Read Online Providence by Barbara Britton - Free Book Online

and make amends.

9
    Hannah paced outside the vine-swept doors of Reumah’s bedroom. She would beg if need be and take the blame for barging into Reumah’s bed chamber. Naabak had to be kept alive. Fever or no fever. If Konath came to power, Reumah’s protection would cease. Konath would rule this household, take his sexual pleasure, and slit Hannah’s throat. An ending he had vowed.
    Did she dare mention the prophet of Israel to Reumah? Did Reumah wish for her husband’s healing? Or was she waiting to warm Konath’s bed? Oh, how Hannah longed to return to her own land.
    With a deep breath, she knocked. The pain of Konath’s beating radiated down her spine.
    “Enter,” came Reumah’s reply.
    Reumah reclined in the chair by the honey jar, lazily stirring the nectar. She didn’t look up from the circles her finger created. “You will not judge me.”
    She knelt in front of her mistress, face to the floor. “What is there to judge? I am a lowly servant and I entered your chamber unannounced .” Because of Mereb’s deception.
    “Hah. I saw your face.” Reumah jolted forward in her seat. “Do not lie. You thought me shameful.”
    “You stunned me.” Hannah tried not to cast blame. “I did not expect another man to be in your bed.”
    “He was not in my bed.” Reumah pounded the table.
    Hannah’s muscles tensed at Reumah’s harsh denial. By the letter of the law, he was not in her bed!
    “You were not forthright earlier.” Reumah ripped away Hannah’s head covering. Cool air bathed Hannah’s ear nubs. “Konath warned me about your cunning.” Reumah pulled Hannah’s hair as she drew back.
    At the mention of Konath’s name, Hannah’s jaw clenched. Her hands fisted, embedding fingernails into her palms. He had tried to force himself on a virgin and now he soiled Naabak’s bed. Did he give the order to murder Gil? Or did Konath slay Gil himself?
    She stayed on her knees, but she would not stay silent. “Your husband knows of my curse. He spared my life and deemed me fit to serve his wife.” She let her last word, the one of Reumah’s position, linger in the air. “As you heard from his own lips, Konath knows as well. But he is not a man to trust with secrets.” She braced for a slap. None came.
    Reumah bent over as if in pain. She rested her elbows on her knees and wept into her hands. “I have failed. I have birthed no heir for Naabak. When he dies, his land and wealth will go to his father’s people.” Reumah’s chest heaved as she swiped tears from her cheeks. “I will live in my family’s home a bitter widow, handing bracelets to my brothers to sell in the marketplace for my keep.” She swept another tear from her face and perfected her posture. “If Konath favors me, I will retain my wealth and position.”
    Hannah caressed her blood-stained knuckle, a gift from Konath. Why should she care about the fate of this foreign woman? A heathen caught in adultery—with Konath no less. Gil protected the widows and downtrodden in the gleaning fields. Would he have taken pity on Reumah and championed her plight? She remembered Gil offering the pomegranate berries and coming to her defense when her brother’s temper flared. Her heart ached. Gil would have helped Reumah find peace in her distress.
    She bit her lip, fighting back the pain of losing Gil and her family. “I know of someone who could heal your husband.” The words rushed from her mouth before she could censor them.
    “Who?” Curiosity brightened Reumah’s features.
    “There is a prophet in Israel. I have seen him heal—”
    Reumah rose and dismissed the announcement with a flip of her hand. “Naabak has seen officials at Hadad’s temple.”
    “But has Naabak seen an official grow a leg?” She followed Reumah to the bed and did not picture what had passed on the sheets. “A lame boy danced before my eyes. Skin grew on bone. New flesh.” She hesitantly touched Reumah’s back. “I believe the prophet could restore