Free All the Sweet Tomorrows by Bertrice Small

economy. Like his mistress, Lady Burke was generous but frugal. She understood that wealth was to be husbandedand increased, not squandered idly. He fully approved her insistence on keeping her wealth in her own hands. She was an excellent manager, far better than most men he knew. “Then madam,” he said, “our business is now concluded. I shall look forward to seeing you at court.”
    She showed him to the apartments where he would spend the night, and then quickly hurried to her own rooms. She could not believe what had just happened. She had vowed never to marry again, and now here she was about to be betrothed to a foreign duke and sent from England and Ireland. This man wanted children, and she was certainly a proven breeder. She shuddered. How could she allow a man she did not know to touch her? To make love to her? The mere thought of it was repellent to her nature. Lord Burghley had said that the duc was not in good health. Perhaps by the time she got there the duc’s health would have deteriorated to a point where he could not fulfill his marital duties. One could hope.
    Dame Cecily hurried through the door demanding, “Well? Will Cecil support you and arrange for you to go to court to see the Queen?”
    “Aye,” Skye replied, “but the price is steep. I am to leave here, and journey to a small independent dukedom between Provence and the Languedoc where I will wed with its ruler.”
    “What?!”
The older woman’s face looked horrified and her hand flew to her heart. “Surely Lord Burghley jests with you, Skye? He cannot ask such a cruel thing of you!”
    “But he has, and I must comply with his request, as he knew I must when he suggested it. The duchy has offered England a base on the Mediterranean as well as a listening post into France and, I suspect, the kingdoms of Italy, although Lord Burghley did not say so. The duc is supposed to be in failing health, and Cecil says I shall probably be home in two years or less.”
    “And afterward will they use the Burke children again in order to gain your aid?” Dame Cecily demanded, outraged. “God’s foot! Has Cecil then turned pimp for the Crown?”
    “I don’t know,” Skye said wearily. “I can only hope that Lord Burghley will accept this sacrifice I make as payment in full.”
    “I ought to give William Cecil a good piece of my mind!” Dame Cecily huffed furiously. “I cannot imagine what he is thinking of to separate you from your children!”
    Skye had to laugh. Dearest, dearest Dame Cecily. From the moment Skye had arrived in England several years ago, RobertSmall’s plump, widowed sister had taken her under her wing; had been a second mother to her; had loved her, and Willow, and all of Skye’s children. She was a grandmother to Willow and Robin, but most of all she was a good and loyal friend. “Do not trouble yourself with Lord Burghley,” Skye gently admonished the older woman. “It will change nothing. I will not, however, leave England until I have seen Robbie.”
    “And your Burke children, Skye?”
    “If I go back to Ireland now to bid them a farewell I shall not be able to leave them, and I cannot take them with me. It is a long and dangerous trip I make. I do not know anything about this man whom I must marry. Besides, Deirdre and Padraic are both babies. They will not miss me as long as Uncle Seamus sees that they are loved and well cared for. And perhaps if this marriage works out I shall be able to send for them. I must ask you to care for Willow. The O’Flaherty boys are both safe where they are now.” A small sob escaped her as she thought of Niall’s children, so young and so helpless. How long would it be before she saw them again? Padraic would not even know her. He was just over two months old now. Deirdre, however, was almost sixteen months old. Would she remember her mother? Skye doubted it, and the tears flowed.
    Lord Burghley and his party departed Lynmouth the following morning, and for the next few days