Richard’s rooms were surprisingly warm, despite the weather. There was a good fire and heavy tapestries covered the two windows.
“I have the advantage of the heat in the rooms below,” Richard said. “That—and a good supply of my own wood.” He was pacing back and forth. He was still not convinced that he would soon be free.
“Well, finally I have some news for you,” Robert said carefully.
Richard detected the uncertainty in his brother’s voice.“Well?”
“I met with Monsieur Ferro.” Robert made himself comfortable in front of the fire and poured them both a glass of wine. “There is no doubt. He is Delphine’s son. He was born in ’34.”
“Does he suspect?”
“Not at all. I gave nothing away. It’s your choice if he learns the truth or not.”
“Well, we’ll let it go for now. At least the mystery is solved. And who knows? In a decade or two I might feel differently. At the moment, I doubt it.”
“There is something else.” Robert, not looking forward to the discussion that would inevitably follow and he hesitated.
“What is it?”
“The annulment has come from Tambourini.”
“You don’t sound pleased.”
“The pardon is a week behind it.”
“But it
is
coming?”
“So His Eminence has assured me.”
“Then why so serious? This is good news. Have you told Christina?”
“No. She knows nothing about it. I think you should be the one to tell her. After you decide what, exactly, you’re going to do.”
“After…? Robert, what aren’t you telling me? I’m going to marry Christina…finally.” Richard took a drink of the wine and sat down in the chair facing his brother.
Robert avoided his eyes until finally there was nothing to do but tell Richard that the future might be a little more complex than he imagined.
“There are some factors you haven’t considered.”
“What ‘factors?’” Richard was irritated.
“You haven’t considered them because your aren’t aware of them.”
“Robert, what on earth are you talking about? It’s not Christina? She’s all right?”
“Christina is fine. It’s Arabella.”
Richard was immediately concerned. “Has something happened?”
“Alfredo died last week.”
“I’m sorry to hear it, but it’s not unexpected.”
“No. I’m sorry…Arabella has come to Arles.”
“What? She’s here? Now?”
“Yes. I wrote her about your conviction because I was afraid she’d hear of it from someone else and not have the reassurances I could give her about the pardons.”
“Can you bring her to see me? Will they allow her in?”
“It’s a bit complicated, but I think we can manage.”
“Has Christina met her?” It was the obvious question.
“No, she’s staying with Maryse. Arabella has no wish to complicate the situation. She’s just worried about you.”
“Perhaps if I can see her, it will ease her mind.”
“Perhaps, but now that she’s here…”
“For heaven’s sake! This isn’t like you. What it is you need to say.”
“Arabella’s pregnant.”
For a moment Richard just looked at him. His mind raced back to the last time he’d seen her. She had gained a little weight…he remembered teasing her about it. No wonder she’d married Alfredo! Why hadn’t she told him? But that was obvious. If she had, he never would have come back to Arles and Arabella knew it.
“How long have you known?”
“Grégré brought the news just before Father died. She wanted my assurance that the child would be provided for.”
“Did she doubt it?”
“No. She knew that when you found out there would be no question. Perhaps she wasn’t completely sure how I would react, and she didn’t want to burden you at the time.”
“Burden me?” Richard looked at his brother sharply.
“I don’t know. You know much more about them and how they think than I do!” All Robert’s frustration with the situations surrounding his brother and his inability to deal with them came out in his voice. “They’re your women!”
“
My women?
” Now, Richard was angry.
Robert ran his hands over his face. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean that. You know I don’t. But I’m at a loss. I have no idea what to do. Do you? My vocation doesn’t prepare me sufficiently for this sort of situation.”
Richard finally smiled and relaxed in the chair, staring at the flames. “So what are my options regarding the children?”
Robert looked at him, not understanding what he meant.
“If Arabella’s child is a boy?” Richard prompted.
“You may do as you like. Discounting Stefano’s position—as I think we must at this point—you can certainly adopt the child, regardless of its sex. You can acknowledge it as your heir and firstborn.” Robert looked at his brother as if to confirm there weren’t any other bastards he’d neglected to mention.
