CHAPTER TWO

"Was that a Moor with little Lady Frances Walsingham?" Lucian pushed forward.

"Where? Are you sure?" Ethan felt disturbing quakes in his serenity. He was for once thankful of his unusual tall height for he caught a glimpse of her and cursed softly as she disappeared once more into the crowd.

"I don't see her anymore," Lucian sighed. "Don't worry, we have time to find her. If she was with Sir Walsingham's daughter, you will find her eventually."

"Only if you are sure it was Lady Frances." Ethan ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "You are sure aren’t you?"

"Well … uh … nay."

Ethan placed his hands on his hips and scowled at Lucian. "May I ask why you think it was Lady Frances if 'tis not?"

"Don't give me that look." Lucian returned his scowl. "I thought it was her, but 'fore God, Ethan, we haven't seen the child for a couple of years so I couldn't be sure. However, we can presume there is a child with a black servant so how hard will that be?"

Ethan quirked a glance at his friend and laughed out, "Oh, not hard at all. There is probably only a hundred or so in attendance to be sure." Ethan stated nonchalantly before exploding. "Lucian, thou art a fool-born coxcomb and if you have any commoner sense you would be off on your own for a bit!"

Lucian's well-waxed bearded chin lifted in a pretense of wounded pride as he placed his hand over his heart. "Well, thou art a warped onion-eyed skainsmate and you, my friend, do not see me losing all sensibilities over some woman I haven't even met formally. So I bid you fare-the-well for I have better things to do indeed." Lucian touched his head in a mock salute and departed into the crowd.

Ethan continued mumbling his frustrations and after a few strange looks, he realized his mumblings were aloud and clamped his mouth shut before they carted him away to Bedlam.

He continued his search through the assembly, catching the eyes of many a winsome women; however, none was the one he was looking for. He was about to give up his search when he felt the hair stand up on the back of his neck and he felt as if eyes were on him.

Of course, several people were possibly watching him since he was the only one not scrambling to get inside the palace.

Ethan released a shuddering sigh as he saw her looking intently at him with open admiration. He felt drawn to the sadness in her dark eyes. `Fore God, she is beautiful. His fingers tingled at the tips as his mind meandered about the texture of her earthy-colored skin. Was it as warm, smooth and inviting as it looked? Now he could savor her full appearance. In her enchanting glory she stood at a distance, yet close enough that he could take in the wholeness of her appearance.

She was dressed not harshly bejeweled and overly painted as the women of the court, but in something soft, simple and foreign, for the skirt fell in alluring gentle silken folds of what seemed to be yards of red silk with small white embroidered flowers leading into a small train. He could see why he accidentally stepped on her skirt it wasn't the normal wide skirts shaped by yards of petticoats.

For a moment, he wondered what she wore beneath such a form-fitting garment. Her dark untamed frizzed hair glistened like polished wood flowing from a centered part and tied loosely with a thin matching ribbon.

This woman was too bold in her stare, not submissive like most slaves or servants. She would not shy away from the drudgery of nature for the sake of appearance. Being born to her skin, she most likely knew only the hardships and turmoil of life. She is a Moor and living in a foreign land so assuredly she belonged to someone to be here amongst the nobles yet she had certain poise about her that intrigued him.

Ethan pushed his way thru the multitude and allowed his eyes to feast upon her, afraid he would lose site of her once more. Her body seemed rounded yet shapely. She had curves everywhere from the gentle shape of her high cheekbones, to the fullness of voluptuous lips. Curves continued with the shape of her dark thick brows over mysterious, dark and profound eyes surrounded by sooty curved lashes.

When Ethan finally was within a few steps of her, he stopped and smiled. "I didn't think I would find you again."

"I don't know why you would be searching for me milord, unless you wish to purchase me a new gown," Sauda chuckled.

He thought her throaty voice, and laugh was delectable. "That can be managed if you give me your name I will make the arrangements."

Sauda found herself staring at his mouth, waiting for those silly boyish dimples to appear again. She shook herself and glanced about, realizing Lady Frances was still chatting with a friend of hers. Sauda didn't want to lose site of the child again so she would have to move forward or once more separated by the push of people.

"I wasn't serious milord." Sauda turn her gaze back to his.

"I was," Ethan raised a brow. "Now your name?"

Sauda backed up as two people pushed their way through.

Ethan gritted his teeth, his annoyance increased when more people pushed their way through, he found this was an impossible situation. "Please can we mayhap find a place on the grounds to speak?" He asked once they came together again.

"It's not possible and I am here because I have a job to do milord. It will be best if we not speak again." Sauda said realizing how foolish it was to allow this man to become a distraction for her no matter how handsome he was. Even if he was an acquaintance of Sir Walsingham, it didn't mean he wasn't a member of the Knights of Darkness she was to take care of while she was here.

Sauda resist the urge to smile as she noticed more than a suggestion of annoyance hovered in his eyes. She supposed he didn't get many women who weren't interested.

Ethan could tell she wanted to smile and she was trying to resist. Why was she making this difficult for him?

Sauda suddenly felt breathless as an undeniable magnetism was building between them and her heart was hammering foolishly as the blood coursed through her veins like an awakened river.

Ethan's broad shoulders were heaving as a hot ache grew in his throat. The nearness of her seemed to give him comfort.

As soon as his hand reached out to touch the warmth of her face, the breach between them unexpectedly spread and all he caught was the crimson ribbon from her hair releasing the obsidian tresses to the caresses of the warm breeze.

