Chapter II
Raven
The ladies stood in the back of the dining room, near enough to the fire for Bess to feel lucky. A sickly feeling had struck upon her, going from too cold to too hot like she had could sometimes have that effect. But she stood still as a suit of armour, as if she wasn't there at all, concentrating on hiding her shivers, with head bowed and hands linked at her front like the other women. She could feel the heat of the flames licking away the dampness of her gown, but not quickly enough. She was well aware that the Lady Hertford had noticed and was praying that her husband did not swiftly follow.
The Lord Thomas Seymour drained his wine cup and Bess moved silently across the room, jug in hand, to refill it. The cold metal of the pouring bottle chinked against the rim of his cup, her trembling hands unable to stop it. Lord Thomas glanced up at the noise and the poor girl's heart dropped so far into her stomach she nearly retched. Bess was trapped in his eyes from a fraction of a second before bowing her head away and retreating. She kept her eyes on the ground as she retook her place beside the women, all too aware of the sudden silence that had overcome the room. Her heartbeat was in her ears.
"My Lady Hertford, I must say this new serving girl is most interesting."
Her back stiffened. Isabel's face inclined ever so slightly to look at her. Bess was so very pale, her fingertips shaking against the jug she held.
"I believe she was appointed only a few weeks past, so there is plenty of time for a dismissal before we depart back to London." The Lady's voice was curt. Bess could feel her eyes on her.
"Now, now, you mustn't be so unkind; the poor girl looks fit to faint." His voice was velvet, the sardonicism ripe and plump with practice.
Beneath his gaze the girl squirmed, almost imperceptibly. His stare drifted across her face and soaked her in. Those savage eyes so dark and wide and glassy. Her lips fell swollen and scarlet in a face reminiscent of many hungry winters; all angles and cheekbones. The iciness of her skin and her unruly raven-coloured curls did not make for courtly beauty, but for a wild and ethereal spirit. The kind that could only be found in the North.
Thomas felt a flash in his body, and in his mind they were rolling. Draped in sheets to hide her wantonness, but their cries of pleasure ran hard and high. The girl threw back her head; those plump lips open and moaned his name.
Then he was back in civilised company, the images buried deep in his skull, but his gaze remained on the maiden.
"Enough talk of servants, Thomas." It was the Earl of Hertford that spoke then. Ice and honey, the husk of metal and the sound of pleasure. In Bess's belly an ember kindled.
"Well said, my husband." Lady Hertford aimed her voice at Bess then. "You may leave us. Attend a fire in the study. I am sure my Lords will wish to retire there presently." Lord Thomas inclined his head politely at the Lady while her husband said nothing.
Bess steadied herself and slowly paced the length of the dining hall towards the doors. As she passed the Lord Hertford a firm grip caught her by the arm. The girl stumbled slightly, her eyes moving up against her will to meet his face at the sudden attack. The man fixed her with that awful, wonderful stare of his and then simply pulled the wine jug from her fingers and let her go.
As the wooden doors closed behind her Bess slapped a hand to her mouth, pressing down on her lips to stop the tingling. What vile creature was she? To feel such strange and burning urges towards another woman's husband. Bess shook her head violently and wrenched open the door to the study so roughly her arm jarred. She jumped a little with the sudden pain. When the doors were closed and she knew she was alone Bess rested her head against the wood and did everything in her power to banish those images from her mind.
But the heat. Oh, that dangerous heat.
She thrashed, spinning to stand with her back flush to one panelled wall. The crown of her head tilted backwards, teeth pulling on bottom lip. Behind closed eyelids his face appeared, burning eyes gazing into hers. Then their lips reached to brush each other's.
"Stop." She whispered ever so softly.
Don't stop.
"You must."
Give in to it. Give everything to it.
"No."
Blue-black eyes flew open. Straightening her bodice Bess loaded the fire grate with chopped wood and went about lighting it carefully. It took time to lay a good fire. Ones that's burned for hours without stopping had to be stacked like pyramids; the larger pieces forming a base for the smaller.
After some time the flames were jumping and Bess dared to wiggle her fingers close to it, tingles running through them as the tension dissolved. The warmth seeped up her arms into her chest stickily. The crofter's daughter paused and upon checking the room for signs of life unwound the twisting braid of her hair so that it could dry properly. A shower of coal black curls fell to her lower back as Bess released them from their bondage. An audible sigh escaping her mouth as her fingers raked through it, shaking it out. She arched her spine and the curls tumbled and rolled as if caught in the breeze.
