by Ida Curtis
“I gave him a detailed account of how the betrothal came about. Under the circumstances I can’t imagine why he would have a problem approving the match.”
But Justin remembered the outrage he felt when Chetwynd married his sister Isabel, tricking their father into believing that Justin had approved the match. He told himself the circumstances were different. Chetwynd had been warming Queen Judith’s bed a few months before he married Isabel. At the time there was plenty of reason for him to be upset with Chetwynd.
When they entered the outer chamber of their apartment, Chetwynd and Leonardo stood up. Chetwynd’s face gave no hint of his feelings, but his greeting was cool.
“This is a pleasant surprise, Chetwynd,” Gilda said.
“Is it? I’d like to speak with you alone, Gilda.”
Leonardo, who had been talking with Chetwynd, disappeared quickly, but Justin moved closer and spoke in a controlled voice. “I’m the one who wrote the message that brought you here, Chetwynd. I think I should be with you when you talk to Gilda. I remember a similar situation a year ago. At that time, I spoke with you and Isabel together.”
“Isabel and I were married, Justin. And Isabel was not a nun. I really don’t think you can compare the situations. I want to be sure you are not using Gilda. You are a skilled manipulator and have a way of working situations to your advantage. Gilda has led a sheltered life.”
Justin exploded. “You pompous ass. Do you really think I’d be able to manipulate Gilda, even if I wanted to? She may have grown up in a convent, but she knows people and has no trouble holding her own. Don’t forget her work with abandoned women. She even shed her habit when you were stupid enough to get yourself thrown in the dungeon. Gilda can take care of herself. She doesn’t need you rushing to her rescue.”
Chetwynd didn’t even try to hide his grin. “You used to have such an even temper, Justin, and often lectured me on keeping my own. I wonder what has happened to change that.”
Realizing that Chetwynd was enjoying the situation, Justin’s anger fled. “You provoked me on purpose. Is that why you rode all this way, to have a bit of revenge?”
“Not just to provoke you, but it was satisfying,” Chetwynd replied. “The reason I came is that my wife believes you have been infatuated with Gilda since you met her. I never believed it, but now I’m beginning to wonder. The betrothal you described in your letter sounds like something invented as an excuse to enhance your fascination with Gilda.”
Justin wondered if there was some truth in Chetwynd’s words and forced himself to relax. “I explained how that happened. It wasn’t planned, if that’s what you mean.”
“I believe you, Justin. Who would plan such a foolish sequence? But I’d still like to speak to Gilda alone.”
Justin looked at Gilda. She had stepped away to let them have their say. There was no reason why he should object to Chetwynd’s request, but he worried about it nonetheless.
Justin and Chetwynd had been friends since they were boys, and Chetwynd seemed to know what Justin was thinking. “I’m not against anything there might be between you and Gilda, Justin. Give me a few minutes alone with Gilda.”
After Justin left, Chetwynd chuckled and embraced his sister. “He’s not at all sure he wants me to talk to you.”
They had always been close, but Gilda couldn’t approve his approach to the situation. “You were a little hard on Justin, my lord.”
“I know. He always takes everything so seriously, and I grew up being envious of his control. I couldn’t help provoking him a bit.”
“Is that the only reason you came, to have a little fun at Justin’s expense?” Gilda asked.
Chetwynd’s eyebrow rose. “You’ve been influenced by Justin. Getting right to the point is his method.” He drew her to sit beside him on a bench.
“I came because I’m worried about you, Gilda. Before I met Isabel, I made some serious mistakes with the women I became involved with. But now I know what it’s like to find a woman I can love with all my heart and soul.
“Betrothals are entered into for all kinds of reasons, and they seldom have anything to do with love. Many of them work well. But you already have a satisfying life in the convent, Gilda. I’ve seen you there, and I know about the work you do. You were a great comfort to me when I needed it. Don’t leave that life unless you are sure you have found something that will be as satisfying.”
