Silence And Shadows Collection

Chapter 3-3

cara mia‘I can stay until tomorrow if you wish it.’

I smiled. ‘I wish it very much. You’ll not be missed at court?’

‘Mary Warnock will say I have gone to one of Katherine Sheldon’s natural philosophy salons. Her house is some distance from mine, so no one will question my absence as I often remain overnight.’

I tilted my head and she seemed to read my doubt.

‘There is indeed a salon this evening and she will say I was there if called upon to do so.

Her events are mostly attended by women now the men prefer the atmosphere at the Royal Society. And women are not made welcome there.’

‘You have an interest in natural philosophy?’ This again did not fit with my father’s appraisal of her. He had wanted me to inveigle my way into the Duchess of Portsmouth’s circle – she was known to spend wildly on jewellery – though Frances chose me first. He described her as uneducated and rather silly. I had already established neither was the case. Once more, she appeared to read my mind.

‘I came to Whitehall Palace when I was but sixteen. Before then I’d been at the French court. I was – or looked to be – a pretty, empty-headed child. I am, of course no longer that. Nor was I then, entirely, for I lived upon my wits. And all I had to trade were my face and my maidenhead.’ She smiled. ‘Both of which are no longer current assets.’

I kissed her then, taking my time. ‘Well, it seems unlikely you’d be here with me now, should that be so.’

She touched my cheek. ‘I think perhaps you don’t quite see yourself as others do.’ She gave me a searching look. ‘At one time in my life I was rather unpleasantly vain, I believe.’ She moved her fingers to her own face. ‘Perhaps God began to find me a little tiresome?’

After our second glass of wine, I summoned Giuseppe to serve us. ‘Refined peasant food, in truth.’ I shrugged. ‘Not your usual fare, I’m sure.’ Ribollita soup. Arista pork. Schiacciata flatbread and various vegetable and fruit dishes done in the Tuscan style. All were new to her. And, once again, I enjoyed seeing her appetite.

By the time I led her up the second staircase to my bedchamber we were both well fed and at ease with each other. I had instructed Giuseppe to leave a jug of wine and two glasses, and I poured for us, draining mine while she took but a few sips. The room gleamed with light reflecting off the gilded furniture – shipped from Florence like all the rest, yet it probably seemed restrained compared with such at court – so I snuffed a few candles to soften it a little. We undressed each other tenderly before the fire bathed in its soft glow, though removing male attire was extremely disconcerting, both familiar and almost transgressively unfamiliar. When she stood before me n***d, I saw how very tiny she was. I cupped her breast, heavy for such a slight frame, feeling a touch afraid I might hurt her.

She placed her palm on my face. ‘I won’t break, Raphael.’

I smiled. How had she read my thoughts yet again? Then I carried her to my bed, where we were soon enjoying each other with no little relish. That she wished me to finish inside her proved an unexpected addition to my pleasure. I blocked a sudden memory of the last time, recoiling from it. Valentina. Cristo. I took a breath, forcing my mind away. ‘You’re well practiced in the act of love, I think.’

Cristo‘As are you, my dear.’

When I felt her chuckle pressed close against me, I raised myself on an elbow to look down at her, smiling. ‘What amuses you, carissima?’

carissima‘I think, perhaps, you have enjoyed an added satisfaction this evening?’

‘It was that obvious? You know why I choose to–’

She put a finger on my lips. ‘I do. I’ve never had a child and hold out little hope of it now, yet it saddens me more than I can say. I’ve had a husband and lovers, one a rather prolific father, no?’ She shook her head. ‘I fear I share the fate of his poor sweet wife. Though she occasionally gets them and cannot keep them whereas I, it seems, cannot get them at all.’

I stroked her hair back to kiss her forehead. ‘I’m sorry it saddens you. It is ironic, because the King didn’t get you with child many thought you were not his lover.’

‘I never was before my marriage and then when I eloped with Richmond.’ She raised her eyebrows. ‘After Castlemaine had found us together in my bed – you can imagine her delight –and that I had chosen his distant cousin vexed him all the more, he banished us.’

