Justin saw the alarm on her face and kept his distance. “You didn’t come to seal our betrothal with a kiss, did you, Gilda?”
His voice was so hoarse she hardly recognized it. Afraid to speak, she shook her head.
Justin could feel his heart pounding. He moved away from the bed and pulled on a shirt to give himself time to regain control of his emotions. Then he sat on the other bed.
“Why are you here, Gilda?”
She thought about saying she had lost her mind, but Justin’s narrowed eyes told her he was in no mood for jesting. “I remembered something,” she said. “I was thinking about the sleeping potion that Mariel took. She had a difficult time waking up, remember? When she did, she saw you sleeping at her side and did a curious thing. She grabbed your arm and turned you over. Remember how shocked she was to see you?”
He nodded, trying to ignore the picture she presented on his bed. She was calmer now and leaned toward him with excitement in her eyes. He tried to concentrate on what she was saying.
“Justin, I think she was expecting to see Philip. He didn’t follow you to the shed. She had arranged to meet him there and took the sleeping potion to calm her nerves. I had mentioned that it was also used for that purpose. She must have taken too much.”
Instead of answering her, Justin rubbed his face with both hands.
“What do you think?” she urged.
“It’s hard for me to think right now, Gilda. You may be right, and it could explain why Philip was so agitated. We’ll talk more about this in the morning.”
Gilda nodded, feeling foolish that she had rushed to his room in the middle of the night. Being careful to stay as far away from him as possible, she slipped off the end of his bed. “Where’s Leonardo?” she asked as she passed the empty bed on her way to the door.
“Out enjoying himself in someone else’s bed, no doubt. Leonardo makes friends easily. Fortunate man,” Justin muttered.
Gilda couldn’t help glancing back to Justin’s bed. Then she turned away and opened the chamber door. Justin moved quickly, and his hand touched her shoulder. “Don’t come into my room again, unless you’re prepared to join me in bed.”
Before Gilda could respond, he pushed her through the door and closed it firmly behind her.
CHAPTER FOUR
Gilda and Justin hurried along a narrow hallway. Since awakening, they had avoided each other as much as was possible. Before they’d had a chance to overcome their awkwardness and discuss how they would handle the interview with Cedric, a messenger arrived to summon them to the count’s chambers.
When Justin’s sleeve brushed hers, Gilda stole a glance at his brooding expression. She still remembered the feel of Justin’s hand on her back as he pushed her from his room last night. The memory made it difficult for her to concentrate on the task before them. She wondered if it was as clear to Justin as it was to her that their personal feelings threatened their ability to work together efficiently.
“Don’t say anything about Philip’s appearance at the abbey,” Justin said in a low voice. “Let me handle it.”
“Of course,” Gilda conceded. Then she couldn’t help but add, “Try to discover the connection between Philip and Lady Mariel.”
Justin was still frowning when Count Cedric greeted him. “Thank you for coming right away, Lord Justin. I wish to apologize for the scene at the table last night. My brother was a bit distraught.”
Count Cedric turned his attention to Gilda. She had hung back, waiting for her presence to be acknowledged. Justin couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to look so appealing in a dark habit that covered her from head to toe. The black head covering framed her face so that her delicately formed features resembled an ivory cameo.
It was clear that Count Cedric was unsure how to address her. “Lord Justin has told me you and he are betrothed, my lady. I must say the situation is confusing.”
“That’s understandable, my lord. I was educated at the Convent of Saint Ives, and it has been my home for many years. The prospect of marriage occurred suddenly.” That was certainly the truth, and she hoped she could leave it at that.
But their host was clearly not satisfied with her answer. “King Louis has appointed the two of you to investigate my request for an annulment. I had assumed you were the religious envoy.”
“I’m still a nun and part of the religious community until I take my leave or marry.” She looked at Justin, hoping he would help her out.
He read and answered the silent plea in her eyes. “You can rest assured that Sister Gilda is qualified for this task. At court she is well known for her work with women who have taken refuge at the convent. In addition, she has a special understanding of the religious procedures necessary to annul a marriage.”
Gilda was both pleased and surprised by Justin’s words. She tried to suppress the smile that tugged at her mouth.
“Is the king aware of your betrothal?” Cedric directed his question to Justin.
“No. Although we have known each other for some time, as Gilda’s brother is married to my sister, our betrothal happened rather suddenly, as Gilda said. We are keeping the betrothal a secret until her father can give final approval. In the meantime, Sister Gilda wishes to finish the task assigned her by the king.”
His explanation had Gilda clasping her hands together under her long black sleeves. Justin’s reply was stretching the truth more than she liked. As she watched for Count Cedric’s reaction, Gilda realized how much she wanted to fulfill the role she had been given. It was not often that King Louis chose a woman to be his religious emissary, and she wished to be worthy of the honor.
When Cedric nodded and said, “Let’s proceed with the reason you are both here,” Gilda breathed
