Andressa was feeling sicker and sicker with the realization that they expectedherto be the one to poison the king. “Then… then you wish for me to do this?” she asked, looking at the woman. “The Mother Abbess said I was to learn, but I did not know she meant that I would be carrying this out alone. It is suchan important mission, Sister Petronilla. I fear that I cannot do this all by myself.”
Sister Petronilla didn’t seem overly concerned. “All you need to do is follow my instructions and make sure that the king is the only one who is served that particular pitcher of wine,” she said, sounding oddly reassuring. “Youmustaccomplish this, Andressa. This is your test to see if you are truly worthy to follow in our footsteps.”
So it was a test! Andressa was stunned to hear that such an important task would be placed squarely in her hands. It was like a nightmare, something she wanted no part of, but she had no way to decline. If she didn’t accept the task, the pain of The Chaos would, indeed, belong to her. She would suffer right alongside Sister Blanche and countless other women who had found themselves in that hellish place. It was a do-or-die situation.
They want me to kill the king!
It was becoming increasingly difficult for Andressa to keep her composure. The more she heard about the evil intentions of these women, now imposed upon her, the more she wanted to run away and never return.
Maxton had begged her to, in fact. He’d offered her his protection, asking her to find a corner of the world with him where two sinners could find happiness in each other. It was such a beautiful offer, but she was still deeply torn by it. She still didn’t want to accept an offer on impulse, but she was terrified of remaining at St. Blitha. Was it possible Maxton would have made her the offer even if there hadn’t been a deadly threat involved?
She wondered.
She felt as if she were going mad.
“I will do as you ask, Sister Petronilla,” she said, but she was having trouble looking at the woman. “I will ensure the crushed leaves and the root juice make it into the king’s wine.”
“Be very careful, Andressa.”
“I will, Sister.”
Sister Petronilla was watching her closely, perhaps looking for cracks or hints of untrustworthiness. “Do you have any plans to leave St. Blitha tomorrow?”
Did she? Andressa hadn’t really thought about it, but as Sister Petronilla asked, it was as if a light went on in her mind. She had promised Maxton she would return with any additional news and, certainly, she had additional news now. After a brief hesitation, she nodded to the woman’s question.
“Not tomorrow,” she said, daring to glance up at the woman. “But I intend to return to Lady Hinkley’s tonight. When I was there earlier, she had nothing to give me at the time. That… well, that was why I had waited so long. She told me to go away and come back later, which I assumed meant later tonight. I thought to see her before I go to bed. She is such a valuable customer that I do not wish to disappoint her. I want to please her.”
One of Sister Petronilla’s bushy eyebrows lifted. “Tonight? But it is already well into the night, child.”
“As I said, she said return later. I can only assume that meant when she retired so I could have her clothes cleaned in the morning. I would rather go tonight in case that is what she meant.”
Sister Petronilla nodded faintly but didn’t reply. Andressa thought that meant their conversation was ended, but just as she turned away, Sister Petronilla’s hand shot out and grabbed her by the arm.
It was an abrupt move with a clear message. The woman’s long, dirty nails dug into her skin as Andressa looked to the woman with a mixture of curiosity and disapproval. She didn’tlike to be grabbed. But Sister Petronilla’s dark-eyed gaze was grim.
“Be sure that is the only place you go this night,” she growled. “You are one of us now, Andressa. The eyes of the Mother Abbess are upon you. Remember that.”
Andressa was no cowering flower; she never had been, and she didn’t like being threatened by this woman, no matter how wicked she was. She feared her, aye, but not enough to shrink from her.
“I have been trustworthy since my arrival to St. Blitha,” she said, taking a stand against the woman. “I do my work and I am obedient. You slander me to insinuate otherwise.”
Something flashed in Sister Petronilla’s eyes, perhaps even a flash of rage, but she quickly banked it. She wouldn’t lash out at the girl like Sister Blanche had, although it was clear that Andressa had a defiant streak in her.
But no matter.
She’d been warned.
Sister Petronilla released her without a word and Andressa went to her laundry area, still carrying the dried leaves. She didn’t want to take them inside because she shared a cell with two other pledges and she didn’t want the women questioning the purpose of the dried leaves. Therefore, she put them very carefully into a cloth and tucked them into a cubby that contained the soap she used. She pretended to busy herself, all the while thinking about the encounter with Sister Petronilla and the clear threat that had been made to her.
The eyes of the Mother Abbess are upon you.
Andressa knew that. Even now, she could feel them, whether or not the woman was actually viewing her from the windows of her fine solar. All Andressa knew was that she had to get the most recent information to Maxton. Time was growing short and she had no idea if she would be able to get to him tomorrow, soshe would take the chance to return to Farringdon House one last time tonight.
She might not have another opportunity.
She had made a fine excuse by mentioning Lady Hinkley again, but she didn’t want to be overlong. Now that she knew they were watching, she didn’t want to give them any cause for suspicion, and that meant actually stopping at Lady Hinkley’s home to see if there was any laundry to collect. If the Mother Abbess actually had any reason to speak to Lady Hinkley, Andressa wanted to make sure that Lady Hinkley mentioned her presence there.
She had to cover her tracks.
