A Year & a Day Page 26

  “I’ll be down as soon as I’ve bathed my breasts and changed my gown.”

  His blood began to heat up again at the thought of watching her do these things. “I’ll wait for you and we’ll go down together,” he said thickly.

  Jane was surprised that Lynx had not whisked away his son to display him like a trophy before his friend Robert and the Brace brothers. She had given him the opportunity to take the baby, but he seemed intent upon lingering in her chamber.

  Was he just being polite, offering to wait for her, or had she at last taken his fancy? If such was the case, she had Jory to thank for it. Her advice had been priceless. Men don’t admire meek and submissive women, not real men anyway. They admire women who are willful and a little bit wanton.

  More of Jory’s words came back to her. You must become a challenge to him. Jane smiled; had Lynx not just admitted that he liked nothing better than a challenge and that he found her willfulness damned attractive? Jane’s lashes swept to her cheeks. If she wasn’t mistaken, she had heard Lynx’s voice roughen with what might be desire. Men want what they cannot have. Since willfulness had worked out in her favor, was it not time to try being a little bit wanton?

  The front of Jane’s gown opened and closed to allow her to feed the baby. She deliberately left it undone and reached behind her to unfasten the back. She pretended a great deal of difficulty and smiled a secret smile as Lynx laid his son in his cradle and hastened to her aid. She presented her back to him, knowing full well that his view of her breasts from his great height would be totally unimpeded.

  Jane drew in a swift breath as she felt his fingers come into contact with her naked back and she allowed him to hear it. She was amply rewarded when she felt him sweep aside her hair and touch his lips to her nape. Was it gratitude or was it desire? Jane decided to find out.

  She leaned back against him and instantly felt his erection against her soft bottom. Pretending to notice nothing she moved away, stepped from her gown, and walked over to the washstand to pour rosewater into the bowl. Lynx followed her as if she were a lodestone. She felt his hands cup her shoulders, then slide her shift down so that she was naked to the waist. When his lips touched her bare flesh, a delicious shiver ran down the entire length of her spine. She turned her head to look up at him over her shoulder and their gazes met and held.

  She saw green fire burning in his eyes as he lifted a handful of her hair. He rubbed the silken tresses against his cheek, then inhaled its fragrance. “I want to wrap myself in your hair. The feel of it arouses me to madness,” he said huskily.

  Slowly, she turned to face him, and watched as his possessive gaze was drawn to her upthrust breasts. Silently, seductively, she offered him the sponge in blatant, sensual invitation. Lynx took the sponge from her, dipped it into the rosewater, and with gentle, loving hands bathed her beautiful breasts.

  Jane gasped at the exquisite sensations he was arousing deep inside her. His touch was a silken torment, teasing and arousing her until she was smoky-eyed with desire. When Lynx dried her breasts with the towel, its rough texture made her cry out with pure pleasure and she felt her nipples harden into erect little buds. With deliberate slowness, Jane took up a tiny pot and lifted off its lid.

  “What’s that?” he asked in fascination.

  “Glycerin … I put a drop on each nipple to keep them supple.” She watched the dark pupils of his green eyes dilate.

  “Let me do that,” he said thickly.

  “If it would give you pleasure.” Jane knew it would certainly give her pleasure. His faintest touch made her weak with longing.

  As he touched his fingertips to her nipple, she watched him almost come out of his skin, but she did not count on the effect it would have on her. As he moved to her other breast and rubbed the bright tip with the glycerin, she felt a wetness begin between her legs, then she felt her woman’s center convulse and she was taken with a delicious shudder. She watched his eyes lift to her mouth and knew he was about to take her in his arms and cover her with kisses.

  Though Jane wanted nothing more in the world, she remembered Jory’s infallible advice. Refuse him, and he will turn over heaven and earth to get you. She was ravenous for the kiss and decided to allow him just one, to whet his appetite for more. As his mouth came down on hers, her lips parted to welcome the savage ravishing. She realized the moment his lips took possession of hers that he was the one in control, not her.

  Lynx did not release her mouth until their kiss built to an intensity that neither of them had ever experienced before. With a little cry, she pulled away quickly and went to her wardrobe for a fresh gown. “We must hurry, my lord, ’tis very rude to keep our guests waiting.”