As Gilda put her hand on her brother’s face, she could feel the tears filling her eyes. “That’s a beautiful speech, Chetwynd. Thank you for coming all this way to make it,” she whispered.
Chetwynd was surprised at her tears. He’d never seen his calm, levelheaded sister cry. “Don’t do that, Gilda,” he begged, pulling her close.
“I’m just moved, Chetwynd. I know the kind of marriage you and Isabel share. Everyone around you can tell how you feel about each other, and it’s a wonder to see. I won’t marry unless I’m sure I’ll have the same.”
Chetwynd nodded. “Justin is a good man, Gilda. I’ve never known him to be disloyal, and everyone respects his talent for diplomacy.”
Gilda smiled at her brother. “Now you’re worried you scared me off him. I know his strengths.” Suddenly she was thinking about Justin lifting her onto his lap and kissing her until she was senseless.
Chetwynd was studying her expression. “What is it, Gilda?”
“Nothing. I was just remembering something. I’m sure it’s time for vespers. I hope it’s a short one because I’m starving.”
In the great hall, Gilda watched her brother and Justin at the high table. Chetwynd had golden hair that caught the candlelight. Justin was as dark as Chetwynd was fair, but he matched her brother in build. “They seem to stand out from the rest, don’t they?” she commented to Freda.
“Aye, they’re well made. Justin has relaxed somewhat. He was pacing around the courtyard while you were closeted with your brother. Was he warning you off?”
“Not exactly, Freda. But he knows how much I love my work. He doesn’t think I should marry unless there is love involved.”
“Hmmmm. Not everyone can be that lucky.” She stared at Gilda’s plate. “I don’t know how you can eat so much. You don’t look big enough to hold it all.”
“I’ve always had a good appetite, and lately it’s even stronger.” Gilda lowered her voice. “What about lust, Freda? How important is that? I wanted to ask my brother, but it didn’t seem appropriate.”
“Thank the good Lord for that. You can satisfy lust without love, Gilda, but when they are combined, there is magic.”
“I’m so glad Ermguerrd sent you along on this journey, Freda.”
When Justin approached their table, the two nuns were smiling at each other. They both jumped when he said, “Gilda, I need to talk to you.”
Outside, Justin took Gilda’s arm. “What was that all about?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, feigning ignorance. “You both looked guilty when I spoke to you. Never mind. Now that we’ve talked with Chetwynd, can we get back to the work that brought us here? I want to talk about what we learned from the Abbot.”
He had led her to the ramparts, hoping to find a quiet place they could be alone. It was a clear night and Gilda stared at the stars overhead.
“Your brother is bedding with me tonight, so you can’t come to my room,” he said as he moved to stand closer. He wanted to hold her but was afraid someone would walk by.
“I thought you wanted to talk about our mission,” she teased.
“I do, but you’re distracting me,” he admitted.
“Maybe we should go inside.”
“No, not yet. I’ll behave. I was thinking about what we learned from Brother Arnulf. According to him, the count and the bishop were presented with a tempting new alliance before Lady Mariel arrived at Mainz.”
“That really surprised me, Justin. What a strange situation.”
“I think it means that the count is telling the truth in at least one area. If he
had plans to annul the marriage, he would have been careful not to bed Mariel.”
“Of course. I didn’t think of that. And the bishop would have advised him to stay away from her. But Mariel indicated she feared being pregnant. I don’t think I could have misread her.”
“If it wasn’t Cedric who took her to bed . . .” Justin started.
“Philip. But he denies it also.”
“I think we should have another talk with Philip.”
Gilda nodded. “It’s complicated, isn’t it? If it was Philip who took her to bed, how would that affect an annulment?”
“The annulment could still be approved. But if it becomes known that Philip slept with his brother’s bride, he will be in a great deal of trouble.”
Gilda grabbed Justin’s arm. “Let’s not leap to conclusions about Philip. We don’t wish to cause him any harm.” She paused then asked, “What? Why are you smiling at me that way?”
