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 thought of something else to throw the men off. It was quite possible that his desire to hold her had clouded his judgment. Perhaps it was best that she didn’t come with him.
Gilda sighed. Now that she wasn’t going to Mainz, she wanted to. Nothing was ever straightforward in her dealings with Justin. “Why do you think they followed you?”
“I don’t think they did, in spite of what they said. In any case, there is a good chance that Mariel is in danger. The count wants to end his marriage. If he can’t do it one way, he might seek another.”
When they heard a low whimper from behind the sacks, they both jumped and rushed to Mariel. “She looks like she’s still asleep,” Gilda whispered. “Let’s move her back into the open where it’s less dusty.”
Gently they moved the sleeping woman by dragging her pallet, one on either side of her. “She looks like a child,” Justin said. He hadn’t paid much attention before, but now he noticed the dark shadows under her eyes.
“I think she has fourteen years,” Gilda said. She studied Mariel and wondered again why she had taken the sleeping potion. If she were afraid of being abducted, she would have wanted to stay alert.
“I’m going with you to Mainz, Justin.”
“You’re changing your mind again?”
“Yes, and don’t say another word about it. There is some mystery here, and I’d like to discover what it is.”
Justin was surprised at the relief he felt at her words. “What about your reputation?”
Gilda looked again at the sleeping woman. “As you said, the men may not be from Mainz.” She knew she was grasping at straws. “The king wants someone from a religious community to help you, and I’m the best nun for the task.”
Justin nodded, accepting the truth of what she said. “We’ll talk to Lady Mariel in the morning. You can arrange with the abbess for her to be sent somewhere safe. If those two men are from Count Cedric, I’ll make sure they hold their tongues about seeing us together. I’ll be speaking to them in the morning. Once all that is done, you and I can be off to Mainz.”
“With Sister Freda,” Gilda added, and felt her spirits lift as they always did when she had an intriguing task to perform. “Now we need to get some rest.”
CHAPTER TWO
Gilda and Justin had settled themselves, one on either side of Lady Mariel’s pallet, where they dozed fitfully. At first light Gilda awoke and sat up to look over at Mariel. Justin’s back was turned, but she could tell by his deep breathing that he was asleep. As she watched Mariel, the young woman struggled to focus her eyes and hold them open. When Mariel turned her head, she saw Justin sleeping with his back to her. Before Gilda could explain his presence, Mariel did a surprising thing. She reached out and tugged at Justin’s sleeve until he turned toward her.
Whatever Mariel was expecting to see, it was not Lord Justin. “Oh no,” she cried, falling back with her hands over her face.
Startled awake, Justin jumped to his feet and in his haste bumped his head on a low beam supporting the shed. Gilda’s eyes widened as he mumbled a stream of curses. The usually tidy advisor to the king appeared rather savage with his sleep-tangled hair and rumpled clothes. Gilda might have laughed if Mariel wasn’t staring at him, her eyes wide with fright.
“Lord Justin is a friend. There is nothing to worry about, Mariel.” With soft words and reassuring pats, Gilda sought to calm the young woman. “He seems a bit cranky, but he means you no harm.”
Afraid the fierce expression on Justin’s face as he straightened his clothes might give Mariel other ideas about his harmlessness, Gilda tried to distract the young woman. “Come, see if you can stand up. Lord Justin will fetch you a drink of water.”
Rubbing his sore head, Justin scowled at Gilda, and for a minute she wasn’t sure he’d do as she wished. But he poured some water from a nearby jug and handed it to Gilda before heading for the door. “I’ll go to the abbey and send someone back with horses. There is no reason for you to walk that far,” he said, regaining some of his poise.
“What was he doing here?” Mariel whispered after he left.
“We couldn’t wake you. Lord Justin stayed to make sure we were both safe.” Gilda didn’t want to upset Mariel by mentioning the two men who had burst in on them. “He’ll send help.”
Later at the abbey, Gilda told Ermguerrd about Mariel’s unfortunate introduction to Lord Justin. She gleefully described his rude awakening and rumpled appearance. “You should have seen him, Holy Mother. The expression on his face would have frightened the bravest warrior.”
Ermguerrd grinned. “It was good of him to be so protective and stay the night. But perhaps it would be best to question Mariel without Lord Justin present.”
Even without Justin, the interview proved difficult. Lady Mariel had freshened up, but her youthful face bore the expression of a sullen child.
“We worried about you, Lady Mariel. It was fortunate that Gilda remembered that you had visited the garden shed with her. Tell us. What made you go there?” Ermguerrd asked.
“I was frightened. Count Cedric wishes me dead, Holy Mother,” Mariel whispered, a tremor in her voice. Seated on a bench, she hung her head and clasped her hands on her lap. The fact that she wouldn’t meet their eyes led Gilda to suspect she was hiding something, although she did seem genuinely frightened.
Ermguerrd sat beside Mariel. Loosening her clasped hands, she held one of them. “Don’t be frightened. Saint Ives is your sanctuary for as long as you need it. No one can harm you here,” she said. “But we need to know how best to help you, Mariel. Why did you take the sleeping potion?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I remembered the potion Sister Gilda fetched for the other sister. I didn’t realize it would be so strong.” She looked up at Gilda in an accusatory manner.
“It’s very important you take the right amount, Mariel,” Gilda replied. “I wish you had come to me. I would have given you something to help.”
“I couldn’t find you. You can’t imagine what it’s like to fear for your life.” Mariel lowered her head again and began to sob quietly.
Gilda wondered if she had indeed looked for her. None of the nuns had mentioned that. “I’m sorry you couldn’t find me. Was it your intention to sleep in the shed?”
Pulling away from Ermguerrd, Mariel began moving restlessly on the bench, and instead of answering the question she said, “I was betrayed. Why don’t you listen? Count Cedric plans to kill me.”