Returning to sit beside Mariel, she studied the young woman. Even under Mariel’s heavy gown, Gilda could see that her limbs were shapely. Her fair face, delicately formed with well-proportioned features, made her a most becoming woman.
When Gilda heard some rustling outside the shed, she ran to the door and flung it open. “Get back inside,” Justin whispered in an urgent tone of voice.
She quickly closed the door, before asking, “Did you bring some food?”
“Here.” He practically tossed her the bread. “Blow out all but one candle,” he said as he peered out the small window.
“Whatever for? We’re out in the woods.” Then she realized from his expression that something was wrong and did as he requested. “What happened?”
“I discovered that two of Cedric’s men had arrived at the convent while we were talking with the abbess. One of the nuns, when she learned that Lady Mariel was missing, told me she had seen Lady Mariel speaking to the men. We assumed she was frightened of me, but maybe it was the new arrivals she feared. I don’t think we should take any chances. Mariel believes her husband wishes her harm. No doubt it’s his men she is fleeing from.”
“Surely they won’t attempt to harm her here. The abbey is a sanctuary.” She bit into the hard bread and hoped her chewing didn’t sound as loud to Justin’s ears as it did to her own.
Justin sat beside her. “I thought you didn’t want anything to eat.”
“I just said it wasn’t necessary. Did you bring anything else besides bread?”
He grinned and pulled open a bag hanging from his belt. “Here’s some cheese and a skin of wine. It’s fortunate Freda told me you’re always hungry.”
Gilda bit into the soft, fragrant cheese. “I’m not always hungry,” she said with a satisfied smile.
“You could save some for me.”
“Shhhhhh.”
“I’m the one who brought it.”
“No. Not that. I hear something.”
Then he, too, heard the sound of a horse approaching the shed. “I’m going to hide Mariel behind these sacks,” he whispered. “Then you and I will distract our visitors.”
Justin spoke quickly while pulling the pallet on which Mariel was sleeping. As soon as Mariel was out of sight, he turned to Gilda. Before she could ask how they were going to cause a distraction, he embraced her. When the door opened, Justin’s arms were wrapped around Gilda. He had lifted her off the floor to make sure she had to cling to him.
Almost as fast as he grabbed her, he let her go, and she struggled to recover her footing as well as her dignity. Gilda saw two men crowding the doorway, and the light they were carrying illuminated the shocked expressions on their faces. They were both well dressed, and one was old enough to be the father of the second, much younger man.
“I trust you’ll be discreet about this,” Justin said in a low, forceful tone.
The older man was staring at Gilda as she adjusted her head covering. He answered Justin with a nod. The younger man had turned away to peer around the shed.
“Was there something you wanted?” Justin asked.
The older man was clearly at a loss for words, but the younger one spoke up. “We saw you leave the dining hall. I hoped for a word with you. One of the nuns told us you are Lord Justin.”
Although he wanted to question them, Justin felt he had to get rid of them in case Mariel woke up and called out. “I’ll be glad to oblige you. But not tonight. I’ll see you after mass in the morning.”
The men took one last look around and retreated quickly. As Justin watched their departure, he wondered at their lack of persistence. If they had indeed come to talk to him, at least one of them should have been reluctant to rush away.
Justin shut the door and watched Gilda sink to her knees. “Who were those men, and what did they want? Why didn’t you find out?”
“I was afraid they’d discover Mariel. She might have cried out, and I wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible. Perhaps they are the messengers from Count Cedric. What I can’t figure out is how they found this shed. I would have heard them if they had been following me, as they said. Perhaps one of the nuns told them where we were.”
“I doubt that. There must be another explanation.”
Justin saw that Gilda was absentmindedly rubbing her arms. “I had to do something to distract attention from Lady Mariel. Did I hurt you?”
“You compromised my reputation. Couldn’t you think of another way to distract them?”
“It’s not easy to come up with something quickly. What would you have suggested?” he asked.
“You could have pretended to have come here for a sleeping potion.”
“Yes, I could. But I didn’t think of it. I never have trouble sleeping, so it didn’t occur to me.”
“But hauling me up in your arms did occur to you.”
Justin thought it best not to answer that one. “I wanted to get rid of them quickly. Next time I’ll let you think of something.”
“There isn’t going to be a next time. I can’t go to Mainz with you now. Those men are likely to tell tales. I don’t think that the fact you asked them to be discreet will deter them. How can I do any good if my reputation is compromised?”
“I’m sorry, Gilda. We don’t know for sure they are from Mainz,” he added lamely.
Justin thought he saw some moisture in her eyes, and it made his stomach turn queasy with guilt. He should have
