Parthena's Promise (4 page)

“Who are you running from, girl?” she continued.

“Would half a crown be sufficient for your kindness and hospitality?” Thena answered. She cared not for her attitude and decided the sooner she left the better it would be. She was beginning to feel trapped and had no wish to be incarcerated here or in a gaol.

Thena put her hand inside her bag and as quickly as she could found the coin she sought and offered it up for the woman to take. Instead, the mother superior slowly sat back in the chair and stared at her.

“We gave you the room and board free of any charge. We are not running a boarding house here or a shelter for waifs and strays as they pass by. I take it from this you have no wish to join our order as a novice.”

Thena swallowed, she nearly dropped the bag at the thought and the desire to take to her heels and run was very strong. “I merely sought shelter. If it was freely given, then I thank you for your charity and ask that you accept this as a donation so that you can help a waif or stray who needs it and who is unable to offer payment of any kind.”

“We thought we were,” she said. “So tell me who it is who turns up desperate at our door and then offers to pay handsomely for our hospitality.”

The woman gestured that she should leave the coin on the desk.

“I would bid you good day,” Thena answered and turned to leave, but her exit was blocked by a nun whose ample figure all but filled the width of the doorway. She made no attempt to move, but folded her arms and stared at Thena. One finger gestured that she should about turn and face the mother superior. Thena felt intimidated, she wanted to protest, but the last thing she needed was more trouble or suspicion thrown upon her. Although this interview was not going well, perhaps she had used the wrong tone.

Thena turned around. “I merely wish to leave and not trouble you further,” she said and smiled. “You have not given me your name, either.” Thena stared back at the woman.

“You never asked, but my name is Mother Marisa and I merely wish to know who it is that has slept under our roof in my care and who now wishes to leave in such a hurried fashion.” She leaned forward, her voice slightly gentler, but the look in her eyes as intense.

“My name is Miss Parthena Munro, now may I leave?” Thena held the woman’s gaze, but cursed her own stupidity – she had given her real name, without thinking. But then this was a house of God; how could she lie and expect Him to protect her as she bumbled along on her present path of folly?

“From where did you come and why did you not go to the inn for rooms with such coin in your purse?” The woman studied her with a set expression that revealed her curiosity.

Thena realised that she had most likely rifled carefully through her bag so she knew if she told the truth or had the audacity to lie to her face. “I had an unfortunate experience. I was supposed to take a position of governess, but found that the family had moved on by the time I arrived. Messages and letters had apparently crossed. I was left with nowhere to stay and nowhere to find suitable alternative accommodation.” Thena thought she saw a flicker of amusement in the woman’s eyes, but she was unsure. If she had read the letter of introduction in her belongings then Mother Marisa knew she told the truth, at least about that.

“This family were here in Gorebeck?” the sister behind her persisted.

Thena did not bother to turn around so she answered the woman’s question directly to the mother superior.

“No, it was a respectable household over in the village of Beckton, in Beckton Dale.”

“You cannot have walked all this way by road – who helped you? A passing farmer?” The woman sat forward. “Have you any idea of the danger you put yourself in? Could you not use your money to catch a coach to wherever you originally hailed from?”

Thena looked at her and decided she was in the best place to make a giant leap of faith – she would tell the truth – almost. “I walked over the old trods from Beckton to Gorebeck. I was at the Abbey School as a child and crossed the moors when the supplies were taken to market. I’d remembered it from then.” Thena watched as the lady stood to her full height, graceful and elegant in her pose. Although slight of build she gave off such inner peace and confidence that Thena could only admire her and wish she had such poise herself.

“So you admit you were in Beckton, you did not find the employment you expected to and from there moved on.” She was staring out of the window, apparently deep in thought or mulling over the information she had just been given.

“Yes, it is as I said.” Thena was beginning to feel quite anxious and slightly vexed. They had no right to keep her here.

“No more?” The woman looked at her.

“No more what?” Thena snapped and instantly regretted her haste.

“You have nothing else to tell me, Miss Munro? Nothing else you would ask of me? Am I correct in assuming you have no intention of staying here?” She looked at Thena with a resigned expression that was in such a contrast to her original greeting, that Thena wondered why she should change so.

“I wish to leave,” Thena stated emphatically.

