by Ida Curtis
“I doubt that. But I have a question, my lord.” She hesitated, but knew it had to be discussed. “What happened to your resolution to wait for Justin’s approval of our match?”
Chetwynd took a long drink. “Somehow my desire overcame my resolve. Maybe you did seduce me, my love.”
“Chetwynd! You said . . .”
“I’m teasing. I thought about Justin and my desire for his approval after I left you that first night. I realized that if he objected to our marriage, his objection wouldn’t change my determination to have you as my wife. Now it’s a done deed, and I have to make him believe I deserve you.”
“Hmmm. I had wondered what you would do if Justin objected. I’m glad to hear he wouldn’t change your mind.”
“My decision may cause us trouble, and I’m sure it won’t be easy. But we’ll just have to convince your brother that we belong together.”
After taking a big bite of an apple, Isabel held it out for Chetwynd to taste. His bite took most of the remaining apple and filled his mouth. Since Isabel’s mouth was still full, she tried to keep from laughing as he struggled to chew the huge portion. She could feel apple juice dripping down her chin.
Chetwynd couldn’t help staring at her rosy mouth. When he found he was aroused again, he knew he might never get enough of his beautiful wife. Quickly swallowing the apple, he asked, “Do you wish to go back to bed for a while, Isabel?”
“Yes,” was all she said as she jumped from her stool and raced him back to the bedchamber.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON WHEN ONE OF THE farmers arrived at the manor house to announce that riders were approaching. Everyone had slept late, and there was a subdued atmosphere at the manor house. Isabel was helping with the cleanup in the kitchen, while Chetwynd and Bosco, seated at a table in the dining hall, examined the account books.
The afternoon sun was burning brightly as Isabel and Chetwynd stood together in the courtyard to watch the approaching riders. Chetwynd found Isabel’s hand among the folds of her skirt and held it tightly. No words were necessary to convey the nervous anticipation they both felt. Although they had not discussed strategy, there was an unspoken understanding that they would stand firm against any opposition to their marriage.
They were relieved to see that Ingram and Jerome were in the small party of men who accompanied Justin. Chetwynd held back, watching Isabel run toward her brother and greet him with a warm embrace. Justin stared at Chetwynd over Isabel’s shoulder. Even from a distance, Chetwynd recognized the barely restrained fury in Justin’s expression.
Chetwynd received a warmer greeting from Ingram and Jerome. They moved to stand facing Chetwynd as though to shield him from Justin. It was clear they wished a word with him first, and they used the fact that Justin was occupied with Isabel to achieve their goal.
“We got here as soon as we could,” Ingram began, speaking quickly. “It took a while to persuade Lord Justin to come with us. After we filled him in on what happened at Saint Ives, he wanted us to come on our own and fetch Lady Isabel to him. He has the idea that she will be safer separated from you and plans to accomplish that as soon as possible.”
“I’m not surprised, Ingram. Not long ago, I, too, believed she’d be safer away from me, as I’m sure you remember. But I have no intention of being separated from Isabel.”
Both men nodded their approval, then Jerome added, “Lord Justin’s very angry, my lord.”
“And what about you, Jerome? Have you forgiven me for leaving you behind at Saint Ives?”
“You made the journey safely. If anything had happened to Lady Isabel, I would not have forgiven you, my lord.”
The usually cheerful Jerome had spoken solemnly, making it clear how strongly he felt. Ingram frowned at the young squire’s boldness, but Chetwynd’s reply made it clear he didn’t resent Jerome’s concern. “Nor would I have forgiven myself. I appreciate your regard for Isabel’s safety, Jerome.”
A look of disapproval still on his face, Ingram shook his head at the exchange, but Chetwynd knew the kidnapping had formed a special bond between Isabel and the young lad who had served him for so long. He watched as his wife came to embrace his squire, and before Jerome could duck his head, Chetwynd saw that his cheeks had turned a bright shade of red.
After Isabel greeted Ingram with a similar embrace, she asked, “Where is Marianna?”
