Summer gave him a soft smile, cheeks flushed. “‘Tis simple, my lord. Who would question thou and I encountering one another in the library? Or writing to one another of texts modern and ancient? Or ever thou canst escape council, I’ll meet thee in the gardens. Now kiss me again, to stave off thy starvation.”
Humphrey gladly obliged, again and again, his fingers playing with her fiery hair, hand traveling up and down her spine. “We shall stop this,” he whispered between kisses, and kisses between the words, “for I want you too much to go back and if we continue, I know not what I shall do…” yet he kissed her again, and kissed her cheek and her neck, to give meaning to his words. “I leave on the morrow for a few days, to Pembroke, on my personal business…” he whispered, “Will you wait? I shall send for you upon my return to meet…” he looked into her eyes, “My work with your father’s council is done, so I shall have all the time we desire to spend as we see most fit…”
“Don’t stop, my lord, don’t stop,” she whispered back, trading him kiss for kiss. “Don’t stop, don’t leave me so soon. I would I could go with you, but you wish we remain secret and I must abide by your wishes.”
“Oh but you see love, if I take you, everyone will take you for a mistress of low morals that I amuse myself with…” he whispered, covered in her kisses. “I allow naught like it to happen… but then, ‘tis so hard to think I leave you, my love…”
He suddenly departed from her, stepping back, holding her hands. “Hark now sweetling, we must part…” he smiled at her, with love and adoration in his eyes. “I need to go, and when I am back I assure you that you will know of it…” and with that he pulled her close and held her, “I ask you to think of what you wish from me for your long hours of waiting and you shall have it upon return.” With that he offered his arm to lead back to the hall. “We must part, before they notice, and… I shall say that necklace becomes you my love.” A slight kiss on the back of her hand, and he was gone.
She missed him. She hadn’t expected that. They had met but thrice, yet even setting aside his sincere declarations of love, the thrill of finding someone of her own mind on poetry would incline her heart to him. She took his gift off before leaving the fete, holding it up to the torchlight. So costly a gift. She’d nothing like it to offer in return.
Save her words, she supposed. So Summer wrote him a letter.
Dear my lord Humphrey, she wrote, I would I could say the hours until your return pass by swiftly for my eagerness, yet this is not so. Unaccountably I miss you. Without even your presence within her, London seems drab and empty. Instead, I have sought out Petrarch, as you recommended, and I find him enjoyable reading, yet I would discuss his writings with you to further my understanding.
It is in my heart also to set your mind at ease regarding certain things. You see, I am my father’s favourite, saving only my brother Edward his heir, and thus I have some leave to do as I like. My sister, born at the same lying-in as I, is already married, and well, too; and my father is not so ambitious as some lords. He has given me oath I may not marry against my will, but may have the choice and the freedom to court and be courted.
I fear I cannot make myself as clear as I would like, for this letter may be picked up by those who mean you mischief. Suffice it to say, my lord, I would not have secrecy with you, but see you openly and with a glad heart. My reputation is of no moment, though I thank you greatly for your care of it; indeed I do think my learning has already sullied me in some eyes.
I await your return with impatience, and wish only to be sheltered by your arms again.
with love, Summer Rainault
It took a little connivance, but she had it smuggled into his rooms, sealed with red wax and the impress of a flame, to await him.