St. Martin le Grand, London
“This is most… unusual, my lord.” A man in woolen robes, well-dressed, spoke calmly. “I’ve not had a request like this before, ever, that I can recall.”
In the small church that belonged to the bishop of St. Martin le Grand near St. Paul’s Cathedral, Christopher and Dustin were speaking with the Bishop of London, William of Sainte-Mère-Église. They had chosen this bishop for two very good reasons – Christopher had known William for many years and he was one of the men who had located King Richard when he’d been taken hostage on his journey home from The Levant. Secondly, and probably most importantly, he was the Clerk of the Exchequer, a position that oversaw the Jewish bankers and businesses in London.
He understood the people and the religion.
Haim had come with them to speak to the bishop because in Liora’s intention to convert, Haim wanted to understand the process and he also wanted the bishop to know that his daughter had his permission. He had to admit that he was very curious about the church that was part of St. Martin le Grand’s liberty, or district, something he’d walked past many times but had never been inside.
The church itself was part of the greater district of St. Martin le Grand, part of a college of secular canons that had a church attached to it dedicated to St. Martin. It was a little church, but important in London, which was also why Christopher had chosen it. He and Dustin had come along with Peter, Liora, Haim, Alexander, and Christin to discuss Liora’s conversion and marriage to Peter.
But William the Bishop, or Wooley as his friends called him, didn’t seem too certain.
“I understand this is unusual,” Christopher agreed. “But these are unusual times and unusual circumstances. I further realize conversion into the Catholic Church is lengthy, and it is a process, but it is something we do not have time for. My son and his lady wish to marry because he is heading to Ludlow Castle imminently. We simply do not have time for the usual conversion process.”
Wooley eyed Christopher with what some thought might be annoyance. There was certainly doubt there.
“I see,” he said. “You must understand that there is a reason for the process, Chris. The person converting must be certain he, or she, is ready to accept the sacrament. It is not something we can simply hurry along because your son wants to take a wife.”
Christopher sighed faintly, looking at his wife, who was about to go into pleading mode. Having met Liora two days earlier, along with Christin and the rest of the family, Dustin had very quickly come to like the beautiful young woman with the quick wit. She could see, quite easily, why Peter was so smitten and Christin positively adored the woman, all after only two days. Christin and Liora seemed to have a good deal in common and the same quick-witted humor besides the fact that they were the same age. Looking over Dustin’s head, he could see that Christin was ready to go to battle for Liora, too.
It was going to be a struggle for him to keep control of the situation if the women got involved.
After that, William would be lucky if he survived it.
“Wooley, I understand it is your duty to uphold the integrity of the church, but look at who we are speaking of,” he said, gesturing to Liora and her father, standing next to her. “You know Haim ben Thad. You know that he is a fair and just man, correct?”
By virtue of his clerkship, William did indeed known Haim. “Aye,” he said. “He has always had a fair reputation. That is not in doubt.”
Christopher gestured to Liora. “And his daughter has her father’s character and sensibilities,” he said. “She would like to convert to Christianity so that she and Peter can marry. She is a pious, gentle girl who would like to become a Christian to be with the man she loves. You can give the Rite of Reception and Acceptance into the church now so that they can be married. She can continue her education once they reach Ludlow and she will be baptized by the Bishop of Hereford at that time. Everything else she must do to be fully accepted can come after that.”
William looked at him in exasperation. “It is so much more than that,” he said. “There are rites and blessings and a period of Purification and Enlightenment. One does not simply walk into a church and declare they want to be baptized a Catholic and expect it to happen immediately.”
“I am,” Liora said, stepping away from her father and from Peter, her pale gaze fixed on the bishop. “My lord, I realize this is most unusual and that we are asking a great deal, but you must understand something – I was born a Jew. I have been content in my religion. I do not disparage it in any way, but God brought Peter to me because I believe He knew I was needed somewhere other than where I was. At my parents’ home, I was content to tend to my chores, to talk to my friends, and to worship at temple. But Peter came into my life and coming to know him, and love him, he has shown me a life I never knew to exist. It is a life where I am needed, by his side, because I firmly believe God has brought us together. He has brought me to this church today to ask you to help us begin that process. Will you help us?”
She was well-spoken and articulate, and Peter smiled proudly at her. But William was focused on her, on what she was requesting.
“Conversion is not a simple matter, my lady,” he said politely. “It cannot be rushed. It takes time and consideration. There are a great many steps to take.”
“And I am willing to take them all if you will simply do as Hereford has asked and give me the rites that will allow Peter and me to be married in the eyes of the church.”
“You must be baptized before that can happen, my lady. I am sorry, but those are the rules.”
“Then baptize me,” she said, growing emotional and trying not to. “You see, three days ago, Peter saved my life and the life of my father. He risked himself with the king in order to save us. If that is not devotion and selflessness, the kind of actions that God Himself preaches, then I don’t know what is. Now, he is being sent to the Marches because the king is moving against his own warlords. You know what that means, my lord. You understand that he will be in danger and I will not be by his side to help him and to tend to him if needed. Not only do I love him, but I owe him my very life. If I stand before you and swear to surrender the faith I was born into, will you baptize me and let us be married?”
