Bone of Contention Read Free Page A

she agreed to abandon her trade and her business, even if she were as faithful to her man as a nun is to Christ, no man would ever trust her. To any man, no matter what he said, she would always be a whore. It was a very good thing, indeed, that William had summoned her. She was growing too…too wifelike. She must distance herself from Bell and retain her independence. Still, to live with William…Magdalene began to think over the friends and acquaintances she still had in Oxford from the years when she had managed a whorehouse there.
    “The king’s power is now nearly absolute,” Father Etienne was saying, “although the bishop of Salisbury and his ‘nephews’ still do much of the day-to-day governing. They have done it for so long—years under the late King Henry and since King Stephen came to the throne—that they are obeyed without question by all the sheriffs and most of the local barons. This is making the king uneasy.”
    Something in the priest’s voice snapped Magdalene out of her own thoughts. She peered at Father Etienne’s face, but she could not make out his expression. The room had become too dim. She glanced toward the open windows. It was still light outside and would be for some candlemarks yet because of the long evenings of summer, but the small windows did not let in enough light at this time of day.
    “Let me bring some candles,” she said, rising and suiting the action to the words. “And surely you would like something to drink and a bite to eat?” She went to the banked fire in the hearth and lit a long sliver of wood.
    “I would be grateful for a cup of wine,” Father Etienne agreed, and smiled self-deprecatingly. “I have been running on, have I not? But Lord William is uneasy…”
    “Oh, no,” Magdalene assured him. “I am very eager to hear anything you are allowed to tell me. My usefulness increases the more I know, as I am then unlikely to say the wrong thing to the wrong person.”
    Father Etienne laughed. “I cannot imagine you saying the wrong thing to any person, but I will be glad to tell you what I know, which, unfortunately, is more guess than fact. Before I go on, though, I must not forget to ask when it would be best for me to meet your women. They should know me, I think.”
    “If you can stay until Vespers, they will all gather for the evening meal. Ella has a partner for the night, but he will come later, after dark. My women should be leading their present clients out at any moment.”
    As if her statement had sparked the reaction, a door opened in the corridor and Ella’s little girl voice said, “You do not need to go so soon. See, the sun is not yet set. If you like…”
    A man’s low rumble followed and Ella gave a lusty sigh.
    “Oh, very well.I know I must not importune you to stay when you say you must go. But we did have a good time… Well, I did! I hope I didn’t displease—” Her voice cut off sharply—perhaps the man kissed her—and was followed by a giggle. “I’m glad.”
    The sound of a smacking kiss came and then another giggle, but fading, as if Ella was moving away. In another moment another door opened and closed and returning footsteps heralded the entrance of a girl who made the priest’s eyes widen once more. She was short and beautifully rounded, high white breasts peeping above the low décolletage of a pale blue robe, which obviously covered a naked body. Her hair hung in pure golden ringlets and waves to her hips, her eyes were large and as clear blue as a cloudless summer sky…and just as empty.
    When she saw Father Etienne, she stopped short and her rosy lips made an O of consternation. She began to back away, saying, “I am so sorry, Magdalene. I didn’t know you had a client with you.”
    “No, no, love,” Magdalene said, getting up and going to the girl, whom the priest would have taken for a blushing innocent as color rose in her cheeks if he had not heard her with the man who had left by the back door. “Come