Vengeance 03 - Believe In Me

by Lana Williams

  The man swallowed hard, nodded, then dropped his weapon. The other guard dropped his as well, looking between William and Nicholas warily. Nicholas picked up both of their swords and opened the door to the manor.

  “After you, brother,” Nicholas said.

  “I suggest you find employment elsewhere,” William told the two guards. “The bishop no longer has money to pay you.”

  He hurried toward the bishop’s chambers only to find another man-at-arms guarding the door. “Your friends are leaving. I suggest you do the same.”

  “I’ll not let you pass,” the man said, his weapon at the ready.

  William struck the man’s blade with his own. He took a step back to draw the soldier toward him. Sure enough, the man stepped forward to thrust and William blocked it then circled his blade to slam down on the guard’s sword, knocking it out of his hand.

  The sword clattered to the floor. The man-at-arms reached for it, but William was quicker. He kicked the sword away, sending the man scrambling after it.

  Nicholas stepped forward, his sword at the ready. “Leave now with your life.”

  The man raised his hands, glancing between William and Nicholas and at last seemed to realize he was out numbered. He left his sword on the floor and ran for the door, heading out into the night.

  William threw open the chamber door, searching for Cristiana. Relief poured through him at the sight of her.

  Joy filled her expression when she saw him. Elizabeth rose as they entered, and he was relieved to see her well.

  “What is the meaning of this!” the bishop exclaimed. “I gave orders not to be disturbed.”

  “Your orders have been reversed,” William advised him.

  “You! Who set you free?” Bishop Duval rose from behind his desk. His face was pale and he seemed unsteady on his feet.

  “That would be me,” Nicholas said as he gathered his wife in his arms. “Are you well?”

  “I am now,” she whispered with tear-filled eyes. “I hoped you would know where I was.”

  “I thought you would be at Staverton where I left you.” The warning note in his voice was clear.

  “A message arrived that was supposedly from William asking me to come to Longsbury at once, that he needed me.” She glared at the bishop. “I have come to realize it was a lie.”

  William searched Cristiana’s face as he took her in his arms, wanting to make certain she was well. The tension in his body eased as he held her tight. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

  She nodded. “I’m so very glad to see you.”

  The bishop eyed the two couples in the room then sank to his chair, his expression still defiant. “My plan is sound. Sacrifices must be made by a few to benefit the greater good. Surely you have learned that by now.”

  “Whose greater good? Yours?” William asked. “We know what you’ve done, the people you’ve harmed. It ends this day.”

  Bishop Duval laughed. “You know nothing and you can prove nothing. No one will believe you over me.”

  William opened his mouth to retort but stopped, surprised at the bishop’s appearance. He leaned back in his chair as though it took all his energy to remain upright. His face was pale and his eyes were sunken. The man was obviously unwell.

  Before he could comment, commotion sounded outside the door. William’s hopes rose. Surely Henry had arrived with the abbot.

  Father Markus entered the chamber with several men-at-arms. The priest’s eyes narrowed at the sight of William. “Is all well, my lord bishop?”

  William realized this was far from over. His gaze caught Nicholas’s questioning one. He shook his head, uncertain what their next move should be.

  “Please see these men to the dungeon,” he ordered Father Markus. He turned to look at Cristiana, an unpleasant smile on his pale face. “Now where were we? I believe Cristiana and I were about to reach an agreement.”

  William glanced to the woman in his arms, unable to believe the bishop. “Is that true?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY—THREE

  Cristiana drew a shaky breath. The solution to this terrible situation was clear to her. She stepped away from the warmth of William’s embrace, her heart squeezing. So much rested on these next few moments. “’Tis true.”

  “Cristiana,” William whispered, but she shook her head.

  “Let us hear it,” the bishop said, obviously pleased at her words. A strange light appeared in his eyes.

  “Set everyone free. In exchange, I shall heal you.”

  “Cristiana, nay!” William protested. “Do not risk it.”

  “I have two conditions.” She couldn’t look at William for fear her resolve would weaken.

  “No conditions.” He shifted in his chair, appearing even weaker than when she’d first arrived.

  “Then I will not aid you.”

  He studied her for a long moment. She had no intention of changing her mind. She was determined to keep the upper hand in this agreement.

  “What are they?” he asked at last.

  “You will allow me to leave with them.”

  “Never.”

  “And you will tell me the truth about my mother.”

  “I have already told you what little I knew of her,” he said but his tone held little sincerity.

  “You were lying. I have my mother’s letter to you. I have your ring which she took from you the last night she was here. A maid servant heard you arguing with my mother in this very room that night shortly before she was murdered. That maid is willing to tell Abbot Clarke what you both said.”

  He closed his eyes as though exhausted. His lips were pursed tightly. She couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with him. Perhaps she wouldn’t be able to heal him after all.

  Then what?

  Would she still be able to save William and his family?

  “Please,” the bishop mumbled as he leaned his head against his chair. “You must help me. I didn’t realize my...illness was progressing so quickly. Heal me now before it is too late.”

  “Cristiana, wait,” William pleaded. “This is far too dangerous.”

