“You are very kind, both of you,” she said as Alan and Henry helped her into a chair. “I would like to speak to you, Your Majesty, on a private matter.”
Henry nodded toward Alan and the knight left them. “Now, what matter is so important that you must weary yourself to seek me?”
Judith looked down at her hands. “I would like a divorce.”
King Henry was silent for a moment. “Divorce is a grave undertaking. Do you have cause?”
There were two types of divorce and three reasons for each. The best Judith could hope for was a separation, allowing her to live apart from her husband for the rest of her life. “Adultery,” she said quietly.
Henry considered this. “If such grounds were allowed, neither of you could remarry.”
“I do not wish to. I will enter a convent, as I was trained for.”
“And what of Gavin? Would you deny him the right of a new wife and of sons to follow him?”
“No,” she whispered. “He has his rights.”
Henry was watching her intently. “Then we must look to a divorce which declares your marriage null and void. You are not related?”
Again she shook her head, thinking of Walter Demari.
“What then of Gavin? Was he pledged to another?”
Judith lifted her chin. “He did ask another woman to marry him.”
“And this woman is?”
“Lady Alice Chatworth.”
“Ah,” Henry sighed and leaned back in his chair. “And now the lady is a widow and he wishes to marry her?”
“Yes, he does.”
King Henry frowned. “I don’t like divorce, but I also don’t like my earls and countesses so unhappy. This will cost you a great deal. I am sure the pope will require that you endow a chapel or a nunnery.”
“I will do that.”
“Lady Judith, you must let me think about this. I must speak to the others involved before I make a decision. Alan,” he called, “take the countess to her room and see that she is made to rest.”
Alan smiled broadly as he helped Judith to her feet.
“The Lady Judith looked to be very sad,” Queen Elizabeth commented as she entered the room just as Judith was leaving and took a seat next to her husband. “I know how she feels after having lost a child.”
“It’s not that, or at least the child is not all that weighs upon her. She asks for a divorce from Gavin.”
“No!” Elizabeth said, dropping her knitting to her lap. “I have never seen two people more in love. They argue, true, but I have seen Lord Gavin lift her in his arms and kiss her.”
“It seems that Lady Judith is not the only woman Gavin kisses.”
Elizabeth was silent. Not many men were faithful to their wives. She knew that even her husband at times…“Lady Judith asks for a divorce for this reason?”
“Yes. Gavin seems to have asked Lady Alice Chatworth to marry him before he married Judith. It is a verbal contract and grounds for divorce. That is, if the woman will accept Gavin.”
“She will!” Elizabeth said angrily. “She will be glad to take Gavin—she has done so much to obtain him.”
“What are you talking about?”
Elizabeth quickly told her husband of the castle gossip how Lady Judith had fallen and miscarried her child.
Henry frowned. “I do not like such happenings between my subjects. Gavin should have been more discreet.”
“There is some doubt whether he asked the woman to his bed, or whether she placed herself there.”
Henry chuckled. “Poor Gavin. I wouldn’t want to be in such a state as he.”
“Have you talked to him? I do not think he wants this divorce,” Elizabeth stated.
“But if he were pledged to the Lady Alice before his marriage…”
“Then why did she marry Edmund Chatworth?”
“I see,” Henry said seriously. “I think I will investigate this further. There is more here than appears on the surface. I will talk to both Gavin and Lady Alice.”
“I hope your talks take a long while.”
“I don’t understand.”
“If Judith is allowed to separate from her husband, their marriage will indeed end; but if they were forced to stay near one another, they might realize they do care for each other.”
Henry smiled fondly at his wife. She was a wise woman. “I will indeed take a long time before I send a message to the pope. Where are you going?” he asked as she stood.
“I would like to talk to Sir Alan Fairfax. I wonder if he would be willing to help a lady in distress.”
Henry gave her a puzzled look, then picked up his manuscript. “Yes, my dear. I am sure you will handle all of this without me.”
Two hours later the door to Judith’s chamber was thrown open. Gavin stalked into the room, his face blackened with fury.
Judith glanced up from the book in her lap.
“You asked the king for a divorce!” he bellowed.
“Yes, I have,” she replied firmly.
“Do you plan to tell the world of our differences?”
“If that is what it takes to rid myself of you.”
He glared at her. “You are a stubborn woman! Do you ever see anything but one side? Do you ever listen to reason?”
“Your idea of reason is not the same as mine. You want me to forgive you for adultery time and again. I have done so many times, yet now I can no more. I plan to rid myself of you and enter a convent, as I should have done long ago.”
“A convent!” he said in disbelief, then smiled mockingly. He took one swift step toward her and threw an arm around her shoulders. He lifted her from the bed and his mouth covered hers. He was not gentle, but even his harshness set Judith afire. Her arms went around his neck, pulling him to her violently. Abruptly, he released her, letting her fall onto the feather mattress. The sides of the soft mattress rose around her.
“Make up your mind that you’ll never be rid of me. When you are ready to admit that I’m the man you need, come to me. Perhaps I’ll take you back.” He turned and stalked from the room before Judith could say a word.
Joan stood in the open doorway, a look of adoration on her face.
