by Ida Curtis
Gilda stood tall in spite of her small stature. Justin wasn’t sure whether he wanted to throttle her or hug her to him. For the moment the count was too stunned to respond, and Justin took advantage of his astonishment to try to remove the stinger from Gilda’s words.
“Sister Gilda makes a valid point, my lord. I suggest you do your best to persuade her that your marriage was a mistake, not only for you, but for Mariel as well. She will make an excellent advocate if she feels it’s in the best interest of both parties that an annulment be granted.”
Cedric settled back into his chair and looked toward the ceiling. He was clearly making an effort to compose himself. Grasping on to the argument that Justin had given him, he said, “I’m sure Lady Mariel desires this annulment as much as I do, Sister Gilda. Perhaps more. She fled our marriage. You should bear that in mind.”
“I will remember that, my lord.” Gilda felt the fluttering in her stomach settle. She had felt compelled to speak up, but it wasn’t easy for her to do so. Fortunately, Justin had come to her aid with his comment about Mariel. Each day her respect for his skill increased.
“We wish to speak to Philip once more,” Justin said, eager to end the discussion while he had the count placated.
“I will send my brother to your chambers directly,” Cedric answered. The count stood up and walked them to the door. “I hope you will remember I’m not the only one who wishes an end to this ill-fated marriage.” He directed his comment toward Gilda.
Neither Gilda nor Justin spoke until they reached their chambers and Justin had closed the door behind them. He checked the apartment quickly to make sure they were alone. “What possessed you to stand up to the count, Gilda? You surprised me, but I was impressed.”
Gilda laughed at his words. “I was afraid you’d be angry. His answers annoyed me, and I couldn’t let you give him assurances for my sake.”
“I was more stunned than angry. I didn’t want to put his mind at ease any more than you did.”
“You saved the situation, Justin. Pointing out that he would do well to get me on his side was excellent strategy.”
“Did you mean it when you said, ‘when I marry, it will be for life’?”
“Of course I meant it. But then I’ll not marry unless I’m sure the decision I’m making is the right one for me, and for the one I wed.”
He smiled at her and moved closer. “And on what do you plan to base your decision?” He spoke in a sensual whisper as he drew her into his arms. “Have you thought about that?”
Gilda allowed herself the pleasure of leaning against his chest and listening to his heartbeat. It was amazing to her how quickly she had developed a need for his touch. She didn’t think it would be appropriate to admit that if she married it would be to someone who made her tremble with pleasure the way he did.
“Why didn’t you marry Lady Lilith, Justin?” she whispered. She didn’t even realize she was going to ask the question that had been in her mind until the words escaped her lips.
When Justin held her away from him so that he could stare into her face, Gilda almost groaned at the chill she felt at the separation. At least he kept his hands on her shoulders, and heat radiated from them.
“Why are you asking me that question now?”
“We’re talking about marriage. Your name was linked to hers, and I wondered why you didn’t marry her.”
“Our attachment was convenient for both of us. We enjoyed each other’s company, but neither of us was interested in marriage, Gilda. At least not to each other.”
His words reminded Gilda of her own lack of experience, and she felt jealous of their connection. “It was convenient, you say. Do you mean because she was a widow and you could join her in her bed?”
His hands tightened on her shoulders, and it was all she could do not to grimace. “What I shared with Lilith has nothing to do with us.” He loosened his grip then, as though realizing he was hurting her, and she pulled away from him.
“Don’t do this, Gilda.”
“We have to be careful. Philip should be arriving soon.”
“That’s not why you’re putting up barriers between us. Why are you asking about Lady Lilith?”
She strode away from him, then turned and glared at him from the other side of the room. “I’m experiencing some disturbing sensations that I don’t understand, Justin. Every time I’m near you I want to press closer. No, stay on that side of the room.” He stopped his forward movement and she continued. “You’ve felt all these things before, but for me it’s new. I guess I wish it was as new and amazing for you.”
Again, he moved forward. Gilda stretched out her arm, but he didn’t stop until his chest rested against her palm. “Believe me, Gilda, it’s just as amazing for me. I’ve never felt like this before.”
She could see by his expression that he meant what he said. “Give me some time, Justin. We have other things to think about right now. I fear that our feelings will interfere with what we need to do, and I don’t wish to fail or cause you to fail. We have to be careful. Philip is on his way.”
“I know,” he said, backing up. “You’re right. It’s not the time. But we will return to this conversation,” he promised.
Justin closed his eyes and tried to refocus his attention. “Do you think Philip was Mariel’s lover?”
Justin’s eyes opened, and they stared at each other for a minute. The topic of their investigation made it difficult to forget their own attraction. But they both knew they had to try.
“It seems a strong possibility,” Gilda answered. “I’m sorry now I didn’t spend more time speaking with Mariel.”
“You said she was very upset. Besides, we had no way of knowing that there was anyone else involved. We’ll have to return to the convent to speak to her before we go on to Reims and report to the archbishop. If she and Philip were lovers, it makes things complicated.”
There was a loud knock on the door. When Justin pulled it open, expecting to find Philip, he was disappointed to find a messenger.
“Count Cedric wishes to speak with you, my lord.”