His frustrations knew no bounds as once again, he lost sight of her and he still didn't know her name. He pushed the ribbon he clutched tightly in his hand inside his shirt and held it against his heart. ***

Ethan stood in the doorway of his parent’s private quarters and took a deep breath. He knew he had been amiss on spending time with his parents, but he wasn’t in the mood to speak of his betrothal. Still, he couldn’t avoid the situation any longer.

"Where have you been all week? Every time I have made arrangements for you and Lizabetha to spend time together you have been missing"

"I am fairing well this eve, Father, thank you." His mouth spread into a cynical smile. "I do have my own apartments here at Hampton Court as you may recall. So all you had to do was leave word with my manservant John Henley."

Ethan lounged casually against the doorframe of his family suite of rooms and crossed his arms in front of his wide chest. He gazed at the man who was an older version of him. The older man's shoulders were beginning to bend forward, making him about two inches shorter, and his wheat-colored hair was now completely white, yet there was no mistaking the intelligence in his blue sapphire eyes or the strength in his profile.

"I'm about to disown you, that's what I am about," The Earl of Clare walked forward, stopping in front of son.

Ethan's eyes rolled. Here we go again. "As well you should, Father. It would make me happy to know I was no longer obligated to fulfill this marriage you arranged." Ethan's square jaw tensed visibly, he was growing weary of his lack of say about his own life.

Bernard Clare, Earl of Clare Hall, placed his hand on his heir's crossed forearms.

"Do you know what an honor this is for you and for our family? Lady Lizabetha is young admittedly, but despite this she is the goddaughter and distant cousin of the queen, so how could we say no?"

"Simply by saying 'my son has already been married and does not wish to remarry' or maybe you could have told them to speak with me first since it is my life." Ethan's expression was one of pained tolerance.

Bernard smiled benignly, as if dealing with a temperamental child. "Why don't we change the subject for the moment."

"Aye, why don't we drop this subject and never...ever speak of it again."

"May I say you are getting to old for this behavior." Bernard cleared his throat before continuing, "Sir and Lady Walsingham's daughter Frances will be coming to Clare Hall …"

"Oh `fore God, Father, she looks at me as if I created the heavens. Am I to suffer this child through the coming winter season too?"

"Ethan, I don't know what has happened to you. You used to take things in stride. Now everything, and everyone is a bother for you." Bernard sighed as he saw a pain expression cross his son's face.

"As I was saying," Bernard shrugged matter-of-factly. "Seeing how Frances is youthful, she is to start her training as a lady-in-waiting with your mother."

"Speaking of mother, where is she at this hour?"

"She spied that insipid cousin of hers, Sir Edwin Norris, and I suppose they are losing my money in a late eve game of Hazard."

"I don't know why you dislike him so father, he seems a reasonable fellow."

"Trust me, I have my reasons." Bernard stated his brow deepened in a frown. "Now getting back to young Lady Frances, she shouldn't be a bother she shall have a tutor and a nursemaid with her always during her stay. One is a Moor woman, or I heard there was one. Isn't that something?"

Ethan's eyes blazed with sudden interest, "A Moor you say?"

"Your mother was none to happy about this arrangement. She doesn't want the Blackamoor woman living in the house," Bernard shrugged. "Sir Walsingham will not have it any other way, so your mother has no choice but to consent or offend the queen's councilman.

"I fear mother is at her happiest at court, so why not winter here, attending the queen and allow Frances to learn from the queen's ladies?" Ethan followed his father into the room and they took a seat while a silent server moved about and filled empty cups with wine to break the fast and hold them over until the next meal. The servant also placed a tray of fruit, fresh goat cheese and bread on the low table between them before the fire and leisurely walked to stand quietly in the corner.

"Because you know 'tis your mother's year to entertain the nobles of our Somerset district for winter season and the invitations have already been delivered."

Ethan took a piece of bread and dunked it in his wine before partaking.

Earl Bernard Clare grimaced at his son's coarse behavior. A few years at sea and all his social graces seemed to have disappeared.

Ethan struggled to contain the excitement he felt. Could young Lady Frances custodian mayhap be the Moor woman he has been looking for the past few days? Lucian had thought he had seen Lady Frances with a Moor and he didn't even think about checking out the possibilities. If she didn't show for the queen's ball tonight, he would track down Sir Walsingham and find out for himself.

"Maybe having the child on my heels won't be so bad after all," Ethan said leaning back in his chair, relaxing and soaking up the fire. "Aye, I believe I am actually looking forward to spending time with Frances Walsingham. Maybe it will help me get use to the idea of children being around."

"Wonderful!" Lord Bernard clapped his hands together gleefully. He pushed himself up from the chair. "Now if we can get Lady Lizabetha away from the queen's service …"

"Father, don't push it."

For a moment in time, life for Bernard became somber as he looked at his son and saw so much of his mother in him. Her willfulness and her dimpled smile.

Ethan watched the play of emotion on his father's face. "Father?"

"I … uh … we have to prepare our costumes for her Majesty Masquerade and fireworks at the midnight ball in honor of her day of birth. I suppose you will be attending."

"Aye, that should be exciting." Standing, Ethan straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat before downing the rest of his wine and placing the empty cup on the table. "Have you decided what saintly biblical character you will be tonight?"

"Nay, I'm leaving those details to your mother and I shall follow her lead. Who might you be, good son?"

"I believe of late I find myself to be as fortunate as King Solomon," his mouth spread into a wide mischievous grin. "If I am as wise as he, I too shall soon have my Queen of Sheba."