Gilda smiled at her brother. “Now you’re worried you scared me off him. I know his strengths.” Suddenly she was thinking about Justin lifting her onto his lap and kissing her until she was senseless.
Chetwynd was studying her expression. “What is it, Gilda?”
“Nothing. I was just remembering something. I’m sure it’s time for vespers. I hope it’s a short one because I’m starving.”
In the great hall, Gilda watched her brother and Justin at the high table. Chetwynd had golden hair that caught the candlelight. Justin was as dark as Chetwynd was fair, but he matched her brother in build. “They seem to stand out from the rest, don’t they?” she commented to Freda.
“Aye, they’re well made. Justin has relaxed somewhat. He was pacing around the courtyard while you were closeted with your brother. Was he warning you off?”
“Not exactly, Freda. But he knows how much I love my work. He doesn’t think I should marry unless there is love involved.”
“Hmmmm. Not everyone can be that lucky.” She stared at Gilda’s plate. “I don’t know how you can eat so much. You don’t look big enough to hold it all.”
“I’ve always had a good appetite, and lately it’s even stronger.” Gilda lowered her voice. “What about lust, Freda? How important is that? I wanted to ask my brother, but it didn’t seem appropriate.”
“Thank the good Lord for that. You can satisfy lust without love, Gilda, but when they are combined, there is magic.”
“I’m so glad Ermguerrd sent you along on this journey, Freda.”
When Justin approached their table, the two nuns were smiling at each other. They both jumped when he said, “Gilda, I need to talk to you.”
Outside, Justin took Gilda’s arm. “What was that all about?”
“What do you mean?” she asked, feigning ignorance. “You both looked guilty when I spoke to you. Never mind. Now that we’ve talked with Chetwynd, can we get back to the work that brought us here? I want to talk about what we learned from the Abbot.”
He had led her to the ramparts, hoping to find a quiet place they could be alone. It was a clear night and Gilda stared at the stars overhead.
“Your brother is bedding with me tonight, so you can’t come to my room,” he said as he moved to stand closer. He wanted to hold her but was afraid someone would walk by.
“I thought you wanted to talk about our mission,” she teased.
“I do, but you’re distracting me,” he admitted.
“Maybe we should go inside.”
“No, not yet. I’ll behave. I was thinking about what we learned from Brother Arnulf. According to him, the count and the bishop were presented with a tempting new alliance before Lady Mariel arrived at Mainz.”
“That really surprised me, Justin. What a strange situation.”
“I think it means that the count is telling the truth in at least one area. If he had plans to annul the marriage, he would have been careful not to bed Mariel.”
“Of course. I didn’t think of that. And the bishop would have advised him to stay away from her. But Mariel indicated she feared being pregnant. I don’t think I could have misread her.”
“If it wasn’t Cedric who took her to bed . . .” Justin started.
“Philip. But he denies it also.”
“I think we should have another talk with Philip.”
Gilda nodded. “It’s complicated, isn’t it? If it was Philip who took her to bed, how would that affect an annulment?”
“The annulment could still be approved. But if it becomes known that Philip slept with his brother’s bride, he will be in a great deal of trouble.”
Gilda grabbed Justin’s arm. “Let’s not leap to conclusions about Philip. We don’t wish to cause him any harm.” She paused then asked, “What? Why are you smiling at me that way?”
“You’re asking me not to leap to conclusions?”
“I see what you mean. I’m worried about this, Justin. A young man’s life is in danger because he comforted a frightened girl on her way to an unknown husband. He held her, and they were probably overcome with longing as they lay together under the stars.”
“Saints in heaven, Gilda. Stop that. You’re going to drive me mad.”
“Is there someplace we can go for some privacy?” she whispered.
He moved her back against the rampart wall with his body. “No. Your brother is in my bedchamber.”
“It’s just as well, just as well,” she said, patting his shoulders.
He was watching her mouth. “Don’t say another word.”
“All right. Why not?” she asked.
“Because your lips move in a way that makes me tremble.”
“Don’t you say another word,” she countered.
Justin heard footsteps and pulled back. He ignored the interloper, hoping he would walk on. Instead, there was the sound of a throat being cleared.
“I wondered where you had gotten to,” Chetwynd said in a cheery voice.
Justin turned to face his friend. “We were looking for a quiet place to discuss our work, Chetwynd.”
“Is that a fact. It’s a beautiful night, but wouldn’t it be more effective to discuss work in your chambers?”
“It would, but I thought you’d be there,” Justin pointed out.
“I stayed in the great hall to speak to the count. He asked a great many questions about the two of you. I suspect he wishes to uncover some information that he can use to persuade you to see things his way.”
“Heavens, he clearly is desperate to obtain an annulment,” Gilda said.
“What did you tell him about us?” Justin asked.
“That I had hoped for some time that the two of you would find each other. I pretended I was Isabel and said all the things about you that she would say. Then I pointed out that you were godparents for our child.”
Gilda grinned at her brother. “Thanks for helping.”
Chetwynd put his arm around Gilda, who was beginning to shiver now that Justin had moved away from her. “Gunthar was paying great attention to the conversation. The bishop and the count are powerful men who are determined to have their way in