“We just came from speaking with him,” Justin protested, thinking the messenger was confused.
“I know, my lord. But something has happened, and he wishes you to return at once.”
Puzzled, Justin and Gilda again hurried to the count’s chamber. Bishop Gunthar and the count were in excited conversation when they arrived. Both men grew silent for a minute at their arrival, then the count spoke. “Philip has fled Mainz. The porter says he departed with his personal servant.”
“What makes you think Philip fled? Couldn’t he have just gone on an errand?” Justin asked.
Cedric shook his head. “When questioned about his destination, Philip refused to answer.”
“Why did you have him questioned about his destination? Surely he is free to travel where he pleases,” Justin said.
“I became suspicious when I discovered Philip followed Mariel to the convent. I decided to have him watched. I believe my brother betrayed me with Mariel.”
Although Cedric appeared agitated, Justin noticed that the bishop had a satisfied smirk on his face. If what Cedric said was true, it would suit their purposes. For that reason, Justin was suspicious. “What makes you think that, my lord?” Justin asked the count, but he was already sure he knew what the two were thinking.
“It seems clear enough,” the bishop intoned. “Philip took advantage of Lady Mariel, and rather than face questioning, he has run away. The lady was afraid of the consequences of their betrayal, which is why she took refuge at the convent.”
Although Justin and Gilda had discussed a similar scenario, Justin wasn’t willing to allow the possibility without more proof. “I think you might be reading too much into the fact that Philip has departed Mainz without telling you where he is headed, my lord.”
Cedric ignored his suggestion. “His flight explains so much. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner. Mariel insisted she w
as married to Philip, remember that.” Cedric groaned as though in pain. “Without my knowledge, Philip went to the convent to see Lady Mariel. When he realized you recognized him, he claimed to be traveling on my behalf. We think he was seeking to be with Lady Mariel for his own reasons. No wonder she was so afraid to return to Mainz. They betrayed me.”
Gilda bit her lip to keep from speaking. She suspected his anguish was affected for their benefit. Cedric wanted nothing to do with the woman he married, and now he pretended to be distraught because she had betrayed him. If what he claimed was true, he had only himself to blame for sending Philip to stand in for him at his marriage. Fortunately, she heard Justin speaking words that voiced her own feelings.
“This matter needs to be investigated, my lord. Although it may look bad for Philip, I don’t think you should be so quick to accuse your brother. It was you who sent him in your stead for the marriage. Philip may have done nothing more than form a friendship with Lady Mariel.”
The bishop was the one to answer. “The facts speak for themselves, Lord Justin. Philip fled because he is guilty of betraying his brother. I believe the count should report the situation to the archbishop and end this investigation.”
Justin addressed the count. “I strongly disagree, my lord. Philip has only been gone a short time. You shouldn’t leap to the conclusion that he has fled. All you have to go on is your own interpretation of the facts. Sister Gilda and I will return to the Convent at Saint Ives to speak with Lady Mariel. If we find evidence to support your conclusions, we will report the situation to the archbishop.”
The count looked doubtful and glanced toward the bishop, who still appeared determined. “We think there is enough evidence to go to the archbishop now, Lord Justin,” Cedric said, although he didn’t sound as sure of himself as he had earlier.
“You could do that, Cedric. But consider this. The archbishop is expecting us to determine the merits of your request for an annulment. If we report in your favor, the case will be much stronger. If you go on your own, your report of a betrayal by your brother might be considered biased. As you know, the king is determined that marriages be for life and that the church fathers only grant annulments for specific reasons. You are going to need a strong case, and our support could very well be vital in ensuring the outcome you desire.”
Gilda watched the effect that Justin’s argument had on the two powerful men. They had been sure they had the evidence they needed to obtain their goal. But now the bishop’s smirk was gone, and he appeared thoughtful.
“You’ll return to the convent and question Lady Mariel?” Cedric asked.
“Yes. We have more information now and should be able to determine what is behind Lady Mariel’s flight. I know that you are impatient to have things settled, but the archbishop is going to want to know all the facts. I sincerely believe it’s in your best interest to allow us to continue our investigation.”
Gunthar wasn’t ready to give in completely. “You talked with Philip, and you’ve heard what we believe. You must credit that there is merit to our suspicions.”
“I learned a long time ago that things are not always what they seem, your grace. You may have reason to be suspicious, but I don’t believe you should act on suspicion alone. A young man’s life is at stake here. As I said before, someone who has no personal interest in the outcome of the investigation can most forcefully present the facts. That’s why we were appointed in the first place. I assure you we will find the truth and report it to the archbishop.”
Justin’s words were met by silence, and Gilda held her breath. When the bishop nodded to the count, she knew Justin had won them over to his view. She prayed they would stay convinced until she and Justin had a chance to talk to Mariel.
“I will leave the situation in your hands, Lord Justin,” Cedric conceded. “But I can’t tell you how upset I am by this betrayal. I have always treated Philip as a brother, in spite of the fact that we have different mothers.”
“Try and keep an open mind, my lord,” Justin urged. “If you love your brother, you will surely want to believe him innocent until proven otherwise. His future is at stake.”
