The Lord's Forced Bride

‘Do not speak of it if it hurts you, dearest Mother,’ she said. ‘Yes, I think I shall have the new gown styled as this one. Shall we cut it out now?’

‘I think we should make a start, for we shall all need new clothes before we leave for London. We may have others made for us in town, but it is good for you and Anne to make your own sometimes. You should both know how to mend and set your stitches before you marry.’

Catherine caught her breath. Until this moment she had not truly thought about her marriage, though she knew that it would happen one day. She thought about what the earl had said to her that morning in the village. Would he have said such a thing if he had guessed that she was the daughter of a rich and powerful lord?

She was certain that he had mistaken her for a village girl, because she had watched the wrestling. He probably thought that her father was a rich merchant, because, although her clothes were good quality, she had made most of them with the help of her mother and sister.

When they went to court she would have more stylish gowns. She wondered what he would think of her then and her cheeks felt warm. It would not do to think of him in this way! Catherine mentally scolded herself. The earl would not be interested in her, for there must be many beautiful ladies at court, and though her father was rich, they lived a sheltered life here on the Borders.

The earl must meet many clever, beautiful women if he went often to court. Besides, there was clearly some bad feeling between the earl’s family and hers. Therefore she must not think of him again.

Chapter Two

Catherine was in the back parlour, working on her sewing two weeks later. The mists of autumn were gathering outside as dusk fell and a fire had been lit in the big open hearth for the first time in weeks. Her little brother was coughing, and she had noticed that her father seemed to have taken it from him, though as yet her mother, sister and Catherine herself were all free of the malady. She had heard that there was a deal of sickness in the village, and one elderly man had died of the fever that was raging in the district.

In another two weeks they were due to leave for London to prepare for the royal wedding, and Catherine hoped fervently that her father and brother would have recovered in time.

Her head was bent over her work as it had become dark in the parlour and she was considering whether she should call for a candle when she heard voices and footsteps outside the door. Her head came up and she was looking at the door as it was flung open and a young man entered, still wearing his riding clothes, which were spattered with mud.

‘Harry!’ she cried, jumping up with a shout of joy as her brother entered. ‘You are home at last! You sent no word—at least, Father did not tell us that you were expected.’

‘I did not send word,’ her twin told her, coming to embrace her in a fierce hug. The two were very close and as children had been inseparable. ‘I was at court for some days after my return from Spain, and when given leave I thought to be here sooner than a letter.’

‘It is a wonderful surprise,’ Catherine said. ‘Have you seen Father and Mother?’

‘Not yet,’ Harry said, a smile in his eyes. ‘Hannah said you were in here so I came first to you. I wanted to see my little sister.’

‘Harry!’ Catherine laughed, because it was their special joke. She had been born only ten minutes after him and they had many jokes that were private, for they did not share all their thoughts with Anne or their youngest sibling. ‘It is so good to see you home!’

Harry nodded, looking serious for a moment. ‘I wondered if I should see you again, my little cat. I have been on a secret mission for the King and was attacked on my way to Oxford. Had it not been for the intervention of a stranger, I should have been murdered.’

‘Oh, Harry, no!’ Catherine was horrified. ‘That is terrible. Do you know who it was? The King should not send you on dangerous missions.’

‘I said secret, not dangerous,’ Harry said and frowned. ‘I do not know whether they wanted the letters I carried to his Majesty—or whether it was for another reason that they sought to kill me.’

Catherine’s eyes widened. ‘Do you have an enemy?’

‘A man makes enemies at court,’ Harry said. ‘I am not aware of any in particular, but there is always jealousy, Cat. I am popular with some, disliked by others—perhaps because the King favours me. I cannot tell.’

‘You must be careful,’ Catherine said, looking anxious. ‘I could not bear it if anything happened to you, Harry.’

‘It will not, for I am more careful now,’ her twin replied. ‘I travel in company and do not venture into dark alleys at night.’

‘If Mother knew, she would beg you to come home and go no more to court.’

‘That is why you must promise not to tell her or Father,’ Harry said. ‘I have told you because we share everything—but Mother would worry. I cannot stay here all the time, Cat. I must make my way in the world, as Father has. I know that I shall inherit much of the estate one day, but I wish to build my own fortunes.’

‘I do understand,’ Catherine said, a wistful expression in her eyes. ‘I sometimes wish that I had been a boy, Harry. Then I could make my fortune too, as you will.’

