Read Online The Sumerton Women by D. L. Bogdan - Free Book Online

do not make me go back. Let me enter this holy place tonight as a postulant. My father will send a dowry. I will make him; he won’t refuse me after tonight, I know it. Please.”
    Sister Julia sighed. “Do you not think that you can pursue matters of the soul there as much as here? Instead of passing judgment against your family, you can lead them by example with cheer instead of scorn.” She gathered her in her arms once more and began to sway. “Mirabella, you must go back. They need you now more than ever. Lady Sumerton needs you and Ha—your lord father ... he needs you, too. So very much. And what of the little ones? Surely they could benefit from your example.”
    “I do not want to leave you, Sister,” Mirabella murmured against her coarse habit, which was more comforting than the smoothest satin. “You are my only happiness.”
    Sister Julia’s shoulders heaved a moment as she pulled away. She bit her lip, her eyes luminous with tears. “Oh, Mirabella ... you must go.” At Mirabella’s stricken expression she continued hurriedly. “But you can come back. When you are ready, when you are here for the right reasons and not running away from unpleasantness. Meantime you must grow in your faith and endure the tests we all are bound by God to endure. Do you not think I was tested?” She shook her head, her eyes registering a bewilderment Mirabella could not decipher. “I was tested, Mirabella, oh, how much! But I prevailed. And you will, too.”
    Mirabella bowed her head, sobbing brokenly.
    “Do not think I don’t want you beside me,” Sister Julia told her in gentle tones. “It would please me more than you could know. But it is not time. Not yet. Please understand that. You must go back, darling.” She smoothed Mirabella’s hair, then offered her a linen handkerchief to dry her eyes. “You must go back.”
    Mirabella collected herself, drawing in a breath.
    It was a test, Sister Julia had said. Just a test.
    She must prevail as Sister Julia had prevailed. She would show God she was worthy of His calling.
    She rose and ordered her cloak. And went back.
    This time she rode sidesaddle.
     
    Grace opened her eyes. They had put coins on them, she was sure of it. Why else would they be so heavy? She opened them, though, and found them unencumbered. Her head was pounding. She looked down, drawing herself into focus. She was in her bed, wearing a nightdress. Father Alec sat beside her.
    “My lady?” he asked, his endearingly husky voice just above a whisper. “Are you ... well?”
    Grace’s lip quivered. Tears began to pave hot trails down her cheeks. “What’s happening to me?” she whispered.
    Father Alec shook his head. His smile was kind. “Why don’t you tell me?” he asked her. There was no sarcasm in his tone, no judgment. It was the epitome of gentleness.
    Grace regarded him for a long moment. Could she trust him?
    “Lady Sumerton,” Father Alec persisted. “I want to help you. There is no one here but you, me, and God. And He won’t say a word, I promise.” He winked.
    Grace offered a half smile that reverted to a quivering frown as fresh tears welled in her throat. She regarded the young priest. He was so handsome; what a shame he was wasted on the Church!
    But these thoughts were irrelevant to his purpose in her chambers. He was perhaps at this moment the only friend she had in the world after tonight.
    “My lady?” Father Alec prompted again.
    Grace began to sob.
    And told him.
     
    Lord Hal’s explanation to the little children was about the same as Cecily’s had been to Brey, therefore Cecily knew he was lying. But it didn’t matter. Brey was not crying anymore and that was the important thing. What’s more, they were assured that they could build their caterpillar house, so instead of focusing on the horror of the evening, Cecily distracted Brey with its design.
    They constructed a pavilion in the nursery, pulling together tables and chairs and throwing the bedclothes