Prologue #2
Savina’s back hurt from all the tiresome tasks assigned to her.
She hated milking cows and loathed washing the undergarments of all the other nuns.
Thank Sweetest Jesu her work was now complete.
Though meticulous and conscientious as always, she’d finished quickly, and now she must avoid the abbess at all costs.
That woman ruled with an iron fist. If God’s love had ever been in that woman’s heart, she’d killed it years ago.
All Mother Superior now preached was work and more work.
It may have made their convent rich in earthly stores, but Savina thought spiritual ones more important.
She brought her pail of milk into the kitchen and winked at the novices scrubbing pots. Their red, raw hands gave her heart a moment’s ache. Savina said a quick prayer for them. All too often she had been in their shoes, as cleaning pots was a favorite punishment the abbess doled out.
Savina walked soundlessly on the stones, having perfected the art of keeping her presence unknown at an early age. The habit, still with her after all these years, came in useful upon occasion.
She heard voices in the main hallway and decided to see what news she might pick up.
Mother Superior rarely let the nuns know what happened in the outside world.
Savina may have chosen to live a sheltered life with God, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t curious as to what went on beyond the walls of the convent.
A man’s voice!
She hurried her step when she realized it did not belong to any of the visiting priests. Savina moved close until she stood around the corner from the commotion.
“I tell you, I must see Julesa now. Your abbess, that is. Make haste, but summon her at once. Or better yet, simply take us to her. That will save precious time.”
Savina heard the impatience in the man’s voice. He also had a familiar tone. If she didn’t know better, she would guess he was related to Mother.
The nuns conversing with him seemed hesitant to act. Savina peeked around the corner and decided she would take matters into her own hands. She marched out bold as a peacock.
“I am going to our abbess, my lord,” she exclaimed. “I will take you to her.”
The two nuns shot her a wild look of disapproval, but Savina ignored them.
Instead, she was most interested in the woman that stood next to the man.
Actually, she realized it was a young girl as she drew near, and a beautiful one at that.
One upon the cusp of childhood and becoming a maid, the girl possessed flawless skin and large, blue eyes.
The eyes, though, were blank. Savina wondered for a moment if the girl were blind.
“Finally, someone who sees reason.” The man waved the two nuns away and turned to stare at her. “Take me to your abbess now. The circumstances are none of your business, but time is of the essence.”
“Of course, my lord,” Savina said demurely, thinking the man a boor. She didn’t need to know the exact nature of his visit, but he didn’t have to sound so condescending. “Follow me.”
Savina moved through the entry way and up a wide staircase. She tamped down the impulse to peek over her shoulder and assumed the nobleman would follow. She kept a brisk pace, as was her way, and hoped he and his charge could keep up.
As they approached the door to the abbess’s study, Savina paused. Before she could speak, the man brushed her aside.
“I will handle matters from here,” he said abruptly. Without knocking, he pushed open the door and swept into the room, dragging the girl behind him.
Savina knew Mother rarely spent time in the outer chamber. She felt it safe to enter and close the door. As she turned from doing so, she saw the man and the girl she assumed was his daughter vanish beyond the second door. Savina scampered to it. The door remained open a foot.
Plenty of room to hear... and not be seen.
“Renton! What on God’s earth are you doing here? How did you get in? And who is—”
“I’ve no time for cordial conversation, Julesa. I have a problem. You will solve it.”
Savina could almost feel Mother’s appraising eyes as the room filled with the sound of silence. The abbess’s intelligence was second to none. Savina knew she studied the situation, wondering how to turn it to her advantage.
“I assume you want to leave the girl here, Brother. She is your daughter?”
Savina grimaced at Mother’s sharp tone. At least she learned the nobleman was kin to the abbess. He’d held the same air she did. It pleased her that she had guessed their connection.
“She is. Useless baggage to me now. Spoiled by that bastard Earl of Nowland. He did it for spite since I would never let him have her. I won’t see my family ruined because of him.”
“She appears... distant.”
