Read Online Thy Name Is Love (The Yorkist Saga) by Diana Rubino - Free Book Online
Authors: Diana Rubino
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seemed a lifetime
ago: to give her marriage and Valentine a real chance for all
their sakes.
CHAPTER TEN
At the break of dawn the next morning, Denys mounted Chera and
rode the few miles down the road to Middleham to see Anne.
Though she was bedridden and barely able to hold her head up, Anne
was delighted to see Denys. Her frightful paleness brightened to a
dreary pink when Denys entered the bedchamber.
Denys grasped Anne's hands. They were cold and limp. She looked
thinner than last time they had seen each other. Her hair fell in
a tangle around her slumped shoulders. Denys gently arranged the
pillows about her, and reached for her hair brush to tend to the
chore with the utmost gentleness.
"You appear to be faring quite well, Anne, considering your
misfortune. I am terribly sorry, as is Valentine. I stopped in the
chapel and said a prayer for the dear babe's soul."
"Thank you ever so much, Dove. But I shall try again. I am ever so
eager to give Richard a son! Even a lass, he said, would suffice,
as long as we were both healthy."
"That is very kind of him, indeed." She looked away, bursting to
spew forth a stern reprimand, to insist that she never try for any
more children, for it would surely kill her.
"What of you, Dove? Have you any reason to believe you are
breeding as of yet?"
"Nay, not a chance," she said with a shake of her head.
At her friend's startled look, she added hastily, "My monthly has
just come upon me." Anne was her dearest friend in the world, but
she did not care to discuss her unconsummated marriage, especially
not at a time like this.
"Then all the more kind of you to come visit—"
"Think nothing of it," she said, blushing with shame at the lie.
"I pray it will happen soon for you, Dove."
Denys gave a smile almost as wan as her friend's, but found
herself praying for it, too.
They talked for a time about Anne and Richard's lives, as busy as
her own, but with the two working in accord, not always at odds
with each other.
As Anne spoke, Denys felt envious of her friend despite her sad
loss of the babe she had pinned such hopes on. Anne and Richard's
lives were so knit, a babe could only add to their joy.
With Denys and Valentine, they were so far apart, she doubted a
mere infant could ever bond them, even were they ever to manage to
be in the same room long enough to try to create one.
She blushed again at that thought, and changed the subject to that
of her wedding feast, and how grateful she had been for the loan
of the gown.
"I felt like such a princess, had such a lovely surprise when I
got to my new home, just as you said—" Denys found herself
rattling on, trying to make sure her friend did not brood.
"We were delighted to help. I'm only sorry you had no family
willing to do as much for you, dear Dove. But as I said, we are
sisters now."
Anne asked Denys about her family search, and Denys vented her
frustration, thankful for having someone to listen to whom she
could trust. Anne might tell Richard, of course, but she doubted
she would now that she knew she was so suspicious of Valentine. So
she told her of all the different avenues of inquiry she was
exploring, and Anne's dark eyes were bright with interest, even if
her face was pale.
But she did not want to tire out her friend too much, so she
suggested she leave her to rest and come back later.
"Later?"
"Aye, I can stay if you'd like—"
But Anne shook her head. "It's very kind of you, but Valentine
needs his wife at home."
At that, Denys offered to stay for a few days to help her with
whatever she needed as she travelled the long road to recovery,
but Anne shook her head.
"Nay, you are a great lady now, with many duties. I could not be
so selfish as to accept your kind offer."
"It is I who have been selfish, letting so long pass before coming
to visit."
Anne shook her head gently. "You were doing as you promised,
giving
ago: to give her marriage and Valentine a real chance for all
their sakes.
CHAPTER TEN
At the break of dawn the next morning, Denys mounted Chera and
rode the few miles down the road to Middleham to see Anne.
Though she was bedridden and barely able to hold her head up, Anne
was delighted to see Denys. Her frightful paleness brightened to a
dreary pink when Denys entered the bedchamber.
Denys grasped Anne's hands. They were cold and limp. She looked
thinner than last time they had seen each other. Her hair fell in
a tangle around her slumped shoulders. Denys gently arranged the
pillows about her, and reached for her hair brush to tend to the
chore with the utmost gentleness.
"You appear to be faring quite well, Anne, considering your
misfortune. I am terribly sorry, as is Valentine. I stopped in the
chapel and said a prayer for the dear babe's soul."
"Thank you ever so much, Dove. But I shall try again. I am ever so
eager to give Richard a son! Even a lass, he said, would suffice,
as long as we were both healthy."
"That is very kind of him, indeed." She looked away, bursting to
spew forth a stern reprimand, to insist that she never try for any
more children, for it would surely kill her.
"What of you, Dove? Have you any reason to believe you are
breeding as of yet?"
"Nay, not a chance," she said with a shake of her head.
At her friend's startled look, she added hastily, "My monthly has
just come upon me." Anne was her dearest friend in the world, but
she did not care to discuss her unconsummated marriage, especially
not at a time like this.
"Then all the more kind of you to come visit—"
"Think nothing of it," she said, blushing with shame at the lie.
"I pray it will happen soon for you, Dove."
Denys gave a smile almost as wan as her friend's, but found
herself praying for it, too.
They talked for a time about Anne and Richard's lives, as busy as
her own, but with the two working in accord, not always at odds
with each other.
As Anne spoke, Denys felt envious of her friend despite her sad
loss of the babe she had pinned such hopes on. Anne and Richard's
lives were so knit, a babe could only add to their joy.
With Denys and Valentine, they were so far apart, she doubted a
mere infant could ever bond them, even were they ever to manage to
be in the same room long enough to try to create one.
She blushed again at that thought, and changed the subject to that
of her wedding feast, and how grateful she had been for the loan
of the gown.
"I felt like such a princess, had such a lovely surprise when I
got to my new home, just as you said—" Denys found herself
rattling on, trying to make sure her friend did not brood.
"We were delighted to help. I'm only sorry you had no family
willing to do as much for you, dear Dove. But as I said, we are
sisters now."
Anne asked Denys about her family search, and Denys vented her
frustration, thankful for having someone to listen to whom she
could trust. Anne might tell Richard, of course, but she doubted
she would now that she knew she was so suspicious of Valentine. So
she told her of all the different avenues of inquiry she was
exploring, and Anne's dark eyes were bright with interest, even if
her face was pale.
But she did not want to tire out her friend too much, so she
suggested she leave her to rest and come back later.
"Later?"
"Aye, I can stay if you'd like—"
But Anne shook her head. "It's very kind of you, but Valentine
needs his wife at home."
At that, Denys offered to stay for a few days to help her with
whatever she needed as she travelled the long road to recovery,
but Anne shook her head.
"Nay, you are a great lady now, with many duties. I could not be
so selfish as to accept your kind offer."
"It is I who have been selfish, letting so long pass before coming
to visit."
Anne shook her head gently. "You were doing as you promised,
giving
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