By the time she was finished, she was starting to tear up. Peter went to stand next to her, putting his arm round her shoulders comfortingly, before looking at the bishop.
“Please, my lord,” he begged softly. “We will do whatever you tell us to do, but please make it so that we may marry.”
William was starting to weaken and he wasn’t happy about it. Christopher could see that by the look on his face and he stepped in for one final blow to the man’s resistance.
“I will sponsor her,” he said. “You know my reputation and what I stand for. No man will question Liora’s faith if I sponsor her. Wooley, we need your help. While in The Levant, I saw priests baptizing men who wished to convert and there was no Catechism or Religious rights. They said a blessing and baptized them, calling them converts. You know this to be true because, I believe, you were one of those converting those men.”
William looked at Christopher with a look that suggested the man was utterly ridiculous, but utterly right. “You know I was there,” he said, snappish. “You fended off an attack of some infidels and saved my life.”
Christopher fought off a grin. “I know.”
“Are you saying that I now must repay that debt?”
Christopher merely shrugged, but he was grinning and William knew he was licked. With a growl of frustration, he rolled his eyes.
“Very well,” he said. “Since we are the only witnesses here, I will say that she renounced her faith and I will baptize her, but you must make sure she is religiously educated in every aspect. Do you understand me?”
As Christopher nodded, Dustin rushed towards the bishop. “I will see to it myself,” she said. “I will make sure she is fully educated and knows everything she must know. But thank you… you can
not know what this means to our family.”
He grunted. “I know what it means,” he said. “It means that if the truth is made known, I will be in a good deal of trouble and your marriage will probably be declared invalid, so make sure no one knows we did this backwards. Peter gets his wife and I no longer owe your wily husband anything.”
Christopher started laughing. “Not to worry,” he said. “For all anyone will know, this was done the way it is supposed to be done.”
William eyed Christopher with irritation before turning his full focus to Liora. Dressed in a mustard-yellow garment with a beautiful, embroidered belt around her hips and a green scarf around her head and shoulders, he stood in front of her, inspecting her for a moment. He could see why she had Peter so entranced, for there was nothing about her that was imperfect.
Aye, he understood perfectly.
“Take off the scarf,” he told her.
Liora did, but she was uncomfortable doing that. She always wore a scarf for modesty, as dictated by her religion. William could see that she was a little uneasy and he understood why. He was a man who understood a great deal about not only his religion, but others. Forgetting his annoyance with the de Lohrs, he focused on bringing yet another convert into the religion he’d dedicated his life to.
“In the Christian world, maidens are usually signified by leaving their head bare,” he said. “It is the married women who cover their heads. I know it is different for you, but if you wish to become Christian, then you must start to think like one. This is truly what you want, is it?”
Liora nodded firmly. “It is, my lord.”
She didn’t know enough to realize that priests weren’t addressed in such a fashion, but William let it go. Her education would come soon enough about such things. He looked over at Haim, standing small a few feet away.
“And you?” he said. “Is this what you want for her?”
Haim’s gaze moved to his eldest, his elegant daughter. He hadn’t yet told Gideon that a knight had taken Liora away from him, but that would come. He knew he had quite a bit of explaining to do when people realized his daughter had left their religion in order to marry a knight. Such things were frowned upon, but Haim loved his daughter enough to want her to be happy.
He’d reconciled himself to such things.
“Someone told me once that although I could not live my child’s life for her, I could still support her,” he said. “My religion, like yours, dictates harshly at times. But the laws were dictated by men without children, I think. I can condemn my daughter or I can support her, and I do not think God would be disappointed in me if I support her. This is Liora’s choice. She is choosing the man she loves and she is choosing to worship God in a different way. As she pointed out, Christians and Jews worship the same God. I do not think He will mind. I hope not, anyway.”
William smiled faintly at the pragmatic, if not parental point of view. “It will not be easy on you,” he said. “I know that the Jewish community can be… strict about such things.”
Haim lifted his shoulders. “It does not make me any less Jewish that my daughter chose to worship God the way her husband will,” he said. “God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, and Abraham obeyed. He loved his God, he loved his child, but he was still willing to do what was asked of him even to the death of his own child. I suppose in my own way, I love my child enough to give her over to God to do with as He pleases. Mayhap she is right – mayhap God did bring Peter to her. If I do not let her marry him, how will we know the truth?”
William laughed softly. “That is a good way of putting it,” he said. “God’s will is a mysterious thing. Mayhap this is God’s will for your daughter.”
“Those are my thoughts also. Mayhap He has something great planned for them both.”
Satisfied that the young woman’s father had given his blessing, William returned his attention to Liora as she stood before him with her scarf around her shoulders.
“Come with me,” he said.
