“You caught me off guard,” he said, as calmly as he could manage. “I can’t believe you told the abbess I kissed you. You told her that, and she’s still letting you go with me?”
“Yes. You don’t have to worry about your reputation. I explained that the kiss was my fault.”
He watched her face flush to a becoming shade of pink. “It was your fault? What makes you think that?” he asked.
“You knew I was curious. Otherwise it wouldn’t have happened.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Gilda. I have an urge to repeat the kiss so that you’d remember it more clearly. You better think about that. Then persuade the abbess to send someone else. Otherwise you are taking a chance that I might lose control of myself.”
He narrowed his eyes and tried his best to intimidate her with his frown, but she only shrugged her shoulders and said, “You’re making that up to frighten me off.”
“No, I’m not. You should be frightened. Right now, there are nuns everywhere.” He looked around. “And we are just outside the chapel. That won’t be the case on the road to Mainz.”
“Sister Freda will be along,” she answered, but he suspected she was beginning to lose her confidence.
Before Justin could reply, Freda appeared before them. Gilda grinned, clearly satisfied that her sudden appearance was a sign of her vigilance. But Freda’s words made it clear she wasn’t searching for them to protect Gilda. “Lady Mariel has disappeared. There was much chatter about the arrival of Lord Justin. One of the sisters thinks that Mariel may be frightened, perhaps believing he has come to carry her back to her husband.”
Already on his feet, Justin addressed Freda. “Do you have any idea where she could have gone?”
“Ermguerrd thought Gilda might know.”
“I doubt Mariel has explored much of the convent on her own,” Gilda said. “But I took her to the herb garden just yesterday. She seemed interested in the place. Asked a lot of questions.” She turned to Justin. “There is a small shed where we hang herbs to dry. I’ll see if she’s there.”
“I’ll go with you,” Justin said. “Sister Freda, why don’t you tell the abbess where we’re headed.”
Gilda shook her head. “Perhaps I should go on my own. Mariel might be afraid if she sees you, Justin.”
“I know enough to stay back until you’ve talked to her. If she’s as desperate as she seems, it’s best that we put her at ease. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can leave for Mainz. We need to interview her to learn why she refuses to return to her husband. I’m sure you are as eager as I am to complete this assignment.”
Gilda didn’t argue with that and agreed to his company. The herb garden was located at the edge of the convent’s property, and it was getting dark by the time they approached the shed. They had traveled by foot so as not to alarm Mariel. Gilda was relieved to see a light in the building.
“It must be Mariel. All the nuns and visitors are at chapel. You stay here until I signal you to come,” Gilda told Justin.
But as Gilda approached the shed, she felt uneasy. Mariel had asked her whether there were any poisons in the many jars stored in the shed. Although Gilda had been reluctant to give detailed information, she had warned her about certain herbs. She pushed the door open and her heart stopped. Mariel was stretched out on a pallet surrounded by candles. Gilda quickly knelt beside the young woman and was relieved to discover she was breathing. Gently she shook Mariel’s shoulder, but although her eyes opened for a second, they quickly closed again. Gilda picked up a container resting beside the sleeping woman.
“Justin!” Gilda called out without rising from her knees. Again, Mariel’s eyes opened, and this time she moved restlessly for a few seconds, then she was quiet again.
Justin found Gilda beside a young woman he assumed was Mariel. “What happened?” he asked as he dropped down beside her and felt for the woman’s pulse on her wrist.
“She seems to have taken a sleeping potion. It’s nothing that will harm her, but she’ll probably sleep through the night. Even when she tries to awaken, she is unable to do so. She should be all right in the morning.”
“Her pulse is slow. Are you sure there isn’t something we should do?”
“It’s probably best to let her rest. I doubt she meant to do herself harm.”
“Then why would she take the potion?”
“Mariel asked me a lot of questions when we were here the other day. I was a little suspicious at the time, so I didn’t give her much information. It’s a little unusual for someone to inquire about poisons. I had come to fetch a preparation for Sister Georgette, who has trouble sleeping. Mariel must have observed which container I took it from. I found it here beside her.”
“If she was afraid that I’d come to abduct her, why would she risk going to sleep? It doesn’t make sense. What good would that do?”
“I don’t know. It’s only an assumption by one of the sisters that it’s you she is afraid of. Perhaps she just wanted a good night’s sleep. I’ll try to find out more in the morning. Until then, I’ll stay here with her. I think it’s best not to move her until she is fully awake. You should go back. Inform the abbess that we found Mariel.”
“I’ll do that.” Justin was almost through the door when he added, “I’ll bring you something to eat when I return.”
“That’s not necessary,” Gilda said, but he didn’t bother to answer her. Before she could suggest that he send Sister Freda back instead of returning himself, he was gone.
An hour later Gilda’s stomach was groaning. She wondered
