Letter of love
"Your mother was a willful little jade," the queen said, thumping her fist upon the magnificently carved desk. "Some maggot in her brain made her throwaway her position of maid of honor by making that disastrous marriage with a common spy, rather than accept the union I had arranged for her with the Earl of Devon. Even the flamboyant name she chose for you flaunted convention."
Kagome Highurashi stood silently before Elizabeth, thinking the queen looked like a corpse that had been resurrected. How she hated this bitch of a woman! Well, if Bess thought her mother has been willful, she would soon learn that Kagome was even more headstrong.
Bess's red wig screamed its false-ness to the world, making Kagome wonder of her own raven-colored tresses had triggered this tirade against her mother. The queen was dressed in silver gauze, slashed with red taffeta. Pearls and rubies studded the lining of the high collared gown. In contrast, Kagome wore one off the queen's cast offs in dark burgundy velvet.
"Before you follow in your mothers footsteps, I have made arrangements for you to marry into that same noble family." The queen's expression altered for the worse as she smiled. "The husband I have chosen for you is Lord Maru Tashio. So you see I hold no grudge against your mother, who was after all my dear friend at one time."
So the rumor that Kagome had heard had been true! Kagome had lowered her eyes so the queen did not see the rebellion in her eyes. She curtsied, "thank you, Your Majesty." she said sweetly, trying not to recoil as Bess presented her be-ringed, bony fingers for Kagomes kiss of homage and gratitude.
"Lord Maru is without. I think it is time you two met each other."
Kagome's lashes flew up to reveal shocked surprise in her emerald eyes. As if by magic the anteroom door swung open to admit the broad-shouldered Earl of Devon. She was trapped.
His cold golden eyes swept her from head to toe before he gave his complete attention to the queen. "Maru!" Elizabeth greeted him intimately. Her voice was the only thing that was still beautiful about her.
He was one of the queen's gentle-men, and élite corps of royal bodyguards, and clearly in the inner circle of the courts charmed ring. "Your Majesty...Bess," he replied in a tone equally as intimate as hers.
Kagome watched the byplay between the again monarch and her arrogant courtier with distaste. With both hands Elizabeth opened the front of her gown as if she were too hot, so that the whole of her bosom was visible! Finally the queen tore her eyes from the powerful make before her.
"Mistress Higurashi, I present Lord Maru Tashio, Earl of Devon, who has graciously agreed to become your husband. I hope you realize the enormous honor he does you, for though your grandfather is a baron, his estate is much diminished and your mother's marriage to a commoner made you plain Mistress Higurashi."
Kagomes chin went up
"mistress Higurashi could never be 'plain,' Your Majesty." Tashio asserted.
The queen's fan tapped Kagome on the breast in a signal of dismissal and perhaps jealousy. "This marriage will unite two great shipping families, which will benefit not only yourselves, but England as-well. I trust you are mindful of this great honor, mistress."
Kagome curtsied once more, and then withdrew from the Queen's Presence Chamber, her back as stiff and a ramrod.
Maru Tashio's lips twitched with secret amusement as he followed the curvaceous beauty out into the formal gardens for Hampton court palace.
"A stroll through the maze, perhaps?" the deep voice behind her suggested.
Kagome spun about, hands on hips. "My lord, I beg you not to sacrifice yourself upon a commoner." her voice dripped with sweet sarcasm.
"Your blood is good enough, I warrant." he drawled lazily.
"I have no doubt of it." she said coldly, "but since a Tashio was not good enough for my mother, a Tashio certainly isn't good enough for me, sir!"
His silver brows drew closer together and his jaw clenched as he suppressed his anger at the insult. Like mother, like daughter. Jane Higurashi had spurned his father, so Kagome would refuse him. "Your mother created a fine scandal when she founded the queen's wishes. Surely you are not so reckless, Mistress Higurashi?" He said, matching her tone.
"That was the last insult I shall ever suffer from you about my mother!" she screamed. "Must she be condemned forever?"
