Archangel (48 page)

Gart began to feel the warmth of rage starting in his feet, moving its way up his legs, causing his palms to sweat as the heat entered his chest before moving to his head.  Sweat popped out on his brow and, as David watched apprehensively, Gart began to work his massive fists.  David knew that gesture, having seen it many times before.  It was the catalyst to an explosion of epic proportions.

“They cannot have her,” he growled. “I will not let them take her.”

David put up his hands, trying to soothe the rage before it exploded.

 “That is why I have sent for Father Jonas,” he said. “If anyone can help us work through this, he can. Until he arrives, you and I will remain here in this room while my brother watches over Julian and Westminster. We are going to stay right here until Jonas arrives.”

“Father Jonas be damned!” Gart roared. “I will kill Buckland before I let him take her!”

David moved to him, putting his hands on the man to ease him. 

“Gart, you must control yourself,” he pleaded. “You must stay calm if there is any hope of allowing Emberley to remain with you. If you fly into a rage, the Church will see you as a madman and remove Emberley for her own safety. Do you understand me?”

Gart was struggling to control himself, more than he ever had in his life.  He knew David was right about maintaining his control. He didn’t want to appear insane, as much as that reputation had been to his advantage in the past.  This is one time it would not work in his favor.

 Frustrated, filled with rage, he turned away from David and paced the room until he ended up nearly walking into a wall. He leaned forward, bracing his big arms against the wall, struggling to calm down and realizing he was trembling.

“What can be done, David?” Gart asked in an extreme breach of etiquette.  He had never before called the man by his forename but somehow, he felt entitled to. It was no longer knight to liege. It was friend to friend. “Please help me. What can be done?”

David wasn’t offended by the breach. It seemed natural to him as well. He sighed faintly. 

“I do not know,” he said honestly, feeling the man’s pain. “I could give you some horses and see how far you can get, but you would be traveling with a young boy and a pregnant woman. How well do you think they would travel under such difficult conditions?”

Gart thought of Emberley and how hard she would try to be brave.  She was a strong woman but he doubted she could survive a harried flight. Moreover, there were the children to worry about, children she would not leave behind under any circumstances. Nor would Gart - although her children were not of his flesh, it didn’t matter. He loved them as if they were. He could not leave them behind,either.

Sighing heavily, he hung his head, struggling not to feel the despair that was gripping him. The desolation he was feeling was nothing he had ever experienced before.  He turned to David.

“I am going upstairs to Emberley,” he muttered, pushing past David as he headed for the door. “I will wait with her until Jonas arrives.”

David grabbed him by the arm. “That may not be wise,” he said. “She will see how upset you are and you will undoubtedly tell her why. If I were you, I would not tell her anything until Father Jonas arrives and we know more of the situation.”

Gart held up a hand to the man, understanding his words yet inherently disagreeing with them.

“You just told me that the Church has come to take Emberley from me,” he hissed. “If this is true and Father Jonas cannot work a miracle in our favor, you will not be offended when I say I would rather spend this time with Emberley and not you.”

David didn’t argue with him. He let him go, although he followed him out into the entry hall just to make sure he wasn’t going to run into the reception room and tear Buckland apart. 

David stood at the base of the stairs, watching Gart mount each step with a weariness to his movements that he had never seen before.  It was Gart Forbes facing a life sentence, all of the joy drained out of him at the prospect of losing the only thing in his life that mattered.

Heartbroken, David stood at the base of the steps and didn’t move until Father Jonas arrived.

Chapter Twenty Seven

Kevin de Lara had informed Father Jonas of the circumstances currently embracing Bellham and the priest, with a full de Lohr escort, made all haste to the gray-stoned manse that sat along the River Thames.  He honestly wasn’t sure what he would find once he arrived and was pleased to see that there was no blood or carnage, and that the place was still intact.  Everything seemed peaceful for the most part as softly glowing light emitted from the windows of the big structure.

Dismounting his horse in the yard in front of the house, he was met by David.  The fair young lord was tense as he approached.

“Where is Forbes?” Jonas asked before any greeting could be given.

David came to a halt. “With Lady Emberley,” he told him. “I have kept him away from Buckland. He has not seen or spoken to the man.”

Jonas removed his gloves. “Excellent,” he replied, eyeing David. “De Lara has told me what has happened.”

David nodded, his manner laced with anxiety. “You were supposed to offer Buckland a ransom in return for his cooperation in a divorce,” he pointed out what he had been wondering most of the day. “What happenened?”

Jonas faced David with some anger. “I could not locate the man,” he hissed. “I have spent the better part of the day sending out missives, looking for him. He was not at the Tower and no one seemed to know where to find him. Now I see that he has been at Westminster all along. There was no way I could have possibly known that.”

“So you have not been able to propose the divorce at all?”

“Nay.”

David sighed faintly, turning to look at the house with the softly glowing light emitting from the reception room windows.