‘Your face is your fortune,’ Harry said. ‘You will find a rich husband and marry him. I think nothing but a marquis or a duke will be good enough for my little cat.’ His gaze rested on her fondly.

‘Father is taking us all to London for the royal wedding,’ Catherine said. ‘There has been talk as to whether it will go ahead.’

‘You may rest assured on that,’ Harry told her, a confident smile in his eyes. ‘The wedding is to be next month, though not everyone knows of it yet. You will be the loveliest woman at court, Cat—and I shall be there to watch you break hearts. I am to stay at court for the wedding, though afterwards his Majesty has other work for me.’

‘Oh, that is wonderful—’ Catherine broke off as she heard coughing outside the door. ‘I think Father is worse today. It is a dreadful illness that haunts the village, Harry, and our brother and father have taken it. You must go to Father and Mother, tell them you are home.’

‘I have a gift for you in my bags,’ Harry said. ‘You shall have it later, Cat. Now I shall tell my parents I am here.’

Catherine sat down as he left the room, but did not immediately begin work. Her twin’s return from Spain was all she needed to complete her contentment. In two weeks they would go to London together.

‘I am glad that your feuding with Melford is at an end,’ the King said, but his face was grim as he looked at the earl. ‘However, I have had another petition from your mother this morning. This must cease, Gifford. I will not have it! Do you hear me? She must be curbed. It is up to you to bring her to heel. She threatens to attend the court, though I have expressly ordered that she shall not.’

‘I had hoped that she would see sense,’ Andrew said. ‘Forgive her, sire. I dare say she thinks herself slighted and neglected. I shall pay her a visit and remind her that your patience grows thin.’

‘If she does not behave, I shall remove her to a place of incarceration. She would find that less comfortable than her present lodgings, I think?’

‘Indeed she would, sire. I shall leave at once and remind her of your displeasure.’

‘My displeasure does not extend to you, Gifford. You will stay for the banquet this evening and leave in the morning.’

‘As your Majesty commands,’ Andrew said and bowed as he left the King’s chamber. He was thoughtful as he made his way towards the gallery where most of the courtiers liked to gather at this hour of the day.

‘So you are returned,’ a woman’s soft voice called to him, breaking into his reverie. ‘I had begun to think you had deserted me, sir.’

Lady Henrietta’s tone and pointed look made Andrew smile as she came up to him. He made her an elegant leg, offering her his arm as they resumed their walk towards the gallery.

‘I fear that this is but a flying visit, my lady. I must visit my mother—though I am bidden to return for the wedding.’

‘Must you leave so soon?’ Lady Henrietta’s dark eyes smouldered with barely hidden passion. ‘I have looked for your return these many days.’

‘I fear it is the King’s command. I am to attend the banquet and leave on the morrow.’

‘Then we have tonight?’ she said, her eyes meeting his so directly that he found himself a little repulsed by her insistence. In his mind he was comparing her to the fresh innocence of the village girl he had met so briefly, and she did not measure up in his estimation. There was at times something unpleasant about her overeagerness. ‘You will not desert me without at least giving me that, Andrew?’

He found himself unable to refuse her. When they last met he had been on the verge of asking her to wed him, and she had every right to expect some attention from him. He felt that he had been drawn into the net of her charms. In the past he had been content to take all that she offered. He was not sure why the idea of spending the night in her bed no longer held the same appeal.

‘Your father is very unwell,’ Lady Melford said to her eldest daughter a few days after Harry’s return. ‘I think he may not be able to take us to London as he hoped, Catherine.’

Catherine felt a sharp sting of disappointment, but she knew that both her father and brother had been quite ill as she had been helping her mother to nurse them.

‘I am sorry that Father is so ill,’ she said, putting on a brave face. She had been eagerly looking forward to the trip. ‘But I could not go away and leave you with all the trouble of nursing both Father and Richard.’

‘As to that, I have servants enough to help me,’ Lady Melford said. ‘I do not like you to be disappointed, Catherine. You are always a dutiful girl and you deserve some pleasure. Let me speak with your father. It is possible that we may be able to find some other way.’

Catherine was doubtful. Even if some of her neighbours were travelling to London, she did not see how she could go without her mother and father. She smiled at her mother to show that she did not mind, because she knew that it was highly unlikely she would be able to go.

A wistful sigh escaped her as she went back to her sewing after her mother had left the room. They would visit London another time, but it would be a shame to miss the royal wedding.