The Velvet Promise Read online

  “You are very kind, both of you,” she said as Alan and Henry helped her into a chair. “I would like to speak to you, Your Majesty, on a private matter.”

  Henry nodded toward Alan and the knight left them. “Now, what matter is so important that you must weary yourself to seek me?”

  Judith looked down at her hands. “I would like a divorce.”

  King Henry was silent for a moment. “Divorce is a grave undertaking. Do you have cause?”

  There were two types of divorce and three reasons for each. The best Judith could hope for was a separation, allowing her to live apart from her husband for the rest of her life. “Adultery,” she said quietly.

  Henry considered this. “If such grounds were allowed, neither of you could remarry.”

  “I do not wish to. I will enter a convent, as I was trained for.”

  “And what of Gavin? Would you deny him the right of a new wife and of sons to follow him?”

  “No,” she whispered. “He has his rights.”

  Henry was watching her intently. “Then we must look to a divorce which declares your marriage null and void. You are not related?”

  Again she shook her head, thinking of Walter Demari.

  “What then of Gavin? Was he pledged to another?”

  Judith lifted her chin. “He did ask another woman to marry him.”

  “And this woman is?”

  “Lady Alice Chatworth.”

  “Ah,” Henry sighed and leaned back in his chair. “And now the lady is a widow and he wishes to marry her?”

  “Yes, he does.”

  King Henry frowned. “I don’t like divorce, but I also don’t like my earls and countesses so unhappy. This will cost you a great deal. I am sure the pope will require that you endow a chapel or a nunnery.”

  “I will do that.”

  “Lady Judith, you must let me think about this. I must speak to the others involved before I make a decision. Alan,” he called, “take the countess to her room and see that she is made to rest.”

  Alan smiled broadly as he helped Judith to her feet.

  “The Lady Judith looked to be very sad,” Queen Elizabeth commented as she entered the room just as Judith was leaving and took a seat next to her husband. “I know how she feels after having lost a child.”

  “It’s not that, or at least the child is not all that weighs upon her. She asks for a divorce from Gavin.”

  “No!” Elizabeth said, dropping her knitting to her lap. “I have never seen two people more in love. They argue, true, but I have seen Lord Gavin lift her in his arms and kiss her.”

  “It seems that Lady Judith is not the only woman Gavin kisses.”

  Elizabeth was silent. Not many men were faithful to their wives. She knew that even her husband at times…“Lady Judith asks for a divorce for this reason?”

  “Yes. Gavin seems to have asked Lady Alice Chatworth to marry him before he married Judith. It is a verbal contract and grounds for divorce. That is, if the woman will accept Gavin.”

  “She will!” Elizabeth said angrily. “She will be glad to take Gavin—she has done so much to obtain him.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  Elizabeth quickly told her husband of the castle gossip how Lady Judith had fallen and miscarried her child.

  Henry frowned. “I do not like such happenings between my subjects. Gavin should have been more discreet.”

  “There is some doubt whether he asked the woman to his bed, or whether she placed herself there.”

  Henry chuckled. “Poor Gavin. I wouldn’t want to be in such a state as he.”

  “Have you talked to him? I do not think he wants this divorce,” Elizabeth stated.

  “But if he were pledged to the Lady Alice before his marriage…”

  “Then why did she marry Edmund Chatworth?”

  “I see,” Henry said seriously. “I think I will investigate this further. There is more here than appears on the surface. I will talk to both Gavin and Lady Alice.”

  “I hope your talks take a long while.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “If Judith is allowed to separate from her husband, their marriage will indeed end; but if they were forced to stay near one another, they might realize they do care for each other.”

  Henry smiled fondly at his wife. She was a wise woman. “I will indeed take a long time before I send a message to the pope. Where are you going?” he asked as she stood.

  “I would like to talk to Sir Alan Fairfax. I wonder if he would be willing to help a lady in distress.”

  Henry gave her a puzzled look, then picked up his manuscript. “Yes, my dear. I am sure you will handle all of this without me.”

  Two hours later the door to Judith’s chamber was thrown open. Gavin stalked into the room, his face blackened with fury.

  Judith glanced up from the book in her lap.

  “You asked the king for a divorce!” he bellowed.

  “Yes, I have,” she replied firmly.

  “Do you plan to tell the world of our differences?”

  “If that is what it takes to rid myself of you.”

  He glared at her. “You are a stubborn woman! Do you ever see anything but one side? Do you ever listen to reason?”

  “Your idea of reason is not the same as mine. You want me to forgive you for adultery time and again. I have done so many times, yet now I can no more. I plan to rid myself of you and enter a convent, as I should have done long ago.”

  “A convent!” he said in disbelief, then smiled mockingly. He took one swift step toward her and threw an arm around her shoulders. He lifted her from the bed and his mouth covered hers. He was not gentle, but even his harshness set Judith afire. Her arms went around his neck, pulling him to her violently. Abruptly, he released her, letting her fall onto the feather mattress. The sides of the soft mattress rose around her.

  “Make up your mind that you’ll never be rid of me. When you are ready to admit that I’m the man you need, come to me. Perhaps I’ll take you back.” He turned and stalked from the room before Judith could say a word.

  Joan stood in the open doorway, a look of adoration on her face.

  “How dare he—” Judith began then stopped at Joan’s look. “Why do you look at me so?” she demanded.

  “Because you are wrong. That man loves you, has told you so, yet you won’t listen to him. I have been on your side throughout your marriage, but now I’m not.”

  “But that woman—” Judith said in a strange, pleading voice.

  “Can’t you forgive him? He thought he loved her once. He would be less of a man if he were willing to forget her when he first saw his beautiful wife. You make great demands of him.”

  “But my baby!” Judith said, tears in her voice.

  “I told you of Alice’s treachery. How can you hold him responsible?”

  Judith was silent for a while. The loss of the child hurt her so badly. Perhaps she wanted someone to blame and Gavin was a convenient person to inflict it on. She knew what Joan said of Alice was true. That night, things had happened so quickly; but now, days later, she knew that Gavin’s body on Alice’s had been too inert.

  “He says he loves you,” Joan continued in a quieter voice.

  “Do you do anything besides listen at doors?” Judith snapped.

  Joan smiled. “I like to know what happens to those I care for. He loves you. What do you feel for him?”

  “I…I don’t know.”

  Joan uttered an oath that made Judith’s eyes widen. “Your mother should have taught you something besides accounts. I don’t believe I have seen a woman love a man as you love Lord Gavin. Your eyes have not left him since he lifted you from that white horse at your wedding. Yet you have fought him on every count…as he has you,” she added before Judith could interrupt. “Why don’t the two of you stop fighting and make some more babies? I should like one near me.”

  Judith smiled even as her eyes filled with tears. “But he doesn