When the door opened, Gilda jumped to her feet. She saw that Justin was holding his mouth in a tight, narrow line. She was sure he had bad news to relate.
“What happened?” she asked, before he could say a word.
“Maybe you should sit down, Gilda.”
“Justin, just answer my question,” she replied, refusing his suggestion to sit.
“All right. It’s just that you appear a little distraught.”
Actually, Justin thought she looked beautiful. Her cheeks were rosy, and her golden hair was a flowing cascade against the black background of her habit. There was an edgy excitement to her as she faced him in a challenging manner. He wondered how she would look when she knew what he had done. He had to make her understand and go along with the story he had made up to defuse the situation.
“The young man beside Count Cedric at supper is his much younger brother, Philip. His half brother, actually.”
Gilda gasped, but Justin rushed on. “When I asked him why he had been at the Abbey of Saint Ives, he became upset. It was clear that Cedric didn’t know anything about his brother’s journey. At first Philip refused to talk about the incident. Then he suddenly changed his mind and told the count about finding us together.” Justin stopped speaking and looked over to Freda.
“I told her about what happened in the shed,” Gilda assured him.
“Good. That will make things easier. I think Philip brought up the subject to detract attention from himself and keep from explaining his own presence. He said he happened upon me having carnal relations with a nun and pointed at you.”
Gilda blinked at the words, as they sounded even worse than she’d expected. “It was an embrace! What did the count say?”
“He asked for an explanation.”
“You didn’t tell him about Lady Mariel, did you?” she asked.
“No. But I’m glad to hear you wouldn’t approve of that explanation.”
Freda spoke for the first time. “Maybe you better tell us how you did explain the situation.”
Justin glanced from one woman to the other. He folded his arms across his chest as though to protect himself. “I told him I innocently embraced Gilda because we had just become secretly betrothed.”
Gilda’s first thought was that he was jesting. When he attempted an encouraging smile, she realized he was serious. “Are you mad?” she asked.
“Quite possibly,” he replied. “I think we should become betrothed in case someone makes inquiries. I’m sure your brother will give his permission in place of your father. Lord Chetwynd owes me a favor.”
Moving forward quickly, Gilda grabbed the front of Justin’s doublet with both hands, forming fists in the soft material. “I’m a nun. What makes you think I’d become betrothed to you? Who would believe that? You are mad.”
He smiled down at her. “You’re touching me again.”
Gilda immediately pushed him away and turned to Freda for help. “What can I do? This man is ruining my life. I won’t marry him.”
Justin’s voice cut into her plea. “I didn’t say anything about marriage. We’ll become betrothed for a while. Then, when we’ve finished this assignment and things return to normal, we’ll find a reason to break it off.”
Gilda could tell he thought his words should appease her. In fact, they made her even more angry. “I’m a nun,” she repeated. “If you can’t think about my position, think about your own. What will Lady Lilith think about our betrothal? From what I’ve heard, you and she are lovers.”
“I don’t think I wish to hear this,” Freda said. “I’ll go to my room.”
“I need you here, Freda,” Gilda pleaded, and the older nun sat down again.
Justin answered her question. “The rumors you’ve heard are very old. The lady remarried several months ago.”
The cold tone of his voice extinguished Gilda’s anger. There had been much speculation about Justin and the beautiful widow. She had two sons, and it was said that she feared to marry and jeopardize their inheritance. Clearly the lady had found a husband who was wealthy enough so that it didn’t matter. Gilda wondered if Justin’s cold words were meant to cover up his hurt.
“I’m sorry,” she offered.
“There is no need to be sorry,” he replied. “We haven’t been involved for a long time. You have old news.
“I know a betrothal sounds mad, Gilda. But I really couldn’t think of what else to do. It’s my fault that your reputation is threatened. I want to make things right, and I think my plan can work.”
Gilda sighed, finally accepting that he had done the best he could. But she still worried about how the plan would succeed. “How did you explain the fact that I’m still a nun if I’m betrothed to you?”
“You haven’t taken your final vows. You grew up in the convent, and your father’s manor is far away. It’s a safe place for you to stay until we’re married. The match is still being finalized.”
Her eyes widened. “You make it sound so reasonable.”
“I believe we should think of the betrothal as real.” He glanced over to Freda, remembering that Gilda had discussed the situation with the nun. “There is an attraction between us, as we’ve already discussed. It’s probably one of the reasons we are in this tangle. When the attraction fades, it will be easier to break off the betrothal.”
Gilda sat beside Freda. “What do you think of Justin’s plan?”
“It could work.” Her words surprised both Justin and Gilda. “But what about the fact that you are supposed to be looking into Cedric’s desire for an annulment of his marriage? How would your betrothal affect that task, Justin?”
“We were appointed by the king. In addition, I doubt Cedric would object unless it appeared he wouldn’t get his way. So far neither party has shown any desire to continue the marriage,” Justin replied.
Freda nodded. “I have one suggestion. You should think of a reason why you are delaying