“She stayed in Aachen to prepare Chetwynd’s chamber for you, my lady. Actually we had to talk her into it, but she was tired and finally gave in. She grumbled that Lord Chetwynd’s rooms needed a great deal of cleaning to prepare for your arrival.”
Imagining Marianna hard at work setting Chetwynd’s quarters to rights, Isabel grinned. “What happened after we left the convent, Ingram? Was the queen angry?”
“Not so you would notice, my lady. Gilda reported that she read Chetwynd’s letter with some surprise, but her control was in place and she seemed to accept his explanation. The only sign Gilda could see of the queen’s true feelings was that as she held the letter down at her side, she crushed it in her hand. But her regal smile was in place, and she put forward no objection to our leaving to follow Chetwynd.”
Relieved to hear things had gone well, Isabel looked over to her brother. Justin had held back, speaking with his men. Ever the diplomat, he was allowing Isabel a few minutes to speak with Jerome and Ingram. When he finally approached, Justin’s eyes were narrow and his face cold.
“I can’t believe you would do this, Chetwynd. How could you betray our friendship in this manner?”
“Justin!” Isabel exclaimed. She knew her brother was angry, but his harsh tone and blunt speech still came as a surprise.
“It’s all right, Isabel.” Chetwynd took her arm. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Justin. And to tell you the truth, I understand your feelings. But come in and give me a chance to explain.”
“I can’t imagine what you can say to excuse your behavior,” Justin answered.
Isabel took her brother’s arm and urged him into the dining hall. Gertrude had already set out some food and drink. Ingram followed behind Chetwynd as though to give him support, but Jerome was clearly eager to avoid the confrontation. “I’ll help the men with their horses and bring them some ale,” he offered.
Once seated at the table, Justin took a long drink to wash the travel dust from his throat. Chetwynd hoped Gertrude had prepared the ale at its full strength. He’d need all the help he could get to overcome Justin’s antagonism. Although Justin seldom became angry, when he did it was because he felt justified, and his anger was not easy to dispel.
Before Justin could speak, Chetwynd decided to begin with a positive suggestion. “When you asked me to stop at Narbonne and see if Isabel was happy, you said that she never married. I hoped that your request meant that you foresaw the possibility that we might make a match.”
With a vigorous shake of his head, Justin responded quickly, “Don’t be ridiculous, Chetwynd. Why would I wish a man who was foolish enough to become involved with . . .” He stopped abruptly and turned toward his sister. “Isabel, perhaps you should let me speak to Chetwynd alone.”
Isabel noted that even angry, Justin retained his diplomatic sensibilities. “I know about Queen Judith, Justin. I’m not going anywhere. Please give Lord Chetwynd a chance to explain. He’s my husband, and I expect you to treat him with the respect he deserves.”
Both Chetwynd and Justin were staring at her. While Chetwynd wasn’t surprised by her strong words, he had never heard anyone speak to Justin in such a scolding manner. Justin grimaced and nodded at Isabel. Chetwynd guessed that brother and sister were used to speaking frankly with one another.
“Give me your explanation, Chetwynd,” Justin demanded, only slightly more politely.
“At Narbonne, it was your grandmother who first suggested Isabel and I marry, Justin.”
“Of course she would. She’s been trying to marry Isabel off for years. That’s no reason to take her sugg
estion,” Justin pointed out.
“Lady Winifred led us to believe your father wouldn’t allow Isabel to travel with a company of soldiers unless we were married. She pointed out that Lord Theodoric was determined that Isabel enter a convent.”
“My grandmother has her own reasons for wishing Isabel married. Did you try to persuade my father otherwise?” Justin asked.
Chetwynd ignored Justin’s sarcastic tone and the question he didn’t want to answer. “Traveling as a married couple seemed to solve several of our problems. We proposed to live together as brother and sister, with the intention that the marriage could be annulled later. Both Lady Winifred and Lord Theodoric approved the match.”
“No big surprise there,” Justin said.
