“There is no turning back now, Lord Justin. Lady Emma finally accepts my love for what it is, and she returns it. I won’t give her up.”
When voices outside the cell caught his attention, Justin signaled Philip to be quiet. “It’s Sister Freda,” he said needlessly as the woman was let into the cell by the guard. “Philip has a deep cut that needs attention,” he explained to the newcomer.
“I can see that.” She used her hand to wave Gilda off the bench. “Lie down, young man.”
“I don’t need . . .”
“For heaven’s sake, stop wasting my time and lie down.” An experienced healer, Freda was already pulling out the supplies she needed from a sack fastened at her waist and setting up a small stool she had carried with her. “Gilda, put a little of this on the cut to dull the pain.”
At the word pain, Philip closed his eyes. Although he clearly was afraid of Freda’s needle, he seemed determined to be brave.
Gilda did as Freda instructed, wetting a clean cloth with the ingredients from a small bottle and applying it to his jaw. When Freda signaled her to remove the cloth, Gilda took Philip’s hand, then watched in fascination. Sitting on her stool, Freda skillfully sewed the wound together, alternately catching small pieces of flesh from below and above the cut. She could have been mending a piece of clothing for all the emotion she displayed.
During the procedure Philip tightened his grip on Gilda’s hand and mumbled a long prayer through partly closed lips. At least Gilda hoped it was a prayer. There seemed to be a number of different references to the Lord.
When Freda finished the last stitch, Gilda said, “It’s done, Philip. Freda is a skilled seamstress. I doubt there will be much of a scar.”
“Just lie still for a while,” Freda instructed Philip, then turned to Gilda. “Are you coming to chapel?”
“You go ahead, Sister. Justin and I need to speak further with Philip.”
Freda nodded, then looked at Philip. “You be more careful in the future, young man.” Her tone was scolding, but then she patted him on the shoulder. “You were braver than most.”
When Freda left, Justin and Gilda moved to a corner away from Philip, who had closed his eyes and seemed to be dozing. They kept their voices low. “I think we should try to convince Cedric to allow Philip to come with us to Saint Ives,” Gilda said.
“I know you wish to keep him from harm. But I doubt Cedric is going to agree. For all we know, he already has heard about Philip and Lady Emma.”
“You heard what Philip said. Cedric encouraged him to spend time at Metcalf’s manor. I suspect Philip would have been beaten much worse if Cedric knew about the lovers.”
Justin nodded agreement. Cedric gave no indication he knew about Lady Emma. “But he did lock up Philip. I doubt he’ll agree to let us take him, Gilda.”
“You can talk him into it, Justin. Your skill in managing Cedric is impressive. He is hoping Philip was involved with Mariel. All you have to do is convince him you need Philip to make your case for an annulment.”
His eyebrows rose. “Oh, is that all I have to do?”
“You’ll think of something. We can’t leave him here. It won’t be long before Cedric learns of his attachment to Emma.”
“The young fool could use some time alone to think about the consequences of his actions. But I suppose you’re right to think he’s not safe here.”
They were so intent on their conversation that they didn’t notice that Philip had sat up until he spoke. “If you can get me out of here, Lady Emma will hide me.”
“No!” they answered together.
“Philip, the only way I can move you from Mainz is to convince your brother that I need your help with Mariel. Gilda is right about that. But we’re not going to rescue you from here to let you hurl yourself into more danger.”
“I can take care of myself. I don’t need you to protect me.” Philip stood up as he spoke, but the quick motion caused him to sway unsteadily.
Justin shook his head in disgust. “Gilda, say something to this idiot.”
“Sit down, Philip.” She encouraged him by putting her hand on his shoulder and pushing him back on the bench. “You’ll have no chance to win permission from Metcalf to marry Lady Emma if you are accused of betraying your brother. Cedric can keep you in here forever with accusations that you seduced Lady Mariel. We have to make him believe we need you to clear up that situation.”
Philip frowned. “How are you going to do that?”
Justin was the one to answer. “By bringing you and Lady Mariel together. That’s the argument I can use with Cedric. The annulment of his marriage is his primary goal. He doesn’t have to know that we doubt his theory that you and Mariel were lovers.”
Gilda nodded. “I’m sure Justin can convince him. I will stay here while he talks to Cedric.”
Justin shook his head violently. “No, you will not! I’m not leaving you here, Gilda. Don’t even think about it.”
“It’s the only way we can be sure that Philip will be safe. You know that as well as I do. The sooner you approach Cedric, the sooner you can get us both out of here.”
Justin looked at the dirty straw strewn about on the floor and the smelly pot sitting in the corner. Gilda sat down on the bench beside Philip and folded her hands in her lap. Justin suspected that if he meant to remove her, he’d have to drag her from the cell. He was chagrined to see that Philip had an amused expression on his face.
“I don’t like it, Gilda,” Justin grumbled.
“Don’t worry, I know you’ll succeed. You have a better chance of convincing Cedric on your own. I seem to make him uneasy.”
“I don’t care how uneasy you make him. I’m concerned about leaving you here.” He glared at