Song of Isabel

by Ida Curtis

  Before answering, Isabel stood up and looked around for the first time. She could see the garden was laid out in a small maze made up of shoulder-height bushes. As she headed down the path, she found shrines set in some of the corners, as well as benches where strollers could rest. Following the path, Isabel told Gilda how much she enjoyed being at Aquis.

  “I had no idea the manor would be so beautiful. Chetwynd was modest in his description. We were fortunate to be there during the grape harvest. It was a happy time, and I learned how to cut and stomp grapes. Everyone made me feel at home.”

  A good listener, Gilda let Isabel talk. When they came to the center of the maze, they turned and started back to the beginning. “This is a wonderful garden, Gilda. It’s very peaceful.”

  “I’m glad you like it. This garden is my favorite place in Aachen. I know everyone talks about the church that Charlemagne built to imitate Roman cathedrals, but for me there is more peace and communion with God to be had in this small, walled-in garden. I hope it’s not heresy to say that,” she finished with a grin.

  Isabel grinned back at her. “You are the most unusual nun I’ve ever met, Gilda.”

  “And do you know a lot of nuns?” Gilda teased her.

  Isabel laughed. “No, I don’t. I just had a notion about what nuns are like. Very serious, prayed a lot. That type of thing.”

  “Yes, most people make assumptions about us. Like every group of people, each of us is a little different. Perhaps I’m a little more different than most.”

  Gilda had observed how animated Isabel was when she talked about Aquis. “Tell me something, Isabel. Has my brother made you his wife yet?”

  Isabel pretended to be shocked by her question. “Marianna wanted to know the same thing. And before that, Justin asked if we were living as brother and sister. I didn’t expect to hear the same query from a nun.”

  “Why don’t you just answer the question?”

  Isabel laughed again. “Yes. Chetwynd finally bedded me. Now everyone knows.”

  “Good. I never saw two people better matched.”

  Suddenly both women were silent, as they remembered where Chetwynd was. Gilda took Isabel’s hand. “Let’s sit here,” she said, pointing to a bench. “There is a patch of herbs planted around the seat. Today you can smell the mint, but different fragrances dominate at different times of the year.” They were quiet for a few minutes, enjoying the quiet oasis.

  “I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to Chetwynd, Gilda. We’ve had so little time together.”

  “I’ll not try to convince you there isn’t any danger. But it won’t be long before the king and queen return to Aachen. When they do, Justin will approach the king and I will speak with Judith. Your brother is not going to let anything happen to Chetwynd. If Lothar is wise, he won’t do anything in the meantime.”

  “How wise is he? Several people have said he is easy to anger.”

  “Let’s try and find out why that is,” Gilda suggested. “That’s something we can do. Maybe we’ll see Lothar in the great hall and can judge whether he has settled down. There might be some talk to give us a clue. We should hurry along to supper, before Ingram sends poor Jerome in here.”

  As they stood up, Isabel said, “Marianna has gone to see what she can learn in the kitchen.”

  “An excellent place to hear things. As is the dining hall. But we have to be careful. We don’t want to do anything to attract attention to ourselves. If Lothar discovers who you are, he can use you to threaten Chetwynd,” Gilda reminded Isabel.

  “Do you think he’d do that?”

  “I have no idea. But if Lothar was involved in kidnapping you to delay Chetwynd’s arrival at court, he won’t hesitate to use you again. Let’s go and see what we can find out.”

  “If you’re with me, you’re going to stand out in your brown robe, Gilda. Lothar may know Chetwynd’s sister is a nun. You’d be no safer than I would.”

  “You’re right. We’ll stop in my chamber and I’ll change.”

  In Gilda’s tiny room, Isabel sat on the narrow bed and watched Gilda remove her habit. When she took off her head covering, Isabel almost gasped at the sight of Gilda’s long blond tresses. Isabel had thought Gilda’s serene face was beautiful, but the sight of her golden hair, so like Chetwynd’s, made her realize just how lovely Gilda was.

  “Are you supposed to doff your habit, Gilda?”

