“Your Majesty, I’m sure your guards can protect me from any danger. I will be pleased to carry your message to Lord Justin.” Isabel spoke boldly, strengthened by the anger she felt at Chetwynd for ignoring her and reverting to his plan to leave her behind.
Chetwynd and the queen looked at her in surprise. Then, clearly satisfied that her will had prevailed, the queen’s regal smile was back in place. Chetwynd kept his face expressionless, but his narrowed eyes had turned dark. Isabel quickly looked away from him.
Queen Judith spoke up before Chetwynd had a chance to argue further. “You are very brave, Lady Isabel, and I appreciate your offer. I am sure you are looking forward to seeing your brother again. I know you will be successful in your mission. Since it is too late for you to leave tonight, I will make arrangements for you to leave early in the morning. This has turned out very well, indeed. Lord Chetwynd is fortunate to have found you, Lady Isabel. My best wishes to you both.”
Isabel realized at once that she had been manipulated. Chetwynd had warned her about the queen and asked her to follow his lead. Instead she had let her anger get the better of her. Now she couldn’t look at Chetwynd because she knew she hadn’t given him the trust he had asked for.
“I will speak to the leader of my guards immediately, and he can arrange your trip to Aachen, Lady Isabel. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.” The queen made it clear the interview was over.
Isabel bowed her head and hurried from the queen’s chamber. She had thought Chetwynd might stay behind with the queen, but he was right on her heels. She continued on to her room, eager to be alone and think about what had happened. But Chetwynd followed her into her bedchamber, and she jumped when he slammed the door behind them.
Knowing that she had betrayed him in some way, Isabel reluctantly turned toward him. She was surprised to see that anger had disappeared from his face and resignation had taken its place.
“I’m sorry, Chetwynd. I should have followed your lead as you asked. Instead I allowed the queen to lead me along the path she designed.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Isabel. You were manipulated by an expert,” he said, his voice sounding weary.
“Were you planning to leave me behind as you told the queen?”
“No. I promised I wouldn’t. You’re going to have to trust me in the future.”
Isabel nodded. “I could tell I’d made a mistake almost at once. It was the fact that you both seemed to forget I was there that made me react as I did. I was sure you meant to leave me.”
Chetwynd nodded his understanding. “We were both manipulated, Isabel. I got drawn into a battle of wills with the queen. And I should have known better. If I had gone along with her request, we could have left the room and worked out a reason why you couldn’t go. So much for hindsight.”
“What do we do now? Have I ruined everything?”
Chetwynd began to pace. “No, of course not. We’ll think of something.”
He was still pacing when they heard a soft rap at the door. Chetwynd signaled her not to answer. He didn’t wish to be disturbed until he had a plan.
But there was another rap, and they heard Ingram’s voice. “Lady Isabel, I must speak with you.”
When Isabel opened the door, Ingram didn’t look surprised to see Chetwynd. “I thought I might find you here.”
“I’m glad you came,” Chetwynd answered. “We need your help.”
“I had a purpose in seeking you out, my lord. Marianna spotted the leader of the kidnappers again. He must be very bold to have returned to Saint Ives. He has shaved his head and is elegantly dressed, but I’m sure it’s the same man she pointed out to me earlier. He must not be aware of the fact that we spotted him the first time. His reappearance has complicated matters.”
“What do you mean? Did you seize him for questioning?”
“No, my lord. That was impossible. You see he belongs with the queen’s party.”
“Damnation.” Chetwynd’s face clouded with anger. “Are you sure?”
“I’m afraid so. That was one connection we didn’t consider.”
Chetwynd shook his head. In spite of this news, he didn’t see how Judith could have been involved in the kidnapping.
“There could be some other explanation, Ingram. The same agent might be employed by someone else and is keeping an eye on the queen.”
Chetwynd knew he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the queen had been involved somehow in Isabel’s kidnapping. But it was hard to imagine her motive or how she could have known of his marriage. They had been lovers only briefly, and he never had the impression that she was the jealous type. On the other hand, it seemed important to Judith to surround herself with strong, admiring men who might help her, and the queen had just proved that she was determined to keep him with her.
Isabel put her hand on his arm, and he realized he had been staring into space. “We can’t be sure what the kidnapper’s association with the queen means,” he told her, then turned to Ingram.
“We have another problem. The queen has asked Lady Isabel to approach Lord Justin on her behalf. The reason she gave for her request is that she desires Justin to contact the king and convince him to give her a hearing. Judith wants me to stay here while Isabel goes to Aachen, protected by some of her guards, of course. They are supposed to leave tomorrow morning.”
“What are you going to do? You can’t let her go with the queen’s guards,” Ingram said.
“I know. The queen means to separate us. She leaves me no choice. I must get Isabel away from
