“I suspect a lot has happened to you since you left the convent, Isabel. Would you like to tell me your impressions of Aquis while we walk around the garden? I’m curious as to whether you enjoyed your stay at Chetwynd’s manor.”
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,