  “I haven’t taken my final vows, and there is no rule against it. I’ll tell you a secret. I keep a spare set of clothes in case I want to roam about without being recognized as a nun. I got the idea from another nun who used to do the same thing when she wanted to investigate some abuse against a woman. She confided that she was approached in an entirely different manner when she wasn’t wearing her habit.”

  “I can believe that,” Isabel muttered as she saw Gilda transformed. Her dark-green gown was plain, but even the modest neckline couldn’t hide the shape of her breasts, and her golden hair showed through her veil. There was no disguising her beauty.

  “There. Now we are ready to see what we can find out,” Gilda said.

  IN THE DUNGEON, LORD CHETWYND HAD WORN himself out worrying about what Isabel might do. His shouts for a guard had not been answered, and his pacing was unsatisfying in the small cell. Since the dirty straw on the floor was uninviting, he stretched out on the bench. It wasn’t long enough to accommodate his length, and he had to bend his legs to lie on his back. He was used to sleeping in uncomfortable places, but his active mind kept him from doing more than dozing.

  Chetwynd had his eyes closed when he heard a man’s voice outside his cell. He sat up quickly hoping it was Justin. Since the voice was deep and unfamiliar, he assumed the man was a guard. Rather than call out, he listened to the conversation and wondered if this might be his chance to have a message delivered to Justin.

  “Only one prisoner on this level, Herlinda,” the guard was explaining. “Some unfortunate lord who angered Lothar.”

  “Let’s leave Dacia to deliver his food so you and I can be alone, Will. She won’t mind.” The woman’s voice had a seductive quality to it.

  “Tempting as that sounds, I can’t do that. Why’d you bring her along?”

  Ignoring his question, she said, “Dacia’s not going to let him loose. You can lock her in with him. We need a bit of time to ourselves.”

  “You’ll get me in trouble yet,” the guard grumbled.

  “It’ll be worth your while,” she replied with a laugh.

  The guard unlocked the door to the cell, and a serving maid stepped inside before the door closed. Chetwynd heard the bolt slide into place.

  Although surprised to hear that a woman was being left behind, Chetwynd immediately wondered how this event might suit his purpose. Afraid that Isabel might make some attempt to seek information, he was desperate to get a message to Justin to warn him to keep an eye on her. In the past, she had shown she was willing to act on her own if she thought it was necessary. The serving woman might be easier to bribe than the guard.

  Torches had been lit outside his cell, but it was still dim within. The woman stayed by the door, clutching a pail in her hands, and Chetwynd wondered if she was frightened. He stayed seated so as not to alarm her, thinking about what he would say. Only after the others had moved away did she start toward him. In spite of the poor light and drab clothing, Chetwynd recognized the shape and movements immediately and shot to his feet.

  “Good lord, what have you done?” he whispered. Isabel dropped the pail when he moved toward her, gathering her into his arms in one sweeping motion. His embrace was so tight she couldn’t speak.

  After a minute, Chetwynd held her away. His hands were on her shoulders, and he shook her. “What in God’s name are you doing? Does Justin know you’re here?” he whispered.

  Isabel rushed to assure him. “No, no, don’t worry. No one knows.”

  “This is supposed to make me not worry?” He would have shouted if he could.
>
  “I had to make sure you were unharmed,” she said, raising her hands to his dear face. “I didn’t tell Justin, as he would have stopped me. It was a quick decision. I was in the kitchen with Marianna when Herlinda left to deliver food.”

  He pushed her hands from his face. “I knew it. I knew you would try something. That was a demented thing to do. How could those women let you come in here?”

  Taken aback by his fierce reaction, Isabel defended her friends. “It wasn’t their fault, Chetwynd. I talked them into it. I had to see you. It’s safe enough. I won’t stay long. No one pays any attention to the women who bring food to the prisoners. Please don’t waste our time together being angry with me.”

  Instead of replying, he caught her up in his arms again. He was gentler this time as he pulled her body against his own. “I’m not angry; I’m worried. I don’t want you locked in a dungeon.”

  “You sound angry.”

  He shook his head. “Do you have any idea the chance you’re taking, Isabel? Trust Justin to take care of this. Once you leave this cell, promise me you will not try anything else.”

