Page 64 of By the Sword
A dark memory speared his consciousness. He, more than anyone, understood those consequences. What if he died in thecoming conflict, leaving her with a bastard child? Another life destroyed?
‘Jonathan?’ Kate’s voice cut through his maudlin thoughts.
He forced a smile.
‘Music, Giles,’ he said. ‘Nell, oblige us?’
Nell sat down at the ancient and tuneless virginals that gathered dust in a corner of the hall and opened the lid. She looked across at her brother.
‘Only if you sing, Jon,’ she said.
Jonathan’s set down his wine glass and feigning horror, he said, ‘Me? My dear sister, you know perfectly well I cannot hold a tune.’
‘Liar,’ interjected Giles, draining the last bottle of wine into his glass. ‘Kate, he regularly serenades the lovely demoiselles.’
‘And look at the result,’ pointed out Jonathan. ‘When they have stopped laughing, some other man has whisked them away.’
Kate smiled. ‘I would have to agree,’ she said. ‘I’ve only heard him sing once and ’twas not a pretty sound. You and Giles give us a song, Nell.’
The Longleys obliged with a charming duet, remembered from happier days, and Jonathan stood next to Kate, catching her hand and entwining their fingers in the hidden folds of her skirts.
As it grew late Tom struggled to keep his eyes open and, without much prodding from his mother, made his way to bed. Giles leaned over the virginals and whispered in Nell’s ear. A high colour rose in her cheeks and with her husband’s arm over her shoulders they wandered slowly out of the room.
Kate and Jonathan were alone. He laid his hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her gently on the forehead.
‘And is it time for us?’ Her voice sounded tight, her eyes bright.
‘If that is what you wish.’
She nodded. ‘You will be gone tomorrow.’ The unspoken fear radiated from her.
‘Go ahead,’ he said. ‘I will be with you presently.’
Jonathan checked on his men, made sure the guard had been set for the night and wrote a dispatch.
Outside the door to Kate’s bedchamber, he hesitated. Another stolen night, a brief respite from the troubles that lay ahead. Once again he wrestled with his conscience, wondering after all if it would be better to seek his own bed but the thought lingered only a moment and he put his hand to the door catch.
Kate waited for him, curled up in a chair by the open window, wearing nothing but a soft linen shift, her hair loose around her shoulders. The soft summer night stole into the room and as he entered she looked around at him, her eyes shining in the candlelight.
‘All done for the night?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘The world is at peace, for the moment.’
He crossed over to her and she rose from her chair to face him.
‘Kate,’ he said, ‘I wanted to give you something.’
He took her hand and dropped the heavy gold signet ring Sir Francis had given him on the last visit into her palm, closing her fingers over it.
He smiled apologetically. ‘I’m sorry I have nothing else. All the family jewellery is long gone. Look after it for me. I hope when I come to claim it I may be able to exchange it for one more fitting your hand.’
She opened the small, carved box that sat on her dressing table and selected a gold chain. Slipping the ring onto it, she returned to him and he fastened it around her neck.
‘I will wear it next to my heart,’ she said.
He took her in his arms and carried her over to her bed. ‘One night, my dearest love,’ he whispered as he buried his face in her hair. ‘It seems that once again, that is all we have.’
‘Then let’s not waste it,’ she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and smiling into his eyes.
