“Thank you so much for letting me come.”
“You know I’m happy to do anything I can,” she said, smiling.
“Thank you. First, I need to get this to Yves at the warehouse,” he said, producing a sealed envelope from the sleeve of his robe. “It must be given directly to Yves, to no one else.”
“I’ll send Phillipe,” she said, reaching for the bell pull. “I trust him completely.”
“And then, if you don’t mind, I’d very much like to change out of these clothes.”
Maryse smiled as she stepped back to consider his appearance.
“They don’t really suit you. For some reason, I have trouble imagining you as a monk.”
“No more than I have trying to be one, I assure you.”
Phillipe arrived, and after showing Richard to his room, went to deliver the note to the Baron’s warehouse.
Richard changed and returned to talk with Maryse. He’d no sooner sat down than her housekeeper, Béatrice, announced that a young man from Monsieur Rouverault’s establishment wished to see her.
“Could you ask him if Monsieur Rouverault might be able to meet me here this afternoon?” Richard asked. “But you’ll have to manage it without mentioning my name.”
Maryse met the boy in the entry. He’d come to deliver the necklace and bracelet she’d ordered before Christmas. She told him that she wanted Monsieur Rouverault to call on them at his convenience that afternoon.
“Tell him that the request comes from the gentleman who originally ordered the pearl necklace he repaired for me.” She made him repeat the message to be sure he had it right, then let him go.
“I apologize. I have no right to ask so much of you,” Richard said when she returned.
“You have every right,” she said, taking his hands and squeezing them. “I owe you a great deal.”
“You owe me nothing, Maryse.”
“No? What do you suppose might have happened to us during the grain shortage if you hadn’t helped Christien? You’re far too modest, my dear friend. What would have become of my children, but for you?”
Before Richard could answer, there was a knock at the door and then Albert and Janine burst into the room followed by their tutor.
“Madame
,
forgive us,” said the surprised scholar. “I didn’t realize you had a guest.”
Richard stood up and so did Maryse. He noticed she was blushing, which gave him some cause for amusement.
“Come in Monsieur Louvet. I would like you to meet my friend…”
“Ricardo Bonelli,” Richard cut in, affecting a believable Italian accent. “I’m pleased to meet you, Signore
,
” he said with a nod of his head.
Eight-year-old Janine stood beside her mother, smiling at Richard while her brother studied the tall stranger with interest.
“And my children, Janine and Albert.”
Janine curtseyed prettily and Albert, very much the self-possessed ten year old, stepped up to offer Richard a precise bow.
The children were every bit as beautiful as their mother and all the more attractive for their mixed blood. Janine’s hair was auburn, Albert’s as dark as his mother’s, and they both had green eyes.
“Piacere, Signore,”
Albert pronounced perfectly.
“
Come sta?
”
“
Bene, grazie,
” Albert replied, this time with a big smile.
“Your student does you credit, Signore,” Richard said, smiling at Monsieur Louvet.
“
Molte grazie, Signore.”
Richard could see that the tutor was very fond of his pupils.
“Madame, the children have done very well with their lessons today and I promised them, since Mademoiselle will not be back until this evening, and since the weather is so lovely, we might go for a drive this afternoon. That is, of course, if you have no objections.”
“How thoughtful, Monsieur. Why don’t you ask Béatrice to serve dinner to the three of you now and then you won’t have to wait for us.”
“Of course, Madame.”
He took the children by the hands and led them from the room.
“They’re wonderful.”
“Have you none of your own then?”
“No.” Richard thought of Piero and Luisa…and the child Christina carried. “Not yet.”
Maryse saw the cloud of emotion that quickly passed over his face. What had happened these last seven years?
“So, we shall have the afternoon to ourselves. Would you like to tell me why you have suddenly adopted the religious life?”
The next afternoon Guy was in a particularly good mood as he walked to the shop of the jeweler he was told had made the bracelet for Christina. His thoughts were not on the bracelet, but on Stefano and their conversation the night before.
He entered the shop and asked to see the proprietor.
“How may I help you, Monsieur
?
” Monsieur Rouverault said, promptly appearing from behind the damask-draped doorway.