“How dare he—” Judith began then stopped at Joan’s look. “Why do you look at me so?” she demanded.
“Because you are wrong. That man loves you, has told you so, yet you won’t listen to him. I have been on your side throughout your marriage, but now I’m not.”
“But that woman—” Judith said in a strange, pleading voice.
“Can’t you forgive him? He thought he loved her once. He would be less of a man if he were willing to forget her when he first saw his beautiful wife. You make great demands of him.”
“But my baby!” Judith said, tears in her voice.
“I told you of Alice’s treachery. How can you hold him responsible?”
Judith was silent for a while. The loss of the child hurt her so badly. Perhaps she wanted someone to blame and Gavin was a convenient person to inflict it on. She knew what Joan said of Alice was true. That night, things had happened so quickly; but now, days later, she knew that Gavin’s body on Alice’s had been too inert.
“He says he loves you,” Joan continued in a quieter voice.
“Do you do anything besides listen at doors?” Judith snapped.
Joan smiled. “I like to know what happens to those I care for. He loves you. What do you feel for him?”
“I…I don’t know.”
Joan uttered an oath that made Judith’s eyes widen. “Your mother should have taught you something besides accounts. I don’t believe I have seen a woman love a man as you love Lord Gavin. Your eyes have not left him since he lifted you from that white horse at your wedding. Yet you have fought him on every count…as he has you,” she added before Judith could interrupt. “Why don’t the two of you stop fighting and make some more babies? I should like one near me.”
Judith smiled even as her eyes filled with tears. “But he doesn?
??t love me, not truly. Even if he did, he is furious with me. Should I go to him and tell him that I don’t want a divorce, that I…I…?”
Joan laughed. “You can’t even say it. You love him, don’t you?”
Judith was very serious before she answered. “Yes, I do.”
“Now, we must plan. You cannot go to him. He would gloat over it for years to come, and besides you would make a poor job of it. You would no doubt be cold and logical when you should weep and sigh.”
“Weep and—!” Judith was offended.
“See you what I mean? Once you said I make too much of a person’s appearances, and I said you make too little of them. For once you are going to use your beauty to its best advantage.”
“But how? Gavin has seen me in every way. My appearance will have no affect on him.”
“You think not?” Joan laughed. “Listen to me and in a few days I will have Lord Gavin groveling at your feet.”
“It would be nice for a change,” Judith smiled. “Yes, I would like that.”
“Then leave it to me. There is an Italian cloth merchant downstairs and—”
“I need no more clothes!” Judith said, glancing at the four large trunks in the room.
Joan smiled in a secret way. “Let me handle the men. You just rest. You’re going to need your strength.”
The news of Judith’s desire for a divorce spread throughout the court like a fire. Divorce was not uncommon, but Judith and Gavin had been married only a short while. The reaction of the people of the court was unusual. The women—orphaned heiresses, young widows—flocked to Gavin. They sensed that his long love affair with Alice Chatworth was over. Obviously his lovely wife had no hold on him. They saw Gavin as an unattached man who would soon need to choose one of them for a wife.
But the men did not run to Judith. They were not given to acting first and thinking later. The queen kept Judith at her side, giving her preferential treatment, or, as the men saw it, guarding her as a bear with her cubs. The men also knew that it was unusual for King Henry to keep the warring couple at court. The king didn’t like divorce and usually sent the couple away. True, the Lady Judith was lovely and very rich, but too often a man felt Gavin’s eyes on him when he stayed too long at the golden-eyed beauty’s side. More than one man voiced the opinion that a good beating would have kept Judith from making their differences public.
“My lady?”
Judith looked up from her book and smiled at Alan Fairfax. The new gown she wore was extremely simple. It had a plain square neck and long, tight sleeves. It hung past her feet so it made a small pool of fabric when she stood. She had to throw part of it over her arm in order to walk. The sides were laced tightly. But what was truly unusual about the gown was its color. It was black—solid, midnight black. There was no belt, no mantle. About her neck was a collar of gold filigree set with large cabochon rubies. Her hair was uncovered, left loose to hang down her back. She’d objected when Joan showed her the black dress and she wondered at how appropriate it was. She had no idea that the black made her skin glow like a pearl. The gold of the collar reflected her eyes and the rubies took second place to the blaze of her deep, rich auburn hair.
It was all Alan could do to keep from staring with his mouth agape. Judith obviously had no idea she was driving the men of the court wild, as well as her husband. “You sit inside on such a lovely day?” he finally managed.
“It would seem so,” she smiled. “If the truth were known, I haven’t been very far outside these walls in several days.”
He held his arm out. “Then perhaps you would like to walk with me?”
She rose and took his arm. “I would indeed enjoy that, kind sir.” Judith held his arm firmly. She was glad to talk to a man again. For days they had all seemed to shy away from her. The thought made her laugh aloud.
“Something amuses you?” Alan asked.
“I was thinking that you are a brave man. For the last week, I had begun to fear that I had the plague—or perhaps even worse. If I only look at a man, he scurries away as if in mortal fear.”
It was Alan’s turn to laugh. “It’s not you but your husband who sends them into the shadows.”
