“O’ course.”
“We break our fast at dawn,” she said, “then have Prime, followed by readin’s in the chapter house…”
She continued blathering on with the convent schedule.But Adam heard none of it.His mind was spinning.
Why would Eve go all the way to Rivenloch and all the way back again to this particular convent?Why wouldn’t she continue her carefree life of roaming the countryside as he did?Take opportunities as they came?Let Fate steer the course?
A chilling possibility entered his mind.
“…and after Compline, we make an early night of it.When the sun retires, so do we,” the abbess finished.
“’Tis a wise practice,” he said with a smile of approval.“Tell me, Reverend Mother, how often is Sister Eve here?”
The abbess arched a judgmental brow.“Not as often as she should be.”
“When did she first start comin’ to the convent?”
“Sister Eve?She’s been here since she was ten years of age, so…” the abbess did the sum in her head.“Ten years?”
Ten?His chest sank.He thought she only visited the convent.But now he realized this was her home.She was a nun.
God help him.He’d swived a nun.
His voice came out on a sickly groan.“Someone left her here when she was ten years old?”
The abbess looked puzzled.“I suppose ye could say that.”
“She was a foundlin’ or a by-blow?”
“Heavens, no!”the startled abbess exclaimed, clapping a hand to her breast.“Her father sent her here.He’s a respectable merchant with five daughters.”
He blinked, stunned.He’d swived a nun who was the daughter of a respectable merchant.
So many questions raced through his head, he couldn’t think of which one to ask first.
The abbess continued in a hushed voice.“She isn’t in trouble, is she, Brother?Is that why ye’re here?”
“Nay.”The word came out on a croak.He was still reeling.
“Because, between ye and me,” she confided, “her father is quite a generous donor, and if his daughter is removed from the convent for any reason…”
He nodded.He understood.“No need to fret, Reverend Mother.That’s not why I’ve come.And as far as her father…” His voice cracked on the word.“I won’t breathe a word to anyone.”
Adam couldn’t have been more sincere.
The ugly truth—that he had trysted with a nun—would follow him to his grave.
Chapter 24
Eve had promised the abbess she would return before Martinmas.She was going to keep her promise, but only by the skin of her teeth.For the last half of her journey home, she’d had to let the useless mule walk beside her unencumbered while she carted her satchel across her back.She feared this would be the poor old beast’s last journey.
She finally reached the convent on the afternoon of Martinmas.After stabling the mule, she passed through the cloisters.She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she smelled the delectable Martinmas feast wafting from the kitchens.
Hurrying to her cell, she dropped her satchel beside her pallet and used the basin to wash for dinner.Her habit was dusty from travel, but since she’d burned her spare garments, it would have to do.Her stomach was growling as she scurried to dinner.
The rest of the sisters were already seated at the trestle tables, murmuring as they waited to be served by the novices.
She smiled.It was good to be back to the familiar faces and sounds and smells of home.And after a lean several days of travel, she was ready for a holy feast.