Richard found this irritating, as well. “We have been over this before. As far as I know Arabella’s child will be my first.”
“In that case, I think you will have to discuss this with Arabella. She may want to raise the child on Corsica. When it reaches a certain age, she may or may not want to send it here for education. She may not want her child embroiled in the complications of a title. She’s a practical woman. I’m not sure she sees our way of life as desirable. Especially at this particular moment.”Robert continued. “Of course you’ll have to consider how Christina feels about that. And if they both have boys—or surely there will be more children with Christina or if Christina’s child isn’t a boy but there is a son later—which, then, will become Baron?”
For several minutes Richard said nothing. Then, much to Robert’s surprise, his brother laughed.
“I remember once telling Maryse that the getting of heirs was a very complicated business. Little did I know.”
Robert chuckled and poured them both another glass of wine.
Robert spent that night and the next day at Montmajour with Dom Christophe, trying to catch up as much of the work as possible that needed his personal attention. It was still early when a courier arrived with a message from Senanque Abbey near Gordes.
My Lord Abbot,
I’m sad to be the bearer of unfortunate news, but your brother, Grégoire, Father Chrétien, is with us. He was found collapsed on the road. He has been severely beaten, but the damage is not life threatening. Still, it will be several weeks yet before he can travel on his own.
You know how few we are and how poor. I have no means of transporting him to you. Would you like to send for him? He insists that he must reach you immediately, but I cannot tell if it is the effect of his condition or a private matter more urgent.
I await your decision. We are, of course, pleased to do your bidding in this matter.
In Christ,
Massimo Butero
a Senanque
There was no mention of Raymond. What had happened?
Denis arrived at the
Hôtel de Ville
early that afternoon with a message for Richard. They wouldn’t allow him into Richard’s rooms, but he was able to deliver Robert’s letter.
Richard,
Have just received word from Senanque. Grégré is there, seriously injured. Apparently he was attacked on the road. No word of Raymond. He may well be on his way home. I am going to see Grégoire and assure myself that there is no danger in bringing him back to Arles. Whether he is able to travel or not, I will return as soon as I can with the news of what has happened.
Courage, Brother!
Robert
I have obtained permission from M. Roubain for Arabella to share your supper this evening.
Richard read the words a second time. What could have befallen Raymond and Grégoire? And what had happened to the pardon?
“You have a visitor, Baron,” the guard called out as he rapped sharply on the door. Richard stepped back as it swung open, making a quick gesture to the hooded woman not to say anything. Richard just stared at the guard. He was a little in awe of Richard and quickly shut the door.
The moment the bolt slid into place Arabella threw herself into his waiting arms and, though she’d been determined not to cry, she began sobbing.
Richard hugged her tightly, holding her. “My beautiful Bella,” he whispered against her ear.
Finally, she looked up and tried to smile. “Forgive me, I promised myself I wouldn’t do that.” For all her good intentions she felt terribly vulnerable. “Pregnant women often find themselves at the mercy of their emotions.”
He reached up and pushed the hood back from her head. He recognized Christina’s cloak and Arabella saw the expression on his face.
“Don’t worry. Christina knows nothing. Maryse brought me the cloak. She thought they might believe I was Christina and that it would make it easier to see you.”
“Come,” he said, leading her to the fire. He removed the cloak and laid it over the chair at his makeshift desk. He turned back to her, taking an appraising look. Her hair was elegantly styled and her dress was obviously newly altered to accommodate her pregnancy. She looked every bit as lovely as she had in Naples.
“You look beautiful, Bella.” He took her in his arms again and held her for a long time. “I won’t ask why you didn’t tell me. I know. But please believe me when I tell you how happy I am.”
“Are you? Truly?” Even as Richard brushed the tears from her cheeks, she could think of little beyond how well he looked and how good it was to see him.
“Truly. I’d always hoped we’d have a family together. I’m only sorry that now it can’t happen.”
He gestured to the chair and then pulled a small stool up for her feet.