  As Lynx descended the staircase with his son clasped in his right arm and Jane holding his left, the cheers and applause of the Bruce brothers standing at the bottom rose up to surround them.

  Jane felt herself lifted from her feet by Robert’s massive arms as he planted a kiss upon her mouth. “Well done, Jane!” Then he took the child from Lynx, unwrapped the shawl, and inspected him from head to foot. “Looks like a lynx cub to me … You do realize he’s a Scot?”

  Until that moment Lynx hadn’t thought of it, but he realized he’d be ragged unmercifully for producing a Scot and might as well concede with good grace.

  “I’ve brought him a magnificent Bruce cradle on condition you’ll name him after me,” Robert declared.

  Lynx took back his son. “He’s already got a cradle I hauled all the way from Edinburgh and his name is Lincoln de Warenne the Third.”

  Jane slipped between the two rivals. “He can use two cradles; one upstairs in his nursery and one down here in the hall. And I’ve decided his name shall be Lincoln Robert de Warenne.”

  Robert slapped his friend on the back. “Ho! The lass is ruling the roost now, I see.”

  Nigel and Alex Bruce hooted. “Better get her under control or she’ll put a ring through your nose and lead you about like a prize bull!”

  “Let’s get our feet under the table so we can start the toasts. Bring on the whisky!” Thomas Bruce demanded.

  Marjory said to Jane, “We can toast with hypocras. It’s deliciously spicy, you’ll love it.”

  “Malt whisky not good enough for you, Jory?” Thomas teased.

  “I’ve developed a taste for some things Scottish, but whisky isn’t one of them.”

  Lynx laid the baby in the cradle and they enjoyed an intimate supper with only the Bruces for company. The de Warenne heir slept blissfully through the noisy toasts and raucous laughter. When they were all replete with food and drink, Jory signaled Taffy, who brought in an armful of presents that St. Nicholas had left on Twelfth Night.

  Each gift bore the name of one person sitting at table. Most of the men found a dagger or dirk when they unwrapped their favors, but Robert Bruce was momentarily puzzled when he opened the wrapping and found a piece of ribbon onto which had been stitched two Christmas bells. He turned the piece of frippery over and over in his hands, trying to recall where he had seen a similar object before. Then it came to him and he quickly stuffed it inside his doublet as tears of laughter rolled down his face. He was well aware that Jory was delighted with his reaction, though he was far too discreet to glance her way.

  All eyes focused on Jane as she unwrapped her gift. Marjory had had the castle needlewomen working for days on a gown that would show off Jane’s slim figure. It was fuchsia velvet with long trailing sleeves, lined in white satin. The low neck and the hem were bordered with a wide band of pearl and crystal beads.

  Jane gasped, then burst into tears. “Oh, Jory, it’s the loveliest gown I’ve ever seen, how can I thank you?”

  “By wearing it tomorrow and taking your rightful place as Chatelaine of Dumfries.”

  The Bruces heartily agreed, telling her she was the most beautiful mother in Scotland.

  “Thank you for coming to our celebration,” Lynx said warmly. “We planned it for Twelfth Night, but the lynx cub deci
ded to put in an appearance, so tomorrow will be more like Fifteenth Night.”

  “I’m Lord of Misrule,” Nigel Bruce declared, “and I want no arguments from the old men of the family.”

  Marjory gave Robert a saucy wink. “Since we have so much to celebrate tomorrow, I suggest we have an early night.”

  Without glancing in Jory’s direction, Robert winked at Jane and declared, “Well, I’m certainly ready for bed.”

  Jane knew Robert and Jory were sending each other messages right under the others’ noses, and her laughter trilled out like silver bells. Lynx frowned. Why did Jane find everything Robert said so damned amusing?

  When Jane arose and went to the cradle to lift her son, the men watched her avidly. All four Bruces envied Lynx de Warenne his woman and his son this night. As Jane headed toward the stairs, Lynx took his sister aside. “Jane was so thrilled with the gown. I want to give her something like that, but I brought gifts only for the baby.”

