Page 192

“Aye, yesterday,” Paris replied, then looked up at his friend. “Why is it that everything always happens at once? I am growing old before my time.”

“You were already old,” Kieran said, scratching at his neck and grunting wearily. “Now, then, I am going to find the priest and have him marry Jemma and I before I leave. I shall be in her bedchamber should you need me.”

“Aye,” Paris replied. As Kieran headed for the door, Paris called out to him. “Welcome back, Kieran.”

Kieran grinned weakly. “Thank you, I think,” he said, quitting the room.

Jordan was ready to leave by early afternoon. With help from her maids she had packed her clothes, including surcoats for after the birth of the baby, all of the baby clothes she had made, and a few clothes for William. She didn’t know why she packed his things, but she did. Mayhap it was for some measure of comfort, however small.

Sylvie was beside herself. She followed Jordan about as she packed, raving and pleading with her not to go to London. When she resorted to begging, Jordan had enough of the whimpering and chased her away. She was so grimly resolute to see William that she would have walked through God himself to get to him.

Sylvie left her mistress, but not before she laid into Paris. Paris listened calmly enough, agreeing with the woman but pointing out that unless they were going to physically restrain the countess, there was no way to keep her from going.

Jordan was so busy packing that she missed Jemma’s wedding. In fact, she wasn’t even told of it until Analiese came spilling into her rooms and blurted it out. There was quite a bit of excitement coming from Analiese. Then, she saw Jordan’s trunks and bags and her chatter turned to questions.

Jordan was tired of pretenses and lying. Since the earl was dead and she was going to London, there was no reason to lie anymore. Especially to Analiese. The woman had become her trusted friend.

“I am going to London to see William,” Jordan said firmly.

Analiese was shocked and puzzled. “But why? Of course, I realize he is near death, but why is it so necessary for you to go to him?”

Jordan swallowed hard, trying not to lose her nerve. “Because…because I dinna marry your father as ye thought, Analiese.”

Analiese’s eyes widened. “What are you talking about? I was there, Jordan, and witnessed everything.”

“What you witnessed was a grand blessing, not a wedding mass,” she said, as she tugged on her friend’s hand and directed her into a chair. She held her hands tightly, gazing into that pale and average face. “William and I loved each other from nearly the day we met. Yer father discovered this secret and arranged for us to be wed, in secret. We were wed the day before the king arrived, and the ceremony ye witnessed was nothing more than a farce.” Her face softened as she gazed at Analiese’s stunned expression. “I am sorry I have never told ye until now. I was afraid to, knowing how ye felt about William.”

Analiese swallowed hard, desperately trying to comprehend what she was being told. “You didn’t trust me?”

“Of course I trust ye.” Jordan insisted. “This has nothing to do with trust. ’Tis just…I knew that ye loved William and I dinna want ye hating me, ’tis all.”

Analiese sat a moment, contemplating everything. Aye, she had loved William once and supposed in some way, she always would. But that was past and she squared her shoulders firmly.

“I was always very fond of William, but he is beneath my station and therefore it was a waste of time to dream of what could never be.” She forced herself to smile and took Jordan’s hand. “Then this child is his, not my father’s?”

Jordan nodded. “Aye,” she peered closer at her friend. “Are ye angry with me?”

Analiese shook her head and rose from the chair. “Never. I am truly happy that you and William have found happiness. You know, I always thought there might be something between you two, as much as you attempted to deny it. But I guess I never really believed it until now.” Her plain face washed with concern. “Oh, Jordan, I am so sorry he’s ill. Of course you must go to him.”

The focus has shifted from Analiese back to Jordan and she felt her pain blossoming again. How fortunate that Analiese took the news so well, for she truly didn’t think she was emotionally strong enough to fend off a tirade.

“Alexander doesna know about William and me, but Adam does,” she said softly, fixing Analiese with a sincere stare. “Alexander mustna know.”

“He will not hear it from me,” Analiese said firmly.

In fact, she had ceased speaking to her brother altogether some time back. He had become distant and odd, a bitter shell of a man who was self-centered and mean. She used to be able to communicate with him better than anyone, but no longer. Oddly enough, she didn’t particularly regret it.

Moving her thoughts away from her churlish brother, she noticed Jordan’s trunks. “What can I help you with?” she said. “It appears as if you are mostly packed.”

Relieved and weary, Jordan turned her attention back to her baggage and Analiese helped Jordan finish packing. When she was finished, she did something remarkable; she asked to accompany her to London in Jemma’s stead. Jordan was more than glad to have her go, relieved beyond words that they were still friends in spite of the great falsehood between them. It proved that their relationship was indeed more than superficial.

Byron joined them not an hour later, carrying a larger than usual black bag. Jordan looked at him curiously.

“Where are ye going with that thing?” she asked.

“With you, my lady,” he replied, planting himself in a chair. “Sylvie must stay here with Jemma, and I must go with you. Besides, there is no telling what that charlatan, who calls himself the king’s physician, has done to The Wolf. I will probably have to lift spells and bleed him to make him well again.”

Jordan smiled a little, tremendously grateful to have Byron accompanying her. It seemed her traveling party was growing by the hour, with everyone afraid to let her go, and they were determined to do everything in their power to force her not to exert herself.