“Nay, not that. Apparently, Guy has convinced Henry that Mt. Holyoak under my occupation is a dangerous place for you. Pleading for the king’s grace, he asked that you be brought to him in the Tower and the king has agreed. The church is here as a liaison between Guy and myself to insure that the request is carried out.”
She looked at him a moment, shock written all over her face. “Guy wants me… with him in the Tower?”
“Aye,” Gaston replied gently. “I have no choice but to comply, angel, but believe me when I tell you that you shall never see Guy. I plan to escort you to London and furthermore intend to delegate you to the wardship of the church until this matter is taken care of.”
Her brow furrowed as his words settled in. She was absolutely spinning with the news and found it difficult to grasp his calm statement. “Guy wants me with him?”
Gaston sighed; she had not heard much, if any, of what he had just said. He took her in his arms, but she was stiff with shock.
“You are not going to be with him, Remi, but I have to bow to the church,” he said against the top of her head. “Especially if we want their cooperation with your annulment. I shall take you to London as requested, but I will forbid any contact between you and Guy. Do you comprehend me, love?”
She nodded jerkily and he held her back so he could look in her face. “Do you really?”
Her wide, frightened eyes gazed back at him. “I will not have to see him?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” he said softly, his heart aching for her. “But even if you do have to speak with him, I will be by your side. I promise you that. Tell me you shall be brave, angel. For me.”
She swallowed hard, her face twisting with pain and fright. “I shall….I shall try. But why does he want me with him? Why can he not leave me here?”
“Who knows, angel,” he sighed, holding her tightly. “Why the man should suddenly decide after a year that he cannot live without you is beyond me, but I do not know the facts for certain. All I know is that he has expressed fear for your safety now that I occupy his keep.”
“What about Dane? What about my sisters?” she pulled back sharply, searching his face.
“He only requested you. Thankfully, the rest of your family can remain safely here.”
She fell back against him, gaining some control over her shock. “Oh, Gaston, I am going to be ill.”
He rubbed her back gently. “Not just yet. The papal envoy demands to see you to make sure you are whole and sound and I told him I would bring you to him. After you meet with him, we can both become ill together.”
Honestly, she was handling the news much better than he thought she would. He had expected hysterics and was pleasantly surprised that she was able to control herself. Now that he had delivered his message, he almost felt more out of control than she did.
“You won’t leave me?” she begged softly.
“Not ever,” he said. “I am so sorry this had to happen, Remi. It never occurred to me that Guy would do this.”
“I did not even know such a thing was allowed. I thought once he was a prisoner, that all of his rights and privileges were taken away,” she said with a hint of regret.
“’Tis not unusual for special prisoners to be given special consideration,” Gaston answered. After a moment, he released her. “Come on, angel. Let’s get this over with.”
He took her hand gently and led her from the room.
The envoy scrutinized Remington closely. Sitting rigid in a chair, she answered his questions with thinly veiled annoyance while Gaston loomed a few feet away. She did not like the look of the priest, and she certainly did not like the messages he bore, which afforded her little patience during his interrogation.
Finally, after several minutes of inquiry, he handed Remington the missive from Guy. Gaston could see her hands shaking as she broke the seal and he cursed silently. To see her upset was the surest way to provoke his temper, and at this moment it was directed at the priest. He was having a difficult time controlling himself as she steadied the parchment enough so she could read it.
“Lady Stoneley is recovering from a severe wound, priest,” he growled. “I do not appreciate having my chatelaine upset so.”
The priest gave him a strange look. “How can a message from her dear husband upset her?”
Gaston’s jaw ticked but Remington glanced up at him. “It’s all right, my lord.”
The men went quiet as she read the vellum once and rolled it up again. Amazingly, her eyes were clear and her hands calm as she laid it upon the table with disinterest.
“And what if I do not wish to go?” she asked pointedly.
The priest was surprised. “You… you do not wish to go and live with your husband? My lady, I find that astonishing. Why not, may I ask?”
“Because I have no desire to live as a prisoner, as he is,” she said in a clipped tone. “I am quite enjoying my freedom at Mt. Holyoak, where I can be with my sisters and son. I have no desire to go to London.”