  “It’s a good thing I know what a thoughtless swine you are. I had another gown made and hid it in your own wardrobe. Since she’s never had anything pretty, she lusts for lovely things. Can you imagine how rewarding it would be to gift her with furs or jewels?”

  Lynx felt his erection start and cursed softly under his breath. “You are a paradox of bitch and angel.”

  “And I’ve taught Jane everything I know, you lucky lout.”

  When Lynx closed the door of Jane’s chambers, the lynx cub opened his mouth and started to scream. “Splendor of God, is he going to keep us up all night again?” Lynx ran a frustrated hand through his tawny hair. “What the hell are we going to do?”

  Jane smiled. “I’ll feed him, then you can walk him. The combination will work like a charm.”

  An hour later as Lynx walked the floor and watched his son fall asleep in his arms, he offered up a prayer of thanks for the priceless gift that had been bestowed upon him. Truth be told, there was nowhere in the entire world he would rather be at this moment than guarding his firstborn son. It was a labor of love and he realized it was his first intimate experience with the emotion. Lynx cradled him beneath his heart for another hour, then very gently, very quietly, laid him beside his sleeping mother and climbed the stairs to his own chamber so they could slumber undisturbed.

  In the opposite tower of Dumfries, Robert Bruce slipped discreetly through a chamber door and shot the bolt securely. Jory awaited him, wearing only an inviting smile. “It took you a few minutes to recall the Roman phallic symbols on Hadrian’s Wall.”

  Robert grinned. “I knew I’d seen the ribbon and bells decorating something or other.” He began to laugh as he tossed the trinket from one hand to the other. “You don’t seriously expect me to put this on, do you, wench?”

  “Of course not, my lord earl, I intend to put it on for you. Get those clothes off!”

  High in a tower of Dumfries, the merry jingle of Christmas bells could be heard, on and off, all through the night.

  24

  When the first day of the celebration dawned, Grace Murray took charge of Jane’s son the moment he was fed “Dinna worry yer pretty head over the wee lordling, Lady Jane. I’ll keep him under my wing like an’ old broody hen, so ye can have a wee bit of fun.”

  “The Bruce brought over a beautiful cradle that we’ve put front and center in the hall. Since we’re celebrating Christmas, New Year’s, and Lincoln Robert’s christening all at once, I want him to spend as much time with us as possible. Today is just for the castle people and the de Warenne men-at-arms, but tomorrow will include all the townspeople of Dumfries. Hundreds of people will want a good look at him in the next few days.”

  “Aye, and look is all they’ll do, I shall see to that! There will be no pokin’ at the wee lordling or pickin’ him up and jigglin’ him till he heaves up his milk!”

  “Good heavens, I hadn’t thought of that. Do you think they would do such a thing?”

  “If I wasn’t standin’ guard, they’d have their dirty hands all over him, passin’ him about like a secondhand haggis!”

  Jane was suddenly glad that Grace Murray resembled a dragon. “Bring him back upstairs before the noon meal is served and I’ll feed him, then I’ll feed him again before dinner tonight.”

  Marjory and Elizabeth arrived at Jane’s chamber unable to hide the excitement that bubbled inside them. “Good God, aren’t you bathed and dressed yet?” Jory demanded.

  “I’m bathed, I just have to put on the beautiful dress you gave me last night.”

  “That wasn’t from me, that was from St. Nicholas and I suspect he has more surprises in store for you, Lady Jane Tut!”

  “Jory, you’re so good!”

  “Damn, I’m very good, but for the next few days I’m going to be bad, and if you have any sense, you will too. We have a castle full of men, so let’s make them dance to our tune! For the first time in nine months you can think about yourself. You are slim and beautiful and I want you to enjoy enough fun and laughter to last you through the dark, cold winter.”

  Jory turned her attention to Elizabeth de Burgh. “We must both see to it that Elizabeth has a happy time. She’s away from Ireland, away from her lovely home, and hardly ever gets to see her father. She hoped to see him at Christmastime, but the Earl of Ulster has pledged to help Edward Plantagenet win France.”

  “And with de Burgh on his side, the king cannot lose,” Lynx de Warenne said as he came down the stairs from his own chamber. His glance fell on Jane in her fine lawn petticoat. “I came to help Jane dress if you’ll be good enough to give us a little privacy.”

