An odd looking standoff 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 over 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 chance 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 beaten 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 createdas 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.”
“She is my wife!” Julian burst, moving towards the priests and tripping when his careless foot caught the edge of a chair. “She is my property to do as I please and you cannot take her from me.She is my wife.”
Mellitus gazed at the man for a long moment before turning to Jonas.
“A man is held accountable only to God for his marriage,” he said frankly. “Whether or not any of this is true is not of issue. The fact remains that the lady is indeed his wife and, as his property, will be returned to him.”
Jonas was unmoved. He turned back to Buckland. “What do you want with the woman, baron? Why do you want her returned to you if you are the lover of the queen?”
Julian was so red in the face that he began frothing at the mouth. “She is mine,” he growled. “You cannot keep my wife from me.”
“Divorce her,” Jonas snapped before Julian could finish his sentence. “Did you hear me? Divorce her. She has been committing adultery and you have every right to divorce her. I would if I were you. Rid yourself of your unfaithful wife and findyourself another bride who will tolerate your hideous behavior. Find someone else you can beat to death.”
Mellitus looked at Jonas as if the man were insane. “Divorce?” he repeated, incredulous. “What manner of madness is this?”
Jonas looked at him. “No madness at all, I assure you,” he said frankly. “Lady de Moyon has committed adultery. She is pregnant with another man’s child. Baron Buckland must divorce her to save his honor. The Church would not refuse his request under these circumstances.”
The rapid-fire exchange of conversation was overwhelming everyone in the room, Julian included. His eyes bugged at the shocking information.
“She is… she ispregnant?” he gasped. Suddenly, he looked to David and his entire face tightened with rage. “You bastard! You stole my wife and compromised her!”
David, standing by the door, remained cool. “I did nothing of the sort,” he said evenly. “But I can promise you that if you accuse me of deceit again, I will call you out and you will lose. Is this in any way unclear?”
Julian was mad with shock and rage. With a throaty growl, he turned his back on the occupants of the room, grabbing the nearest piece of furniture he could find, which happened to be a small cherrywood table, and began banging it against the floor. Jonas and Mellitus watched him closely, watching the building rage, as Jonas returned his attention to Mellitus.
“He is unstable and unsuitable,” Jonas said to the canon, his tone low. “He will kill the lady if we return her to him and we would be responsible for her death. I cannot, in good conscience, support any manner of reunion between the baron and his wife.”
