Roger had lunged so violently in spite of the men holding him that he broke loose, but William was already out the door.
In horror, Julianna flew down the aisle to grab Roger’s arm, certain he would slay his brother if he caught him. “No, please! Let him go. The bishop will surely know what is truth and what is lies—”
“Will he?” Roger countered, his handsome face mottled with fury. “Just likeFather Petros?”
Julianna could see that Evander shrank back in fear, which made her hold Roger’s arm even more tightly.
“Take me back tae our room, husband. There’s nothing more that can be done right now—”
“No!” objected Evander, recovering himself enough to step forward. “Your men may escort her, Roger, but not you. She is a prisoner of the holy Church now and must retire alone tae your bedchamber—either that, or join Horas in the dungeon.”
Julianna stared in disbelief at Evander, the priest’s eyes alight with a righteous zeal that gave her chills, though Roger didn’t appear intimidated at all as he scowled at his brother.
“My wife a prisoner? Are you mad?”
“Hardly, but you are mad if you question my authority in this grave matter. The charges laid against your wife will taint you as well if she’s found guilty unless you remove yourself from her presence—”
“I amnotguilty,” Julianna insisted, though she dropped her hand from Roger’s arm. “You welcomed me so kindly, Evander…yet now you do this to me?”
Her voice breaking, she could see through tears welling in her eyes that he faltered, a flicker of regret crossing his hollow-cheeked face…but then he reached up to grasp the wooden cross hanging from a cord around his neck.
“Serious charges have been made and I can do naught else but seek the bishop’s counsel. He will be the one tae decide your guilt or innocence—”
“Then he will decide mine, too, if he believes me tainted,” Roger said fiercely, drawing Julianna against him. “My wife will neither sleep alone this night nor languish in the dungeon for she is no witch, Horas’s and William’s false claims be damned. If any of you intend tae heed Father Petros over your own laird, then draw your swords.”
At once the three men who had stood as witnesses shook their heads, Julianna so grateful at that moment for their loyalty to her husband that fresh tears burned her eyes.
Without another word to Evander, Roger guided her out of the chapel and signaled for his warriors to follow them into the hall, where he kept his voice low.
“Find my brother. Dinna let him leave the castle. If Father Petros wishes tae summon the bishop, then he can take charge of it himself. Now go!”
Julianna watched silently as the men rushed to obey him. Roger looked as formidable as she had ever seen him, as if he drew strength from the terrible ordeal looming ahead.
She had heard how men and women branded as sorcerers and witches met their end in England, either burned alive at the stake or weighted down with stones and thrown into a river…God help her.
Suddenly trembling, Julianna felt herself steered toward the tower steps, Roger’s arm at her back bolstering her as if he had sensed the terrifying direction of her thoughts.
Yet she flinched when Evander cried out after them, “Disobeying the Church is a grievous crime, brother! The bishop will not take your defiance lightly.”
“Pay him no heed,” Roger bade her, looping his arm through Julianna’s as they hastened together down the steps. “If King Robert could be excommunicated for his perceived misdeeds and survive it, then so can I—och, the king, too, must know of this day’s madness.”
Julianna gasped, she was swept up so suddenly by Roger, and he carried her the rest of the way down one tower and up another to the hallway leading to their bedchamber.
Her head fairly spun by the time he set her down just outside their door, and he pulled her close to kiss her so fervently that she felt dizzier still.
Yet only for what seemed an instant and he released her to shove open the door, his gaze dropping to the smeared food on the skirt of her gold silk gown that made him curse under his breath.
“Burn that garment in the fire. One less reminder of today’s wretched events. Now go in and bolt the door behind you, and let no one enter but me. At least then I’ll know you’re safe while we’re apart.”
He bent his head to kiss her again, but so briefly, Julianna barely inside the room before Roger closed the door firmly behind her. Her hand shaking, she obliged him and drew the heavy bolt, knowing he was waiting for the sound.
Only then did she hear his footfalls receding down the hall, which made her lean against the doorjamb, her heartbeat thudding hard against her breast.
Had his men caught up with William? She had no idea what Roger would do to his brother, or when he might return to her.
For now, all she could do was cling to what he had told her the day before…“You are mine, Julianna Douglas, and I swear tae defend you tae my last breath. No one will take you from me.”
* * *