Liora looked at Peter hesitantly, but Peter took her by the elbow and they followed William over to the elaborate baptismal font that was in an alcove near the altar. It was a stone font with a stone basin, carved with scenes from the Bible. Christopher, Dustin, Christin, Alexander, and Haim followed as well. William had Liora remove her scarf and hand it over to Dustin.
“Now, my lady,” he said. “You are to receive the sacrament of baptism that will enable you to marry Peter before he goes to the Marches. But we must make sure your heart is ready to accept this blessing. Are you prepared?”
“Aye, my lord.”
Peter leaned over her. “Call him ‘your grace’,” he murmured. When she looked at him questioningly, he smiled. “You can address him as ‘your grace’, not ‘my lord’.”
Properly corrected, Liora nodded quickly. “Forgive me,” she said. “I am ready, your grace.”
William fought off a grin at Peter already doing the husbandly thing by correcting her. “Do you relinquish your former faith in exchange for your new Christian faith?”
“I do, your grace.”
“Do you renounce all sin?”
“I do, your grace.”
“Do you promise to uphold God’s holy ordinance, ensuring that your children shall be raised in the Christian faith?”
She hesitated. “Does that mean I can never speak of the Jewish faith to my children?”
William shook his head. “You may speak of it,” he said. “You may even teach them if you wish. But they will be Christians. Is that clear?”
“It is, your grace.”
He continued. “Do you swear that God, above all, shall be worshipped and honored in the tradition of the Catholic Church for as long as you live?”
“I swear, your grace.”
“Very well,” William said, motioning her forward over the baptismal font. “Lean your head over the basin, my lady.”
Liora did as Peter held her thick braid back so it would not become wet. William put both hands into the basin of holy water and scooped up the liquid, pouring it over her head.
“Liora, child of God, I baptize you in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” he said as he poured water over her again. “May you be welcome into the Christian faith.”
He did it a third time, pouring the water over her head as he trickled it down her scalp and hair, and into her face before dripping back into the font.
“You may rise, my lady,” William told her.
Liora lifted her head and Dustin handed her back the scarf so she could dry her face and hair with it. Liora grinned as she dabbed at the water, with Dustin coming up to hug her. Christin came up as well, embracing her, welcoming her, as Peter turned to his father.
“Papa,” he whispered. “Do you think he will marry us now? We are already here. Would it be too much to ask?”
Christopher had his eyes on the priest. “We’d better ask him now while he still feels as if he owes me something,” he muttered. Then, he addressed William. “Wooley, one more thing. Peter and Liora wish to be married right away. Will you perform the mass?”
William had been walking away, glad to be rid of the pushy earl and the clandestine thing he’d just done, but he came to a halt. “Now?”
“Now. I will pay you handsomely, of course.”
Considering Hereford was very wealthy, William didn’t resist. He was already into this situation deep, so what was one more out-of-the-ordinary request? With a sigh, he simply lifted his shoulders and motioned them back towards the altar.
“Very well,” he said. “The bride has her father’s permission and the groom has his parents’ permission. Everyone is of age. I assume there is a dowry?”
Haim nodded as he came to stand behind his daughter, who was still drying her head and face. “One hundred marks of gold,” he said. “I also have jewelry I have been saving for her, worth a great deal, as well as three fine horses and a multitude of household items her mother has collecte
d for her. She comes well supplied.”
It was quite a dowry and William nodded, impressed. “I believe she is,” he said, but his focus remained on Haim. “Since you are unfamiliar with a Christian wedding ceremony, I would usually ask these questions at the door to the church before allowing everyone inside, but since we are already here, I will forego that part of the ceremony. Everyone on their knees, please.”
Down they all went, onto their knees, including Peter and Liora, together at the front. Peter held Liora’s hand as she knelt and continued to hold it even after he took a knee. William stood over them, looking down at the pair.
“Since this entire situation has been highly irregular and somewhat clandestine, this will not be a long ceremony,” he said. “I will begin with a prayer, you will say your vows, and I will bless the union. I will also not speak them in Latin for the benefit of our Jewish guest who, I would imagine, will not understand. Are there any questions?”
Peter and Liora shook their heads. William continued.
“Let us pray for peace and happiness as ordained by God,” he said.
“Lord, hear our prayer,” was the response from everyone but Liora and Haim.
“Let us pray that Peter and Liora are always surrounded by God’s love.”
“Lord, hear our prayer.”
“Let us pray for those in our lives who are sick and healing, may their road to recovery be blessed.”
“Lord, hear our prayer.”
William made the sign of the cross over the couple and turned to Liora. “Now, my lady,” he said. “Do you promise to honor and obey Peter, forsaking all others from this day forward, until the end of all things?”
Liora looked at Peter, a lump in her throat as the impact of his words hit her. She’d been waiting for this moment her entire life, as a young girl looking forward to marriage, but never did she imagine she would take her vows with a man she loved more deeply by the moment. It was all so surreal.
“I will.”
William looked at Peter. “And Peter, do you promise to honor and protect Liora, forsaking all others from this day forward until the end of all things?”
The Splendid Hour: The Executioner Knights Book 7 Page 31