“Very well,” she said and nodded to the sister behind Thena who opened the door wide.

“Thank you,” Thena said and took a step forward before taking two backwards. However, the nun stepped forward, stopping her from going around her, and Thena froze as a gentleman stepped into the room.

“You know this man?” the mother superior asked, her voice almost suggesting she should think carefully before answering the question.

Thena swallowed. She had been caught so easily in a God-made trap as punishment.

“This is Mr Jerome Fender. I have met him once and indeed he has helped me from a fate worse than any I had previously encountered in my life. I owe the man thanks for my safety.” Thena stood straight and tried to keep the wobble from her voice as her body trembled from within.

“You are indeed fortunate, for this gentleman has told me he has travelled all this way to come here seeking you out so that he is able to help you in your recent plight.” Mother Marisa looked sceptical, but stayed polite.

Thena stared at him, not understanding if there was a game of words being played out around her or if he had really not told them that she had stolen the money from him. Perhaps, she thought, she should because if they would give her sanctuary then he couldn’t have her arrested. Perhaps his motive was different, more sinister.

“Have you, Mr Fender?” she asked. “Is it your intention to help me and put right the grievous wrong that has befallen me and has seemingly drawn you into it as a result?”

“I would be most interested to hear of your grievous wrongs, but perhaps we could leave the sisters in peace to their devotions, whilst we ascertain the depth of your problems. I do not see any point in involving them further,” he replied, not taking his eyes from hers. “Do you?”

“Is this your wish, Miss Munro?” the mother superior asked.

“I should not bother you further,” Thena replied and swallowed because her head and her heart were giving her conflicting advice.

“Once you leave here you are beyond the protection and sanctuary of the abbey and my power.” She then addressed Jerome. “Mr Fender, you swear to me that you will take care of this lady and see that she is safe from harm’s way. Whatever her circumstance, I believe it is not of her making and would ask that a secure place of employment or a safe home be found for her.”

“I will see that she is well cared for and that all wrongs are righted.” He looked straight at Thena. “You have my oath on that, lady,” he added.

“Then leave with my blessing.” Mother Marisa waved her hand and the nun opened the door wide. Time for talk had ended, now she had to step out into the world with a man whom she had previously robbed.

Chapter 5

The minute they stepped outside the abbey grounds he cupped her elbow with his hand and removed her bag from her other one. Thena snapped out, “Unhand me!” and began to protest, but her words were met with a sudden jolt.

It almost made her cry out to be allowed back inside the abbey, but he spun her around to face him and one word stilled her. “Silence!”

She glared at him and was about to rebuke him further for manhandling her, but he shook his head slowly at her.

“Say one word, Miss Munro, and I will call in the local militia; their billet is not far away and you are a common thief! Or I could find out where the local magistrate resides and simply take you direct to him.” He glared down at her and she bit her lip, knowing he had right on his side.

Thena felt shame like she had never before and tilted her head down so that her bonnet would shield the high colour in her cheeks. They burned as the guilty feelings that swept through her soul scorched their path into her heart.

Without lifting her head to meet his accusing face, she spoke quietly in her defence, “I can explain. I promised to pay you back. I…”

“You will say and do nothing until we are in a place where prying eyes are not watching us and you can then tell me your whole story, and though I have no reason to and little understanding of why I am prepared to, I will listen and judge you accordingly.”

“Who are you to judge me?” she responded instantly, lifting her chin, and realised how foolish she was, for he had the law on his side and she none of it.

“I am a barrister, woman! You thieved from a man who has spent years studying the law of the land before he went to fight for it, and I am repaid by being the victim of a common cut-purse.”

“I am not common, nor am I a cut-purse. I think that is why you are prepared to listen to me. You know there is more to this, to me, than that. You see it and sense it. I merely borrowed the money because the alternative was far worse and I wanted to… I intended to repay it…” She sniffed and held back the tirade of words that she wanted to pour out, realising now how dangerous this man was, or could be; she understood that she was at his whim.

