by Ida Curtis
His eyebrows rose. “Oh, is that all I have to do?”
“You’ll think of something. We can’t leave him here. It won’t be long before Cedric learns of his attachment to Emma.”
“The young fool could use some time alone to think about the consequences of his actions. But I suppose you’re right to think he’s not safe here.”
They were so intent on their conversation that they didn’t notice that Philip had sat up until he spoke. “If you can get me out of here, Lady Emma will hide me.”
“No!” they answered together.
“Philip, the only way I can move you from Mainz is to convince your brother that I need your help with Mariel. Gilda is right about that. But we’re not going to rescue you from here to let you hurl yourself into more danger.”
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to protect me.” Philip stood up as he spoke, but the quick motion caused him to sway unsteadily.
Justin shook his head in disgust. “Gilda, say something to this idiot.”
“Sit down, Philip.” She encouraged him by putting her hand on his shoulder and pushing him back on the bench. “You’ll have no chance to win permission from Metcalf to marry Lady Emma if you are accused of betraying your brother. Cedric can keep you in here forever with accusations that you seduced Lady Mariel. We have to make him believe we need you to clear up that situation.”
Philip frowned. “How are you going to do that?”
Justin was the one to answer. “By bringing you and Lady Mariel together. That’s the argument I can use with Cedric. The annulment of his marriage is his primary goal. He doesn’t have to know that we doubt his theory that you and Mariel were lovers.”
Gilda nodded. “I’m sure Justin can convince him. I will stay here while he talks to Cedric.”
Justin shook his head violently. “No, you will not! I’m not leaving you here, Gilda. Don’t even think about it.”
“It’s the only way we can be sure that Philip will be safe. You know that as well as I do. The sooner you approach Cedric, the sooner you can get us both out of here.”
Justin looked at the dirty straw strewn about on the floor and the smelly pot sitting in the corner. Gilda sat down on the bench beside Philip and folded her hands in her lap. Justin suspected that if he meant to remove her, he’d have to drag her from the cell. He was chagrined to see that Philip had an amused expression on his face.
“I don’t like it, Gilda,” Justin grumbled.
“Don’t worry, I know you’ll succeed. You have a better chance of convincing Cedric on your own. I seem to make him uneasy.”
“I don’t care how uneasy you make him. I’m concerned about leaving you here.” He glared at Philip. “You take care of her.” Justin was not a violent man, but he thought he could easily tear the young lad apart if anything happened to Gilda.
Philip nodded. “I’ll guard her,” he pronounced with boyish enthusiasm.
Justin narrowed his eyes and then, without moving toward it, stared at the door. Finally, he clasped Gilda by the hand and pulled her up from the bench. Gilda was afraid he was going to drag her from the cell, but instead he embraced her. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he whispered.
When Justin had departed, Philip said, “Is he always so intense?”
Moved by Justin’s embrace, Gilda didn’t reply for a minute. Then she said, “Justin is serious about everything, which is what makes him so very effective. How do you feel?”
Philip lifted his hand to his forehead. “I have a little headache. Do you really think Lord Justin can persuade my brother to let me leave with you? I’d hate to spend too much more time locked up.”
For the first time Gilda sensed the fear he kept so well hidden. “Of course he can. Don’t worry.” She changed the subject. “Tell me about Lady Emma.”
At once Philip’s face relaxed into dreamy contentment. “Emma is the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. When I was ten, I followed her around as she managed her father’s estate, and she was incredibly patient with me. She used to laugh when I told her I wanted to marry her, but she did it kindly. We were both lonely, and I appreciated her friendship. This spring, I noticed that she started to look at me in a different way.” He grinned.
He was a handsome, well-made lad; Gilda could imagine Emma taking note of the change he must have undergone. “And she started to take you seriously?”
“Emma fought it at first, but I was persistent. I wore her down. Then her father decides to marry her off. It’s so unfair. The old man kept her to himself all those years. I’m sure he only let me hang around because he thought I was no threat.”