"By all means do not let us interrupt you."
She whirled around, hands flying up to her chest in fright. Lord Thomas Seymour stood in the doorway, and Him. She curtsied so clumsily that the Lord Thomas snorted in derision. She wanted to die from humiliation. Her chest was heaving he noticed, perhaps from fear but he didn't mind. The way her breast strained against the neckline of her dress begged him to set them free.
"I- I apologise, milor- I mean my Lords. I-I'm sorry." She tumbled for the door, head bowed all the way, but Lord Thomas's arm reached out and stopped her.
"Come now, do not be so afraid." He leant close to face so she could feel his breath on her cheek. "I will not bite you."
Bess shrunk back against the wood as if wanting to dissolve into it. He brought two fingers under chin and forced her face up to his. Terrified blue-black eyes stared, monstrously large, into his. Her breaths could be heard in the silence of the room.
Thomas surveyed her carefully, turning her face from side to side in order to inspect it. "What a strange creature you are."
"Let me pass." He voice was quiet, but the words had slipped out in rebellion nonetheless. The Lord cocked an eyebrow. His face tilted and eyes narrowed slightly. Then pulled the door fully shut.
"A fierce little handmaiden then?" He asked her, dangerously quiet. Then turned to take a few swaggering strides towards the fire and the armchairs, the pressure on Bess's chin never relieving and forcing her to follow him. Lord Thomas slouched down in one of the seats and looked back up at her. "Where did you come from, girl? No serving maid with any experience would attend a supper sodden wet and dripping all over." Her shoulders were stiff. The man smirked knowingly. "Oh yes, we all took notice of that."
He was there. He was staring at her. Bess could feel his torturously cold eyes sinking into her side, and that feeling unfurled beneath her stomach once more. Stop looking at me.
"That is more than enough. We have business to discuss and it does not involve you harassing my Lady wife's staff." His husky silk voice sliced through the room. Bess blinked slowly, then bowed her head and hurried to the door.
"I am sure I will see you again, girl, I am most interested in your story." Her eyes fell on Thomas Seymour and his smug little smile and snapped the door closed to block out his face.
"I do not know what you were thinking of." The Lady of Hertford snapped once Bess stood before her in the women's chambers once more. She was swathed in an expensive linen nightgown that dipped low across her breast and even for bed the Lady wore jewels. It was strange. Bess wondered for a moment why. But then realised she would be going to him, to his bed. And Bess thought if she was going to spend nights with him, she would wear jewels too. If she had them, which she didn't. And she didn't have a husband like Lord Hertford either. The crofter's daughter felt a stab of jealously then, when she looked at the Lady. "Honestly, you may not have served a noble table before Bess but common sense should at least dictate some decorum. Needless to say arriving in wet, muddy clothes does not show sufficient respect to myself or my husband's household."
"I apologise my Lady, I have no excuses."
The Lady was staring at her, cold pupils probing into Bess's soul. "Why were you out in the rain, Bess?" Her voice was quiet but direct. And somehow it scared the young girl. "Answer me."
Bess glanced ever so slightly behind her to where the other women were standing. They were carefully storing away the Lady's garb and jewels. Lady Anne caught the movement and looked up to them. "Leave us."
They did. Then Bess was expected to continue. "Go on."
"I do not say this to get my fellow servants in trouble, my Lady, but Jane believed one of her trunks had not been sent to the chambers. She wished to wear her finest gown for this evening and since the other women needed time to redress their hair I went across the courtyard to ask about the trunk, as she requested." She curled her shoulders in a sort of half shrug. "It began to rain and I had no time to change when I got back to the chambers."
Lady Anne reclined. "And yet Mistress Jane was in fact wearing a fine dress for supper. She had time to change."
"She said that she was mistaken my Lady, the trunk was there all along."
"Ah," Her voice was quiet. "And you did not suspect that she was tricking you perhaps? In an attempt to make you look incompetent to me."
Bess turned enormous blue-black eyes on the other woman. They were not as young or naïve as Lady Anne would have expected. "Why would she bother? I'm sure I will prove that to you myself given time."
