and Aidan considered their daughter too young to be allowed to return to her late husband’s home by herself, and even if she had a proper chaperone, the truth of the matter was that there was even less for Valentina to do at Hill Court than at Pearroc Royal.
“Send her to court,” said Skye O’Malley de Marisco when her brother confided his concerns to his elder sister during the families’ shared Christmas celebration. “I am surprised that you and Aidan haven’t thought of that. Both Anne and Bevin have spent time serving the queen. All of the women in our family have, except for those who are too young and Valentina. Court is the perfect place for her right now.”
“You have not been to court in years,” said Conn. “It is not like it used to be.”
“Because I am still banned from Bess’s presence does not mean I do not know what goes on at court.” Skye smiled archly. She had just celebrated her sixtieth birthday, yet seen from a distance, many took her for a far younger woman. She stood straight and her lustrous hair was still dark but for a narrow pair of silver wings on either side of her head, just above her ears. Her Kerry-blue eyes had not faded and, as always, her gaze was direct.
“Valentina has never wanted to go to court,” Conn replied. “She has always preferred living in the country. She is much like Aidan in temperament.”
“With a generous amount of O’Malley stubbornness,” was the tart reply. “Listen to me, Conn. Valentina cannot make a judgment without having spent some time at court. Granted, it is not as exciting as it was in our day. Bess is almost seventy, and already the sharks are circling her. Although she will not confirm the succession for fear of being deposed because of her age, James Stewart will eventually be England’s king. In the meantime, the glorious days of our youth are long past, brother mine.
“Valentina must, of course, go to court. To live in Bess Tudor’s time and not know her would be criminal. My niece is simply shy, as Aidan once was. Had old Lord Bliss not died when he did and left Aidan in the queen’s care, it is doubtful she would ever have left her beloved Pearroc Royal at all. Then you would not have found each other, dearest Conn. Think what happiness would have been lost to you. Think on it very carefully. Valentina should think on it, too. Perhaps it is at court that her true love awaits her. Unless she goes, she may never find him.”
Lord and Lady Bliss did not wait long to broach the subject with their widowed daughter. To their great surprise she agreed with her Aunt Skye. She had refused a stay at court when she was younger, but her situation was far different now. Remaining at home was gaining her nothing. Marrying Edward Barrows had brought her no happiness. She would journey to court and see if her fortune lay there.
Immediately the house was thrown into an uproar as Lady Barrows’s trunks and boxes were made ready. Aidan’s elderly tiring woman, Mag Feeney, took charge of the packing.
“Did I not spend time at court with my lady before she wed himself?” she demanded of the other servants with just the vaguest hint of superiority. “I know what is needed at court.”
Lady de Marisco’s tiring woman, Daisy Kelly, rode over from Queen’s Malvern to help. She was far more experienced in the ways of court than was the elderly Mag, for Skye O’Malley de Marisco spent a great deal of time in the queen’s service. Without offending the prickly Mag, she aided her, and her help was much appreciated, for it was rare that old Mag left her bed these days, being greatly crippled in her joints.
Lady Barrows’s gowns, underclothing, night garments, furs and cloaks, jewelry, and bedding were all carefully packed. There was a small oak tub for bathing that was packed along with Valentina’s down pillows. She would have her own coach and driver, and horses both for the carriage and for riding. She was to be introduced into
“Send her to court,” said Skye O’Malley de Marisco when her brother confided his concerns to his elder sister during the families’ shared Christmas celebration. “I am surprised that you and Aidan haven’t thought of that. Both Anne and Bevin have spent time serving the queen. All of the women in our family have, except for those who are too young and Valentina. Court is the perfect place for her right now.”
“You have not been to court in years,” said Conn. “It is not like it used to be.”
“Because I am still banned from Bess’s presence does not mean I do not know what goes on at court.” Skye smiled archly. She had just celebrated her sixtieth birthday, yet seen from a distance, many took her for a far younger woman. She stood straight and her lustrous hair was still dark but for a narrow pair of silver wings on either side of her head, just above her ears. Her Kerry-blue eyes had not faded and, as always, her gaze was direct.
“Valentina has never wanted to go to court,” Conn replied. “She has always preferred living in the country. She is much like Aidan in temperament.”
“With a generous amount of O’Malley stubbornness,” was the tart reply. “Listen to me, Conn. Valentina cannot make a judgment without having spent some time at court. Granted, it is not as exciting as it was in our day. Bess is almost seventy, and already the sharks are circling her. Although she will not confirm the succession for fear of being deposed because of her age, James Stewart will eventually be England’s king. In the meantime, the glorious days of our youth are long past, brother mine.
“Valentina must, of course, go to court. To live in Bess Tudor’s time and not know her would be criminal. My niece is simply shy, as Aidan once was. Had old Lord Bliss not died when he did and left Aidan in the queen’s care, it is doubtful she would ever have left her beloved Pearroc Royal at all. Then you would not have found each other, dearest Conn. Think what happiness would have been lost to you. Think on it very carefully. Valentina should think on it, too. Perhaps it is at court that her true love awaits her. Unless she goes, she may never find him.”
Lord and Lady Bliss did not wait long to broach the subject with their widowed daughter. To their great surprise she agreed with her Aunt Skye. She had refused a stay at court when she was younger, but her situation was far different now. Remaining at home was gaining her nothing. Marrying Edward Barrows had brought her no happiness. She would journey to court and see if her fortune lay there.
Immediately the house was thrown into an uproar as Lady Barrows’s trunks and boxes were made ready. Aidan’s elderly tiring woman, Mag Feeney, took charge of the packing.
“Did I not spend time at court with my lady before she wed himself?” she demanded of the other servants with just the vaguest hint of superiority. “I know what is needed at court.”
Lady de Marisco’s tiring woman, Daisy Kelly, rode over from Queen’s Malvern to help. She was far more experienced in the ways of court than was the elderly Mag, for Skye O’Malley de Marisco spent a great deal of time in the queen’s service. Without offending the prickly Mag, she aided her, and her help was much appreciated, for it was rare that old Mag left her bed these days, being greatly crippled in her joints.
Lady Barrows’s gowns, underclothing, night garments, furs and cloaks, jewelry, and bedding were all carefully packed. There was a small oak tub for bathing that was packed along with Valentina’s down pillows. She would have her own coach and driver, and horses both for the carriage and for riding. She was to be introduced into
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