Deception

Chapter 16

"Mother?" I asked as the Abbess, who was on her knees praying turns, her head towards me.

"Forgive this intrusion. I have a request to make of you." I asked her as she frowned slightly.

"Speak quickly, child." She informed.

"It is a difficult matter—"

"Quickly or not at all." She interrupted as I paused for a moment before taking a step forward.

"Very well. I should like to be a novice in your order." I stated plainly as she raised an eyebrow before looking me up and down.

"Come to my abbey in a month. I will consider you then." She spoke sharply before turning her head back towards the altar as if to start praying again as I refused to take no for an answer. I couldn't wait a month! Guy would surely try and marry me by then or keep me in Nottingham until I did.

"With respect, you are here today. Consider me now." I asked boldly as she looked slightly surprised at my output.

"You are bold. Do you know who I am?" She asked me carefully as she rose to her feet and walked towards me as I looked at the floor for a moment.

"I— Forgive me, I am bold. That is why I do not belong here. It is stifling." I informed her begging that she would allow me to accompany her.

"You think the abbey is a place to be bold?" She questioned as she walked towards the front bench and sat down as I joined her.

"I think it is a place to breathe. I should like to be clear. I would stay for a year at most, and I can fund my keep." I informed as she looked at me once more before smirking slightly as I frowned. Had I said something funny to her?

"Forgive me, something about you... You are an unlikely novice." She whispered as I raised an eyebrow.

"You are an unlikely abbess." I responded as she laughed.

"You are spirited. I could use someone like you." She whispered to me with a wink. Her voice was full of purpose as I frowned. Something just didn't seem right about her as I leant back slightly.

"I have no intention of being used." I stated plainly before we stared at each other for a while before she nodded in agreement. I thanked her before I walked back to the door, knocking so the guard would let me out. I heard the rustling of the keys before I stepped out of the chapel, to hear the keys locking the abbess back into her prayer. I started to walk back down the corridor with a small smile on my face.

"So, did she agree?" Guy's deep voice asked me, as I jumped startled as I turned to see him leaning against one of the pillars as I stopped and took a deep breath, hiding away the sudden shock.

"Yes." I informed him as he lifted himself off the marble and slowly came towards me, close like he always did which to be honest made me feel very uncomfortable.