“And Cedric never knew how you felt about Emma?”
“No. We weren’t close, and I didn’t confide in him. I was sure he’d laugh. Cedric assumed it was the old warrior I went to see, and I encouraged his belief. Metcalf gave me some training, and I told Cedric I wanted to be a soldier.”
Losing his enthusiasm, Philip leaned his head back against the wall. “Emma can’t marry my brother,” he whispered.
Gilda suspected that wasn’t true. “Do you really wish to become a soldier, Philip?”
He nodded, but he had closed his eyes. Clearly, he wasn’t interested in talking anymore. Gilda reached over to him. “Put your head on my lap, Philip.”
She thought he would object, but he paused only a moment before doing as she suggested. He was soon asleep. Gilda leaned her own head against the wall and realized she was hungry. She was missing supper, and she fervently hoped Justin wouldn’t be too long.
Justin returned to find both inhabitants of the cell asleep. Gilda’s head covering was holding her head in place against the wall, and her face was tipped upward. He might have thought she was praying if he didn’t know better. Philip looked entirely too comfortable. Justin clenched his teeth to keep from grabbing his shirt and pulling him forcibly from his position nestled on Gilda’s lap. Instead he patted him gently on his shoulder.
Philip jerked upward, then put his hand to his head. Gilda had opened her eyes. “Are you all right?” she asked Philip.
“He’s fine,” Justin said. “We have to get Philip out of here.”
Gilda blinked her eyes at him, then leaped up and hugged him. “You did it. I knew you would get us out of here.”
In spite of his hurry to rescue them from the dungeon, Justin pulled her closer and slid his hands up under her veil to her hair. It had been difficult to talk Cedric into allowing Philip to travel with them, and he had feared Gilda would refuse to leave the cell if he had failed. That fact had given him extra incentive to persuade Cedric. When he saw that Philip was grinning at them, he released his hold on Gilda.
“What happened?” she asked.
“I’ll tell you about it later. Right now, I want to get you out of here. We’ll talk in our rooms.”
Because Gilda read the urgency in Justin’s expression, she didn’t say anything further. As all three left the cell, Philip watched the guard, clearly afraid he would be stopped any minute. Only when they were safely behind a closed door did Philip relax and look to Justin for an explanation.
Justin addressed Gilda. “Cedric has agreed to let us take Philip with us. But I’m worried. Any minute he could find out about Emma and Philip. He’s going to be angry, and there is no telling what his next step will be. Rather than wait until morning, I think we should leave for Saint Ives tonight.”
“But Philip’s been hurt. He could use a night’s rest before we leave,” Gilda pointed out.
“I’m fine, Sister. I think Lord Justin is right. We need to leave now.”
Having the impulsive Philip agree with him did not reassure Justin. He could see that the cut on Philip’s jaw was still red and raw looking. “You said before that Lady Emma would hide you. Just how could she manage that?”
“There is a secluded cottage on the manor. We have used it many times. The tenant farmers who live nearby are devoted to Emma and won’t give us away.” Philip was grinning
widely at the thought of seeing Emma.
“What are you thinking, Justin?” Gilda asked.
“Philip and I could spend the night at this cottage, then be on our way in the morning. That way Philip will be out of Cedric’s reach. You and the rest of our party can start out tomorrow morning, and we’ll arrange a place to meet on the way to Saint Ives.”
“It sounds like a good plan. But I want to go with you tonight, Justin.”
“That won’t work, Gilda. We’d have to take Freda with us if you’re going. It’s best that you stay with the others.”
Gilda knew it would be inappropriate for a young nun to travel alone with two men. If for some reason they didn’t meet up with the others as planned, she would draw unwanted attention to herself.
“I want to keep an eye on Philip’s injury,” she said. “I’ll borrow some of Philip’s clothes and travel as a lad.”
