Page 44 of Gone With the Rogue
“Thank you. I’ve been thinking on this all day and before I have it packed, I’ve decided to let each girl pick a fabric, thread, and adornment for trim to have as her own. Since it was a gift to them. That way, when they are skilled and ready to sew on their own, they can make a dress of their choosing.”
An unfamiliar feeling stole over Garrett. He had endangered his life countless times on the seas and in gaming hells all over the world, but this was the first time his heart had ever been at risk. That was startling. But he had no doubt this lady was worth any price.
“That’s a considerate gesture. You are very caring of others, Julia.”
“One of the girls at the school gave me the idea. I remembered that she said when she makes her owndresses, she’s going to put many bows on them. I want her first dress to be special.”
Garrett smiled. “It will be.”
“I hope to hear you have good news soon, Mr. Stockton. Time is running out.”
Chapter 14
Julia and Brina sat quietly in straight-backed chairs in a dark corridor of the abbey, waiting to see Sister Francine. There were the occasional sounds of voices and footsteps, but otherwise the big, cavernous building was quiet and oddly cold for a place that was known for giving out compassion and expecting nothing in return. Brina seemed calm and patient. Julia, on the other hand, was anything but.
She would cross her feet at her ankles and then thirty seconds later she would uncross them. For a time, she’d studied the braided fringe on the bottom of her velvet reticule. She’d smoothed her gloves more than once, brushed her dress often, and touched her bonnet countless times. None of her twitching seemed to bother Brina, who was, somehow, managing not to move a muscle.
The quietness was giving Julia too much time tothink. Which wasn’t a good thing. If she wasn’t doing something to keep her busy, she was thinking about Garrett and how she yearned to be with him again. Dreaming about his kisses, caresses, and how desperately she wanted to be with him again but realizing the dangers of doing so. The only thing it accomplished was creating frustration inside her.
She supposed it was bound to happen one day. That there would come a man who would awaken all her feminine senses and make her desire him beyond all others and continue to take chances to be with him. She had certainly thought on that the past couple of days. But she always came to the same conclusion: the risks were too great that the duke would find out and make good on his promise.
And there was the intolerable Mr. Pratt. She didn’t know why but he hadn’t come to give lessons yesterday or today. It had been a blessing. She prayed the duke had finally listened to her pleadings in her letters and realized the error of his decision and dismissed the man.
The door to their left opened suddenly, startling Julia from her pensive thoughts. She immediately rose, expecting it to be her and Brina’s time to go inside, but three sisters walked out and politely closed the door behind them. They all smiled at Brina and Julia as they passed, but hurried on without speaking.
“I hope they were in the meeting with Sister Francine and she will now be free to see us,” Julia said as the sisters disappeared around a corner. “We don’t want to be so late returning that your driver becomes concerned about us.”
Brina looked up at her and smiled. “My driver will not worry about us, but I’m concerned about you. Whyare you acting like you have ants crawling under your skirts? It’s so unlike you.”
“I know. I can only explain it by saying I’m quite anxious about this for you. It’s difficult to remain objective in this journey you’re on because of my misgivings about it.”
“Don’t be anxious about this. I’m not. I’m quite calm about it. I know I’ll make the right decision.”
That’s what bothered Julia. Trying to decide if you wanted to join an order should make you restless. Brina was too peaceful. However, Julia returned to her seat and had hardly crossed her ankles when the door opened again and another nun walked out and smiled at them.
“Sister Francine will see you now,” she said.
Julia and Brina followed her past one office and into an inner room where a tall, robust woman rose from the chair at her desk and laced her fingers and hands together just above her waist. She gave them a generous, friendly smile. Julia liked her immediately. The nun’s light green eyes were small but bright, with a contentment so many of the people Julia knew didn’t have, including herself. A few softened wrinkles lined her forehead and around her mouth. The fabric of her black tunic was faded and her headdress was no longer a pristine white but both were perfectly starched and pressed.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” she said. “Welcome to the Sisters of Pilwillow Crossings.”
“Thank you for agreeing to see us,” Brina said.
“Why wouldn’t I?” she asked in a jovial tone. “I’m happy you are here. As you can imagine, we don’t get many visitors here. I was delighted when Sister Helentold me someone was waiting to meet with me. Please sit down.”
They seated themselves in the two straight-backed, cushionless chairs in front of the simple desk. Brina glanced at Julia and took a deep breath before looking back to Sister Francine and saying, “I want to join the sisters here. I’m sorry, I’m a bit nervous. That is to say, I think I do. I haven’t made up my mind completely yet. There are a few hesitations I have, but I felt the only way to put them to rest and know for sure was to come and talk to you.”
The nun nodded to Julia and questioned, “Are both of you contemplating joining us?”
Julia shook her head. The way she felt when Mr. Stockton was kissing her immediately popped into her mind and she stated, “No, no, not me. I’m here only as Brina’s companion.”
“I see.” The sister’s gaze fell to Brina’s white-gloved hands lying so properly and beautifully in her lap, with the ribbons of her satin reticule wrapped perfectly around her small wrist. Her gaze then moved to her own dry, pale hands with short, work-hardened nails and deep blue veins showing beneath her aged skin. “You think you might be suited to the secluded life we live here, Mrs. Feld?”
“Yes. I believe so.”
“Would you like to tell me why?” Sister Francine asked with no condescension in her tone.
“I’ve seen what you do here. I’ve stood across the street and watched how you help people. You have good women here. Women I would be proud to join.” Brina’s chin lifted. “You are selfless in all you do and you have genuine purpose to your life. A kind and compassionate purpose. You take care of the unfortunate of our Society. You must get immense satisfaction from all you do for others.”