It took some time before she answered, but when she did her voice was calm and composed. "You know your duty well, Bess. Despite everything, you have impressed me this evening. Had I been in your stead, at your age, then I most likely would not have come to the supper. It took courage to embarrass yourself like that for sake of duty."
The corners of her mouth twitched into a shy smile. "I was sure that I had ruined everything."
"No, not yet." She twisted the pin in her ear absently. "Tell me this, why was Mistress Jane so invested in looking her best? Was it in order to entice my Lord husband, or his brother?"
She was suspicious by nature then it seemed. Bess was uncomfortable. "I do not know."
"Yes you do. I know how women talk; god knows I had my fill at court."
"She said they were handsome. I'm not sure of anything else."
Lady Anne nodded thoughtfully. "And you? Do you think my husband or his brother handsome?"
Bess was taken aback, she shifted awkwardly. "I..I.."
"You…you, what?" The tone was hard and icy as a winter stone then. "Do you find them handsome?"
"Yes, my Lady." She blurted. "I have never seen such elegant men before."
"Well, at least I have one honest servant then." Lady Anne nodded. Her eyes were calculating the situation neatly, a court politician at work. "Perhaps I will not need four maids when we leave."
Bess was unsure of what to say, if anything at all. She chewed on her bottom lip instead and watched the Lady of the house mull things over while she swilled wine around in her cup. "At least you are honest enough." Then she nodded, pursing her lips. "I think Mistress Jane and Mistress Elizabeth might be better kept here, and only yourself and Isabel attend me at court." Lady Anne lifted one sculptured eyebrow. "So long as you keep yourself honest that is."
The girl nodded nervously. "You may go then."
Bess curtsied and turned to leave. "And Bess?" The woman called. "Do try your best not to wander into my brother-in-law's bed chamber on your way back to your own."
The girl's back was stiff as she walked away, her long curls bouncing softly. Lady Anne watched her go, sipping wine silently and considering the strange new appointment to her household. She had witnessed with her own eyes how Thomas had fawned over her. That did not concern her more than a mere flicker of jealousy, but the thought that this girl may grow to enchant her husband? Well that did not sit well with her. It was not that she felt excessive love towards her Lord husband, only that Lady Anne had never been a generous child. She hated sharing her toys then, and she hated sharing them now.
She finished the wine and lay back to wait for her husband to come to her bed. Even if he did come to fancy Bess Crofter, or even take her as a mistress, it was Lady Anne that he came to as husband and wife. It was the children that they made together that were legitimate heirs to Edward's title and lands. It was she that he gave gems and finery to, and her that stood beside him in court for all of England to gaze upon.
Lady Anne cared little and less for the young girl with her northern face and skinny bird like body. She was almost a child, nothing to envy. Besides, she wagered that Bess would be too terrified to oblige her husband should he even ask. But something about the murky depths of those blue-black eyes and the endless, ethereal beauty they held captive made her doubtful that Edward would not notice her.
She was right of course. Edward Seymour missed nothing as he cast his icy eyes around a room. So, naturally, as he passed Bess in the halls- her leaving the Lady, him walking to her- his stare fell upon her briefly and soaked her in all the way through to her soul. She bowed her head deeply as she went past, her features shrouded with dark curls. They swayed along her back. The mud stained hem of her gown rustled as she walked, its fine fabric not betrayed by the poor condition of its appearance.
Edward looked splendid. Still in his dinner clothes, his rich hair clean and tousled, the man strode with such confidence Bess couldn't help but feel a twinge of something in her stomach. Perhaps it was self-consciousness because she had appeared so clumsy and awkward in the presence of a man with this level of grace.
Bess kept her head angled to the floor as she walked, with her fingers clasped together at the front of her skirts, hoping not to attract attention.
"You." He called out in cut tones. "Girl." She halted a few steps away from where their paths would have crossed and curtsied. Edward's face was blank and stony. "You have been here a short time and are so obviously unaware of how to behave in the household of an Earl. So let me make myself clear. Never again will you embarrass yourself in such a fashion at my table nor will you speak in such reckless defiance to mine own blood, do you understand?"
She dipped her head in acceptance silently and Edward continued. "Secondly, as a servant in my home certain duties are expected of you if required." Bess hesitantly flicked her eyes up to look at him.
Her lips moved before she could stop them. "What expectations do you speak of my Lord?"