  “Dream on, Brother, there isn’t time for Jane to indulge your dalliance this morning. Come back in a week if you want her to ride your cockhorse to Banbury Cross!”

  Elizabeth’s cheeks turned bright red and she began to giggle. She was just beginning to understand the naughty sexual innuendos that Jory came out with.

  “For shame, corrupting the child,” Lynx said sternly. “I suspect you are a bad influence on Jane as well as Elizabeth.”

  “You will be the beneficiary of my corrupting Jane, but I’ve barely touched the surface. You’ll have to plumb the depths yourself to finish the corruption!”

  Suddenly, the Lord of Misrule threw open the chamber door. “Where are all the beautiful women hiding?” Nigel Bruce demanded. “You will each pay me a forfeit of one kiss for keeping us waiting!”

  Elizabeth insisted on being first, then Jory paid her forfeit with a kiss that was both long and lusty. As Nigel captured Jane in her petticoat, Lynx said, “I don’t think Jane wants to play this game.”

  Nigel gave him a pitying glance and Jane said saucily, “Lynx is too old to remember what fun is all about!”

  When the merry group arrived downstairs, the hall had never been so crowded in the castle’s history. Tables piled high with food and sweet delicacies sat against the walls and its center was a vast open space from which the dining tables and benches had been removed and replaced with a throng of merrymakers.

  The only chairs were up on the dais, alongside the magnificent Bruce cradle. Lynx de Warenne parted waves of celebrants so that he could reach the dais. He deposited Lincoln Robert in the cradle and Grace Murray, accompanied by Lynx’s two squires, sat down in the chairs to guard Dumfries’ newest treasure. A line began to form immediately to climb to the dais to view the child.

  The festive customs they celebrated were a mixture of English, Scottish, and Welsh. A pine yule log over fifty feet long and three feet in circumference was carried in by over a hundred of the brawniest males. Christmas cheer flowed freely from wassail bowls of hypocras, barrels of ale, jugs of whisky, and flagons of honeyed mead. Every windowsill was strung with holly and ivy, and from every door and archway in the castle hung a huge bunch of white-berried mistletoe.

  Music of every description filled the air. Scots pipers roamed the castle, mingling with Welsh harpers and English drummers. Others had flutes and timbrels and handbells, but all the instruments
combined could not drown out the laughter of the celebrants who were hell-bent on fun and games. The Lord of Misrule was everywhere, stirring up mischief, demanding forfeits, and leading the crowd in hilarious hijinks, while his brothers Alexander and Thomas aided and abetted his antics.

  At eleven o’clock, the hall was cleared and all the children of Dumfries were ushered in. Their excitement was contagious. Jane, Marjory, and young Elizabeth led them in games, races, singing, and dancing. Then Jane stood beside her father while the prizes and presents were handed out. As well as a toy and an article of clothing for every child, they were encouraged to help themselves to sweets. Huge trays of butterscotch, treacle toffee, and quaint marzipan animals sat alongside a mountain of apples and nuts.

  As Lynx watched Jane run about with the children, it was brought home to him how young she was. And yet, as she stood with her father, distributing the gifts, he could sense that she had organized most of it and he experienced a great pride in her. While he had been away in Edinburgh, Dumfries must have been a hive of activity, planning these festivities.

  After the noon meal, the food was cleared from the tables and they were piled high with gifts for the castle people who served Dumfries. Again, Jane, with the help of Jock and her brother Andrew, the assistant steward, distributed the presents to each and every servant. She gave each of the Leslie women elegant warm cloaks and all her brothers received new doublets. For Megotta there was an intricately carved medicinal box.

  Finally, Jane caught Lynx’s eye and she beckoned him to join her. She held up her hands until the roar subsided to a low din, then with tears in her eyes she announced, “This largesse is possible only because of Lord de Warenne’s unfailing generosity.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek as the crowd went wild, cheering and shouting loud enough to raise the rafters.

  As Lynx looked down at her, he knew the generosity was hers. Jane had spent all the monies he had left with the steward for her personal needs on her family.