Justin knew it wasn’t the first time Gilda had discarded her habit and donned a disguise. The first time he saw her she was dressed as a noblewoman to help her brother. He remembered how angry he had been to discover she was a nun. The elegant noblewoman had caught his eye, and he realized now that he had been deeply disappointed to find she was unavailable.
Before Justin could reply, Philip asked in a disbelieving tone, “Are you going to let her do that?”
Gilda narrowed her eyes at the young man, and Justin laughed. He was learning it was futile to argue with her if she felt strongly about something. His guess was that this was one of those cases. “Sister Gilda is my partner. We have to stay together.” As he answered Philip, Justin wondered what Gilda would look like dressed as a lad.
“I’ll go with Philip to find some clothes for you, Gilda. You inform Leonardo and Freda of our plan. They should be in the great hall. Also gather some food, in case there is nothing to eat at the cottage.”
“Good idea,” Gilda replied, beaming at Justin. She had been prepared for an argument about accompanying them and was more than a little surprised when she didn’t receive one.
Later in the dining hall, even Sister Freda seemed resigned to the plan. “I think you’re right to rush Philip away from here,” Freda said after she heard Gilda’s explanation. “Lord Cedric is glaring in our direction. Perhaps we have overstayed our welcome.”
Gilda had kept her eyes from looking toward the high table, but now she stole a glance and grimaced at the expression on Cedric’s face. “Will you be all right traveling with Leonardo until we meet up tomorrow?”
“Of course. But I draw the line at dressing as a man. At my age I attract no attention. Don’t concern yourself. We’ll meet up with you soon enough. Just be careful, Gilda.”
“I have Justin with me.”
Freda searched Gilda’s face and must have seen something that disturbed her. “As I said, be careful.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
As Philip had promised, the cottage he led them to was secluded. Tall trees blocked out the light from the moon and stars, and Justin wasn’t sure he would be able to find his way back even in the daylight. But Philip must have memorized the winding route, as he guided them skillfully to a small clearing. No doubt it was a place he used often to meet Lady Emma.
Inside, the thatched-roof cottage was divided into two rooms, and the main one had a rustic fireplace. Because the spring evening was cool, Justin set a fire going while Philip took care of the horses. Justin checked to see that the shutters at the windows were closed, then watched Gilda open the sack of provisions and spread the food out in front of the fire. He knew that from a distance no one but he would recognize that Gilda was a woman. Her hair was securely captured under a woolen cap, and one of Philip’s doublets hung loosely on her body. The only possible giveaways to close scrutiny were her face, which was much too sweet even for a young lad, and her legs, whose form in the clingy tights drew his notice. Although boots covered her slim ankles, the shape of her thighs and calves were definitely feminine.
When Philip entered the cottage, Justin tore his eyes away from Gilda. “It’s cool outside,” he said, to cover the fact that he had been studying Gilda. Philip nodded and flopped down on the floor by the fire. He sat with his legs bent and crossed in front of him. Gilda observed the way Philip was seated and imitated his position.
They ate the bread, roasted fowl, and fruit they carried with them in silence until their hunger had been sated, each busy with private thoughts. Philip was the first to speak. “How did you persuade my brother to release me from the dungeon, Lord Justin?”
“The count is eager to have his annulment, so I appealed to his desire to have an end to our investigation. He is sure we will learn that Lady Mariel was unfaithful and you were her partner. He seemed pleased when I went along with his thoughts on the matter.”
A stricken look clouded the young man’s face. “I hope you were pretending to believe that story. I befriended the lady, but I didn’t bed her.”
“To tell you the truth, Philip, I don’t know what to believe. But I intend to discover the truth.”
Justin’s voice betrayed his impatience, and Gilda saw that Philip appeared even more downcast. Although she didn’t want to contradict Justin’s words, she spoke gently to comfort Philip. “Perhaps you should get some rest, Philip. We’ll have to leave early tomorrow for Saint Ives.”
“I hope you believe me, Sister Gilda. Compared to Lady Emma, Mariel is a child. I would never touch her.”
