Kissed by Shadows

Whitehall Palace, London, August, 1554 Pippa was aware of the bright sunlight before she opened her eyes. She lay still until she was fully awake. She knew almost without waiting for the sensations to make themselves apparent that her mouth would be dry, her limbs heavy, a faint dull ache in her joints. Whenever she slept past daybreak, it was always thus. It was so unusual for her to sleep late. She had always awoken at cockcrow, ready for whatever the new day might hold. But in the last weeks, since the queen's wedding to Philip of Spain, there had been these mornings when she'd awoken feeling leaden and listless, a pain behind her eyes that took half the day to dissipate. She moved her body carefully on the deep feather mattress. Stuart was beside her. He had not come to bed with her the previous evening, but that was generally the case. Wine still lingered on his breath and she guessed it had been dawn before he had left his friends and the cards and dice to which he was addicted. She turned onto her side away from him, unwilling as yet to ring the handbell for her maid and begin the tedious process of dressing for the day. As she moved her legs apart she noticed the slight discomfort, the dried stickiness on her thighs. Why? she thought with exasperation. Just why did Stuart only make love to her when she was asleep? She had never shown herself an unwilling partner. Indeed, in the early weeks after their marriage she had done everything she could to make their bedplay inviting and exciting. His enthusiasm had been distinctly muted, she reflected, but at least she'd been awake on each occasion. Her husband stirred beside her, and with renewed energy Pippa rolled over, propping herself on an elbow to face him. Even in sleep, even with wine-soured breath, he was utterly beautiful. Fair curls clustered on a broad alabaster brow, thick brown eyelashes were crescent moons on his high cheekbones, his complexion tinged with gold from the sun. Lord Nielson was an avid hunter, a man who loved all outdoor pursuits as much as he loved the card tables. A man who could burn the candle at both ends without any apparent ill effects. As if aware of his wife's scrutiny, he opened his eyes. Eyes the color of pure aquamarine, the whites as clear as a baby's. Pippa's voice had an edge to it. "Why didn't you wake me, Stuart? If you wished to couple last night, why didn't you wake me?" He looked discomfited, reached out a hand to touch her arm. "You were sleeping so soundly, Pippa. I had a great need for you but I didn't wish to disturb you." Pippa sat up, brushing his hand away. "Why would you keep the pleasure to yourself? This is the fourth or fifth time this month. Do you enjoy making love to a corpse?" Hot color flooded Stuart's fair complexion. He flung aside the covers and almost jumped to the floor, keeping his back to her. "That is a vile thing to say." "Maybe so," Pippa said, sitting up. "But you must forgive me if I find it an equally vile thing to be used for your pleasure in my sleep." Pippa knew the sharpness of her tongue and in general tried to moderate it with her husband. He became hurt so easily, and then as swiftly sullen. When he was in good spirits he was an amusing, pleasant companion, quick-witted and energetic. He suited her own temperament very well, which was why, she reflected now, she had agreed to marry him. That and his undeniable beauty. She nibbled at a loose fingernail, frowning as she watched him thrust his arms into the wide sleeves of a chamber robe, still with his back averted. She didn't think she was shallow enough to find beauty sufficient in a husband, but Stuart Nielson had also charmed her with his physical prowess, his ability to make her laugh, and not least his devout admiration. "I'll be in my dressing chamber," he saiFeather, Jane is the author of 'Kissed by Shadows' with ISBN 9780553583083 and ISBN 0553583085.