Savina heard a heavy sigh. “Bevia’s always been a bit simple. By the Christ, she still plays with dolls at three-and-ten! I’d thought to make a good match of her, though. She’s got Alita’s looks. Men aren’t interested in their wives having a brain.”
Mother snorted. “Make this match. Why should anyone need know she was deflowered by a royal bastard?”
“Because she’s with child.”
A hush filled the air. Savina shivered, her heart going out to the blank beauty.
The nobleman let out a sigh. “The moment Alita realized it, I tried to arrange for a marriage to take place immediately instead of next year as planned. Unfortunately, the man I had chosen as Bevia’s husband-to-be had a gravely ill mother.
He refused to leave the woman’s side and marry without her present at the ceremony.
By the time the old fool passed on, Bevia’s condition could not have been hidden from a randy groom on his wedding night. ”
“And so you bring her to me.”
“What else can I do, Julesa? I refuse to let Quentin have Bevia or know of the child she will bear. Bevia is dead to me as of this moment. I have a coffer full of gold for your greedy hands, Sister. You’re to keep her here permanently.
No one’s to know she’s of my blood. Hopefully, the chit will regain some of her sanity after the child’s birth. ”
“What does your wife say about this decision?”
“She will only be told Bevia is dead. Leaving her here is the best I can do.”
Shock ran through Savina. She may not have seen her family for years, as all novices left their earthly relations behind when they committed their lives to God, but she knew her parents loved her to this day.
And here this poor girl was, through no fault of her own, being written off as dead by her selfish, twisted father.
Savina vowed in that moment that she would care for this young girl, less than a dozen years younger than she herself.
“No one is to know of her existence, Julesa. The last word I will ask of this is to let me know if Bevia is delivered of a girl or a boy. I pray it will be a girl. The earl would have no use of a girl child if he ever discovered her existence. After that, no reminders. Ever.”
Mother laughed harshly. “I understand everything you ask, Brother. And don’t think I won’t hesitate to call in a favor of my own when the time warrants. We both wield power in our own way. You may prove useful to me someday.”
Savina realized this one conversation led her to understand Mother finally. She and this cruel brother seemed to be cut from the same cloth, one without heart, without soul. Savina didn’t know how she would accomplish it, but she would become Bevia’s protector.
Without thought to the consequences, Savina marched determinedly into Mother’s study.
“Sister.” Mother’s low tones held little surprise. It was as if she knew all along Savina eavesdropped upon the private conversation.
Savina mustered as much innocence as she could project. “Yes, Mother?”
The abbess indicated Bevia. “You always seem to accomplish your tasks so quickly, Sister. I have a new one for you.” Her eyes gleamed as she appraised Savina.
“I am most willing to do whatever you wish, Mother.”
“This is Bevia. She will need your attention—night and day. You will be excused from all other chores with the exception of your prayers. You are to keep her with you at all times. You are not to make mention of anything you might have heard about her.”
Savina winced at the hard look Mother gave her. “As you wish, Mother.”
“Escort Lord Renton downstairs. Come back immediately to take care of your charge. Do you understand everything I’ve said?”
“Yes, Mother. I am to care for Bevia. I will not let her from my sight. I will protect her always, even with my life.”
Mother nodded. “Good.” She studied Savina a moment then said, “I’ve changed my mind. I will accompany Lord Renton to the gate. You may start caring for your charge from this moment forth.”
The abbess rose. “Come,” she motioned to her brother. “I know you are anxious to be off—and I must collect that coffer of gold which you mentioned. My best to Alita. And there’s a boy now?”
“Yes,” Lord Renton replied as he led his sister from the room. “My son Crispin. Much younger than Bevia. He will be heir to Mangeron one day.”
They left the room, and Savina turned to Bevia. She slowly approached the girl and took her hand.
“We are going to spend lots of time together, Bevia.” She stroked Bevia’s hand, hoping it would soothe her. The glassy eyes remained unfocused.
Savina silently sent a prayer to the Virgin, asking for Her divine guidance. God worked in mysterious ways. He had finally used Savina’s eavesdropping to give her a mission in life.
And Savina would guard Bevia from all evil.
Especially Mother Superior.