Free Daughters of the Dagger 03 - Amber by Elizabeth Rose

weapons , and as he was fastening them on, he spied a trunk with a noblewoman’s gown of burgundy and gold made from some of the finest velvet, taffeta, and silk. Next to it on the top of another trunk was displayed a gold necklace with amber stones in it and a matching ring as well. He picked up the ring and studied it, thinking what a beautiful piece it was.
    “Nice, isn’t it?” the priest asked.
    “Where did you get all this?” asked Lucas. “I know it wasn’t from the peasants.”
    “I often – I mean the church often receives gifts from the nobles trying to buy their way to Heaven. For a promised prayer, they’ll give you just about anything if they think it’ll help pave the way to redemption after they die. Most people fear the devil and Hell and rightly so.”
    “So I see,” he said, picking up the necklace next.
    “Those trunks with the things you’re looking at came with our new novice, Sister Amber as part of her dowry from her father, the earl of Blackpool.”
    “I thought you were supposed to give away to the poor the things you took from the nuns and mo nks when they entered the order.”
    “Why?” he asked. “The peasants by law cannot wear the clothes of a noble, nor would they h ave a need for fine things. The goods are better off just staying here with me for the time being.”
    The priest was standing in the open doorway trying to keep it partially closed when all of a sudden it was pushed out of his hand and swung open. And there, before them stood Amber.
    “Father Armand, I am glad I caught you,” she said, “as I wanted to thank you for that light penance you gave me and tell you how generous it was of you to – ”
    She stopped in midsentence when she spied Lucas , and her gaze fell to the jewelry in his hand.
    “That’s my mother’s jewelry,” she said, pushing past Father Armand even though he was reaching out to stop her. She walked up to Lucas and looked down at the trunk. “This was my favorite gown.” She picked it up and ran her hand over the soft surface. “What are these things doing here?”
    “Sister Amber, yo u are not allowed in my chamber, now remove yourself at once,” the priest shouted.
    “Yes, this is your dowry ,” explained Lucas, “and the good Father Armand was just telling me that he did not give away your things because he wanted to make sure you’d made the right decision by entering the Order. If you decide to change your mind, he plans on returning everything in your dowry to you before you return to Blackpool.”
    “You do?” Amber looked at the priest with wide eyes. “That is so thoughtful of you, Father, thank you. As these things mean a lot to me and I must say I’ve been thinking about my mother’s jewelry lately, but only because it was my last remembrance of her and I miss her dearly.”
    Lucas didn’t miss the evil glare coming from Fathe r Armand’s eyes and just hoped Amber hadn’t noticed.
    She suddenly took a good look at her surround ings. “Why are all these things in here?” she asked. “I thought priests took the vow of poverty as well.”
    There was silence for a second and then the priest cleverly changed the subject. “What did you mean you wanted to thank me for your light penance , my dear?” he asked, feigning a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
    “Oh,” she said, focusing her attention on him. “I just never heard of any priest assigning one Hail Mary and one Our Father for penance and that’s it.”
    “Two,” Lucas corrected her, and when her head snapped around to look at him he knew he’d made a grave mistake.
    “Yes, that’s right,” she admitted, “but how did you know?”
    “I … I … Father Armand told me.”
    “What?” Her head snapped back around to look at the priest. “You told him my penance? I thought what was discussed in a confessional was private.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said the priest, and Lucas knew he had to intervene.
    “Sister