  Nicholas and Elizabeth moved to stand beside William. “Are you certain this is wise?” Nicholas asked, his brow creased with doubt.

  “I will be careful. I promise.” She cautiously approached the bishop, part of her fearing this was some kind of trick and part of her certain he truly was ill. “Tell me. Tell me you ordered my mother’s death. Then I will try to help you.”

  The bishop opened his eyes, his gaze seeking hers. “Heal me. Quickly, my dear.” He reached out an unsteady hand toward her.

  The image of her mother’s body kept her resolve. “Tell me the truth else I swear I will walk out of here.”

  “There’s no time. I could be dying!”

  “Did you order her death?”

  “Damn you, aye! She was making unreasonable demands on me just as you are. She insisted you and she should move to Longsbury, but I knew...I knew her requests would only increase if I gave into her. Her trips here were becoming more frequent. She was never happy.” He paused to draw a deep breath as though to gather his strength. “At the end, she had the nerve to threaten me.”

  “How?”

  “She said she’d tell Abbot Clarke of our...affair. I couldn’t allow her to do so. It would’ve ruined all of my plans. Then she mentioned you. She told me of your ability. All these years and she never told me until that moment. It was a sign from God. I only had to be strong enough to follow through. Then all my plans would come to be.”

  Cristiana was horrified. “You had her murdered because you thought it was a sign from God?” She felt William’s presence behind her.

  “Don’t you see?” The bishop appeared incredulous that she didn’t see the same thing he did. “It was a test of my resolve. Having her killed put my wretched past behind me, gave me a fresh start.”

  “You are crazed,” William told the bishop with disgust.

  “It is the perfect plan! All my y
ears of hard work are coming together. Your ability will bring the masses to Longsbury. We will have more than enough money to build a magnificent cathedral. People will come from all over the world to see us. The pope—”

  “Nay, Thomas,” said a deep voice from behind them.

  She and William spun to see Abbot Clarke standing in the doorway with Henry directly behind him.

  “That was no sign from God,” the abbot said as he strode forward, his own men-at-arms filling the room. “What have you done?”

  “I have made numerous sacrifices for the good of the church. My dream of the cathedral will serve thousands.”

  “Not at the price of even one life.”

  “You’ve never understood my dream,” the bishop accused.

  “Nay, I have not. What of Father Charles? Did he get in your way as well?”

  The bishop scoffed. “I shared my vision for the church with Markus and Daniel and Charles. They saw my wisdom; all except Charles. He wouldn’t stop talking. What was I to do?” He leaned his head back against the chair again. “I had no choice. A small sacrifice for the greater good.”

  “Your dream is over.” Abbot Clarke glared at Father Markus, who wisely held his tongue, then moved to stand before the bishop. “While I’m sorry you’re unwell, that does not change the harm you’ve caused.”

  “I’m not unwell. I am dying!”

  From the less than sympathetic look on the abbot’s face, Cristiana wasn’t certain if he believed him or cared, not after hearing what the bishop had done.

  “Even so, I will be gathering further details from witnesses as to your terrible actions. It will be shared with both the chapter and the archbishop in addition to what I’ve already told them. I have no doubt they will see your guilt as I do.”

  The bishop ground his teeth in frustration. “We shall see. Once I am well, I will find as many witnesses as you who will attest to my good deeds.”

  “Cristiana,” William said softly as he pulled her aside, “don’t do this.”

  “I have to try.” That was the challenge she had with her gift. Who was she to decide who was worthy of being healed and who wasn’t? Long ago, she’d decided that if a person was put in her path, she had to try to do what she could to aid them. Bishop Duval was no different despite the fact that he’d come into her life against her wishes. Now it seemed as if all that had happened for a reason.

  “You do what you feel is right, my child,” Abbot Clarke said as he turned to Cristiana. “God will decide if the bishop should be forgiven or not.”

  “Please, Cristiana,” the bishop pleaded, putting a hand to his throat as though it was difficult to breathe. “Save me.”

  “Why did you not ask me when I first arrived?”

  The bishop dropped his gaze. “I...I wanted to be certain you truly had the ability. It seemed impossible to believe.”

  The way he refused to meet her eyes, she could guess what his thoughts had become after she’d proven herself. “Then you worried if I was a witch or the like.”

  “I’m not the only one to doubt the source of your power,” he muttered.

  “Nay, and you won’t be the last.” She stepped around the desk and stood before him as he shifted to face her. A fine sweat beaded his brow and his breathing seemed shallow. She tried to clear her mind, but found it impossible with all the bishop had said.

  William moved to stand beside her, his hand at her waist as his gaze held hers. “Let it go and do what you need to do,” he said.

  His quiet words, his belief in her, calmed her and allowed her to focus. She touched the bishop’s shoulders, then his chest. The heat seemed to be everywhere but she couldn’t determine its source. She moved her hands to his stomach and found heat there too. The only thing she could do was try to remove the illness in one area at a time.

  She gathered herself and pushed her thoughts forward with her hands on his chest. Nothing happened. It was as if a wall stood between her and his illness. She tried again, but still felt nothing. Stunned, she drew back, staring at her hands, wondering if she’d lost her gift.