“But he may…soon be my husband no longer.”
“May?” Alan asked, one eyebrow raised. “Do I hear a note of uncertainty?”
Judith was quiet a moment. “I fear I am transparent.”
He covered her hand with his. “You were very angry and rightly so. The Lady Alice—” He stopped when he felt her stiffen. “It was unkind of me to mention her. You have forgiven your husband then?”
Judith smiled. “Can one love another without forgiveness? If it’s possible, then that is my fate.”
“Why don’t you go to him and end this estrangement?”
“You don’t know Gavin! He would gloat and lecture me on my waywardness.”
Alan chuckled. “Then you must make him come to you.”
“That is what my maid says, though she gives me no lessons on how to return my husband to my side.”
“There is only one way. He is a jealous man. You must spend some of your time with another, and Lord Gavin will soon see his mistake.”
“But what man?” Judith asked, thinking that she knew so few people at court.
“You wound me sorely,” Alan laughed, raising his hand to his breast in mock despair.
“You? But you have no interest in my cause.”
“Then I must force myself to spend time with you. Surely, it will be a most difficult task. But truthfully, I owe you a favor.”
“You owe me nothing.”
“No, I do. I was used to play a trick on you, and I would like to repay you.”
“Trick? I don’t know what you mean.”
“It’s my secret alone. Now, let’s talk no more of serious matters. This is a day for pleasure.”
“Yes,” she agreed. “We know little of each other. Tell me about yourself.”
Alan smiled teasingly. “I have had a long and interesting life. I’m sure my story will take the entire day.”
“Then we should start,” Judith laughed.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
ALAN AND JUDITH LEFT THE NOISE AND CONFUSION OF the king’s manor and strolled toward the wooded park outside the castle walls. It was a long walk, but one they both enjoyed.
It was an interesting afternoon for Judith. She realized how few men she had known in her life. Alan was entertaining and the day passed quickly. He was fascinated that she was so well educated. They laughed together over Judith’s confession of how her maids sneaked romantic tales to her and how she read to them aloud. Alan was certain Judith was not fully aware of how unorthodox her childhood had been. Only late in the afternoon did she speak of her married life. She told of her reorganizing of Gavin’s castle, briefly mentioned her talks with the armorer. Alan began to see the cause of Gavin’s outbursts of temper. It would take great strength in a man to be able to stand aside and let his wife’s word take precedence over his.
They talked and laughed until the sun was low in the sky. “We must return,” Alan said. “But I hate to end this day’s enjoyment.”
“I agree,” Judith smiled. “It has indeed been enjoyable. I’m pleased to get away from court. There’s too much gossip and backbiting there for me.”
“It’s not a bad place—unless you’re the object of the abuse.”
“As I am now?” Judith winced.
“Yes. No one has had so much to talk of for years.”
“Sir Alan,” she laughed. “You are cruel to me.” She tucked her hand around his arm and smiled up at him.
“So!” a voice hissed close to them. “This is where you hide?”
Judith whirled to see Alice standing close to them.
“He will be mine soon!” Alice sneered and moved closer to Judith. “When he rids himself of you, he will come to me.”
Judith stepped back. The light in Alice’s blue eyes was unnatural. Her lips curled and showed her une
ven teeth, which she usually was so careful to hide.
Alan put himself between Alice and Judith. “Get away from here!” he said in a low, threatening voice.
“Are you hiding behind your lover?” Alice screeched, ignoring Alan. “Can’t you wait for the divorce before you take other men?”
Alan’s hand clamped onto Alice’s shoulder. “Go and don’t return. If I see you near Lady Judith again, you’ll answer to me.”
Alice started to speak but Alan’s hand digging into her shoulder prevented her. She turned on one heel and stalked away.
Alan turned back to Judith, to see her staring after the woman. “You look almost frightened.”
“I am,” she said and rubbed her arms. “The woman gives me chills. Once I thought her to be my enemy, but now I almost pity her.”
“You are kindhearted. Most women would hate her for what she has done to you.”
“I did once. Maybe I still should. But I can’t blame her for all of my problems. Many have been caused by myself and—” She stopped and looked down at the ground.
“And your husband?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Gavin.”
Alan stood very close to her. The darkness was rapidly gathering, and he had spent the whole day with her. Maybe it was the delicate light on her hair and eyes, but he knew he couldn’t keep himself from kissing her. He took her chin in his hand and lifted her face. Her lips met his. “Sweet, lovely Judith,” he whispered. “You are too often concerned with others and yourself not enough.” He bent and pressed his lips to hers.
Judith was startled, but she didn’t find Alan’s caress offensive. Nor did she find it particularly exciting. Her eyes stayed open, and she noticed Alan’s lashes on his cheek. His lips were soft and pleasant, but they set no fire in her.
The next moment, the world had opened up and emitted hell. Judith was violently pushed away from Alan, her back slamming into a tree, her senses leaving her briefly. She looked about her dazedly. Alan was on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He rubbed his jaw, flexing it. Gavin stood over him, then bent as he went for the man again. “Gavin!” Judith screamed and flung herself at her husband.