“I’d made up my mind that if I could get pregnant I would marry you. I was going to tell you when you came home, but then Robert’s letter came.”
“I know. I understand. And despite everything, you did the right thing. Please know that. And know how grateful I am. Christina needed me, Bella, even more than you did. She needs me now.” He took her hand, noticing she wore the ring he’d intended for her wedding ring.
“I hope you don’t mind. When Alfredo and I married…”
“Of course I don’t mind. That ring was for you. I’m honored you wear it.”
She smiled as she reached out to touch his cheek.
“Why did you come?” he asked, gently. “Surely Robert assured you I’d be pardoned? It seems there are some advantages to a title, afterall.”
“He did. But…” What could she say? She could hardly tell him what the Signora had seen. And now, here, with him so close, it was hard to believe that the Signora wasn’t mistaken. This man could not be taken f rom them!
Richard waited. He was convinced there was something else that had brought Bella to Arles.
“But…?” He prompted gently.
“I suppose I needed to see for myself that you were all right.”
“You’re not concerned about the child? You know I will acknowledge it and that you’ll both be provided for?”
“No. I know we’ll be taken care of.”
“Are you thinking you might like to be closer—you and the child—if Christina and I live at Beauvu?”
This was something Arabella hadn’t even considered. She’d assumed they would all be together or near each other, at least, on Corsica. Though events had put an end to those plans, she actually hadn’t thought about any alternatives.
“I confess, I haven’t thought about it. Would that be difficult for you?”
“No, of course not. You may live where you like. You’ll have to think about the child and its education. But we can leave these things for the future. We have time.”
Oh, how I pray that’s true
. She looked away.
He deftly changed the subject. They would have a few hours together and perhaps she would tell him why she’d come before the evening was over.
“Robert said you’re staying with Maryse? Are you comfortable there? Do you need anything?”
She smiled. “Maryse has been so kind to me. You’re very fortunate, you know.”
Richard missed her meaning and laughed. “It’s a little difficult for me to see that at the moment!” He gestured around his rooms. “Still, I assure you this is a big improvement over the original accommodations they offered me.”
But Arabella had been thinking of herself and Maryse, of Christina and Robert and Grégoire.
There was another sharp rap on the door.
“Supper’s here,” said the guard.
Richard helped Arabella to her feet and led her to the window so she could stand facing away from the door.
The guard followed the servant to the table and watched carefully as he laid out the meal for two.
Early the next morning, as Guy and Stefano where just about to leave the house, a messenger arrived. The first document addressed to Guy bore the seal of the Cathedral de St. Trophime and was notification of the annulment of his marriage to Christina Maria Antonia Sophia DiClementi. The second was notification from the
Hôtel de Ville
that the marriage had been expunged from the records of the city of Arles.
“What is it?” Stefano asked as he watched Guy’s expression shift to one of murderous rage.
“He won’t have her,” Guy snarled through clenched teeth. “He won’t!” He called for André and sent the man for his horse, pacing back and forth across the courtyard while he waited.
“But what can you do?” Stefano asked. “It would seem it’s over.” He was trying to calm him, hoping the rage would dissipate before something happened. He’d never seen Guy in such a state, not even that night in Marseilles when they were chasing after Richard.
“Over? You think it’s over?”
The depth of Guy’s anger gave Stefano pause. “Guy, be reasonable. The Church has annulled the marriage. She’s hardly likely to marry you again.”
“Well, she won’t marry him.”
“How can you stop it? You know he’s likely to be pardoned by the King, certainly, and with his brother’s connections, by the Church, as well.”
“Oh, really? A pardon from the King?” Guy stared at Stefano. Then he thought better of the impulse and said easily, “It’s a long way to Paris. And travel can be quite dangerous, you know.”
Guy laughed but the sound was unnatural.
“Guy, listen to me.” He took a chance and put his hand on Guy’s arm. “It’s time to give this up. There is nothing more you can do. You have to think of your business now. That’s what matters. There will be other women. Forget Christina.”