“Do you remember me, Monsieur
?
”
The jeweler paused a moment, taking a good look at the handsome young man standing before him, and then he did remember.
“You are Marcel Jonvaux’s son, are you not?”
“I am. Now tell me, do you remember my wife?”
“Of course, Monsieur. I have done work for Madame on occasion.”
“Recently?”
“Monsieur
?
”
“Have you done any work for my wife, recently?”
“No, Monsieur. I have not seen Madame in some time. I trust she is well?” The jeweler knew the young man was fishing for information, but had no idea what he was hoping to learn.
“Quite well, thank you. But the point, Monsieur
,
is that I happen to know that you made a bracelet for my wife which was delivered to Montmajour at Christmas.”
“You must be mistaken, Monsieur. I repeat, I have done no work for Madame in more than a year.”
Guy’s patience was wearing thin. Why was the man being so obtuse?
“I assure you that a bracelet was delivered to the Abbot at Montmajour from this establishment at Christmas. It was inscribed to my wife.”
Rouverault remembered the bracelet. The order had come from the Abbot himself and he assumed, from the inscription, that it was to be sent on to Richard. The Baron’s youngest son had always been a cherished customer, as had his father before him. For whom the pieces were intended or under what circumstances was none of Monsieur Rouverault’s business.
“Monsieur Jonvaux, I repeat: I have made no bracelet for your wife. If a piece of our work has made its way into her hands, then I can only be pleased. I cannot claim responsibility for the circumstances that caused it to happen.”
Guy leaned across the counter, his face inches from that of the little jeweler. “I want to know who ordered that bracelet!”
Guy was not the first angry husband that Monsieur Rouverault had occasion to speak to.
“I’m sorry Monsieur, but I’m afraid I can’t disclose that. Surely you understand that I have an obligation to my clients?” He smiled sweetly, unintimidated.
Guy saw he would get no answers there. The obvious solution was to confront Robert. Without another word he turned and left the shop.
“I’m sorry to disturb you, My Lord,” Dom Louis said as he opened the door to Robert’s office.
“Yes? What is it?” Robert was annoyed. He had hoped to have the remainder of the morning to himself without interruption. He and Grégré were slowly working their way through a good-sized pile of the Baron’s papers.
“Monsieur Jonvaux is here to see you. He’s most insistent.”
Robert was taken aback. What on earth was Guy doing here? He was supposed to be in Venice until the spring. With great difficulty, Robert managed to mask his surprise.
“Very well. Ask him to wait a few moments while we finish.”
“Guy?” Grégré’s expression matched Robert’s.
“Apparently. You must go to Christina and warn her. I’m sure he’ll want to see her, but I’ll do everything I can to delay him. She must be strong. If she panics now, everything will be lost.”
“We can’t let him take her.”
“I know that. And we won’t. Now, go. She’s probably in the cloister with Denis.”
Robert and Grégoire greeted Guy at Dom Louis’s desk.
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” Robert said mildly.
“Not at all. I want to express my condolences to you both on the Baron’s death. He was a admirable man.” Guy’s tone oozed sincerity.
Grégoire nodded solemnly, then left them as Robert took Guy into his office. Robert gestured toward the chair that faced his desk.
“So what brings you back to Arles?” Robert asked, as he took his own chair and leaned forward, elbows on the desk, clasping his hands in front of him. “We weren’t expecting you until spring.”
Guy settled himself in the chair and smiled pleasantly. “Two things, really. The first concerns you.”
“Oh?”
“It seems you gave my wife a rather personal Christmas gift.”
“I gave Christina a bound copy of one of the psalms. Do you consider that personal?” Robert’s voice remained soft and reasonable, though his mind raced, still trying to imagine why Guy had returned to the abbey so much earlier than expected.
“I’m not talking about a book. I’m talking about a bracelet.”
“I didn’t give Christina a bracelet.”
“Then I can only assume that you are acting as an intermediary for your brother.”
“Guy, what are you talking about?” Robert smiled. His tone made it seem as though he thought Guy was suffering from some sort of delusion and he wanted very much to help him.
