Justin narrowed his eyes. “Are you still living together as brother and sister?”
The question shattered Chetwynd’s resolve to remain calm and reasonable, never an easy task for him. “That’s none of your business,” Chetwynd barked, while at the same time Isabel said, “No, we’re not.”
Chetwynd gave his wife a surprised glance and then echoed her answer. “No, we’re not. Isabel and I are married, and we intend to stay married.” Giving up on the soft approach, Chetwynd’s words were meant for both Isabel and Justin.
“You intend to persist, in spite of the fact that your marriage has endangered her life?” Justin asked.
His words hit a nerve, and Chetwynd grimaced. “I’m as upset about that as you are. Isabel seems to have become a target and may still be in danger. But that doesn’t change our determination to stay together. We need your help and hope that you will bless our union, Justin. That’s what I am seeking. Your father has already given his permission and we don’t need yours, although we do hope you will give us your blessing.”
Chetwynd and Justin took each other’s measure in silence for a few minutes. Then Justin turned to Isabel. “Do you truly wish to be Chetwynd’s wife? If not, I can seek to have the marriage annulled. I’ll introduce you at court, and you can live with me. You won’t have to go back to Narbonne or a convent.”
Isabel smiled at her brother. “I love him,” she said. “I want this marriage, Justin.”
Justin stared at her for a minute; then he nodded. “As Chetwynd has pointed out, you don’t need my permission. Let’s talk about how we can keep you safe.”
Although he didn’t offer his blessing, Justin was making it clear he was going to help. He turned to Chetwynd. “I heard the story of Isabel’s kidnapping from Ingram, but perhaps you should tell it to me again. Also I want to know exactly what happened with Queen Judith at Saint Ives.”
Chetwynd breathed a sigh of relief and started the tale, while Isabel added details from time to time, filling in the gaps.
Justin listened closely to their story, observing how the two finished each other’s sentences. It struck him that they conversed like a married couple, and for the first time he accepted the fact that it would not be in his power to separate them. Chetwynd ended the tale with their flight from Saint Ives and the reason for it.
When they finished, Justin was quiet for a few minutes before speaking. Chetwynd took Isabel’s hand under the table as they waited to hear what Justin would say.
“I think you did the right thing to flee. I can inform the queen that you sought my help, as she requested, thus supporting what you told her in your letter. It will be easy enough for me to contact King Louis, as he is cloistered at a monastery not far from the palace. Hopefully the queen will be convinced by my actions that you acted in good faith.”
“Thank you for your support, Justin. It means a lot to me,” Chetwynd said.
Justin nodded in an offhanded manner and continued, “I wonder about the fact that one of the kidnappers was in the queen’s company. Involvement in a kidnapping doesn’t seem her style. Although she is a skillful manipulator, she relies on her powers of persuasion and feminine wiles to achieve her goals. I can’t remember an instance where she used force. However, I can believe she wanted to separate the two of you. That would be in keeping with her methods and any possessive feelings she has for you, Chetwynd.”
“I agree, Justin. What you say goes along with everything I know about her. But how would you explain the presence of the kidnapper in her party?”
“If he’s an agent of the bishops or Lothar, he could be watching the queen. Spying is not foreign to any of the parties involved in palace intrigue. Since you have supported the queen in the past, it makes more sense that the bishops or Lothar wished to delay your return to the palace. The accusation made against Sister Gerberga and the queen was no doubt in the planning stage for a while. The plotters waited until King Louis was away from the palace to initiate their scheme.”
“I can’t believe that either the bishops or Lothar would view my return to the palace as a threat to their plans.”
“You underestimate your influence, Chetwynd. You have served the king well for many years. Both he and the other knights respect your skill and honesty. You have a reputation for reading a situation and reacting quickly.”
The lessening of Justin’s antagonistic tone cheered Chetwynd as much as his words. But he questioned his friend’s reasoning. “I think that was true once, Justin, but I forfeited my good reputation when I became involved with the queen.”
“It’s not that straightforward, Chetwynd. Surely you know you are not the only man to be charmed by the queen. It’s not necessarily a strong mark against you.
“And there is a much stronger reason why your support of Queen Judith is viewed with sympathy. You are not alone. I know a group of powerful lords who believe her son, Charles, has a right to his inheritance. Of course they have their own motives. They are enemies of Lothar and feel he has become too powerful and headstrong. They may believe that young Charles would be easier for them to control. Personally, I think they are deluding themselves, as Judith is not about to let Charles be managed by anyone but herself.”
After listening to her brother’s words, Isabel spoke up for the first time. “I can see that maneuvering for power is a complicated matter.”
Justin had relaxed considerably, and he smiled at