“Of course, you are right,” Cedric replied, attempting to sound sincere.
Back in their chambers once again, Gilda watched Justin pace the floor. “What’s the matter, Justin?”
“I don’t like the way things are working out. Gunthar is prepared to brand Lady Mariel and Philip adulterers and win Cedric his annulment. The count seems prepared to go along with him. I have stalled them from acting for a while, but I’m not sure how long they will be patient. If Cedric really cared for Philip, I’d feel better. What do you think?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I think Cedric is sincere in his regard for his brother. He gives you all the right answers. Other times I feel he is playing a game. He’s much more skilled than the bishop at hiding his feelings.”
“What bothers me most, Gilda, is that what they say may be true. You said Mariel was worried she was pregnant.”
“Yes, but I think you’re right to want to wait until we can talk to Mariel. There have already been several surprises in this case, and I’m still suspicious of the count.”
Later, when Chetwynd arrived in their chambers, he found Gilda and Justin in a thoughtful mood. “New developments in the investigation?” he asked in a cheerful tone.
“You might say that. Tell us about your visit with Lord Metcalf. Gilda and I need a distraction.”
“The old warrior may be on his last legs, but he greeted me warmly. Mostly I think he wanted someone to talk to about the good old days when Charlemagne was alive. He said things were simpler when there was a strong leader in charge. He made me nostalgic for the old days I never experienced.”
“We were led to believe he is on his death bed,” Gilda said as she watched her brother settling himself on a bench and stretching out his long legs. “That’s why he is now eager to find a husband for Lady Emma.”
“Metcalf didn’t appear well. He has a lot of scars and is a bit hard to look at until you get used to him. His energy faded as we talked, and I was afraid to stay too long.”
Justin nodded. “That fits with what we have heard. Did you see Lady Emma?”
“I hinted several times that I’d like an introduction, but old Metcalf ignored me. She didn’t seem to be anywhere around. But as I was leaving the manor, I came upon a group of peasants tanning some hides. It’s a skill I admire, so I stayed to watch for a while. While I was there a beautiful woman on a magnificent horse raced by. One of the men muttered about another sighting of Lady Emma. I understood that I had seen the lady of the manor.”
Gilda perked up at his words. “A beautiful woman? Brother Arnulf said she has thirty years and keeps to herself. Tell us more.”
“I only had a glimpse, but her hair had come loose from its covering, and its russet color reminded me of turning leaves. Her face was lively with excitement. The lady was not alone.” Chetwynd dropped the last tantalizing aside with a satisfied smirk.
“You seem to have surmised a lot from what you call a glimpse,” Gilda said.
“Lady Emma didn’t even glance in my direction. I would say she was completely preoccupied, and the man she was with was equally engaged.”
“Are you trying to tell us that you think Lady Emma has a lover?” Justin asked.
“I don’t believe it,” Gilda said. “You’re making it up, Chetwynd.”
Her brother was laughing. “I thought you might be surprised. I spoke with the peasants about her. They were reluctant to speak at first, but one of the young women confirmed Lady Emma’s identity. It seems the change in the lady of the manor has surprised them all. Apparently, she has become quite animated of late.”
“If she has a lover, that doesn’t necessarily change what we know of the situation,” Justin pointed out. “Her father was the one negotiating the match with the bishop. Perhaps he wishes to separate her from an unsuitable love interest.”
“There is one other thing, Justin. Last night I met the young man who was racing with Lady Emma. He sat beside the count at the high table.”
“Philip!” Gilda and Justin spoke together.
“He hasn’t fled Mainz,” Gilda added.
“He didn’t tell the porter where he was going because he was meeting Lady Emma,” Justin added.
“Wait, wait. Let’s slow down,” Gilda pleaded. “Perhaps you misunderstood what you saw, Chetwynd. The discovery you made doesn’t fit in with anything we know about the situation. Philip is impulsive and energetic, and also quite young. We thought he might have been involved with Mariel.”
“I understand your problem, Gilda. But believe me, I know what I saw.”
“Lady Emma is a woman of thirty years, Chetwynd. He’s a young boy,” Justin pointed out.
“He’s not that young. I talked with Philip at breakfast this morning. He asked me a great number of questions about being a soldier in the service of the king and mentioned he had some training. He was very interested in my experiences. Perhaps he has been seeking advice from Metcalf and became acquainted with Lady Emma.”
“That’s possible,” Justin agreed.
“That may be how they met, but I’d be surprised if there wasn’t more to it. I can recognize when there is a special spark between two people.” Chetwynd looked meaningfully from Gilda to Justin.
Gilda ignored her brother’s suggestive look and spoke to Justin. “We have to rethink our assumptions. We can’t leave for Saint Ives without learning more about the situation here.”
“I’m wondering if Cedric and Gunthar have any idea of what’s going on. Would Metcalf have approached them to propose a match with Lady Emma if she was involved with someone else?”
“You know as well as I do that women have little to say in the arrangement of marriages.” Gilda frowned and shook her head. “Metcalf may not even know that Lady Emma and Philip are spending time together. Brother Arnulf, who seems well informed about everything, never suggested there was someone else paying court to Lady Emma.”