“There’s no use denying it. I know that a jeweler in Arles delivered a bracelet to you at Christmas with a very personal inscription from your brother to my wife. I also know that she’s worn it every day since. Do you still choose to deny it?”
Robert’s thoughts moved in several directions at once though his expression was unchanged. Where had Guy gotten this information?
“Certainly not. But I’m afraid you have your facts a bit confused. I had a bracelet repaired for Christina, at her request, shortly before Christmas. And yes, it was a gift from Richard.”
Guy smiled with satisfaction.
“But,” Robert continued, “I believe that she said it was a gift on her sixteenth birthday.” Robert smiled as Guy’s own smile faded. “So you see, you’ve upset yourself for nothing. Christina seems to get some comfort from wearing the bracelet and it was a harmless enough request. To the best of my knowledge, she still believes Richard’s dead.”
“You haven’t told her otherwise?”
“No.” It wasn’t a lie, really. Christina had seen for herself that Richard was alive. There’d been no need for him to tell her.
“Surely you haven’t come all the way back from Venice because of this?”
Guy watched Robert. He didn’t seem at all disturbed by the interrogation and so Guy chose to believe he was telling the truth. Besides, he wanted to see Christina. He wanted to talk to her about the baby.
“No. Actually, I’ve just found out my wife is pregnant.”
This time Robert couldn’t conceal his surprise. Fortunately, Guy misinterpreted his expression. “I know. She should have told me before I left, but for one reason or another, she chose not to.”
“Perhaps the miscarriage…” Robert said vaguely.
“Yes, perhaps. But I think it’s important that she and I discuss it now. It will mean quite a change in our lives.”
“Indeed.” And there was more truth in that than Robert cared to consider at that particular moment.
How could Guy have learned about the baby?
Guy stood up. “So? Where is she?”
“Wait. A moment please.” Robert gestured for Guy to sit down again, which he did, but not willingly. “I’m not sure you should see her. She’s not expecting you and it could upset her.”
“I am going to see my wife. But I’ll do what I can to keep from distressing her. This is wonderful news and I want to tell her how happy I am about it.”
“It just…well, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to mention this.”
“What?” Guy was losing patience.
“Just before Christmas, Christina turned up missing one night. There was a terrible storm. We looked everywhere for her and one of the monks finally found her at the top of the tower.”
“And?”
“And, well, it’s possible that she was thinking of jumping.”
“Why? What brought that on?” This was serious. He couldn’t have Christina behaving like that when things were finally coming together. He had to make her understand. Before Robert could answer, Guy was on his feet again.
“Wait. Please. I just want you to understand that it may be dangerous for you to see her. Apparently, she received a letter from you on the day she disappeared.”
“But I wrote nothing that might upset her.”
“I’m sure you didn’t, and I don’t know that the letter had anything to do with what happened. I’m just trying to help you see that you turning up unexpectedly could be dangerous for Christina, and for the baby as well.”
“I disagree,” Guy said with growing impatience. “I think it’s important that she know she has my complete support. I want her to come home so I can care for her properly.”
Guy went to the door, but when he turned Robert was still behind his desk.
“Well? Will you take me to her or do I have to find her myself?”
Reluctantly, Robert rose and followed Guy out the door.
Robert delayed as much as he could by taking Guy first to Christina’s room and then to several other places where she was not likely to be found. Guy’s impatience grew and finally, not wishing to make him too angry for fear he might be harder on Christina when he finally confronted her, Robert led Guy out of the chapterhouse and into the cloister.
Christina sat on the far side of the arched walkway, directly across from them. Denis stood beside her, glancing up at Robert when he heard the sound of the door closing. There was a look of grim determination on the young man’s handsome face, and Robert couldn’t help but smile. Christina was well protected.
“Guy, let me break the news to her. I really must advise you against startling her.”
“Very well, but be quick about it.”
When Christina heard Robert’s footsteps she looked up, her face white with apprehension. She relaxed only slightly when she realized he was alone.
Denis moved away a little as Robert approached. He gave her a reassuring smile as he took a seat beside her, taking both her hands in his. They were as cold as ice.