"How did you know there was more, Father?"
"You asked me to keep what you have told me secret under the seal of the confessional," said Friar Mathieu. "But you have told me nothing that is a sin on your part."
Guilt pierced Simon's heart like a sword, twisting in the wound as he thought how he was betraying his true father and his mother.
I have sworn to Nicolette and Roland never to tell this to anyone.
He took a deep breath.
But I may never again have a chance to talk about it with a wise person I can trust.
Another deep breath.
And then: "The truth of it is, Amalric de Gobignon was not my father."
Friar Mathieu was silent for a moment. "The man who slew Count Amalric. The man your mother married soon after the count was dead." His voice was soft and full of kindness.
"Yes," said Simon, almost choking. "And now you know my sin. The world thinks I am the son of a traitor and murderer, which is bad enough. But I am not even that man's son. I am an impostor, a bastard, and I have no right to the title of Count de Gobignon."