Thy Name Is Love (The Yorkist Saga) by Diana Rubino Read Free Book Online Page A

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     faded. It was her last vestige of her Yorkshire years, the only
     chapter in her life when she'd felt wanted, had felt as if she
     truly belonged.

Gliding off her wedding raiment, and laying it carefully in the
     empty coffer under the window until she could return it to Anne,
     she slid the nightdress over her head and inhaled deeply of its
     old but familiar scent.

Then she climbed into the big empty bed. The feathery mattress
     enveloped her, and she realized it was the most comfortable bed
     she'd ever known.

She pulled the cover over her head and tried to leave her past
     behind. She rolled over with a sigh and closed her eyes. She would
     unpack her things later.

For now, she needed to mourn the past, and try to muster
     enthusiasm for her new life as Lady Starbury, which would begin at
     dawn on the morrow.

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

Denys had feared that the addition of a husband in her life would
     prove an onerous and oppressive cross to bear. In fact she soon
     found herself wishing for even the merest glimpse of his sparkling
     blue eyes as his duties to the realm took precedence even over
     their honeymoon, which should have been theirs to enjoy
     uninterrupted in accordance with tradition.

But her husband was the man of the hour in the North, and so
     Valentine's responsibilities as governor took him all over the
     shire. There were endless council meetings at Richard's official
     residence at Pomfret Castle, and trips to the surrounding towns to
     look in on his tenants, ascertain the profitability of their
     efforts, and settle disputes.

As a result Denys was left alone for weeks on end, and she soon
     felt heart sore at being so alone. She did go to visit Anne from
     time to time, but she always seemed so busy, so content, that
     Denys felt lonelier than ever once she returned to Lilleshal and
     found no one awaiting her there save her maid Mary.

Everyone in the household was kind and capable, however, so she
     tried to make the best of her new situation by carrying out the
     plans she had first made, gathering supplies and arranging to
     visit the poor villagers.

It brought her out from behind four walls, made her feel wanted,
     and she smiled through tears at the looks on their faces when she
     and her escort rode into an impoverished hamlet, handing out sacks
     of food and soft linen squares. They were a decadent luxury in
     themselves, but when wrapped around coins, they were like a gift
     from heaven.

The dialect was strange to her, but she could certainly make out
     the many thanks they shouted up to her, the angel on horseback.

Back at the castle, she also kept busy by overseeing the
     household, supervising the marshal as he aired the hall, freshened
     the rushes, and cleaned and beat the hangings. She assisted in
     helping the steward order and inventory supplies. She sat with the
     controller and balanced the accounts.

Denys even went into the kitchen to help prepare meals, startling
     the staff. One of her favorites was ‘Brawn in Comfyte,' a dish
     made by grinding boar meat in a mortar, mixing with almonds, then
     boiling with sugar and cloves. It was then thickened with cinnamon
     and ginger, and pressed into shape with a linen cloth.

She shocked everyone, from the steward down to the apprentice
     cooks, with her culinary skills. She loved trying variations on
     recipes and mixing different types of herbs, substituting mint for
     garlic or cinnamon for parsley.

Her ‘lampreys in galytyne,' a roast seafood dish made with
     powdered ginger, raisins and bread, became her specialty.

They grew peas, beans, cabbages in the castle garden hotbeds, and
     she was told that in the summer and autumn there would be apples
     and pears in the orchards near the castle. She had to make due
     with dried ones as the winter weather seemed to linger, but her
     sizable kitchen garden grew several spices and herbs, sheltered as
     it was, and with a canopy over it which could be pulled open