Cathedral of the Sea

“That does not matter! I’m not afraid of anything. I’ve fought with the king in all—”

“It would involve abducting a young girl,” Eleonor blurted out.

“I don’t ... I don’t understand,” the knight stuttered after a few moments.

“You understood perfectly,” Eleonor replied. “It involves abducting a young girl and then ... deflowering her.”

“That is punishable by death!”

“Not always.”

THIS WAS WHAT Eleonor had heard. She had never dared ask, especially with this plan of hers in mind, but she turned to Joan to confirm it.

“We need to find someone who will abduct her,” she told him, “and then rape her.” Joan buried his face in his hands. “As I understand it,” she went on, “the Customs of Catalonia state that if the girl or her parents agree to the marriage, then the rapist will not face punishment.” Joan’s hand was still in front of his face. “Is that true, Brother Joan?” she insisted, when he made no reply.

“Yes, bur ...”

“Is it true or not?”

“It is true,” Joan concurred. “Rape is punishable by lifelong exile if no violence is involved, and with death if there is. But if the two agree to marry, or the rapist proposes a husband of similar social rank whom the girl accepts, then there is no punishment.”

A smile stole across Eleonor’s face, which she quickly tried to stifle when Joan again tried to get her to change her mind. She adopted the position of the wronged wife.

“I don’t know, but I can tell you there is nothing I would not try in order to win my husband back. Let’s find someone who will abduct her,” she insisted, “then rape her, and then we will consent to his marrying the girl.” Joan shook his head. “What’s the difference?” Eleonor stressed. “We could force Mar to marry, even against her will, if Arnau were not so blind ... so bewitched by that girl. You yourself have said you wanted to see her marry, but Arnau will not hear of it. All we would be doing is to remove that woman’s pernicious influence on my husband. We would be the ones who chose Mar’s future husband, just as if she were being married in an ordinary way. The only difference is we do not need Arnau’s agreement. We cannot count on that, because he has lost his reason over that girl. Do you know any other father who would allow his daughter to grow old without marrying? However much money they may have, or however noble they are. Do you know anyone? Even the king gave me away against ... without asking my opinion.”

Joan gradually yielded to Eleonor’s arguments. She used the friar’s weakness to insist over and over again on her precarious situation, the sin that was being committed in her own home ... Joan promised to think it over ... and did so. Eventually, he agreed they should approach Felip de Ponts: with conditions, but he did agree.

“Not always,” Eleonor said again.

Knights were expected to know what was in the Usatges.

“Are you sure the girl would agree to the marriage? Why hasn’t she married already then?”

“Her guardians will give their permission.”

“Why don’t they simply arrange a marriage for her?”

“That is none of our business,” Eleonor cut in. “That,” she thought, “will be for me to sort out... me and the friar.”

“You are asking me to abduct and rape a girl, and yet you tell me the reason behind it is none of my business. You have chosen the wrong man, my lady. I may be a debtor, but I am a knight ...”

“She is my ward.” Felip de Ponts looked surprised. “Yes. I’m talking about my ward, Mar Estanyol.”

Felip de Ponts well remembered the girl Arnau had adopted. He had seen her several times in the countinghouse and had even shared a pleasant conversation with her one day when he had gone to visit Eleonor.

“You want me to abduct and rape your own ward?”

“I think I have been sufficiently clear, Don Felip. I can assure you that there will be no punishment.”

“What reason... ?”

“The reasons are my affair! Well, what do you say?”

“What will I gain by it?”

“Her dowry will be generous enough to cancel all your debts. Believe me, my husband will be exceedingly generous toward his daughter. Besides, you would win my favor, and you know how close I am to the king.”

“What about the baron?”

“I will deal with him.”

“I don’t understand ...”

“There’s nothing more to understand: ruin, disrepute, dishonor ... or my support.” At this, Felip de Ponts sat down. “Ruin or riches, Don Felip. If you reject my offer, tomorrow will see the baron calling in your debt and disposing of your lands, your weapons, and your animals. You can rest assured of that.”

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