  With tears gathering in her eyes, Isabel nodded. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Chetwynd. Perhaps I should have stayed away, but all I could think of was seeing you and making sure you were not harmed. I had to come.”

  “Oh, Isabel,” he sighed.

  “Let me finish, Chetwynd. When I discovered that Herlinda was leaving for the dungeon, I persuaded her to take me along. I had to talk Marianna into it, but Herlinda thought of it as a prank. She said there’d be no danger. Now that I see you’re all right, I’ll do as you say and wait for Justin to free you. Please don’t be upset.”

  In spite of his horror that she had taken such a chance, Chetwynd was moved by her words. “It’s all right, my love. If I sound angry, it’s because I’m frightened out of my mind. There aren’t many things that frighten me this much, but clearly thinking of you in danger exceeds them all.”

  Isabel breathed a sigh of relief as Chetwynd tenderly removed her drab head covering and buried his face in her neck so he could inhale the sweet smell of her. For a minute he was able to forget where they were, and he moved his mouth to capture her lips in a hungry kiss.

  When his kiss became tender, she whispered against his lips, “I needed to see you, Chetwynd. That’s all I could think of. I’m sorry that I frightened you. I do promise to be careful from now on.”

  “Maybe I overreacted, Isabel. I can’t bear to think of you in here. Come sit with me until they return, but as soon as we hear them, you must get ready to leave.”

  Pulling her to the bench, he sat her on his lap. Making an effort to atone for his harsh words, he asked in a teasing voice, “Tell me, where did you get this fetching outfit?”

  “Do you like it, my lord? I suspect it’s the latest in serving-maid fashion.” She kissed him tenderly, thankful for his change of mood. “I’d like to spend the time kissing and holding you, but I have a lot to tell you.

  “King Louis is bringing the queen back to Aachen, and they may arrive tomorrow. I know this because the queen sent Gilda on ahead.”

  “Gilda is here in Aachen?”

  “Yes, I saw her in the church. It seems Judith has cultivated a friendship with Gilda since we left Saint Ives. Gilda told me all about it as we walked in the garden at the nun’s residence.”

  “You have been busy, haven’t you? I’m surprised Gilda is here. She is almost as impulsive as you are. I hope she isn’t getting into any trouble.” Chetwynd noticed that Isabel looked away from his eyes.

  “What is it, Isabel? What is my sister up to?” he demanded.

  “Gilda changed out of her habit and went to the great hall with me. Her idea was to keep a low profile. But Justin found us, and he, like you, was upset that I hadn’t stayed in your quarters. Gilda distracted him, and I slipped away to find Marianna. Neither one knows where I am, but Marianna can tell them if need be.”

  “Dear Lord in heaven. Gilda has become involved in this as well?”

  “She has been involved since she delivered your letter to Queen Judith,” Isabel reminded him. “Did you know that Gilda and Justin never met? She’s a beautiful woman, and I think Justin took notice of that fact.”

  “Isabel, Gilda is a nun.”

  “She didn’t look like a nun. You should have seen her out of her habit. She told me she stayed at the convent because she enjoys teaching the children. She could change her mind and leave if she wished. She keeps a set of clothes in Aachen so she can move about without anyone knowing she is a nun.”

  Chetwynd shook his head. “She’s just as bad as you are. But don’t even think of matching her with Justin. He’s involved with Lady Lilith.”

  “But Lady Lilith isn’t interested in marriage. You told me that. Don’t you think if she loved him she would marry him?”

  “There is her children’s inheritance to think of. She is protecting them by not marrying again.”

  “Lady Lilith should trust Justin to protect her children.”

  “I have no idea where you get your ideas. Forget about Gilda and Justin. Tell me what you two discovered while you were deceiving everyone.”

  “I saw Lothar in the great hall. He didn’t seem angry, Chetwynd, but we watched him and he was drinking quite a bit.”

  Chetwynd stiffened. “You didn’t approach him or show yourself, did you?”

