recollection, I realised Yu Ling hadn’t spat afterwards. So I swallowed in two big gulps. Hyde cradled my head against his flat lower belly, his pleasure evident in his sigh.
‘What a woman,’ he crooned. ‘You’ve given me another fond memory to fill the hours until we can play this way again. Lord, but you’re a natural at this, Mary —’
The sudden opening of the carriage door made us both jump. Cold air blew in around us, but it was a chilly female voice that sent gooseflesh all over me.
‘Brother Christy is waiting,’ the intruder insisted. ‘We thought you’d been detained by the storm, until Ahmad came to report your carriage parked at the edge of the vineyard.’
I wanted to die. Through the slit of one eyelid I saw a woman who suited that disdainful voice perfectly: with her steely hair pulled back in a tight knot, wearing the severe black uniform of a maid, she was the picture of a shrewish spinster who delighted in making others feel unworthy. Behind her, several people clad in simple brown tunics peered curiously into the carriage. At the sound of a snicker from among them, Hyde snatched the door from her.
‘We’ll see Brother Christy momentarily. Meanwhile, I know my way to the abbey without a group escort. Thank you.’
He slammed the door. ‘Should’ve known Mrs Goodin would sniff us out!’ he said in a disgusted whisper. ‘Once we entered the grounds, I pulled over, hoping the rain would stop before we unloaded the kitchen supplies. But I couldn’t help wanting you one last time.’
I was frantically adjusting my dress, wishing for a mirror so I could straighten my hair. ‘Nothing like making a grand entrance,’ I hissed. ‘Now all those people will think I’m some sort of hussy, come to —’
He stopped fumbling with his buttons to take my face between his hands. ‘You’re more a lady than any of them can ever hope to be — because I say so, and because you’re mine,’ he insisted. ‘So stand tall and walk proud, Mary Grace Michaels. And stop blushing. It’s far too becoming.’
As though his words weren’t confirmation enough, Hyde suddenly plucked the remaining pins from my hair. ‘We’ll show them just what sort of woman you are, sweetheart. We’ll make them wish they had half your inner strength and beauty. After all, you’re going to lay them several golden eggs, so to speak.’
Ah, but the goose in that story lost her head, I mused.
As Hyde took up the reins and urged Beau back on to the vineyard path, however, I kept my concerns to myself. Perhaps he was right: perhaps my quilts would redeem my unseemly entrance into this mountaintop world. I knew better than to assume Mrs Goodin would ever have a better impression of me, but I trusted Hyde’s judgment. I would only be a whore if I let them treat me like one.
Chapter Five
Stripped and Cleansed
A s the carriage approached the abbey, with its Gothic spires and leering gargoyles, I sensed we were being watched even though none of those previous onlookers loitered outside its massive double doors. Heaven’s Gate loomed like an ancient sentinel, and in my imagination’s eye the stone pattern above those tall, lozenge-shaped windows formed eyebrows raised in disdain. Those who came here were being warned to repent and prepare for the Kingdom.
I tried to brush the flour from my skirt. ‘Hyde, I’m a sight! What will these monks think when they see us? They’ll know damn well what we’ve been doing.’
He pulled Beau to a halt. ‘They’ll regret ever taking a vow of celibacy. And they’ll envy me as the luckiest man alive. No doubt they’ll have a lot of praying to do, to get beyond their lust and covetous thoughts.’
His gaze remained steadfast — not a hint of a grin — until I scolded him.
‘Why, that’s the most — you’re incorrigible!’ I swatted the hand he was easing up my thigh. ‘I’ve come here to work, Mr Fortune. I care about making a bad impression already.’
His face
‘What a woman,’ he crooned. ‘You’ve given me another fond memory to fill the hours until we can play this way again. Lord, but you’re a natural at this, Mary —’
The sudden opening of the carriage door made us both jump. Cold air blew in around us, but it was a chilly female voice that sent gooseflesh all over me.
‘Brother Christy is waiting,’ the intruder insisted. ‘We thought you’d been detained by the storm, until Ahmad came to report your carriage parked at the edge of the vineyard.’
I wanted to die. Through the slit of one eyelid I saw a woman who suited that disdainful voice perfectly: with her steely hair pulled back in a tight knot, wearing the severe black uniform of a maid, she was the picture of a shrewish spinster who delighted in making others feel unworthy. Behind her, several people clad in simple brown tunics peered curiously into the carriage. At the sound of a snicker from among them, Hyde snatched the door from her.
‘We’ll see Brother Christy momentarily. Meanwhile, I know my way to the abbey without a group escort. Thank you.’
He slammed the door. ‘Should’ve known Mrs Goodin would sniff us out!’ he said in a disgusted whisper. ‘Once we entered the grounds, I pulled over, hoping the rain would stop before we unloaded the kitchen supplies. But I couldn’t help wanting you one last time.’
I was frantically adjusting my dress, wishing for a mirror so I could straighten my hair. ‘Nothing like making a grand entrance,’ I hissed. ‘Now all those people will think I’m some sort of hussy, come to —’
He stopped fumbling with his buttons to take my face between his hands. ‘You’re more a lady than any of them can ever hope to be — because I say so, and because you’re mine,’ he insisted. ‘So stand tall and walk proud, Mary Grace Michaels. And stop blushing. It’s far too becoming.’
As though his words weren’t confirmation enough, Hyde suddenly plucked the remaining pins from my hair. ‘We’ll show them just what sort of woman you are, sweetheart. We’ll make them wish they had half your inner strength and beauty. After all, you’re going to lay them several golden eggs, so to speak.’
Ah, but the goose in that story lost her head, I mused.
As Hyde took up the reins and urged Beau back on to the vineyard path, however, I kept my concerns to myself. Perhaps he was right: perhaps my quilts would redeem my unseemly entrance into this mountaintop world. I knew better than to assume Mrs Goodin would ever have a better impression of me, but I trusted Hyde’s judgment. I would only be a whore if I let them treat me like one.
Chapter Five
Stripped and Cleansed
A s the carriage approached the abbey, with its Gothic spires and leering gargoyles, I sensed we were being watched even though none of those previous onlookers loitered outside its massive double doors. Heaven’s Gate loomed like an ancient sentinel, and in my imagination’s eye the stone pattern above those tall, lozenge-shaped windows formed eyebrows raised in disdain. Those who came here were being warned to repent and prepare for the Kingdom.
I tried to brush the flour from my skirt. ‘Hyde, I’m a sight! What will these monks think when they see us? They’ll know damn well what we’ve been doing.’
He pulled Beau to a halt. ‘They’ll regret ever taking a vow of celibacy. And they’ll envy me as the luckiest man alive. No doubt they’ll have a lot of praying to do, to get beyond their lust and covetous thoughts.’
His gaze remained steadfast — not a hint of a grin — until I scolded him.
‘Why, that’s the most — you’re incorrigible!’ I swatted the hand he was easing up my thigh. ‘I’ve come here to work, Mr Fortune. I care about making a bad impression already.’
His face
Similar Books