“He is here with Father Mellitus from Westminster,” he said as they started to walk towards the house. “The canon from Westminster has demanded we turn Lady Emberley over to the custody of the Church so she can be returned to her husband.”

Jonas seemed to harden, pausing just before they went inside.  He faced David seriously.

“I have heard of Father Mellitus and from all accounts, he is a fair and just man,” he said in a low voice. “But if there is any chance of swaying the man’s mind, I must go in there and hit hard and furious. I will attack Buckland with his foul reputation and horrific deeds, and it may be necessary to have Lady Emberley corroborate my assertions. Perhaps if we can prove the lady is in mortal danger, then Mellitus will not demand she be returned to her husband pending further investigation.  Do you believe the lady is capable of defending herself?”

David lifted an eyebrow. “She will have to be,” he said, opening he door. “It is not her I am worried about. It is Gart.”

Jonas moved through the door. “Bind him if you have to,” he muttered. “The man must remain in control while we settle this.”

The warm entry hall of Bellham greeted them and Father Jonas removed his cloak, handing his things over to a hovering servant.  Followed by de Lara, David took Jonas into the reception room.

An odd looking stand-off unfolded before them.  Father Mellitus was sitting in the center of the room, looking impatient and bored, as Julian sat several feet away near the hearth. 

Christopher was standing next to Julian, practically hovering of the man like a great, powerful sentinel.  Two Westminster guards stood by the door and two other priests were over near the lancet windows. 

In spite of all of the people in the room, it was as silent as a grave. The mood was cold and uncertain. Jonas walked in, eyed the occupants of the room, and headed straight for Father Mellitus.

“I am Father Jonas of St. Bartholomew,” he introduced himself to the gray-haired canon. “You are Father Mellitus?”

Mellitus stood up, nodding his head. “I am,” he said. “We have been waiting for you for several hours. What connection do you have to this issue?”

“I am an advisor to the earl and his brother,” Jonas replied, sensing Mellitus’ impatience. “I am here to speak on behalf of Lady Emberley de Moyon.”

Julian suddenly bolted up from his chair. “Who are you that you would speak for my wife? I do not know you.”

As Jonas focused in on Julian, David sent Kevin for Gart.  As the knight fled, David watched Jonas stalk Julian as a hunter would stalk prey.  He could sense that things were about to get interesting.

“But I know you, my lord,” Jonas was cool as he approached Julian, sizing up the man he had heard so many horrible things about. “I thought the queen’s lover would be a big man of handsome countenance but I see I was mistaken.  You are not the mighty hero I expected. What of your relationship with the queen, Baron Buckland? What will she think of your attempt to regain the wife you forsook when you sated your lust with the queen’s flesh?”

He was bending down, whispering his vile words in Julian’s face.  Julian, having entered the room as the properly desperate and anxious husband, immediately found himself on the defensive.

“You have no right to involve yourself in matters that do not concern you,” he snarled. “Who are you that you would spout such slander?”

Jonas cocked an eyebrow. “I am Father Jonas St. John and I have heard the queen’s confession many a time,” he replied, knowing he was divulging privileged information but also knowing he had to attack Julian’s character immediately if they were to have any change of succeeding. “I have heard of her exploits with you many a time.”

By this time, Mellitus was on his feet. “You may not speak of what was delivered in confessional,” he said strongly. “You may not speak of….”

Jonas swung around, cutting him off. “I realize that. Your Grace, but I am seriously wondering if you know the character of the man you are representing.” He moved towards Mellitus, lifting his eyebrows when he saw the confusion on the man’s face. “No? Then allow me to educate you.  This man you are advocating, Baron Buckland, has been the queen’s lover for almost a year. He has a wife and four children, yet he has openly cavorted with our most gracious and virtuous queen. Did you not know this?”

Jonas was bordering on mocking as he spoke, watching Mellitus’ expression carefully. He continued. “I see by your face that you are perhaps confused by my words,” he went to the canon in a companionable manner, wanting to pull the man to his side. “Baron Buckland is something of a monster, Your Grace.  He has beat his wife to the point of death many times. He has been cruel beyond measure to her.  He abuses her in every way possible, this fragile woman that God has created as one of his most beautiful creatures.  To further cement his beastly behavior, he has taken up with the queen in a lustful and sinful affair, humiliating his wife and openly defying God’s sacred laws of marriage. And you have come here to retrieve this woman so he can continue his appalling treatment of her?  Does this seem fair or just to you, Your Grace?”

By this time, Mellitus was looking at Julian with a great deal of contempt.  Jonas, completely in control of the situation, turned his smug expression in Julian’s direction to see that Buckland was red in the face.  The man’s jaw worked angrily, his entire body twitching with contempt.

“Is this true, Buckland?” Mellitus asked with veiled patience. “Tell me the truth or I walk from this room.”