marriage!
A sparkling blackness surged behind her eyes for a moment. What had her insane scheme cost her? Now her father would be certain to rush her into some loathsome alliance before any could claim her to be impure. Small wonder she hurt so cruelly at each small movement of her hips.
Benjamin studied her expressive face, pale and lovely, keenly alight with intelligence. “This is not the world's end, Doña Magdalena,” he said gently. “You were fortunate to have me see you fall and attend you so directly. No one will question what has happened to you. My reputation as a physician will protect you.”
Her clear green eyes met his. “I do thank you for that, but this accident will only hasten my father's plans to marry me off, I fear.” She looked at the parchment again.
Knowing the whorish reputation of Doña Estrella, Benjamin felt he understood Bernardo's reasoning. Yet this girl was young and unspoiled. “How came you by the ability to read?”
Her smile transformed the dazed sadness of her face into radiant pride. “I was taught Castilian and Latin by my brother's tutors.” Her eyes strayed to the volume laying near his chair. “I would love to learn Arabic, but 'tis frowned on now.”
Benjamin sighed. “More than merely frowned on, it is seen as a sign of heresy by the Holy Office.”
“Yet you read it,” she said matter of factly.
“I read medical treatises by special license of King Fernando. I don't think they would interest you,” he added drily.
Magdalena's cheeks tinged pink as she recalled the Latin medical books she had read scarcely a year ago. “Many things interest me, especially the healing arts. Tell me, is it true there are Jewish women who practice medicine?”
Benjamin was intrigued by the artless girl. “Yes, for many centuries now. The Moors will allow no male physician to examine female members of their households. This stricture led to women being trained as healers. I do not think it is feasible for you to consider such an unlikely vocation.”
Magdalena sighed. “No, I suppose not, but I am curious about so many things and my father's library is so small...” She plucked at the bed linens nervously.
“I will have your maid Miralda bring you as many books from my library as you care to read. She awaits you next door.”
Thus began the unlikely friendship between the elderly physician and the sixteen-year-old girl. The following day, Magdalena was well enough to return to her parent's city house. She was laden with volumes from the Torres family library. In addition to the books, Magdalena also took with her the medical certification and Benjamin's promise not to inform her father of the precise and permanent nature of her injury. It would be her decision alone when and to whom she divulged the nature of her defloration, thus avoiding the threat of a hurried marriage to some horrid man like Maria's aging husband.
* * * *
“I tell you, Benjamin, I like it not. The Valdés family is hand-in-glove with the Inquisitors,” Serafina said as she wrung her pale hands in agitation.
Benjamin put his arm about her as they walked toward the gateway to their friends' home. They were dining with the Ruiz family, New Christians like themselves. “Magdalena is nothing like her father—or her mother. Ah, yes,” he said with a twinkle, “I have heard court gossip about Dona Estrella, which I am certain has filtered back to Seville. The girl is winsome and bright. She has grown up ignored by her parents, raised by servants and tutors. She is lonely, Serafina.”
“All the more reason to beware. If she attaches herself more closely to our household, she might inadvertently let slip some bit of information to her father's Dominican friends. You know
A sparkling blackness surged behind her eyes for a moment. What had her insane scheme cost her? Now her father would be certain to rush her into some loathsome alliance before any could claim her to be impure. Small wonder she hurt so cruelly at each small movement of her hips.
Benjamin studied her expressive face, pale and lovely, keenly alight with intelligence. “This is not the world's end, Doña Magdalena,” he said gently. “You were fortunate to have me see you fall and attend you so directly. No one will question what has happened to you. My reputation as a physician will protect you.”
Her clear green eyes met his. “I do thank you for that, but this accident will only hasten my father's plans to marry me off, I fear.” She looked at the parchment again.
Knowing the whorish reputation of Doña Estrella, Benjamin felt he understood Bernardo's reasoning. Yet this girl was young and unspoiled. “How came you by the ability to read?”
Her smile transformed the dazed sadness of her face into radiant pride. “I was taught Castilian and Latin by my brother's tutors.” Her eyes strayed to the volume laying near his chair. “I would love to learn Arabic, but 'tis frowned on now.”
Benjamin sighed. “More than merely frowned on, it is seen as a sign of heresy by the Holy Office.”
“Yet you read it,” she said matter of factly.
“I read medical treatises by special license of King Fernando. I don't think they would interest you,” he added drily.
Magdalena's cheeks tinged pink as she recalled the Latin medical books she had read scarcely a year ago. “Many things interest me, especially the healing arts. Tell me, is it true there are Jewish women who practice medicine?”
Benjamin was intrigued by the artless girl. “Yes, for many centuries now. The Moors will allow no male physician to examine female members of their households. This stricture led to women being trained as healers. I do not think it is feasible for you to consider such an unlikely vocation.”
Magdalena sighed. “No, I suppose not, but I am curious about so many things and my father's library is so small...” She plucked at the bed linens nervously.
“I will have your maid Miralda bring you as many books from my library as you care to read. She awaits you next door.”
Thus began the unlikely friendship between the elderly physician and the sixteen-year-old girl. The following day, Magdalena was well enough to return to her parent's city house. She was laden with volumes from the Torres family library. In addition to the books, Magdalena also took with her the medical certification and Benjamin's promise not to inform her father of the precise and permanent nature of her injury. It would be her decision alone when and to whom she divulged the nature of her defloration, thus avoiding the threat of a hurried marriage to some horrid man like Maria's aging husband.
* * * *
“I tell you, Benjamin, I like it not. The Valdés family is hand-in-glove with the Inquisitors,” Serafina said as she wrung her pale hands in agitation.
Benjamin put his arm about her as they walked toward the gateway to their friends' home. They were dining with the Ruiz family, New Christians like themselves. “Magdalena is nothing like her father—or her mother. Ah, yes,” he said with a twinkle, “I have heard court gossip about Dona Estrella, which I am certain has filtered back to Seville. The girl is winsome and bright. She has grown up ignored by her parents, raised by servants and tutors. She is lonely, Serafina.”
“All the more reason to beware. If she attaches herself more closely to our household, she might inadvertently let slip some bit of information to her father's Dominican friends. You know
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