“You’re asking me not to leap to conclusions?”
“I see what you mean. I’m worried about this, Justin. A young man’s life is in danger because he comforted a frightened girl on her way to an unknown husband. He held her, and they were probably overcome with longing as they lay together under the stars.”
“Saints in heaven, Gilda. Stop that. You’re going to drive me mad.”
“Is there someplace we can go for some privacy?” she whispered.
He moved her back against the rampart wall with his body. “No. Your brother is in my bedchamber.”
“It’s just as well, just as well,” she said, patting his shoulders.
He was watching her mouth. “Don’t say another word.”
“All right. Why not?” she asked.
“Because your lips move in a way that makes me tremble.”
“Don’t you say another word,” she countered.
Justin heard footsteps and pulled back. He ignored the interloper, hoping he would walk on. Instead, there was the sound of a throat being cleared.
“I wondered where you had gotten to,” Chetwynd said in a cheery voice.
Justin turned to face his friend. “We were looking for a quiet place to discuss our work, Chetwynd.”
“Is that a fact. It’s a beautiful night, but wouldn’t it be more effective to discuss work in your chambers?”
“It would, but I thought you’d be there,” Justin pointed out.
“I stayed in the great hall to speak to the count. He asked a great many questions about the two of you. I suspect he wishes to uncover some information that he can use to persuade you to see things his way.”
“Heavens, he clearly is desperate to obtain an annulment,” Gilda said.
“What did you tell him about us?” Justin asked.
“That I had hoped for some time that the two of you would find each other. I pretended I was Isabel and said all the things about you that she would say. Then I pointed out that you were godparents for our child.”
Gilda grinned at her brother. “Thanks for helping.”
Chetwynd put his arm around Gilda, who was beginning to shiver now that Justin had moved away from her. “Gunthar was paying great attention to the conversation. The bishop and the count are powerful men who are determined to have their way in this matter. The two of you should take care. I doubt they would be above harming your reputations if they thought it would be to their advantage.”
Gilda leaned into her brother. “We already know we have to be careful, Chetwynd.”
“Maybe you two should marry. My presence would be a good excuse.”
“No.” Gilda pulled away. “We won’t marry to keep people from whispering about us.”
“You could have more to worry about than whispering, Gilda,” her brother said. “Your mission is in jeopardy. I suggest you find a way to pacify the count and the bishop.”
“I agree with Chetwynd, Gilda. We have to reassure them in some way. Perhaps let them know we believe that the count did not consummate his marriage to Mariel. If they think we will work for an annulment, they will want to make sure our reputations remain intact.”
“I hate to think we’re giving in to the pressure,” Gilda replied.
“Don’t worry, Gilda, if we discover anything different, we’ll do what needs to be done.”
“It’s a good plan,” Chetwynd added. “Is there anything I can do before I return home?”
Justin was about to say no when he remembered what they had learned from the Abbot and Brother Arnulf. “Do you know Lord Metcalf?”
“I met him once. His reputation as a soldier was legend, but he was old by the time I joined the king’s service. Why do you ask?”
“Perhaps you should pay him a visit before leaving Mainz. He might talk to you more freely than he would Gilda or me. You’d be a young knight paying his respects to an old warrior. See what you can find out for us.”
“Justin, what a good idea.” Gilda grabbed his arm then quickly let go as her brother watched her with a raised eyebrow.
“I’ll find out what I can tomorrow morning,” Chetwynd promised.
CHAPTER SIX
At breakfast Count Cedric informed Justin that he was available for a meeting that morning. Gilda and Justin took a few minutes to bid Chetwynd goodbye and then hurried off to the count’s living quarters.
“Do you really think Chetwynd will discover anything useful by visiting Metcalf?” Gilda asked as they wound their way through the busy bailey.
“Probably not, but it gets him out from underfoot for a while. He has a keen eye, and so far, he has been using it to watch me.”