  “No, no, of course not. Gilda and I stayed well out of his sight. Not that he would recognize us, but we didn’t even take the chance that someone would point us out to him.”

  “Good. Isabel, these are dangerous times. One nun has already been executed, and Lothar seems determined to prove he is in control. If Justin doesn’t succeed in freeing me tomorrow, promise me you’ll return to Aquis and wait for me there.”

  “I can’t promise that, Chetwynd. It would cause me such distress to be so far away while you are in here. Please don’t ask me to do that.”

  “You are driving me mad. My God, I love you, Isabel. All right, I won’t ask that of you. But stay close to Justin.”

  They held each other silently for a while. “Would you like me to tell you about the garden I walked in with Gilda?”

  Chetwynd smiled at her attempt to distract him from his worries. “Yes, I’d like to hear about it.”

  “The garden is behind the walls of the nun’s residence, and it’s a maze with lots of paths. But the best part was the herb garden where we sat and talked as the smell of mint drifted up to us. I think I’d like to plant an herb garden at Aquis, Chetwynd. Just outside the kitchen door. I don’t think Gertrude has one. I’ll have a bench built and we can sit on it together.”

  “I’d like that, my love. Perhaps I should forget about finding the culprit behind your kidnapping. As soon as I’m free, we can return to Aquis together. Let Justin seek out the answers for us.”

  Isabel beamed her pleasure. “Do you really mean that?”

  “Yes. We can stay there until the Spring Assembly. All I want to do is spend as much time as possible with you.”

  They were staring into each other’s eyes when they heard voices. Isabel had promised she would leave at once, and she gave Chetwynd one last kiss. By the time they sprang to their feet, they realized it was not the guard at the door.

  “What do we have here?” Lothar asked as he strode into the cell, a self-satisfied grin on his smug face.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  ISABEL WAS TOO STUNNED TO DO MORE than stare at Lothar. From the smirk on his face, it was clear that he found the situation amusing. When Chetwynd moved to stand in front of her, shielding her body with his own, she lost sight of Lothar.

  Two burly guards crowded into the small cell, forcing Chetwynd to back Isabel up against the wall to keep some distance between himself and the guards. She tried to peer around him, but his bulk made it impossible to see what was happening. However, there was no mistaking the menace in Lothar’s voice.

  “I have to congratulate you
, Lord Chetwynd. Even in the dungeon you manage to find a woman to service you. I wonder what the queen would think of your ability to attract women. But then I guess she already knows about your attractions.”

  In spite of the provoking taunts, Chetwynd knew how important it was to keep his temper in check. “This is an innocent maid who brought me some food. Let her be on her way, and I’ll answer your questions, Lothar.”

  “An innocent maid. Did we arrive too soon? Let’s have a look at the obliging wench.”

  Realizing there was no point in trying to hide Isabel, Chetwynd moved aside, trusting that she would play the role he had made up for her. Indeed, she did her best, keeping her eyes down and moving in a meek manner. Unfortunately, although her clothes were drab and bulky, with her head covering removed, her luxurious hair and fine features were evident.

  Clearly surprised at her appearance, Lothar examined her suspiciously. Chetwynd was disappointed to see he was not as affected by drink as he had been when they met earlier. It would be more difficult for Isabel to deceive him into believing she was a serving maid who was assigned to feeding prisoners, one of the least desirable jobs available to women.

  “Well, look what we have here. I do not remember seeing you in the great hall,” Lothar said to Isabel in a tone no doubt meant to sound inviting.

  “I’ve not been serving long. I work mostly in the kitchen,” she answered in a quiet voice, her eyes still aimed at the floor.

  “Is that a fact? And why would a handsome wench like you be hidden away in the kitchen? I can’t imagine.”

  Lothar moved to stand right in front of Isabel, and his caressing tone of voice made Chetwynd’s skin crawl. Relying on Isabel to act her part, he bit the inside of his mouth to keep from interfering.

  “Perhaps you would like to become my private serving wench?” Lothar asked.

  Isabel did not answer and kept her eyes on the floor until Lothar shouted, “Look at me, girl. Do you prefer a prisoner in the dungeon to a king?”