Gilda felt Justin’s eyes on her. “We have to keep an open mind while looking into this matter, Philip. That doesn’t mean we believe you are guilty of anything.”
Philip seemed only slightly reassured. “There’s a small room at the back. I’ll sleep there. You two can settle in front of the fire.” Then before leaving he appealed one last time to both Justin and Gilda. “You will discover that I showed Mariel nothing but friendship.”
Gilda watched Philip close the door behind him. “Why were you so impatient with him, Justin?” she whispered when they were alone.
“If Mariel feared she might be pregnant, someone lay with her. I think Philip is the most likely person. He has charming ways, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
His terse tone of voice made Gilda ask, “What do you mean by that?”
“You know what I mean, Gilda. You stayed in the cell with him, and I found him asleep on your lap when I returned. A charming sight.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” she chided.
Justin knew she was right. He was tired and jealous. In addition, he had to fight the urge to pull off her cap and gather her into his arms. Chetwynd had warned him to be patient, but it wasn’t easy. His frustration was causing him to behave irrationally. He prided himself on being a man of reason, but lately his emotions seemed to be running wild.
“I’m sorry, Gilda. But consider this. Philip is a young man with impulsive urges. Mariel is a beautiful young woman. When men and women are thrown together in intimate circumstances, it’s natural to be tempted.”
“Tempted,” she repeated. She stared into his eyes and realized he was speaking of himself as well as Philip.
When Gilda turned away from him, Justin knew he had revealed more than he meant to. “It’s been a long day,” he said. “Settle your blanket in front of the fire. I’ll go to the other side of the room. Do you wish to go outside first?”
Gilda nodded and hurried out. When it was his turn, Justin stayed outside as long as he could, giving himself time to get his feelings under control. When he returned to the cottage, Gilda appeared to be asleep. He could see that she had removed her cap, and her hair resembled a pile of gold as the light from the fire flickered upon it. When he settled on his blanket with his back turned to her, the shine of her hair and the gentle curve of her body appeared behind his closed eyelids.
Justin’s groan caused Gilda to burrow deeper into her blankets. She knew that if she went to him, there would be no denying the need she felt to be wrapped in his arms. In order to fight temptation, she reminded h
erself that Philip was in the next room.
Gilda wasn’t sure how much later she heard a noise and felt a draft. Turning her head, she saw the cottage door slowly closing. It seemed odd to her that Justin would go outside, and she got up to have a look. On her way to the window, she saw that Justin was still asleep on the floor and knew at once that it was Philip who had left the cottage.
Instead of waking Justin immediately, she gave in to the temptation to study his face. He lay on his side, and his dark, curly hair hung over his eyes. Crouching beside him she gently pushed the hair back from his face, then held it there so she could see better. Concentrating on his full lips, it was a few seconds before she realized his eyes had opened. Without a word he rolled to his back, reached out, and pulled her down on top of him.
The fire had died down, but there was enough light for Gilda to see his sleepy, half-closed eyes. He hesitated only a second before placing his hands on either side of her face and slowly moving her closer until his lips met hers. His gentle kiss was different from any he had given her before. He opened his mouth and slowly teased her lips with his tongue until she opened up and accepted it into her own mouth.
The kiss went on and on as he drank from her lips and encouraged her to respond. Gilda lost herself to the dreamlike sensation. He was making love to her mouth, and she was soon imitating his thrusts. She heard a purring sound and wasn’t sure which one of them it was coming from. The desire to have their bodies as fused as their mouths made her move restlessly on top of him. She wanted to feel the heat of him.
Suddenly Justin lifted her face away from his, and when she tried to regain his mouth, he held her face above him. “This isn’t a dream, is it?” he whispered.
“Just kiss me,” she pleaded, then became aware of what he was asking.
Gilda propelled herself off him with such force that she bumped her sore hip on the hard floor. “Ohhh,” she whimpered. “I’m no good at this.”
“Believe me, you’re very good at this. But Philip is in the next room.”