The jailer stepped into the room then, followed by a precisely dressed little man who flicked a glance in their direction.His manner and the ledger he carried betrayed his occupation as a clerk.
Dagobert folded his hands behind his back as if bracing himself for bad news.Alienor stepped a little closer to him, doubting she would be pleased with the outcome of this interview.
“Matthieu de Tours,” the clerk introduced himself with a terse nod.“You are Dagobert de Pereille?”He granted a piercing glance at Dagobert, who nodded agreement.“And your wife, Alienor.”
Alienor nodded even though the man did not look up from his ledger for confirmation.
“I will be brief,” Matthieu addressed the silent Dagobert.“The king has been petitioned with a pledge of Alienor’s innocence in your household’s treachery.Should you confirm her lack of involvement, the king is willing to release her to the petitioner’s custody.”
“Alienor is indeed innocent,” Dagobert said without hesitation.“She is merely my wife.”Alienor’s gaze flew to him in shock.He would dispatch her from his side without knowing anything of this mysterious petitioner?
Merelyhis wife?
“And the lady also will confirm this?”the clerk asked curtly.
Alienor could not drag her eyes away from her husband, let alone form a word.Dagobert turned slowly to face her and she was surprised by the intensity that burned in his eyes when she did not immediately speak in the affirmative.
“Who petitions the king?”she asked instead, feeling the immediate disapproval of all three men.Dagobert glared openly at her and she folded her hands before her.
“’Tis not my business to speak of this,” the clerk said.“Suffice it to say that his word is considered reliable here.”
Who would speak in her defense here in Paris?Alienor could think of no one, the anonymity of the petitioner making her reluctant to leave Dagobert’s side, even with the temptation of gaining her own freedom.
“The gentleman awaits, madame,” the clerk reminded her.
Alienor risked another glance in his direction, feeling the weight of his will upon her.He wished her to agree.Of that she had no doubt, but she yearned to know why.Whether his interest was in the babe or herself, she acknowledged that she must trust his instincts in this matter.And ’twas true that she had not conspired against the king.
“Aye,” she said.“The petitioner knows the way of it.”
Relief settled in Dagobert’s gaze and she thought some of the tension eased from his shoulders.The sight convinced her that she had done as he desired.
Like a mere wife.
“Excellent.”Matthieu marked her response in his ledger and gestured to the door.“The petitioner awaits upstairs, madame.If you would accompany me.”
“Of course,” Alienor agreed, then was jarred by the realization that she was to leave Dagobert this very moment.She stretched up and pressed a kiss to his cheek, murmuring “God bless you, sir,” beneath her breath as she was sure was expected.He made no acknowledgment of her gesture, and did not soften his stance or expression.
The single word he murmured when her lips touched his stubbled cheek, though, sent a wave of relief coursing through her.
’Twas all she could do not to smile at the clerk and jailer with her newly lightened heart, but she hide her reaction with an effort.She did not spare one backward glance at her husband, as she was certain he desired.She dared not cast a shadow of doubt upon herself or her petitioner, for ’twould be impossible for them to ensure Dagobert’s release should they, too, be imprisoned.
That Dagobert’s release would be obtained, Alienor had no doubt.The word he had whispered to her was “Eustache,” and she knew that loyal knight would not have ridden all this way to Paris alone or without a plan.
Chapter 9
With an apologetic smile, the jailer picked up the flickering lamp.The cell plunged into darkness as the door swung closed behind him.Dagobert dropped to sit on the straw pallet and leaned his head back against the cold stone, feeling he had just lost a battle.He heard the sound of tiny feet in the darkness and the small room seemed more miserable without Alienor’s presence.He shivered at the dampness and pulled his cloak over his shoulders, taking consolation in the fact that Eustache was in Paris.
He could not imagine how he had missed the party of his knights on the road, and he would not speculate on what that might mean about their numbers.’Twas enough that Eustache was here and that Alienor was free of this foul place.Even under the weight of his suspicions, Eustache would take care of her, out of respect for her being Dagobert’s wife if naught else.
Dagobert propped his elbows on his knees and sourly considered the state of his life.Naught else, indeed.The phrase was an adequate summary of what he had to offer Alienor other than his name.When he had been executed for conspiring against the king, even that would be worthless to his widow.
To be shunned by polite society would not have been such a burden for him, for he had little concern for such matters and suspected Alienor felt much the same way.Iolande would care for her and the babe should Eustache manage to get her back to Montsalvat, and Dagobert knew that old fortress was unassailable.His family would be safe there, even without his protection.
Finances should not be as much of a problem as they would have been in a city like Paris.Languedoc showed more tolerance than these northern provinces in clerical matters.Somehow Iolande would find a way to pass his inheritance on to his wife or his son, even after he was condemned.Even if she failed for some reason, there were enough who believed in his legacy that the two would be cared for adequately.
Indeed, Alienor might be better off without him.That was a bitter truth to accept.
She had given herself with abandon on their last night together and he treasured his memories already, savoring each recollection like a pearl on an infinite string in his thoughts.Sadly, ’twas not enough to fully warm his heart, for Alienor had made no declaration of love.Though he had not noted its absence at the time, once alone, he was vexed that he did not know how she truly felt.
