God's Loving Embrace

Part Ten

'For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?'

Luke 9:25

Bethany suggested the trip. Not her father. Megan doubted if he had the gumption, but the promotion was still available and her sister thought that if they put on a show it might make all the difference. Megan objected, of course. But that just made it all worse. She looked uncooperative, and as if she did not care about her father's career. Bethany was the good one as always. It caused the inevitable row, and Megan lost, because her father had both the law and everyone else on his side. It cost them three more Marks and Spencer's gowns, with all of the usual matching accessories, and an overnight stay near Winchester, and her father's head office, so that the family could worship at the Reformist Church Mr Simpson and most of the Ultrapure board attended, but Bethany and her mother were quite sure that it would prove a wise investment. Geoff Robinson was a rather weak man, constantly worried about money and the future and yet still unwilling to force things on his family, but his dear wife and younger daughter were supporting him, recognising the opportunity, and they all refused to let Megan ruin things for everyone else. Every single Ultrapure employee had access to free samples of the new products, and he procured three from the very top of the range. It was his due, and Bethany suggested that wearing them would be an honour if it helped secure her father the promotion he so richly deserved. He was persuaded to be more ambitious and they decided to put on a show for his boss, utilising the company products.

Megan was the first to try it on, before they even left the house. She did not know it, at the time, but she was part of the next phase of Reformist recruitment devised by Archbishop Michael Winstanley himself. Government employees, and the employees of companies that supplied products or services to government organisations, were being encouraged to attend authorised churches. Ultrapure had signed a contract that required their senior members of staff to lead the way and set a positive example. After all, the company was supplying one million of their incredible new muzzles to the government, at a healthy profit, and they had to support and endorse their products. Employees who took the hint would soon find themselves rewarded and everyone was very happy. Except, perhaps, the girls like Megan, who found themselves silenced whenever their parents thought it appropriate.

It felt very different to being muzzled by the nuns. Her mother did it, after more harsh words between them, and Megan was in tears, begging her not to. But Mrs Robinson did not relent, telling her eldest daughter that it was for her own good in the end. She had to learn how to behave. Things were changing and there were opportunities for those with the good sense to predict what way the wind was blowing. Bethany was much more sensible than her older sister. She saw the potential in her father. She seemed to recognise that things were changing around them, constantly setting a good example to her sister. Bethany accepted her muzzle with due deference to her parents, putting her sister to shame.

'Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.'

Ezra 10:4

Sister Caris turned a blind eye to some fairly minor infringements. Mother Esme wanted her Sisters to have privacy and some real freedom in their shared rooms, and the friendships that blossomed were valued, and necessarily close. It went against their initial training and experiences. Caris had never been allowed to really get to know anyone in any convent before moving to St. Theresa's, but Mother Esme argued that the Convent was their home. In her own room, Caris had Angelina, her Sammie, and although she refused to think too much about it, they were probably closer than anyone. In the dark, in the middle of the night, they often shared the same cot, holding each other close. Both starved of female companionship and any sort of love, other than God's, they fell on each other each night with passion and unbridled glee. Caris did not have very much trouble with talking within the dormitory after lights out anymore, but most of the girls she had to punish were being far to open about their friendships, when it was so vital to take care. But those first weeks at St. Theresa's were still very happy ones, even if she worked hard and felt a great weight of responsibility on her weary shoulders.