During the last year, she had been too busy to think about her vows. Helping the women who came to the convent for refuge took all her time and energy. The Abbess of Saint Ives, who encouraged her work, had not pressured her to finalize her pledge to God. But she did plan to do so soon. In any case, what business was it of Justin’s?
Gilda suspected the reason he brought it up each time he saw her was because they had recently been on different sides of a domestic dispute. Justin had defended the right of a nobleman to put aside his errant wife, and she had worked on behalf of the woman. The last time they’d met, he had accused her of using her vocation to influence the bishop they were reporting to. She grinned as she remembered the case and admitted to herself that his accusation was true.
The next afternoon, Gilda stood beside Justin as they became the godparents for the daughter of Isabel and Chetwynd, Gilda’s brother. She stared at the chubby infant who seemed to stare back with large, solemn eyes, and something stirred inside her. At the convent Gilda often helped mothers with their children. At no time had she experienced anything resembling the pull she felt toward little Natalie as she became the child’s godmother. She imagined the strength of her emotion had to do with the fact that she loved both her brother and his wife very much.
When she felt Justin’s elbow jab her shoulder, she glared up at him, then realized that Father Ivo had been speaking to her. She was familiar with the ceremony and nodded her head to show she was aware of her responsibility as godmother. Isabel placed Natalie in her arms. Charmed by the soft warmth of the little bundle, Gilda smiled at the babe who looked up at her with an expression of complete trust.
Justin followed Gilda when she left the church. He thought she looked a little dazed. “Want to go for a walk?” he asked.
She nodded before realizing he must have caught her in a weak moment. The last thing she desired was to be alone with Justin, but she had agreed, and she didn’t want to make a fool of herself by changing her mind. Instead she said, “You didn’t have to poke me so hard. Your elbow is a dangerous weapon.”
“I thought nuns were supposed to pay attention when a priest is speaking.”
“You seem to think you know a lot about nuns. For your information, we’re not that different from other people. We swim in ponds and lose track of what’s going on, just like other women.”
Justin thought about how she had looked soaking wet with the sun shining on her hair and her shift clinging to her body. She was wrong about one thing; she had looked very different from any woman he had ever seen. He shook his head to dislodge the disturbing picture that kept pushing into his thoughts.
“Where are we going, Justin?” she asked, not bothering to disguise her impatience.
He wasn’t sure. His only thought was to get her as far away from the other celebrants as possible, although he couldn’t have said why. When he realized he had headed toward the pond, the scene of the vision he couldn’t shake, he decided it was best to walk elsewhere.
“To the vineyard.” He changed direction as he answered and asked, “Have you always wanted to be a nun?”
The man was obsessed! “No, of course not. I was eight when my father sent me to the Convent at Saint Ives to be educated. When I was twelve, he found me a husband and proposed a match. I pleaded to stay at Saint Ives another two years. The count he wished me to marry had children almost as old as I was, and I didn’t look forward to becoming his wife. Fortunately, my father did not force me to marry.
“By the time I was fourteen, when another match was proposed, I had decided I wished to stay at the convent. I enjoyed my life there. My father, who thought it might be to his advantage to have someone praying for him, agreed.”
They had reached the edge of the valley and stood looking down the hill. Rows of grapevines extended as far as they could see. It seemed natural to stop and view the long, straight lines of green foliage. Gilda dropped gracefully to the ground, pulling her skirt around her raised knees. After a moment’s hesitation, Justin sat beside her.
“Speaking of marriage, what about you, Justin? Have you and Lady Lilith decided to marry?” Gilda knew from Isabel that they had been lovers for some years. She could see from his darkening eyes that he didn’t like personal questions.
“We never had plans to marry. The lady is a widow with two sons who wishes to protect their inheritance by remaining a widow. The arrangement suits us both, since I have no need of a wife and no intention of taking one.”
“Most of the king’s ministers are married. I’ve heard he prefers it that way. A very proper king, which is why we call him Louis the Pious.”
“The king has done a great deal to support the Christian view of marriage, as you well know. That doesn’t mean I have to adhere to his wishes in my own personal life.”
Gilda turned away to hide her grin. “You seem a little sensitive. You were asking me personal questions. I didn’t think you’d mind answering a few yourself.”
“Lady Lilith and I have an understanding. There are advantages to having a friendship with a woman. As a nun, you probably wouldn’t understand, Gilda.”
Justin leaned back on his elbows, knowing he sounded defensive and not wishing to meet her eyes. From his position behind Gilda, he could see a lock of her golden hair that had come loose from her head covering. Without giving his action much thought, he reached
