Infamous by Virginia Henley

no complaints about my new husband. Give me a few days; I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
    â€œI’m happy you have declared a truce.”
    â€œNay, I surrendered unconditionally the moment he unsheathed his formidable weapon.” Joanna laughed delightedly when she saw Jory blush. “His swordplay was masterful.”
    â€œHere’s Blanche. I’ll return when you’ve eaten.”
    Joanna swept her hand over the clothes Jory had laid out for her to wear on the journey to Clerkenwell. “Take those away. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t wish to wear Plantagenet blue and gold today. I shall wear the colors of Gloucester and ride proudly beside my husband.”
    Jory rolled her eyes. May God give me patience. Gloucester’s colors are red and blue, but I have no idea which trunk holds Joanna’s red surcoat. “You wore your crimson riding outfit only two days past at the hunt. Why don’t you wear the blue today and I’ll remove the gold braid decoration. Your red boots and ruby caul will look striking against your blue surcoat, and the earl will recognize immediately that you are wearing the colors of Gloucester.”
    Joanna actually smiled. “What would I do without you?”
    Jory heaved a sigh of relief. It wouldn’t take her long to rip off the ornate gold braid, and the ruby caul was safe in the princess’s jewel casket, which hadn’t yet been taken to the stables.
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    It was two more hours before the cavalcade of the Earl and Countess of Gloucester was ready to depart Windsor. Gilbert de Clare was not the sort of man to exercise patience, especially when women caused the delay, but he spent the morning hours with the king and his fellow earls discussing the Parliament, which he had agreed to attend two days hence. When Joanna and her ladies finally arrived in the courtyard shortly before noon, de Clare held his tongue and helped his bride into her be-jeweled saddle.
    Jory accepted the assistance of a groom, then took her place with Maud Clifford, Blanche Bedford, and Eleanor de Leyburn behind the Earl and Countess of Gloucester. She held her breath as suddenly she caught sight of Guy de Beauchamp. He’s back! Jory’s first impulse was to dismount and run into his arms, but there were too many eyes to witness such an affectionate display. Instead, she watched him approach his friend de Clare. They exchanged a few words, laughed, and then nodded in agreement. As the cavalcade began to move through the throng of well-wishers, Jory’s eyes were riveted on Warwick. Rather than wave, he touched his fingers to his lips and then to his heart. Two gestures he knows I will understand. Overflowing with joy, her own heart almost turned over in her breast. I will think of you every moment we are apart, Guy, my love!
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    The de Clare mansion at Clerkenwell was in the countryside. Its closest neighbor was the ancient Tower of London. From the moment Jory rode through the iron gates that were ornamented with the boar device of Gloucester until she fell exhausted into her bed in a chamber she shared with Eleanor de Leyburn, she was busy sorting out Joanna’s belongings. It took the entire afternoon and evening to hang the royal gowns and place the shoes that matched them in the wardrobes of the dressing room, which was adjacent to the de Clares’ master bedchamber. Then she filled the drawers with Joanna’s petticoats, nightgowns, corsets, stockings, garters, gloves, scarves, veils, and handkerchiefs. Last, but not least, Jory took inventory of the princess’s vast collection of jewels, to make sure nothing had been pilfered on the trek from Windsor.
    She bade Eleanor good night and wondered how she would ever get used to the manor house after living at spacious Windsor Castle. Then she smiled into the darkness. I shan’t be living here long! A full-blown vision of dark, compelling Warwick filled her head, and her