lady.”

“You didn’t upset me, Jerome,” she lied. “Thanks for telling me about the queen’s arrival.”

Because his unhappy face made it clear that he didn’t believe her, Isabel smiled at him. “I’m not going to kill the messenger.”

“Good,” he replied simply.

Isabel urged her horse forward. “Let’s get back to Saint Ives so I can see for myself what’s happening.” As appealing as not returning to the convent seemed at the moment, she knew it wasn’t a real possibility.

Jerome nodded, but he remained silent for the rest of their ride. Isabel was relieved, as she had heard enough.

As soon as they entered the gate, the porter informed Isabel that Gilda was waiting for her in her bedchamber. Lord Chetwynd was nowhere to be seen, but the courtyard was full of activity. There were many newly arrived servants unloading wagons. One of the women greeted Jerome and turned to study Isabel.

Ignoring the woman’s open appraisal, Isabel stared at the chairs and tables that awaited placement. Jerome’s description had been accurate, but it had not prepared her for the number of people and volume of goods. She wondered if there were enough rooms at the convent to lodge the queen and her followers.

Rushing to her room, Isabel found Gilda and Marianna packing her things. Before she could ask what they were doing, Gilda embraced her warmly, then stood back to peer at her face.

“I can’t believe how much better you look today, Lady Isabel. Of course your bruise is still quite colorful. Did you enjoy your visit to the bath?”

“Very much. I wish we could have stayed longer.”

“We need more powder for your face, my lady,” Marianna remarked.

“I imagine the water washed the powder away,” she answered as she looked around the room. “What are you doing here?”

Gilda wrinkled her nose in distaste. “I’m sorry for the confusion. We need this room for some of the queen’s party. You can share my chamber for now. Chetwynd asked me to fill you in on what’s been happening here. He’s busy at the moment, or he’d talk to you himself, I’m sure.”

Busy with Queen Judith, were the words Gilda omitted. Isabel nodded to indicate she understood. “I’ll help you pack.”

Gilda suddenly waved her hand at the disruption in the room and turned toward a bench. “The queen has us all scurrying about. I’m going to sit for a minute so we can talk in peace,” she explained.

Isabel smiled, remembering Jerome’s description of the nuns. Clearly Gilda didn’t enjoy buzzing about like a bee.

“I’ll finish up here while you talk,” Marianna offered.

As soon as they settled side by side on the bench, Gilda sighed and said, “I’ll tell you what I know, Isabel. The queen has been banished from court and is to be cloistered at our convent. Bishop Agobard claims Judith has been bewitched by Gerberga, a nun I have met a few times. The bishop has either persuaded the king, or taken it upon himself—I’m not sure which—to banish the queen. The deed has taken us all by surprise, as you can imagine.”

Isabel shook her head. “I don’t understand how this could happen. Why would the king agree to the queen’s banishment?”

“We don’t know for sure that he did, but I can guess at one reason. King Louis is getting old. All he wants to do at this stage in his life is enjoy a little peace and prepare to meet his maker. I have no doubt the king wishes to retire to a monastery himself and leave his grown sons to govern the empire. It’s not uncommon for noble men and women to spend their last years in a monastery or convent.”

“That may be true, Gilda, but the queen is young.”

“Ah yes. That’s where the witchcraft charge comes in. No doubt it’s meant to force her into a convent.

“Bishop Agobard wishes to rid the court of a powerful queen who upsets his hopes for a united and strong empire. This isn’t his first attempt. About a year ago, Bishop Agobard tried to convince the king that Judith had committed adultery with Bernard of Septimania and that Charles was Bernard’s son. If his accusation had been believed, Charles would have lost all rights to a royal inheritance.”

For the first time, Isabel was beginning to feel sympathy for the queen. “I had heard rumors from my grandmother, but nothing specific. What happened?”

“Fortunately for Judith, Charles bears a strong physical resemblance to the king’s grown sons. The queen was able to convince the king the charge against her was false. This latest maneuver to remove her is dramatically different, but the goal is the same.”

“Does the bishop have a chance of making this accusation any more believable than the first one?”

“There is background to support the charge. The queen and Gerberga, a nun who resides in Aachen, are close allies. For many years there have been rumors that Gerberga practices black magic and witchcraft. These accusations may have started because she uses her skills as a healer to help women with health problems of various kinds. The most dangerous advice she gives is how to prevent pregnancy and space children. It’s a practice the church opposes, as do some husbands.”

Isabel nodded her understanding. “There was a woman in our village who was branded a witch for similar practices. My grandmother supported her and saved her from her accusers.”

“Yes, unfortunately it’s a common story. For the most part, the good that Gerberga does works in her favor. She is very popular among women who fear having children one after the other. Even a few church officials support her work.”

Isabel was puzzled. “What does this have to do with Queen Judith?”

“The queen has always supported Gerberga. Bernard of Septimania is the king’s chamberlain, and Gerberga is his sister. I imagine he brought them together. I suspect Judith had advice from Gerberga when she wished to conceive a child with an elderly husband. Having a child was important to Judith. It was a way of assuring her position as queen.”

Isabel

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