promise to give me something in return.’
‘What do you ask of me?’
‘Let me kiss you once. Let me hold you. If I must fast for a year and a month, let me have something to remember.’
‘One kiss no more.’
Melloria stood absolutely still as he came to her. She was like a statue made of stone as he put his arms about her and held her close to his heart. Her lips were cold beneath his and did not part or invite as they had always done when he kissed her. Disappointed and angry, he dragged her head back, tangling his hands in her hair as his hungry mouth moved down her throat to the little hollow at the base. His tongue licked at her and he pushed his knee between her legs, his hands clasping her buttocks as he pressed her against his bulging manhood.
‘No.’ Melloria thrust him away, her expression proud and angry. ‘If you treat me that way I shall never lie with you again. You demand too much.’
‘Your demands are unreasonable.’
‘Then I shall give my life to God.’
‘No! Damn you, no.’ Robert burst out, frustrated and angry yet knowing that once again he was at fault. ‘Forgive me. I have dreamed of having you so many nights. Very well, I shall agree to your demands but if you refuse me then I shall come and take you back. If you break your word to me taking vows will not help you. Remember this, Melloria. I would fight my way in here and take you. You would be responsible for injury or death to those who tried to keep me out.’
‘You make threats when you should make apology. Ask God to forgive you for your sins, Robert. Cleanse yourself of sin and then you will come to me as the man you once were – the man I loved.’
‘I shall do penance for my sins,’ he said. ‘Forgive me, Melloria. I love you and I shall come for you in one year and one month.’
Inclining his head to her, he turned and strode away. Melloria had made so many demands and he was not certain he could keep all of the promises he had made her.
* * *
Melloria sank down on to a wooden bench after the sound of Robert’s footsteps died away. She felt as if all her strength had left her, almost faint with relief that he had accepted her terms. When he had given her such a punishing kiss she had been afraid he might force his will on her and take her here in this house of sanctuary and devotion to God.
Bending her head, she covered her face with her hands, the tears trickling down her cheeks. Robert was so fierce and angry. She had never been afraid of him when they were husband and wife but she was now.
‘Has he gone?’
Melloria looked up and saw her sister looking at her anxiously. ‘Yes. He has given me a year and a month to pray and meditate.’
‘It will be enough,’ Beatrice said. ‘If we are careful he need never know the truth.’
‘Robert is so jealous. He always was even when he knew I loved him. If he were to guess…he might kill me, and the child in my womb.’
‘I have no doubt that the child of Nicholas Malvern would not be safe from him.’ Beatrice looked at her sadly. ‘We can hide you Melloria, keep your secret safe until the child is born. We can find a good woman to take the babe and care for it – but you will have to bear the knowledge and the pain of losing your child. Robert would never allow you to keep Nicholas Malvern’s child.’
‘I believe he would kill the babe, and perhaps me. I have never known him to be so
‘What do you ask of me?’
‘Let me kiss you once. Let me hold you. If I must fast for a year and a month, let me have something to remember.’
‘One kiss no more.’
Melloria stood absolutely still as he came to her. She was like a statue made of stone as he put his arms about her and held her close to his heart. Her lips were cold beneath his and did not part or invite as they had always done when he kissed her. Disappointed and angry, he dragged her head back, tangling his hands in her hair as his hungry mouth moved down her throat to the little hollow at the base. His tongue licked at her and he pushed his knee between her legs, his hands clasping her buttocks as he pressed her against his bulging manhood.
‘No.’ Melloria thrust him away, her expression proud and angry. ‘If you treat me that way I shall never lie with you again. You demand too much.’
‘Your demands are unreasonable.’
‘Then I shall give my life to God.’
‘No! Damn you, no.’ Robert burst out, frustrated and angry yet knowing that once again he was at fault. ‘Forgive me. I have dreamed of having you so many nights. Very well, I shall agree to your demands but if you refuse me then I shall come and take you back. If you break your word to me taking vows will not help you. Remember this, Melloria. I would fight my way in here and take you. You would be responsible for injury or death to those who tried to keep me out.’
‘You make threats when you should make apology. Ask God to forgive you for your sins, Robert. Cleanse yourself of sin and then you will come to me as the man you once were – the man I loved.’
‘I shall do penance for my sins,’ he said. ‘Forgive me, Melloria. I love you and I shall come for you in one year and one month.’
Inclining his head to her, he turned and strode away. Melloria had made so many demands and he was not certain he could keep all of the promises he had made her.
* * *
Melloria sank down on to a wooden bench after the sound of Robert’s footsteps died away. She felt as if all her strength had left her, almost faint with relief that he had accepted her terms. When he had given her such a punishing kiss she had been afraid he might force his will on her and take her here in this house of sanctuary and devotion to God.
Bending her head, she covered her face with her hands, the tears trickling down her cheeks. Robert was so fierce and angry. She had never been afraid of him when they were husband and wife but she was now.
‘Has he gone?’
Melloria looked up and saw her sister looking at her anxiously. ‘Yes. He has given me a year and a month to pray and meditate.’
‘It will be enough,’ Beatrice said. ‘If we are careful he need never know the truth.’
‘Robert is so jealous. He always was even when he knew I loved him. If he were to guess…he might kill me, and the child in my womb.’
‘I have no doubt that the child of Nicholas Malvern would not be safe from him.’ Beatrice looked at her sadly. ‘We can hide you Melloria, keep your secret safe until the child is born. We can find a good woman to take the babe and care for it – but you will have to bear the knowledge and the pain of losing your child. Robert would never allow you to keep Nicholas Malvern’s child.’
‘I believe he would kill the babe, and perhaps me. I have never known him to be so
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