He was like a statue. A carved man with the features expected of such a masterpiece. Edward's face tilted down towards hers, as if to torture her with his closeness. The ghost of a smirk settled on his mouth. "Sex, you foolish girl. A servant is expected to oblige her betters if they so choose."
Bess shrunk backwards from him but his hand flashed out and grasped her face tightly so she could not look away. "Does that prospect frighten you?" His breath whispered over her skin and the girl shivered under his touch. His teeth glittered in his cruel smile. "Do not think I did not notice you at supper. You blushed when my brother merely looked at you. He aroused you." Edward purred. "Like I arouse you now."
Her eyes could not stay on his face; the temptation was too great, because he would rat out the lies in her gaze. He would know then that his suspicions were correct. The man continued. "My brother wishes to have you." Her eyes finally flashed up to meet his and she struggled from his touch. Edward was too strong. As she writhed he caught her with a man's force and shoved her with one smooth movement backwards against the wall. Bess cried out and her flinches fell slackened. The Earl of Hertford held her throat in one hand, a simple threat that he could choke the life from her in moments. Blue-black eyes were wide with fright. Her hands rested heavily on his, ready to claw and fight should he strike.
"My brother wishes to have you." He repeated in a growl. "Will you indulge him?"
Bess's lips trembled. Finally she relented, shrinking back against the stone wall. Her eyes fell away. "I will.. do whatever you want."
"Yes," He answered with satisfaction. "You will." Cold eyes on her, Edward gave Bess's throat a little squeeze. It was playful in a harsh sort of way. He could feel the movement of her swallow beneath his grip. "But I do not want you fucking my brother- not here, not at court. He will chase you, be sure of that. Once he sets his sights of a woman Thomas can be an untirable lecher. You will not give yourself to him. Do you understand me, girl?"
The poor girl was shivering all over with tears starting to well in her dark eyes. She was almost breathless when she managed a shaky nod. Edward stepped back briskly. "Good."
Then the man turned from her and strode away down the corridor, Bess slid down the wall with one hand over her mouth to muffle a sob and the other around her neck where his touch still burned. Her eyes were closed so she did not see Edward Seymour glance back and smirk before entering his wife's chambers.
Lord Edward and Lady Anne decreed that the retinue of the Hertford household would depart for the court of King Henry VIII by the end of the week. Apparently Jane, Edward's sister, had been appointed to the service of Queen Anne Boleyn. The men of the Seymour family are treading carefully as the marriage between the King and Queen was fracturing before the eyes of the entire court. Jane could easily be next in line, as according to the gossip she had already captured the King's affections. A fabulous tourney has been arranged and Lady Anne insisted that the household reach court by this time in order to flaunt their new favour and power.
Bess, Jane, Isabel and Elizabeth were packing away all of Lady Hertford's clothes, jewels and headpieces into silk lined trunks for the journey. Bess was carefully laying each necklace into a flat pouch before stacking each one on top of each other into a jewellery box. Her fingertip traced the glittering surfaces of each precious gem.
One necklace was the most beautiful. It was laid gold with a heavy chain and a diamond the size of a duck egg hung from it. The perfectly cut facets shredding rainbow light when the sun caught it.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Isabel came and leaned over the arm of Bess's chair. "A wedding gift from the Earl to Lady Anne."
Bess stroked the crystal and then looked up to smile at Isabel. "It must be the prettiest thing I have ever touched."
"Our Lady is most lucky." Isabel patted Bess's shoulder once and then returned to her duties.
It was two days after the altercation with Edward and Bess had told no one of it. She had merely kept silent and invisible, hiding from him whenever possible. He had not said a word too her when the women attended on the family dinners as was to be expected, and out of apprehension Bess could not prevent herself from stealing glances at him whenever she could. The night before Bess had poured his wine and then he had looked at her.
She was slender and pale and dark all at once. Her breast strained in the tight bodice of her gown when she bent to pour, the graceful line of her neck bowed. As the cup was filled to the brim Bess dared a look and found his hard gaze firmly set on her face. He smirked as the colour of her flesh drained even whiter.
Thinking of his cold face Bess nodded absently. "Very lucky indeed." She muttered.
Later when all of the Countess's belongings were packed up neatly Isabel was toying with Bess's hair. She brushed it out and then pinned it up carefully. It was an elegant knot comprised of coiled braids at the back of her head. A few little tendrils hung down around her face softening its style. "There, lovely."