He walked her over to the side of the abbey wall where a chestnut mare was tethered to the rail. They stood beside his horse. It was then she had her first clear look at his generous mouth framed by a strong jaw. His handsome features held strikingly deep, yet sad eyes. His looks were not grand in a Romanesque way, but in strength of character, a man who had seen many things, worldly and still in his prime. He dropped her bag to the ground and placed a hand firmly at either side of her waist gripping her through her pelisse, and lifted her bodily to place her sideways onto the saddle. She let out a gasp. The horse stood still, ignoring her squeal as she grabbed the saddle to keep her balance. He said nothing and picked up her bag. Without word he placed it against her lap. She had to hold on to it with one hand and the horse with the other. Thena could not wait for him to climb up behind her and hold her and the horse steady.

“Tell me, in your desperation and generosity, how much did I give to the abbey for your night’s board?” he asked.

“Half a crown,” she replied in a quiet voice.

“My… how generous I am for one night’s stay in what will have been a cold cell, no doubt!”

She sat with her back straight and looked at the road ahead of them. Thena was biting her bottom lip to stop herself from saying anything that would anger this man further. Mr Jerome Fender was a man of law. Could she have chosen a worse person to steal from? How could she? She stared at the sky from under the rim of her bonnet and prayed that he was truly a just man. For she needed one to dig her out of the mess her cousin had thrown her into.

“Where will you take me?” she said, swallowing so hard that her mouth had gone quite dry. She thought of the prison cell she could be thrown in with goodness knows who: men and women together, possibly. Did they keep them separate by rank or by crime? Thena had no idea what the rules of prison were, but they would be harsh and she would have no things of her own, for her crime was not because of debt, but a true crime of theft. She had stolen money – and a lot of it. Society would have most likely thought more of her if she had used her body to earn it, no doubt; a tear ran down her cheek, silently falling as he answered her question.

“Miss Munro, you will come back with me to my room. There you will explain what possessed a woman trained or qualified in life enough to be a governess to steal from someone who had offered her help. For now, say nothing. The wench in the inn will presume you are my woman and I do not care if she does. You have cost me enough. You will accompany me to my room and there you will answer all my questions. If you choose not to then I will not ask again. I will take you to York myself and lay a formal charge.”

She turned her face to look down at him. “Would you do that to me after… knowing that I was a governess?” she said quietly.

“Miss, even murderers can be gentlemen, vicars and politicians, they still have to answer for their crimes. You stole – you broke the law and you had no right to call it a loan when we had no agreement. Now be quiet and be grateful that you have the opportunity to come with me.” He swung up into the saddle behind her and she felt his body’s warmth close to her. He wrapped one arm around her waist. She held on tightly to her bag as the animal moved forward. Using one hand she clung to it for she found it a steadier option to hold his arm with the other. Propriety had left when she had fallen foul of the law, now she had to survive and stay out of prison. Then a thought crossed her mind: if he was a barrister and he knew the law, he should be interested in seeking justice. He could possibly help her. Had she not been wronged by her cousin? Had he not sent her on a wild goose chase and no doubt he had hoped she would never return or recover from the shame of it? A flicker of hope lit in her heart, but it was a very small one that could so easily be extinguished, but at least it was there. Mr Fender might take pity on her circumstance and seek out her cousin. The bully would not stand up to a man like Fender, of that she was sure.

They did not go far before he rode into the stabling area of an inn. The woman serving did not look surprised when he came back in with her.

“Found her? Ah good! Would she want food and a tub too?” she asked.

“No, I’m fine,” Thena said quickly. “I’ve eaten, thank you.”

“Yes, she does,” he said completely ignoring her words.

The woman smiled, baring her ugly teeth and Thena wished she could turn around and just walk out. But she could hardly run to the abbey again. She had rebuffed the mother superior’s offer for her to stay so she had made her bed – seemingly – and now she might literally have to lie in it. The thought made her shiver as she looked up at the tall frame of Mr Jerome Fender. Would he expect her to lay with him?

He had muttered something to her, but lost in her own thoughts she had quite frozen in time, so many emotions were running through her. Not repeating his words he just cupped her elbow and pushed her firmly in front of him so that she had to go up the wooden stairs first.

The room was sparse, but there was a warm fire and the tub was being filled by a boy and a girl who were running up and down the stairs with pails of warmed water. “Won’t take long, miss,” the girl said, as she waited at the top for them to stand on the landing as the stairs were so narrow that no one could pass. “We always have water on the fire for the laundry. Sally does it in the tub house out back,” she said, before running back down.