"No, no. Never think that" Julian said to her. He could see she was a little troubled and he placed his hands on her shoulders as if trying to comfort her. When he realized what he was doing might be construed as being too friendly, he took them off. "No; I have heard your name twice in my life now. Once before my father went off to the crusades. He was very strange about it. He said 'Love Manuela, love Manuela.' I didn't know what he meant, I figured he meant to say Emmanuel because I was entering the monastery.<br/><br/>"Then, I heard the name a second time, from Sir John's lips when he showed me a list of people in this silly witch hunt. Now I know the truth; my own servant could care less about the people, he just wants the castle and the Diocese to function like a home for an aristocrat. If anyone should be sorry, it should be me. I should have just cut you loose with the rest of the falsely accused. But I ... I suppose ... I guess I was curious and I wanted to see you again."<br/><br/>There; he said it out loud. Awkward as it was; he wondered if he was admitting that he used his power to influence his decision. He considered for a moment and wondered ----> when he thought of her, was there a flush in his face or was he aroused? Odd; it didn't seem like that. Was he infatuated with her? Somehow maybe. Did he care for her? Well, wasn't he supposed to care for all his subjects? Why would his mind single out this one girl?<br/><br/>He knew he couldn't be kept in the prison for ever; he was after all a ruler. He knew they would probably be let out, but heavily guarded, for performing basic bodily functions and for eating purposes. He also knew Sir John well; he most likely would return with a proposition for him and Manuela. It most likely would be the same choices provided before hand, but John's word echoed in his mind, the ominous 'I hope during your imprisonment, you'll think very carefully about how you wish to proceed."<br/><br/>"We can't go to Rome, Manuela" the Bishop echoed. "Not that I wouldn't like to travel with you as a partner; I'm afraid of what they would do to you. I don't fear my own life; they have killed heretics for far less than what they think I've done. I have friends who might be able to make me disappear a night before my execution. But, for your safety, I think ... forgive me my lady, I think we should play the part that we don't wish to play, for your safety. Please hear me out. Here in Spain, concubinage is tolerated. Corrupt, but tolerated. There are many single women in my Parish; to be sure they are not defiled by me, the diocese allow, though in an unspoken form, me a concubine. You would be treated well; you could come and go as you please, though you'd have to sleep in a room close to mine. Everyone will know why you are there, but will try to treat you as if that's not the reason why you're there; in some instances, they'll treat you like royalty. Odd as it seems here in Spain, concubines are considered a protected class, though unspoken so. I promise you though; I will be proper and the few times you would have to visit me in my room to make it look like we're playing the part, you will be safe and I will do nothing to you.<br/><br/>"If we pretend, you would have a far better chance of being safe then if we wait to see what Pope Leo would do. As soon as we were free and we were playing our part, I would call my old friend, Navarez, to be captain of the Guard again; he would put an end to Sir John's stupidity and he would protect you greatly. I fear though, in order to pull off this ruse ... I'm sorry for bringing this up, my lady, we may have to kiss to convince Sir John that we're serious. I won't do it if you don't wish to, my lady. But I can't think of a better plan right now."