“During our journey together, we became better acquainted. I discovered I had feelings for Isabel. As I’m sure you know, your sister is a remarkable woman, full of spirit, as well as a lively curiosity about everything. I plan to do my best to make her a worthy husband.”
Justin narrowed his eyes. “Are you still living together as brother and sister?”
The question shattered Chetwynd’s resolve to remain calm and reasonable, never an easy task for him. “That’s none of your business,” Chetwynd barked, while at the same time Isabel said, “No, we’re not.”
Chetwynd gave his wife a surprised glance and then echoed her answer. “No, we’re not. Isabel and I are married, and we intend to stay married.” Giving up on the soft approach, Chetwynd’s words were meant for both Isabel and Justin.
“You intend to persist, in spite of the fact that your marriage has endangered her life?” Justin asked.
His words hit a nerve, and Chetwynd grimaced. “I’m as upset about that as you are. Isabel seems to have become a target and may still be in danger. But that doesn’t change our determination to stay together. We need your help and hope that you will bless our union, Justin. That’s what I am seeking. Your father has already given his permission and we don’t need yours, although we do hope you will give us your blessing.”
Chetwynd and Justin took each other’s measure in silence for a few minutes. Then Justin turned to Isabel. “Do you truly wish to be Chetwynd’s wife? If not, I can seek to have the marriage annulled. I’ll introduce you at court, and you can live with me. You won’t have to go back to Narbonne or a convent.”
Isabel smiled at her brother. “I love him,” she said. “I want this marriage, Justin.”
Justin stared at her for a minute; then he nodded. “As Chetwynd has pointed out, you don’t need my permission. Let’s talk about how we can keep you safe.”
Although he didn’t offer his blessing, Justin was making it clear he was going to help. He turned to Chetwynd. “I heard the story of Isabel’s kidnapping from Ingram, but perhaps you should tell it to me again. Also I want to know exactly what happened with Queen Judith at Saint Ives.”
Chetwynd breathed a sigh of relief and started the tale, while Isabel added details from time to time, filling in the gaps.
Justin listened closely to their story, observing how the two finished each other’s sentences. It struck him that they conversed like a married couple, and for the first time he accepted the fact that it would not be in his power to separate them. Chetwynd ended the tale with their flight from Saint Ives and the reason for it.
When they finished, Justin was quiet for a few minutes before speaking. Chetwynd took Isabel’s hand under the table as they waited to hear what Justin would say.
“I think you did the right thing to flee. I can inform the queen that you sought my help, as she requested, thus supporting what you told her in your letter. It will be easy enough for me to contact King Louis, as he is cloistered at a monastery not far from the palace. Hopefully the queen will be convinced by my actions that you acted in good faith.”
“Thank you for your support, Justin. It means a lot to me,” Chetwynd said.
Justin nodded in an offhanded manner and continued, “I wonder about the fact that one of the kidnappers was in the queen’s company. Involvement in a kidnapping doesn’t seem her style. Although she is a skillful manipulator, she relies on her powers of persuasion and feminine wiles to achieve her goals. I can’t remember an instance where she used force. However, I can believe she wanted to separate the two of you. That would be in keeping with her methods and any possessive feelings she has for you, Chetwynd.”
“I agree, Justin. What you say goes along with everything I know about her. But how would you explain the presence of the kidnapper in her party?”
“If he’s an agent of the bishops or Lothar, he could be watching the queen. Spying is not foreign to any of the parties involved in palace intrigue. Since you have supported the queen in the past, it makes more sense that the bishops or Lothar wished to delay your return to the palace. The accusation made against Sister Gerberga and the queen was no doubt in the planning stage for a while. The plotters waited until King Louis was away from the palace to initiate their scheme.”
“I can’t believe that either the bishops or Lothar would view my return to the palace as a threat to their plans.”
“You underestimate your influence, Chetwynd. You have served the king well for many years. Both he and the other knights respect your skill and honesty. You have a reputation for reading a situation and reacting quickly.”
The lessening of Justin’s antagonistic tone cheered Chetwynd as much as his words. But he questioned his friend’s reasoning. “I think that was true once, Justin, but I forfeited my good reputation when I became involved with the queen.”
