The Innocent

he had done so last night to her surprise, though she thought it coincidence, peaking exactly as she did. Immediately, however, he arose from her, pulling her skirts down and offering her a hand to arise.

'Tell your wench not to flirt with my men. Not even to look them in the eye, for they are a randy bunch. If she obeys you, she will be safe from my men. The only man in the castle she may trust unwaveringly is old Harry, the steward. Remember that, my pretty bitch.'

'What of the three who were with you last night, my lord?'

'They will never make eye contact with you, Isleen. They know if they do they will be killed. They spent a night in paradise. Now they must forget that paradise ever existed. Did any of them please you? Was there one who stood out among the trio?'

'Only you please me, my lord,' Isleen murmured softly.

'Especially when I strapped you, and took your bottom,' he said with a wicked smile.

'Yes,' she admitted. 'It was exciting. Will you do it again?'

'When it pleases me, Isleen. You must learn to give pleasure to a man in as many ways as you can. And you must be completely obedient to your lord’s wishes, but I think you already are dutiful in matters of the flesh. Are you not?'

'Aye,' she said.

'Raise your skirts up again,' he said.

She obeyed.

'Bend over,' he commanded, and again she obeyed. Taking her beneath his arm, he spanked her bottom several hard, stinging blows. Then his fingers delved between her nether lips, and he smiled a wicked smile. 'You are very dutiful,' he murmured as his wet fingers came about and pushed into her fundament.

Isleen squealed, and wiggled her bottom lustfully. 'Oh, yes!'

'I have always told myself there is no such thing as a perfect woman, my pretty bitch,' Merin ap Owen said as the two fingers thrust back and forth within her narrow channel, 'but I think you may actually be perfect, Isleen.'

Her body shuddered with its new release, and she sagged against him, panting. 'Ohhh, that was good, my lord, but tonight I want your hard cock there!' He was a wonderful lover, she thought. Much better than her cousin, Saer de Bude. Still, she would not give up her plans for revenge against Eleanore de Montfort. She would enslave Merin ap Owen with her body. Perhaps he would even fall in love with her. And then she would cajole him into attacking Ashlin, into destroying everything that the little nun and her knightly husband had built up. She knew of Ashlin’s prosperity. Her father had pointed it out enough to her.

'Ranulf de Glandeville has managed to make Ashlin thrive. If you had concerned yourself with helping Richard instead of lusting after your cousin, things might have been different,' Baron Hugh had grumbled. 'Why they actually made a profit on their wool at the Lammas Fair. But no! You could not be bothered to be a good wife. To give your husband children. Perhaps you are barren like Saer says, you useless bitch! Now you have brought shame upon the family, so much so, that the king has ordered you punished. Well, I've finally found a convent that will take you in York. They understand the situation. You will be locked in a chastity belt, you wretched bitch, and you will work and pray without ceasing for the rest of your life! They have brown woolen robes they wear year-round. Without chemises, Isleen, in order that the itching of the wool mortify the wickedness of the flesh. You will be fed but once a day, at noon. The food is simple and wholesome. There is no wine, and little meat or cheese. And once I have left you there, my daughter, I hope never to see you again!

'But you promised I should only be incarcerated until King Stephen died,' Isleen wailed.

'I have changed my mind,' Baron Hugh said.

Isleen had escaped from her father’s house that night. He probably thought her dead by now, but she was not dead. She was alive, and she intended on having her revenge, even if she had to give up her immortal soul to obtain her victory.

PART III

THE WIFE

ENGLAND 1154

Chapter 11

The winter passed quietly. There was more than enough food for the people of Ashlin and for their livestock. April flew by, and May first came again. On this birthday Elf was great with her child, and every little thing seemed to aggravate her. No one, even Ranulf, dared to forbid her when she decided to travel to St. Frideswide’s one mid-May afternoon.

'Do you think it wise?' the lord of Ashlin ventured in his only attempt to stop her.

Elf glared at him. 'I have been cooped up here all winter, my lord. I have no one to talk to but Willa and old Ida, who fills my ears with dire predictions with every breath I draw. I will take Orva and Willa with me in case of any emergency, but there will be no emergency. I want to see my friends again!'

'The cart must be well padded,' he insisted.

'Whatever will relieve your mind, my lord,' she snapped.

'And you will have an escort of armed men, petite.'

'Naturally.'

'I am not happy that you go.'

'It is unfortunate that my desire to see friends disturbs you so, my lord,' she replied in acid tones.

Willa touched the lord’s arm gently and said, 'Orva says a woman near her time can become cranky, my lord. The lady means no disrespect, I am certain.'

'You will remember me to the abbess, petite,' Ranulf said to his wife. 'And to Sisters Winifred and Columba, too.' He grinned at her.

'Of course,' Elf said shortly.

The cart that Elf traveled in was well padded in thick wool upholstered with blue silk. It had a red-and-blue-striped silk awning over it with side curtains that would roll down in the event of a heavy rainstorm. The awning was waxed to prevent the rain’s penetration. Elf was most comfortable sitting with her legs up now. Orva and Willa rode next to the cart, which was surrounded by half-a-dozen men-at-arms. They departed Ashlin in the morning, arriving at the convent in late afternoon. The men-at-arms left them at St. Frideswide’s gate, returning home. A nun hurried forth to lead the cart horse into the cloister, its driver having departed in the company of the men-at-arms.

The cart came to a stop, its back gate was lowered, and Elf was helped down by her two women.

'Elf!' Sister Columba came running toward her friend, her dark robes