any.’ He expelled a head sigh. ‘The Scots are fighting among themselves. Charles’ great childhood friend, the Duke of Buckingham, is behaving like a sulky child because Charles, quite rightly, has refused him the supreme command. And as I predicted, the English are tired of war. Few have flocked to the King’s standard and in the middle of this petty squabbling the King tries to remain optimistic, but he is young and buffeted this way and that by his advisers.’
Kate had no comfort to give and none was expected. She cared nothing for the King, the Duke of Buckingham or the Scots. Her only concern was that amidst the conflict to come, he would die. She would lose him, just as she had lost Richard. She wanted to rail against him, hold him here in this locked room where he would be safe, but she knew that those words had to lie unspoken.
‘And you? Are you well, Jon?’ she asked, changing the subject.
‘Well enough,’ he said, his hand going to his bad shoulder with a grimace. ‘How goes it here, Mistress Ashley? It cannot be easy for you.’
Kate could take some pride in her achievements and she allowed herself a smile. ‘Not as bad as I feared, Jon. Thanks to the intervention of your uncle, Nathaniel Freeman, Colonel Price has caused us no trouble and our harvest looks good. We should survive into next year unless of course, you plan to abscond with our winter supplies?’
He shook his head and smiled. ‘No, we paid our first call on Longley Abbey and found Colonel Price away from home. We divested Longley Abbey of ample supplies that are now on their way to meet up with the main party. Giles took particular pleasure in relieving the wine cellar of some of its best.’
Despite herself, Kate laughed at the thought of Giles calmly reclaiming his own wine from under the indignant and ruddy nose of Colonel Price. But her humour faded with the realisation that she would be the one that had to face Price’s anger and humiliation.
‘What have you done? Price will be furious.’
He had the grace to look shamefaced. ‘I wish I could say it was all Giles’ idea.’
‘About Giles. I am looking forward to getting to know him after all I have heard from Nell,’ Kate said. ‘Does he know about us?’
Jonathan shook his head. ‘I haven’t told him, or at least not in so many words, but Giles knows me as well as anyone living so I can’t answer for what he may have surmised. Kate, enough talk, come here and kiss me again.’
He caught her hand and pulled her toward him. His eyes, smoky with desire, narrowed and he bent his head to kiss her.
A knock on the door and Ellen’s voice interrupted them. ‘Cook needs you in the kitchen.’
Kate leaned her head against his chest. ‘I must go. I fear I am making loaves and fishes to feed the five thousand this evening. I want this meal to be special. We have had so little cause for celebration in the last months.’
Jonathan bowed. ‘Then on no account, delay, Mistress Ashley. I am ravenous.’
Unlocking the door, he stood aside to let Kate pass.
***
From his seat at the head of the table, Jonathan sat back, a glass of Colonel Price’s excellent wine in his hand, and surveyed the people gathered around him. Just for a night, they could forget the world that gathered outside the door. Just for the night, they could be young and carefree without trouble or care.
Giles, as always, was the centre of attention with his fund of stories; Tom had been laughing so hard there were tears in his eyes; Nell, so willing to forgive her philandering husband, sat with one hand on his arm as if she feared he would vanish any moment. and Kate…
His eyes lingered on her serene oval face. She wore a gown fashioned from the sky blue fabric they had purchased at the Selby fair, a long year ago. Her thick honey-coloured hair fell around her face in soft ringlets and every time she glanced at him she radiated happiness.
He longed to reach down the length of the table and gather her in his arms. He ached for this one night together but there was a cost. She had come willingly to his bed and he had taken what she offered without thought of consequence.
