Page 87 of Castle of Refuge

Please excuse my forwardness in writing to you, but it has come to my attention that your sister, Maris, who was lately a resident here at the abbey, has been causing trouble of a serious nature. If she can be found, I have a proposition.

I am the new abbess here, and it has been related to me by Sister Delores, one of our most respected servants of the Lord Jesus, that she had enjoyed some success with helping Maris while she was here. It seems Maris enjoyed gardening and this sort of work was helping Maris to find peace. But the abbess did not understand the kind of calming influence this work had on her, and there was another resident who tormented Maris and said incendiary things to her. Sister Delores believes that the lack of freedom from the abbess, along with the taunting from this other resident, was what caused Maris to become unhappy here.

And now I come to the purpose of my letter. The abbess and this resident, who was unhelpful in Maris’s progress, are no longer here at the abbey and will not be returning. If Maris is found, Sister Delores would like to be put in charge of her care and will make sure she is allowed to spend as much time as she wishes in the garden. Sister Delores, who has an interest in helping troubled young women, will attempt to help her make peace with the past that has created such chaos in her thoughts and actions.

Thank you for considering this as an alternative to having Maris locked away when she is captured. And I do pray that she is found soon, for the safety of all.

May God grant His grace and peace to you and all who are with you.

God’s humble servant,

Abbess Agnes

“This would be ideal, if it would work.” Audrey glanced up at Edwin.

“But your sister is not to be trusted.” Edwin’s brows drew together. “She wants to kill you. Growing cabbages and turnips will not change her.”

“But what if she becomes gentler at the news that the people who did not treat her well are no longer living at the abbey? And that she will be allowed to stay with this Sister Delores?”

“I don’t know, darling. It seems quite farfetched to me. Besides, first we must find her.”

“But if it is possible, if Maris seems agreeable to it?”

“Possibly. I don’t know. Possibly.”

At least it was a reason to hope that things could be better for everyone.

Twenty-Two

“Helena!”

Audrey ran to her friend and embraced her. “It is so good to see you. Are you well? Are you exhausted from your trip?”

Now it seemed everyone she and Edwin loved was safe from Maris.

Helena smiled. “I am well. But what is this about Maris threatening to harm me?”

Audrey took her inside and explained what Maris had done and said the last few weeks. Helena was aghast. But the joy of her wedding to Edwin, and Helena’s awe of him, quickly overshadowed any sad tidings.

More guests had arrived the day before. Her father sent word that he would not make it to the ball but hoped to be at the wedding, as he was following the lead of a possible sighting of Maris. All of Edwin’s brothers and his sister, Delia, and her husband, the Duke of Strachleigh, had arrived and been installedin rooms. She hadn’t thought it possible to fill up all the bedrooms in Dericott Castle, but they had accomplished it. Helena would have to sleep in Audrey’s room.

Audrey let Helena rest while she went to teach her students. Even though the castle was so full, she had not told the children to stop coming for their lessons. So at the regular time, she greeted them in their classroom.

She had been so nervous meeting Edwin’s siblings, it was good to see the children’s loving, familiar faces. Not that Edwin’s family wasn’t kind and gracious to her—they were. But she had been so afraid of saying or doing something wrong and she had needed a respite.

The children were a little distracted, however, and the lesson did not go as well as usual. They could hear the hustling and bustling about and knew the engagement ball was taking place the next day, with the wedding the day after that.

“Are we having lessons tomorrow?” Clarice asked, and all the children turned their faces toward her.

“Tomorrow will be a busy day, and the day after that, so we will not be having lessons. In fact, because I am getting married, we will not have lessons for two weeks. Lessons will resume two weeks from tomorrow. Please tell your parents. Two weeks from tomorrow.”

The children looked a little sad at the postponement of lessons but giggled happily when she said she was getting married.

“Aren’t you excited to be marrying Lord Dericott?” Dorcas asked.

“Are you nervous?” asked the oldest girl, Rebecca.

“I am excited and a bit nervous about the wedding, but not about getting married to Lord Dericott.” She made an effort not to let herself blush. “He is a good man, and I am happy. But if you ever have doubts that the man you are marrying is not a good man, then promise me you will not marry him.”