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had the silence to hear God’s voice even while I tended to those few vegetables needed for my daily meal.”
    “That was rightly denied by the bishop. No woman may be granted a hermitage.”
    “Then permit my only other request.”
    Eleanor threw up her hands in frustration. “As you should know well, I shall not assign a monk or lay brother to care for you!”
    “I cannot pray with women in my room.”
    “You could not pray if a man was left alone with you! How dare you even ask that I permit such a thing?”
    “What if I told you that God demanded it?”
    “You cannot, for He would not.”
    “As Brother John told me, Robert of Arbrissel went to brothels. When he emerged, he did so cloaked in greater virtue than when he entered. I do not ask that a manservant enter my room, only that he serve my needs through that tiny space.” She pointed to a small opening in the wall that provided a view of the church itself.
    The prioress went to the curtained window in the other wall and glanced outside. No one was there to hear what she had to say. “As you should understand, your demand is outrageous. Why not permit a sober, modest, and elderly woman to perform the same service?” She gestured at the empty servant’s room. “You have always refused to allow anyone to stay there. What quarrel do you have with someone who lives without?”
    “As I told you long ago, apart from your own, I cannot abide the sound of a woman’s voice. I would not speak to those who come to my window if God did not command it as atonement for my sins.”
    “Not even the voice of Sister Anne who has had to come often enough to treat your wounds when you beat your head against the wall?”
    The anchoress bowed her concession in silence.
    “Juliana, you are taking advantage of our friendship in the world by continuing to insist on such a shameful thing. No prioress, or prior in any other double house, would listen more than once to such a proposition. If they were merciful, they would set you a severe penance. Most would conclude you were possessed by Satan. I would prefer to do neither. If I continue to hear complaints, however, I may have little choice except to take harsh measures to end them.”
    “I have never wished to couple with any man. As you know, I did not have to take a nun’s vows to become an anchoress. I chose to do so, and my vow to remain chaste is a true one.”
    Eleanor spun around. “I may believe that, although many would not. Even if your chastity remained inviolate, you must understand that such an arrangement would be a cruel test of any man’s vows?”
    “There are those who would either welcome it as a test of their virtue or else not find it troubling at all.” Juliana flattened herself on the floor. “My lady,” she whispered, “you know me well. Believe me when I swear my plea has no taint of wickedness.”
    “I might indeed,” the prioress sighed as she took her childhood friend by the arms and raised her. “That said, there is another reason to deny your plea. The sons of Adam rarely allow the daughters of Eve authority, for it was our ancient mother who took the apple from the serpent, offered it to Adam, and gave God cause to slam shut the gates of Eden. Men need little to remind them that tragedy results when women are not closely ruled; therefore, the virtue of our Order, where Eve has power over Adam, must remain undoubted. Even if I wished to do so, I could never grant your request.”
    The anchoress’ eyes turned dark.
    “I promise that I shall persist in searching for a woman who will serve you with the silence you require and who will not otherwise trouble you. In the meantime, the current lay sister will continue attending to your needs twice a day, and I command you to cease barring your door to her.”
    Juliana covered her eyes and groaned.
    “As you said, you willingly took a nun’s vows. Need I remind you that one of those was obedience? Do not attempt to take any further advantage