“It’s not that straightforward, Chetwynd. Surely you know you are not the only man to be charmed by the queen. It’s not necessarily a strong mark against you.
“And there is a much stronger reason why your support of Queen Judith is viewed with sympathy. You are not alone. I know a group of powerful lords who believe her son, Charles, has a right to his inheritance. Of course they have their own motives. They are enemies of Lothar and feel he has become too powerful and headstrong. They may believe that young Charles would be easier for them to control. Personally, I think they are deluding themselves, as Judith is not about to let Charles be managed by anyone but herself.”
After listening to her brother’s words, Isabel spoke up for the first time. “I can see that maneuvering for power is a complicated matter.”
Justin had relaxed considerably, and he smiled at his sister. “That’s true, Isabel. And it has become even more so in recent years. Charlemagne was a powerful leader who built an empire, then held it together unchallenged. King Louis has never been the strong leader his father was.
“Without a strong leader, the future of the empire is in danger, or at least that is the fear of the church. The bishops hoped to secure its future by dividing the empire among the king’s three sons, with Lothar at its head. But then Louis married Judith. Now there is another son, plus an ambitious queen.” Justin shrugged. “As you say, it’s complicated, and the problem will not be solved easily. Maybe not for many years to come.”
Chetwynd appreciated Justin’s ability to take the long view, but he was more concerned with the present. Hoping to return to the immediate problem, he asked, “Since we don’t really know who was responsible for Isabel’s kidnapping, how do you suggest we proceed?”
“I think you should come with me to the palace at Aachen, Chetwynd. I don’t believe the queen will be banished for long, and the king may need you to maintain peace. The best thing would be for Isabel to stay here at Aquis until things settle down and we can discover who was behind the kidnapping plot.”
“No,” Isabel said quietly, appealing to Chetwynd with her eyes. “I want to go with Lord Chetwynd.”
“I promised Isabel we would stay together, Justin. I can’t break that promise.”
Justin looked from one to the other. In spite of his frustration with Chetwynd, they were the two people he loved most in the world. He was surprised he had never thought of them together. H
e spoke to Isabel. “I take it you are determined to remain in this marriage?”
Isabel nodded. She knew her brother well and prayed he would recognize and accept the inevitable. She did not wish a battle between the two men she loved.
When Justin looked at him, Chetwynd held his breath.
“So be it. I suspect you’ll make a good match. I’m surprised I didn’t foresee the outcome of bringing the two of you together. You have my blessing.”
Isabel leapt from her chair and flung her arms around her brother’s neck, nearly knocking him off the bench. When he regained his balance, Justin returned her embrace, hugging her tightly. Feeling an incredible sense of relief, Chetwynd watched brother and sister as they laughed together. Then they turned to him, and he saw two sets of identical brown eyes beaming at him.
“Thank you for your blessing, Justin,” he said, his hoarse voice betraying the emotion he felt. “I will do all in my power to deserve your trust and keep Isabel safe.”
“I’m sure you will, Chetwynd. Now I’d like a tour of the estate that is to be Isabel’s future home.” Then, as though to settle the matter, he added, “Tomorrow morning we’ll all leave for Aachen.”
In bed that night, Chetwynd and Isabel discussed their long-awaited reunion with Justin. “It went a great deal better than I had hoped,” Chetwynd admitted.
“Yes, Justin listened to reason, thank goodness. But then I guess that’s his strength. It won’t be long before he comes to believe our match was his idea.”
“You’re probably right. I wish I could be as calm and reasonable as Justin. My mind seems to work best when I have to make a quick decision in battle or in a dangerous situation. But when I saw you again in the pond at Narbonne, I lost my mind. I was ruled by another part of my anatomy.”
Isabel laughed. “I assume you’re speaking about your heart.”
“That, too.” Chetwynd pulled Isabel to lie on top of his stomach and then pushed her upright so she was straddling him. “I want to look at you, Isabel,” he said reverently as he pushed her long hair away from her bare breasts.
