This Heart of Mine by Bertrice Small Read Free Book Online Page A

bread to feed an army! There are molded jellies; marzipan of every imaginable color; fruit tarts from dried apples, peaches, apricots, and plums; custards; and the first strawberries of the season with clotted cream!” she finished triumphantly. Then her brow puckered. “Will it be enough?” she fretted.
    “ ’Tis not elegant, but I suspect ’twill serve,” Velvet teased. “You’ve not forgotten the wines?”
    “Nay, there are a full two hundred casks each of both red and white from Archambault , bless your grandparents, as well as a hundred barrels of Devon cider, which Robin sent from Lynmouth. Then, too, we have our own October ale.”
    “Well,” observed Velvet, “if they don’t stuff themselves with all the foods you’re offering, they will most certainly drown in the drink!”
    “Oh, how I wish Mother were here instead of in the Indies!” Deirdre wailed.
    “You don’t need her, sister. You have done everything just as Mother would have if the queen were visiting her.”
    “Oh, Velvet! What would I do without you, little sister? You will stay overnight, won’t you?”
    Velvet’s heart skipped a beat. “But where will you put me, Deirdre? I would love to see the queen, but let me just peek at her from among the servants and then be on my way home.”
    “No! You must stay with me Velvet! I can’t get through this without you, especially in my present condition. You can sleep in my dressing room.”
    “Who is to sleep in your dressing room?” demanded John Blakeley as he came into the sunny morning room where the two sisters were seated.
    “Velvet,” replied his wife. “I want her to stay for the queen’s visit, John.”
    “By all means, my dear,” replied Lord Blackthorn as he bent to place a kiss upon Deirdre’s brow. “The queen is Velvet’s godmama as I recall, and it would not hurt for her to renew her acquaintance with her now.” He walked over to the table and poured himself a goblet of wine from a crystal decanter. “A friend at court cannot hurt a lass.” He looked up and smiled at Velvet.
    “Thank you, my lord, and I believe you are correct in your observations,” Velvet answered demurely, curtsying to her brother-in-law. Lord Blackthorn grinned at her over his wife’s head and winked conspiratorily. God’s bones, thought Velvet, what does he suspect? He can’t possibly know what I plan! He can’t! Her brother-in-law’s next words gave her cause for more worry.
    “When is the earl arriving at Queen’s Malvern , Velvet?”
    “His letter only said he would arrive within a few weeks’ time, my lord. It did not give a date. Most thoughtless.”
    “Well, I do not imagine it will be within the next day or so, little sister, so you are quite welcome at Blackthorn Priory for the queen’s visit. It will do Deirdre good to have you with us.” He turned his attention back to his wife. “Come, my dear, I want you to rest before we must greet our royal guest. I have personally inspected all of your arrangements and, as always, Deirdre, everything is perfection. You are a fine wife.”
    “You see!” Velvet crowed with delight. “Did I not tell you, silly goose?”
    Deirdre blushed with pleasure at her husband’s words, then said to her younger sister, “Send one of the grooms to Queen’s Malvern to bring back proper clothes for you, Velvet.” She stood up heavily, her seventh month of pregnancy weighing upon her. “I think I shall rest, John.”
    He escorted her from the room, and Velvet, after writing a hasty note to Dame Cecily, dispatched it with a Blackthorn groom. She then sat down to gloat quietly. She felt no remorse at using her sister to gain her way in this matter. Someone had to take the situation in hand, and her Uncle Conn was obviously not about to do so. Despite her logical protests against this marriage, she sensed she would still find herself wed to the arrogant-sounding Earl of BrocCairn before her parents returned from their voyage, by which time it