Magic in His Kiss Read Free

clerical vows merely to escape marriage.”
    “Other women have done so.”
    Several of whom resided at Bledloe. One could tell the difference between the nuns who had taken vows because of a true calling from those who had done so for more selfish reasons.
    “I will not. My fate lies in the world, not in the cloister. Whatever that fate may be.”
    “Then perhaps you should consult your sisters. They would come if you summoned them.”
    Emma and Gwendolyn would certainly make every effort to answer a summons, but they had husbands, children, and estates to care for. Too, Gwendolyn was in no condition to travel, awaiting the birth of her third child. Emma was at Camelen with Gwen, to assist at the birth.
    And certes, at the age of ten and eight, Nicole was reluctant to burden her beloved sisters if she could manage her problems on her own.
    Truly, no problem yet existed. King Stephen hadn’t decreed whom she should marry. And certes, if her only choices were to become a nun or marry a Welsh noble, well, there was no need to consult with her sisters. She’d accept the marriage rather than take vows.
    Nicole wasn’t opposed to the idea of marriage, even an arranged one. With the right man, marriage could be wonderful and joyous. Just look at how happy her sisters were with their husbands. She worried, however, that she might not be so fortunate in King Stephen’s choice for her.
    For now, worrying over the future would do her no good, and Nicole wanted no distractions from what she saw as her immediate and more important task: caring for Mother Abbess until the bittersweet end.
    “I will consult Emma and Gwendolyn when the proper time comes,” she said, more to ease the furrows on the abbess’s brow than to quell her own misgivings. “Are you in pain? Need you a potion?”
    “These old bones ache from disuse, but the pain reminds me there is life inside me yet. Go ready for prayer. The bell will ring soon.”
    Though Nicole preferred to remain in the infirmary, brewing potions and mixing unguents, she would attend morning prayers, if only out of love for Mother Abbess.
    Nicole rose from the stool and kissed her friend and mentor’s thin-skinned forehead, wondering if she should tell the abbess of the joyous reunion with Sister Enid awaiting her on the other side of life.
    She would, she decided, but not until the very end, when the abbess had no time for questions or lectures.
    Sister Enid, Nicole was sure, would let her know when that time was upon them.
    “I will bring your morning repast after matins. Is there aught particular you would like?”
    Another shift of fingers, another bead to hold between thumb and forefinger. Another prayer offered up to some good purpose.
    “Nay. My hunger now is not for victuals. Ask the sisters to pray that I might see our Lord’s face sooner than late.”
    The abbess had thoroughly accepted, even welcomed, her impending death. Nicole might have accepted, but she wasn’t in any hurry for the event.
    Nor was it in her nature to become morose, and Mother Abbess would be aghast if Nicole slipped into despondency.
    She pulled a face of mock horror. “I will do no such thing! Our Lord will take you when He wills and not a moment before. Have pity on those of us you leave behind, dearest Abbess! We shall be like lost ships in a storm-tossed sea without you to guide us home.”
    The nun chuckled, as Nicole intended. “Oh, life will continue without me, and each of you will find your way.”
    “Rudderless, wind-deprived, becalmed ships, I tell you!”
    Mother Abbess’s hand rose, and Nicole took the hand that had gently but firmly guided a willful, brash, selfish girl into temperate, more peaceful womanhood.
    At least Nicole hoped she’d grown up. She no longer ran through the passageways or giggled at inappropriate times. She no longer made unreasonable demands in a voice that echoed against the stone walls.
    But, betimes, ’twas hard to be unselfish. Like now, when she would