Gilda chuckled. “To watch us. I’ve felt his eye on me as well. He should be returning home soon. Are you still planning to give the count some reassurance that we believe his story?”
“I want to ask a few questions first, but I think it’s a good plan. It’s not much of a compromise as we have come to believe his marriage to Mariel wasn’t consummated.”
Gilda shrugged. There was something about the count that still bothered her. Perhaps it had to do with his giving up on one marriage as soon as a more advantageous match presented itself.
Cedric’s greeting was gruff. “I’m sorry I broke off our last meeting so abruptly. I did have another appointment.”
Justin ignored his defensive manner. “Since our conversation, we have talked with both Bishop Gunthar and your brother Philip. I’d like clarification on a few of the things we discussed earlier, my lord. You said you had come to believe your marriage to Lady Mariel was a mistake.”
“That’s correct. The marriage should never have taken place.”
“I wonder about the timing of your decision. From what we’ve heard, you had already decided it was a mistake before Mariel arrived. Yet you told us that Lady Mariel was the one who refused to consummate the marriage.”
The count frowned. “She didn’t want anything to do with me. I told you the truth.”
“That may be,” Justin replied. “The question I’m asking you is whether you made an attempt to consummate your marriage.”
There was a long pause while Cedric considered his answer. “No, I did not,” he finally admitted. “To tell the truth, I was happy that she did not wish the marriage any more than I did. But she did bar the door and made up her wild story about being married to Philip. Our marriage was never consummated; that’s the important thing.”
The count was still blaming Mariel, and his answer irritated Justin. “I can understand why you wouldn’t want us to find out that you were seeking a different match before Mariel even arrived in Mainz, my lord.” Justin’s tone, as well as his words, revealed his feelings. “But did it not occur to you that sharing that information might have convinced us that your marriage was not consummated? After all, why would you bed Lady Mariel if you wished to have the marriage annulled?”
The count’s eyes grew wide as he considered Justin’s words. “I’m afraid I’ve made a tangle of things, Lord Justin. I thought you would believe I was trying to rid mys
elf of Mariel so that I could marry Lady Emma.”
The count’s face flushed red at his own words, since that’s exactly what he had been doing. Justin waited for the count to continue, curious about how he would cover the truth that his mouth had already poured out.
“I discussed the matter with Gunthar before Mariel arrived. By that time Metcalf had approached the bishop about a match with Lady Emma. We thought it best to seek an annulment and figured it would be an easy enough matter. The bishop advised me to stay away from Mariel, and I did.”
Instead of letting his explanation stand, Cedric became defensive again. “But Lady Mariel acted strangely from the minute she arrived. I allowed her to go on a religious retreat, thinking that would help, but she refused to return. Instead she took refuge at the abbey.”
If Cedric had not added his attack on Mariel’s behavior, Justin would not have felt reluctant to give the count some indication they believed his story. He was not used to making concessions before all the information was in, but he remembered Chetwynd’s concern for his sister’s reputation. He knew he was to blame for any rumors that were circulating about Gilda.
“I thank you for being more open with us, my lord,” Justin said, although the words did not come easily for him. They did believe Cedric had kept away from Mariel, so he should not mind saying it, but he did. “Sister Gilda and I . . .”
To Justin’s surprise, Gilda finished his sentence for him. “Will consider all the facts when we speak to the archbishop.”
From the way the count whipped his head around to glare at Gilda, Justin knew he resented her speaking out. Up to that moment, Gilda had been careful to let Justin conduct the interview.
Cedric narrowed his eyes. “You should also consider your own position, Sister Gilda. I wonder if the king knows he appointed a betrothed nun to be his emissary in this matter.”
Furious, Justin was about to respond when Gilda spoke up for herself.
“It’s not I who seeks to dissolve a marriage, Count Cedric. King Louis believes that marriage vows are sacred, as you well know. They are not to be put aside when a better offer appears. Since you referred to my position, let me say that when I marry, it will be for life.”