  “I don’t feel anything,” the bishop said with a hitch of panic in his voice. “You must try harder.”

  Cristiana concentrated again, this time trying to pull the illness into herself.

  Nothing.

  “You are worthless!” Bishop Duval cried breathlessly. “You aren’t trying hard enough.”

  “What is it?” William asked, his brown eyes steady on her.

  “I’m not sure. It’s as if there’s something preventing me from healing. I’ve never had this happen before.” Yet as she said the words, she realized that wasn’t true. It had occurred one other time. She stared at the bishop in dismay. “Nay. It can’t be.”

  “What?” the bishop asked, his eyes glazed with pain.

  “You are my father?”

  William took her hand and squeezed. She was so grateful for his presence at that moment.

  “Nay!” Bishop Duval glanced worriedly at the abbot. “That’s not true. She lies.”

  “I couldn’t heal my mother when she was ill. I can’t heal my own flesh and blood.” Cristiana stared at the bishop, unable to believe it could be true.

  “That is what Cristiana’s mother threatened to reveal. That you were the father of her child,” William said. “If she had done so while you were in the midst of gathering support for building the cathedral, you would have lost everything.”

  “By having her killed, you removed the threat and gained access to Cristiana’s healing abilities,” Abbot Clarke added, shaking his head in disbelief.

  Cristiana put a hand to her forehead, her mind reeling. “But you are a bishop.”

  “First he is a man, my lady,” the abbot said. “We have the same weaknesses as any. Some of us are able to overcome those while others aren’t. We are not so different from those we lead to worship. Yet it is how we overcome those weaknesses that matters.” He turned to the bishop. “I am going to request that you be removed from your position unless you are willing to step down. You will be held accountable for the deaths you caused.”

  “Curse you. Curse you all!” the bishop protested, his voice little more than a whisper. “None of you understand.”

  Abbot Clarke directed his men-at-arms to haul away the bishop and Father Markus with orders to find Father Daniel as well. The abbot shook his head at the bishop’s weak cursing as he was carried from the room. Then he turned to Cristiana and took her hand in his. “I am so very sorry you’ve had to go through all this. The bishop’s actions over the years have been inexcusable.”

  “I’m still trying to understand it all,” Cristiana said.

  “You are surrounded by others who care for you,” the abbot said as he looked at William, Nicholas and Elizabeth. “I think that will provide you with great comfort as you work through this.”

  Her heart warmed as she looked at each of them, holding on William. “Indeed it does.”

  The abbot squeezed her hand one last time then released it. “I would speak with all of you on the morrow.”

  “Of course,” William agreed and bid the abbot goodbye.

  “Are you all right?” William asked as he gathered her into his arms. “This must have come as a shock.”

  “At least now I know. For so many years, I wondered who my father was, where my mother went on her trips. She was always so elated before she left and so very sad when she returned.”

  “It sounds as though the bishop was making promises and then failing to keep them,” William suggested.

  Nicholas’s blue eyes were riveting as he held her gaze. “I’m sorry this night has brought you such sorrow.”

  Cristiana sighed. “I can’t believe that man is my father.”

  “I’m certain he had redeeming qualities,” Elizabeth offered. “Perhaps some event in his life changed him.”

  “Perhaps.” The idea gave her comfort. Surely the man her mother had fallen in love with was quite different than the bisho
p was now.

  “I am pleased to meet someone with a...gift.” Nicholas looked at his wife as he selected the last word. “Having a unique ability presents many challenges.”

  Cristiana smiled, appreciating his honesty. “Indeed it does. I think you and I have many things in common.”

  “But that conversation will have to be saved for another day,” William said. “I would appreciate a few moments alone with Cristiana.”

  “Of course,” Nicholas said and wrapped his arm around his wife in a tender gesture. Their love as they looked into each other’s eyes was palpable. Then Nicholas moved to greet Henry, slapping the big man on the back as though they were long lost brothers.

  “I’m sorry for everything you’ve had to go through of late,” William said. “The terrible loss of your mother, the bishop using you for his own purposes, the discovery that he is your father.”

  Cristiana looked closely into William’s face. Worry filled her until she had to give voice to it. “I must ask—have you changed your mind about me now that you know the truth? I am the illegitimate daughter of a bishop and a lady.”

  William drew her tight against him. “Never. You won’t be rid of me so easily. My promise to you stands. I love you, now and always. I ask you again, will you be my wife?”

  Love bloomed inside Cristiana, filling every corner of her being with joy. “Aye. Now and always. I love you so very much.”

  He bent his head to place a tender kiss on her lips. His tenderness fueled her passion and she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer, kissing him with all she held in her heart. Then she drew back, laying her hand along his cheek. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked, clearly puzzled by her words.

  “For believing in me.”

  “Always.” He kissed her again. “You are going to love my mother and father.”

  Her heart warmed at his words. She hadn’t truly thought about his family. “Now I’ll have the big family I always longed for. I didn’t think I ever would. Not with my odd...gift.” She smiled as she repeated Nicholas’s word choice. “I didn’t think anyone would understand.”