shocked and disappointed. She thought this woman was on her side. âBut I will help Father Enrique and I will help the people of the town.â
The young woman smiled. It was enough.
âAnd I will stay?â
âWe will see. There is no shortage of pretty girls who need a home and someone to look after them. If Father Enrique is to have a woman it must be a woman I can trust, an obedient woman who will know how to do as she is told.â
The young woman looked down at her hands folded in her lap, trying to look meek and obedient.
âI am trustworthy, I know how to do as I am told.â Then she looked up directly into Mariaâs eyes, all meekness gone. âIf the person who tells me is herself trustworthy, someone who will look after me.â
Maria looked back at her for a moment then laughed.
âGood. If you are to stay here you must also have some sense; now I see that you do. A pretty face and a desirable body are all very well, but in this world brains are also needed.â
âBut if I am to be obedient to you there is something you must do for me.â
âOh, and what might that be?â
âThere has not been a priest in our village for many, many years so there have been no weddings, no baptisms, and no one has been to Mass.â She paused. âWe need a priest.â
Maria smiled. The woman really did have brains.
âSo, you got sent here as a present, a bribe. He gets you and in return your village gets him, is that it?â
The young woman bowed her head.
âYes.â
âWell, Iâll see what I can do.â
The door opened and Father Enrique came in.
âI have decided.â
The young woman stood up and resumed her meek attitude as if she were awaiting some sort of sentencing, which in a way, she was.
Maria remained seated.
âWhat is your decision, Father?â
âIt is too late for her to go back to her village. The position now is the same as last night so we will do the same as last night.â
âShe will stay?â
âIt will be the same tonight as it was last night. Do you both understand?â
The young woman raised her eyes, smiled and gave him a tender look.
âI understand, Father.â
Maria also smiled, but the smile and the look were quite different.
âYes, Father, we both understand perfectly.â
Father Enrique stood for a second looking uncertain and embarrassed. Then he fixed a stern look on his face and tried to get some authority into his voice.
âGood. That is my decision. Tomorrow morning I will decide what we will do, what will happen, er â¦â
Maria came to his aide as his voice faltered and the look of embarrassment returned.
âTomorrow morning you will make your final decision about what will be done in the future, Father.â
Father Enrique managed to pull himself together.
âYes. The future. A final decision tomorrow.â He looked at the young woman and his voice changed. It was as if he were asking for something and not sure that it would be granted. The voice of a shy young man speaking to a pretty young girl. âBut for tonight things will be as they were last night.â
The young woman spoke quietly.
âIt will as you wish, Father.â
He coughed and his voice resumed a tone of authority.
âGood. As I wish.â
And he turned, left, and closed the door behind him.
Chapter Nine
The next day Father Enrique returned from his usual morning round both pleased and troubled. She had come to him in the early hours of the morning. He had tried to stay awake and wait for her but sleep had defeated him and it was her naked body slipping into the bed that had woken him. Once more they had made love and it had been wonderful, wonderful and terrible. Wonderful because he had never known such passion and joy could exist, and it was terrible because he was wallowing in a carnal sin that had destroyed him as a priest.
But today was different
The young woman smiled. It was enough.
âAnd I will stay?â
âWe will see. There is no shortage of pretty girls who need a home and someone to look after them. If Father Enrique is to have a woman it must be a woman I can trust, an obedient woman who will know how to do as she is told.â
The young woman looked down at her hands folded in her lap, trying to look meek and obedient.
âI am trustworthy, I know how to do as I am told.â Then she looked up directly into Mariaâs eyes, all meekness gone. âIf the person who tells me is herself trustworthy, someone who will look after me.â
Maria looked back at her for a moment then laughed.
âGood. If you are to stay here you must also have some sense; now I see that you do. A pretty face and a desirable body are all very well, but in this world brains are also needed.â
âBut if I am to be obedient to you there is something you must do for me.â
âOh, and what might that be?â
âThere has not been a priest in our village for many, many years so there have been no weddings, no baptisms, and no one has been to Mass.â She paused. âWe need a priest.â
Maria smiled. The woman really did have brains.
âSo, you got sent here as a present, a bribe. He gets you and in return your village gets him, is that it?â
The young woman bowed her head.
âYes.â
âWell, Iâll see what I can do.â
The door opened and Father Enrique came in.
âI have decided.â
The young woman stood up and resumed her meek attitude as if she were awaiting some sort of sentencing, which in a way, she was.
Maria remained seated.
âWhat is your decision, Father?â
âIt is too late for her to go back to her village. The position now is the same as last night so we will do the same as last night.â
âShe will stay?â
âIt will be the same tonight as it was last night. Do you both understand?â
The young woman raised her eyes, smiled and gave him a tender look.
âI understand, Father.â
Maria also smiled, but the smile and the look were quite different.
âYes, Father, we both understand perfectly.â
Father Enrique stood for a second looking uncertain and embarrassed. Then he fixed a stern look on his face and tried to get some authority into his voice.
âGood. That is my decision. Tomorrow morning I will decide what we will do, what will happen, er â¦â
Maria came to his aide as his voice faltered and the look of embarrassment returned.
âTomorrow morning you will make your final decision about what will be done in the future, Father.â
Father Enrique managed to pull himself together.
âYes. The future. A final decision tomorrow.â He looked at the young woman and his voice changed. It was as if he were asking for something and not sure that it would be granted. The voice of a shy young man speaking to a pretty young girl. âBut for tonight things will be as they were last night.â
The young woman spoke quietly.
âIt will as you wish, Father.â
He coughed and his voice resumed a tone of authority.
âGood. As I wish.â
And he turned, left, and closed the door behind him.
Chapter Nine
The next day Father Enrique returned from his usual morning round both pleased and troubled. She had come to him in the early hours of the morning. He had tried to stay awake and wait for her but sleep had defeated him and it was her naked body slipping into the bed that had woken him. Once more they had made love and it had been wonderful, wonderful and terrible. Wonderful because he had never known such passion and joy could exist, and it was terrible because he was wallowing in a carnal sin that had destroyed him as a priest.
But today was different
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