How extraordinary she should have held him at bay for so long. My father had been disinclined to believe it. Questioning what other hold she could have had over him. Novelty, I now speculated. The novelty of being refused and the delicious anticipation of having her yield. ‘So, you were reconciled only after your husband’s death?’

She ran her hand down my chest. ‘No, he came to me when I became ill. He was very much afraid I might die and when I did not, he brought us back to court … and I have been there ever since. He posted Richmond to Scotland and then to Denmark. When he died there, I found myself facing destitution.’ She smiled. ‘He was rather too fond of the card tables … and strong drink. But he was also extremely fond of me, so I could forgive him those things. The King came to my rescue once again, and most generously, with a good pension and allowed me to keep Richmond House.’ She sighed. ‘Though he settled the dukedom elsewhere last year for there had been no heir, of course. Louise’s Charles. His youngest son.’

Her hand began to roam further until it came to rest tantalisingly upon my thigh, whilst I took in what she had told me.

‘He came to my bed for the first time when he brought me back.’

Later, after events had once again taken their course, and her head rested on my chest, there was another question I could not resist asking her. ‘Did he please you then? The King? Does he still?’

She laughed and moved to lie on her side, facing me. ‘Yes, and yes. Who would expect otherwise? He is much practiced, after all. What people do not understand about him is that he likes women and enjoys their pleasure. As do you, Raphael. Believe me there are many who do not. Even some who think avoiding pleasuring a woman prevents a child. And also saves them the trouble of doing so, of course.’

I had heard of this from men I knew to have sired bastards. ‘Si. Then when the child arrives, they blame the woman for pleasuring herself to make it.’

SiShe snorted laughter. ‘Then she will have fared better than under such a man’s ministrations, I have no doubt.’

I moved down kissing her salty skin, parting her legs to kiss the moist inside of her thigh, making her moan and shift until my lips were where she desired them to be. ‘But how will you fare under mine, Duchessa?’

Duchessa

The next morning after breakfast taken at the table in my chamber, followed by an enjoyable return to my bed, I took her down to my workshop via a short flight of stairs at the back of the house, while the apprentices were down in the kitchens for their midmorning small beer and bread. I nodded at Giuseppe to remove her finished pieces from the strong room. Once again, he maintained his servile demeaner, eyes lowered, as he laid them out on the black velvet runner. However, when Frances’s attention was fully engaged perusing the new settings, he looked up at me grinning and made an obscene gesture with his forearm. I could not prevent my lips from twitching in response, even though it would serve only to encourage him.

‘Raphael, I have no words. These are your best yet. I do so admire your botanical designs. Others are beginning to take it up, you know.’ She shook her head, still gazing at the diamond necklace. ‘There are tiny flames burning within them.’

‘I’ve cut many additional facets, as you see.’ I had set the stones in a pattern of small flowers. And how could I not be flattered that my designs were already being copied?

‘You are truly a magician.’ She lifted the necklace to the light once more, before removing her white lace cravat and opening the neck of her shirt. ‘Fasten it for me, would you? I shall wear it home.’

I did as asked while she fitted the ring onto the middle finger of her right hand, admiring it as she did so. ‘I’ll see you safe back.’ I retied her cravat.

‘The rest hidden beneath your clothing, perhaps?’ She quickly concealed the pendent earrings down the front of her shirt.

Giuseppe made a throaty noise that sounded just as obscene as his earlier gesture had looked. I jerked my head indicating he should make himself scarce. Though Frances covered her mouth, her eyes were full of laughter. ‘Have the coach brought out,’ I called after him.

‘I shall not refuse you, my dear.’ She looked out at the cold sky. ‘I feel sure it will be warmer than a hackney.’

I shrugged. ‘Well, I am Florentino.’

FlorentinoOnce outside walking with her to my carriage, the frigid wind was again much in evidence, carrying grains of ice to sting my face like blowing sand, making me wish only to turn back. Perhaps it should have been a warning?