“This is as hard for me as it is for you, Justin. I will listen to what you have to say tomorrow, when we’ll have an answer from Mariel. The mystery will be solved, and our investigation will be complete. After that, I promise I won’t avoid you any longer.”
Justin knew enough not to press for more. It was true they were approaching the end of what they had been asked to do. If Philip had been intimate with Mariel, Cedric would be free to seek an annulment. On the other hand, if Cedric bedded her, no annulment would be granted. In the meantime, he’d have to think of a way to keep Gilda with him.
CHAPTER TEN
The first thing Gilda noticed about Lady Mariel was that she was much calmer than the last time she saw her. Sister Freda escorted her into the room, and Abbess Ermguerrd indicated that Freda should stay. At the abbess’s urging Mariel sat on a bench and even managed a small smile for Gilda, who sat down facing her.
“It’s good to see you looking so well, Lady Mariel,” Gilda said.
“Thank you, Sister,” she replied in a soft voice that was minus the tremor that Gilda remembered.
It had been decided that Gilda would do most of the questioning, and the abbess would step in if she thought of something to add.
“As you know, I have just returned from Mainz, where I met with Count Cedric and Lord Philip. There I learned that Philip stood in for his brother during your marriage ceremony.”
“I’m married to Philip,” Mariel said, lifting her chin in the air.
Instead of contradicting her, Gilda continued. “The custom of having a surrogate stand in during a wedding ceremony has for the most part been discontinued because misunderstandings can occur. This is what seems to have happened in your case, Mariel. Count Cedric was unable to travel to Bordeaux, so he sent Philip as a surrogate. Do you understand what that means?”
Mariel frowned, then repeated, “I’m married to Philip. He has to be my husband.”
“Before the ceremony, did your father speak to you about the man you were going to marry?”
“All he said was that my future husband was wealthy, and I should be pleased he had done so well in finding me a husband. I didn’t really want to marry, but Philip was kind to me on the journey to Mainz.”
Gilda’s anger at Mariel’s unfeeling father was growing with each word Mariel said. It was a story she had heard too many times. The authority of a father was above question, and in this case, he wielded that power with little consideration for his daughter. It seems he didn’t even take the time to introduce her to Philip and explain that he was a surrogate for Count Cedric.
“What happened when you arrived at Mainz, Mariel?”
Her young face clouded. “It was a nightmare. Everyone kept saying I was married to Count Cedric. Philip disappeared. The count has a cold face and angry eyes. I hated him on sight and barred him from my bedchamber. At first, I was afraid he would insist and there would be nothing I could do. But he left me alone, thank the good lord.”
It was the most Gilda had heard her say at one time, but the information was not what she expected. “Count Cedric never entered your bedchamber all the time you were at Mainz?”
“Never.”
“And what about Philip? Did you see him at Mainz?”
“No. I expected him to come and straighten out this terrible misunderstanding, but he didn’t. All I could think of was fleeing Mainz, but I was locked away in my room.”
“Yes, I can understand your feelings,” Gilda said. “What happened next?”
“Lady Millicent, the count’s sister, came to my bedchamber several times. She was kind to me. She’s never been married and seemed to understand my reluctance to accept marriage to the count. When I learned she planned a religious retreat to Saint Ives, I asked to join her. To my surprise my request was granted.”
Lady Millicent, a frequent visitor to the convent, was well known to the sisters. It was no surprise to Gilda that she would help Mariel.
“After you had been here a while, Philip finally sought you out, didn’t he?” Gilda asked.
Mariel smiled then. “Yes, my husband came, and I promised to meet him at the garden shed. For some reason he wanted to keep our meeting a secret.” Her smile then disappeared and she said, “He never came.”
“Why did you take the sleeping potion?” Gilda asked.
“I was nervous, and my stomach hurt. I remembered the potion and thought it might ease the pain. I just wanted to escape into sleep for a while. I lit the candles in case Philip did come to me. I didn’t realize how strong the potion would be.”
Gilda, unhappy about where the questioning was headed, looked at the abbess. At her nod Gilda forced herself to continue. “When we talked to you the next day, you were very confused. You talked about a baby. Did you think you were with child?”
“Yes. I lay with my husband on the journey. But I discovered there was no child.” Mariel whispered the rest. “The pains were the beginning of my monthly flow.”
There was no doubt in Gilda’s mind that Mariel was telling the truth, but that meant that Philip had lied to her. Gilda wondered how he had managed to convince her that he was an innocent. While she was berating herself for being taken in, the abbess spoke up.
“Mariel, I wonder if you would mind telling me more of your journey with Philip. Did he lay with you each night?”
The young woman looked down, but Gilda could see the pink flush coloring her cheeks. “No, Mother Superior. Just one night