"I am happy that she did not wed my father... that would make us brother and sister, which might have tempted me to incest."
Kagome said coldly, "You may be an earl, sir, but you are certainly no gentle-men."
"My reputation precedes me." he mocked.
Kagome had not realized how close they had become to each other, she could feel the heat coming off of him, and the cologne he wore was making feel like she needed to sneeze. She nodded stiffly, "And your presence offends me. I prithee, begone."
"I don't dismiss so easily," he said, taking her arm in a vise-like grip before she could escape. "Stop this nonsense, mistress. The queen wishes this match and has arranged for the marriage to take place while I am on leave from Ireland."
"Remove your hand from my person, sir, before I stab it with my bodkin." her voice almost froze him.
Before Maru Tashio had come to the garden, he had been indifferent about the queen's choice of bride for him; that it pleased the queen was enough. He was indifferent no longer. The wench was an instant challenge. He decided to have the little bitch at any price.
"You are an ice queen in need of a damn good thawing." he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Thoroughly.
Kagome forced herself to remain passive until he loosened his hold; then she drew back her hand and slapped him full in the face. "You arrogant swine!" she hissed.
Maru was amazed again. It was the first time he'd ever been slapped before he had his hand beneath a woman's skirt.
She fought back her retort that she would not marry him because she wanted another. No one must learn of Anthony Russell, a fellow spy of her father's who had been wooing her for almost a year. Her mind darted about like quicksilver. She must contact Tony; they would have to elope. He'd been pressing her to it for months, and now she wished she had listened.
The autumn wind suddenly rustled the fallen leaves amidst the Michaela's daisies. Kagome's lashes swept her cheeks. She shuddered. "Let me go, my lord, I'm cold."
"So I've already discovered," he taunted.
Her lashes lifted, and he felt the full impact of blazing green. His mouth curved into a seductive smile as he gazed at her dress. "Burgundy should be warmed by the hands before being tasted," he said softly, freeing her wrists, but enjoying the flush upon her cheek before she fled.
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"Whatever's amiss, my lamb?" asked Kagome's waiting woman.
"Oh, Nan, the queen has finally tallied the bill for my education."
"And the price is marriage, as we suspected?"
"Aye. She is determined to wed me to Tashio, just as she had to my mother."
"Only this time she won't be thwarted," warned Nan.
"Oh but she will!" Kagome vowed. "Tomorrow we will go into the city. I have a notion to see a play."
Evert fortnight they went into London to john Bedford's townhouse. Her father was usually off on business, but the house was convenient for shopping and visiting the Globe Theater. It was at her father's house where she had first met Tony, and Nan knew they often visited the playhouse together. Kagome penned a note and summoned a page to dispatch it. Nan fervently hoped she wasn't planning anything foolish.
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Nan was thankful that Kagome had chosen a warmer clock for the wherry ride on the Thames. Winter was just around the corner.
When they arrived at the townhouse, Kagome donned her mask and went off to see a performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor. A delicious ironic choice, under the circumstance!
When Anthony slid into the seat beside her in the gallery, Kagome slid her hand into his. When he squeezed it, her mouth curved sweetly behind the mask. She was happy she knew he was in London. Her attention was all taken up by his whispering in her ear, and the player's antics, so it wasn't until the interval between acts that she looked across the gallery, to see Maru Tashio. She stiffened, then, remembering she wore a mask, forced herself to relax.
Maru Tashio was squiring Kikio Deveron, whose scandalous reputation forbade her attendance at court. The voluptuous raven, though heavily painted and patched, was incredibly attractive and rumored most wanted by nature. Beneath her mask, Kagomes mouth turned prim. It was like women like that who gave playhouses a bad name and caused the Puritans to call them little better than brothels exhibiting bawdy fables. The profligate earl's marriage would obviously not interfere with his mistresses. Kagome thought with distaste. When she realized she had missed most of the last act, Kagome whispered to Tony, "I want you to come back with me for diner; I have some new that we need to speak about."
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Alright, I am writing the next chapter as you read this
Please review.
Kaspier.