Isabel succeeded in getting Jerome to look at her. With wide eyes and an open mouth he was searching her face to see if she was serious. “You struck him?”
“I did. I might have done it again, but Ingram arrived in time to rescue Chetwynd from further attack.”
Jerome shook his head from side to side, his smile back in place. “I told Lord Chetwynd you weren’t afraid of anything, my lady.”
That wasn’t quite true, Isabel thought. She was afraid of being abandoned. But events had taken a drastic turn with the appearance of the queen. Would Chetwynd still leave for Aachen as he had planned? Isabel had overheard Ingram tell Chetwynd that the queen had been banished to the convent. It was hard for Isabel to believe she had heard correctly.
“Jerome, can you tell me exactly what happened after we left Saint Ives?”
Jerome thought about her question for a minute, perhaps wondering if his loyalty to Chetwynd would be compromised if he gave her the information she sought. He must have decided it wouldn’t because he signaled his horse to move closer to hers.
“It was shortly after the noon meal. Two messengers galloped wildly into the courtyard. I could tell by their speed that something was afoot. They asked to see the abbess. It wasn’t long before word spread that Queen Judith was on her way.”
After looking about, Jerome slowed his horse even more and continued his story. “You should have seen the nuns running about. They were buzzing like a hive of bees.
“I stayed close to the porter, offering to help cool the horses of the messengers. They are especially bred to race long distances, you know. You should have seen them, my lady. Not big like war horses, but thinner and lighter. It must be heaven to ride such a horse.”
Isabel nodded. Of course he would notice the horses. “Did you learn anything about why the queen was arriving unexpectedly at Saint Ives?”
There was a slight pause as Jerome shifted his mind from horses to people. “A messenger came to the stable to check on the horses. I overheard him confide that one of the bishops, I forget his name, had banished the queen from court. When the porter questioned him, the messenger said King Louis was on a religious retreat. The bishop acted while the king was away.”
“I can see that you have a talent for being in the right place at the right time, Jerome.”
She needn’t have worried about him going silent again. Jerome was now into his tale.
“In no time, rumors about the queen were flying about. Suddenly there was a great noise in the courtyard. The clatter of horses and clinking of armor brought everyone to attention. A special troop of guards led the way, mounted on giant war horses. They were the queen’s escorts.”
Isabel stared ahead and tried to picture the scene. If the queen had been banished, would the soldiers be guarding her to prevent her escape, or were they protecting her?
“What about the queen, Jerome? Did she ride a horse?” she prompted. Everyone who had seen the queen always mentioned how beautiful she was. Except for Chetwynd, but then he had said little about her.
“The queen rides in a litter decorated with fancy draperies she can pull for privacy. There were also dozens of servants and many wagons loaded with furnishings. I heard a nun say the queen always brings her own tapestries for the walls and serving dishes for the table. I even saw some fancy chairs tied on top of one of the wagons. You had to see it to believe it.”
Jerome painted quite a vivid picture. “Was there any talk of why Queen Judith was banished? Did you hear anything about that?”
“I did hear the word witchcraft.” Jerome whispered the word, looking around again. Witchcraft was never spoken of casually. “I’m sure it had something to do with witchcraft.”
Isabel appreciated the fear the word evoked. The charge of witchcraft, used mostly against women, was a dangerous accusation because it was difficult to defend yourself against it. She shivered at the thought, remembering women in Narbonne who had been accused of performing the devil’s work. It was hard for her to believe the charge would be brought against the queen.
On the other hand, Isabel had no doubt the queen had angered religious leaders with her ambitions for her son. Her grandmother, who fancied herself knowledgeable about royal affairs, had explained that the bishops’ main concern was keeping the Christian empire united under the king’s three grown sons. Still it was hard to imagine they would retaliate so strongly.
“Do you think the queen has done something recently to anger the church fathers?” Isabel asked.
He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “I heard no rumors. Didn’t really have time. Queen Judith spotted me in the crowd at Saint Ives and called me to her.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jerome seemed to regret he had spoken them. But he hurried on, avoiding her eyes. “Lord Chetwynd is well-known by everyone at court. The queen asked about him, and told me to find him.” Jerome seemed embarrassed by the part he had played.
The queen had recognized Chetwynd’s squire. In spite of the information Isabel had already received through gossip, as well as from Chetwynd himself, the intimacy that recognition implied startled Isabel. Now her husband was rushing to be at the queen’s side. Isabel reined in her horse, upset enough to think about not returning to the convent.
Jerome rode a short distance until he realized she had stopped; then he turned and rode back to her. “I didn’t mean to upset you, my
