But not a word.
He could not change those omissions, but he could expose the hypocrisy of both the institution itself and certain members of the Roman Catholic Church.
Starting with the bastard walking toward him.
Vilamur studied the man waiting for him.
Tall, broad-shouldered, middle-aged, with a thick mane of chestnut hair, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and boots. He stood with both hands behind his back, ramrod-straight, near a stele that commemorated those long-ago victims. Its inscription an open slap to the church: 揂ls catars, als martirs del pur amor crestian.?Occitan for 揟o the Cathars, to the martyrs of pure Christian love.?Along with a date. 16 March 1244.
He marched across the grass, the wind whipping in from the north and carrying a chill. He told himself that he was the esteemed metropolitan archbishop of Toulouse, a sacred member of the Roman Catholic Church, entitled to respect. No matter what.
He stopped before the man. 揥ho are you??
揧ou don抰 remember me??
He抎 never seen the face before.
揑 own an auction house in Toulouse. Have you ever frequented it??
揘ever.?
揟hat抯 a shame. We抳e sold some beautiful items.?
揧our name??
揃ernat de Foix.?
揂m I supposed to know you??
揧ou knew my mother. Rene Bellamy.?
A name he抎 not heard in a long time. One he hoped to never hear again. Now he remembered. 揧ou抮e the little boy that day, in the rectory, when your mother came to see me??
揑 am. All grown up. I no longer carry the Bellamy surname. I had it legally changed to de Foix, out of respect to my mother and her family. That was her maiden name.?
He could not care less.
揂re you proud, Father? And I don抰 mean that in the religious way.?
揑 told your mother then, and I tell you now, I am not your father.?
揝he抯 dead.?
A part of him was glad. But he knew what to say. 揑 am sorry to hear that.?
De Foix chuckled. 揑 seriously doubt that. Just one less witness to your sins.?
揑 am not your father,?he said again.
De Foix reached into his pocket and removed a glass vial. 揚rove it with a simple DNA test. If it comes back that you are not, I will give you Tallard抯 recorded confession and our business will be concluded. But, if it抯 positive, then you and I will have much to discuss.?
揂nd how will I know the results you share are legitimate??
De Foix produced another vial. 揟wo tests. One by me, the other by you to a lab of your choosing. I want there to be no mistake.?
揇o I have a choice??
De Foix shook his head. 揘one at all.?
揥hat do you really want??he asked.
揥hat every son wants. For his father to know he exists.?
He doubted that. This man had gone to a lot of trouble to make this connection. And not out of any love or curiosity. 揇id you kill Tallard??
揑 did not. That would be contrary to my religion.?
He was shocked. 揧ou are Cathar??
揑 am a Perfectus.?
He shook his head. Idiots. Perfecti prostrated themselves before falsity and swore to no carnal intercourse, lies, or oaths. To them, having children was abhorrent. The extinction of the human race seemed their ultimate goal. They believed in reincarnation, living one life after another until they supposedly got it right. They called themselves Good Christians. Pure Ones.
What a joke.
But he wanted to know, 揥hy did you mention les Vautours??
揟o get your attention. And it seemed to have worked.?
Not much of an answer, but he cautioned himself to not be too inquisitive and become trapped in his own lies, which would only make things worse. So he diverted things from himself. 揧ou抮e a fool.?
De Foix smiled. 揑 may be, but I am the fool who has you precisely where I want you.?
That was true.
But now he knew his enemy.
Chapter 34
Kelsey opened the apartment door and invited her prioress inside. She抎 chosen here for their talk as the safest and most private place. Home turf. Where she controlled the surroundings. What they were about to discuss could not be seen or overheard by others. Before today she and the prioress had enjoyed a cordial, friendly relationship that had stayed at arm抯 length. Never had she doubted the older woman抯 wisdom, leadership, or loyalty. There抎 been a great element of trust.
Which had now been shattered.
They sat in the den and faced each other.
揑 understand your anger,?the prioress said. 揃ut I had no choice.?
揥hy did you not just tell me? And ask??
揑 do not have to explain myself.?
Her spine stiffened. 揧ou can抰 be serious. That panel was in my care. Entrusted to me. A restorer抯 number one duty is to not harm what he or she is working on. Mine was destroyed. I was attacked. You were part of that. I think you definitely need to explain yourself.?