Jane and Elizabeth had been told that they were to remain in the house and were seething with rage towards the new girl. Jane looked over and laughed nastily. "Why lie to her Isabel?" Her blue eyes were daggers. "She looks like a commoner trying to be upper class."
"That is exactly what she is." Elizabeth sniggered.
Bess was at a loss at what to say. Isabel simply tucked her arm into Bess's and tossed her head. "I am sure that the nobles at court will not agree. But then, I suppose you won't ever find out as you will be remaining here." She smiled prettily and then the two girls turned and left the room to attend the dinner.
Bess had scrubbed the navy common day dress clean of any stain or spot of dirt and now wore it clean and laced impossibly tightly. Again that was courtesy of Isabel. Bess could barely breathe and the tiny frame of her body curved in and out. But Jane's words were resounding in her skull. She smoothed her hands over the bodice nervously.
"I look ridiculous." Bess complained as the two women walked the halls towards the dining hall for the final dinner before the household leave for court.
"No, you look beautiful and you look fit for a royal court. But you must commission some new gowns to be made for you, you cannot wear the same one everyday Bess." Isabel nudged her playfully, their hips bouncing together.
"And how am I to pay for these dresses?" Bess teased her. "I will have to find a rich husband when we get to court."
"Once you have him, see if he has a brother for me."
The next day it was raining heavily outside the window and there was ice in the air. Almost as much ice as in Edward's eyes. The trunks had been loaded and the women were dressing themselves in the early morning that Bess discovered a dress laid out on her bed when she returned from bathing. It was lovely. A dusky rich purple, with rustling skirts and tight sleeves. It scooped across her chest from the tips of her shoulders down to the swell of her breast. Isabel came to her side. "I meant what I said yesterday, you cannot wear the same dress each day." She took Bess in her arms. "So you may share mine."
Bess nestled into the woman's neck. "Thank you Isabel."
"Come now, Bessie, let us dress you up."
They giggled together. Isabel laced on the petticoat, then the corset and then finally the plum coloured gown. She swept Bess's dark hair over one shoulder so the shower of ebony curls fell all the way to her waist.
"See, now you cannot deny how beautiful you look my friend."
In the looking glass Bess's face was impossibly pale and reflecting the purple of her gown her blue-black eyes warmed so they seemed almost maroon. Isabel herself was wearing powdery blue with embroidered flowers on the bodice and lace peeking over her breasts. Her honey blonde hair was twisted up in a neat braided bun. She pulled a dove grey cloak over her shoulders, a soft fur collar on the neck.
Isabel was from a good family with sufficient wealth for beautiful things as she was the only and youngest daughter of the three children her father had. Her mother passed away when she was young and Isabel inherited her fine clothes. She wore the best of them now, to arrive for a new life in court.
She pulled out one last item and slid it up her friend's arms. It was a coat in a purple even darker than the dress, with daggered sleeves and a fastening at the centre of the waist. It had a hood to protect her hair.
Bess reached out and stroked Isabel's face. "I cannot thank you enough."
Isabel kissed both her cheeks. "Come now, Bessie, we mustn't keep the baggage train waiting."
In the courtyard the horses and the carriages were being prepared. Lord Hertford and his brother would be riding, the women in the carriage with a secondary wheelhouse rolling behind to carry the trunks and belongs of the family. Bess and Isabel walked behind Lady Anne almost giddy with excitement, Bess couldn't stop smiling. Jane and Elizabeth stood on the steps of the mansion with the grooms and the kitchen staff. Their faces were twisted with sourness.
The rain was pelting the ground and, taking direction from Isabel, Bess lifted her skirt a few inches from the ground to stop another mud soaked fiasco from occurring. The hood of her coat felt like the height of luxury.
A groomsman stood by the open door of the carriage and helped each woman up. He was young and handsome with a sweep of dark hair plastered to his head by the rain. Bess couldn't stop herself sending a sympathetic smile as he took her hand. Surprisingly the pad of his thumb ran along the line of her knuckles. It was out of turn for a simple groom. But there was something in his grin that showed he didn't care. And besides, who was Bess Crofter to judge a person by station when she was just a farm girl really.
"Thank you."
"Richard." He whispered. Bess blinked enormous blue-black eyes.
"Bess." She flashed her crooked, white teeth and then the door was closed tight.