Under the Day

Part Four

 Lisbon, Portugal

August 1369

Beatriz didn't know what to do. On one hand, giving Orraca the rosary and note could give her the closure she needed. On the other, Orraca would fly into a red-eyed, runny-nosed depressive rage and demand to see Isabella at once. Then she would clean herself up and play the part of the proper lady she'd trained herself to be. Yes, Beatriz thought, The second option is the most likely one.... Her heart hurt when she thought of the pain gleaming in Sister Ursula's eyes, the thin, fragile tremor in her voice. Look what submission did to her! This recycled century rippled with rusted ideas of being.

She opened the creaky inn-door and strode into the room, only to find Orraca flying from corner to corner. She was gathering gown after gown, headdress after headdress, and stuffing them into bags. When she saw Beatriz, her round face hardened with rage.

"Beatriz da Maia, whatever are you doing?! You're supposed to pack-- we leave at sundown!"

"Can't a friend give you a gift?"

Beatriz smiled her crooked yellow smile, handing Orraca what Sister Ursula gave her.

"What is this?"

"It's a rosary from Sister Ursula Louisa." She cleared her throat. "I mean, Isabella."

Orraca's eyes bulged and her weak chin wobbled.

"Sh-She's a nun? Y-You didn't...!"

"I did. See, she even left a note."

Beatriz tapped the crumpled bit of parchment until Orraca unfolded it. Orraca frowned at it for a few moments, then her mouth quivered.

"Why, I-I had no idea she felt this way! To abandon her own family, in the name of our Lord...!" She shook her head. "I must speak to her at once."

Beatriz stood before her, stretching her long slim arms to painful lengths.

"No."

"No?! What kind of friend stops a mother from seeing her child?!"

"When I met her, she was angry that I even mentioned your name. She was hurt by your 'advice', and all your mama bear worrying made her a nervous wreck! She's not a child anymore, Orraca, and it's about damned time you realized it!"

"I don't think that's any of your concern!"

"Well, you made it so! And as your friend, it's my duty to help you!"

Orraca gripped Beatriz's wrist tightly with one hand. She squeezed her eyes shut, shivering with emotion.

"We wouldn't be friends," she snapped, "If our children hadn't married!"

"You know what, you're right. I don't fancy uptight church ladies who think they're so special just because they can sew and read and submit to men! Then you think you can control everything just because you're afraid! We've all been hurt, Orraca-- there's no use dragging me to Hell with you!"

"My first husband violated me. I was but a child!"

"There's no reason for this. If Isabella was telling me the truth, you scared the shit out of her."