Free A Mortal Glamour by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Page B

time for this ... foolishness. The sooner I have completed my commission, the better.” He made no apology for what he had said and chose to ignore the scandalized silence that his opinion inspired.
    "I'll seek Mère Léonie at once,” Seur Odile said at her most prim.
    "God reward you.” He heard movement on the other side of the grille and nodded to himself in satisfaction. “You might as well dismount,” he told his men-at-arms as he went back to them. “I fear it will take longer than I supposed. We'll be lucky if we get to Mou Courbet by nightfall."
    "Trouble?” one of the men asked.
    "Difficulties, nothing more. Get down."
    His men did as they were told, and passed the time walking their lathered horses back and forth in front of the convent in order to cool them. None of them had a change of mount at hand and knew that the beasts they rode had a distance to go before they rested.
    "Too bad there isn't a stream,” one of the soldiers said. “I could use a drink."
    "As could your horse,” Pierre added. “There is one, the other side of the orchard, as I remember. Wait for me there. These poor women probably think they're under siege with so many knights at the door.” He laughed at his own rough humor. “You. Antois. You're in charge.” He signaled his men to move, then added, “When you go through the orchard, leave the hives alone. I was told that the nun who tends them is mad."
    The men accepted this at once, dreading the attention of those who were crazed in their wits.
    As soon as the men-at-arms and their horses were away from the gate, it opened and Pierre Fornault found himself facing a tall young woman in the stark and shapeless grey habit of the Assumptionist Order. “God give you good day, Sieur le Duc."
    "And to you ... um...” He waited for the nun to introduce herself.
    "I am Mère Léonie, Superior of this convent. I bid you enter and will permit you to speak to Seur Aungelique on behalf of her father. However,” Mère Léonie added sharply as she took a step closer to Pierre, “since Seur Aungelique has transgressed most seriously, you are not to inquire anything of her but what her father requires. All other intercourse is forbidden. Do you accept this?"
    Pierre was not used to such forthright speech from a woman, but he gave it his consideration. “I will try to respect your instructions,” he answered with more caution than usual. “Will we be observed?"
    "Perhaps.” Mère Léonie stared hard at him. “Perhaps."
    * * * *
    Fasting and long vigils at night in the chapel had reduced Seur Aungelique's body to gauntness and made her strangely light-headed, so that when she first heard Pierre's voice in the hall, she thought it was another one of the pleasant dreams she had been enjoying more and more often of late. She had already begun to weave a tale about him in her thoughts when Seur Philomine tapped on the door of her cell. “What?” she called out, forgetting the proper forms for address.
    "God be with you, Seur Aungelique,” Seur Philomine said in gentle correction.
    "And with your soul,” Seur Aungelique answered, recalling herself. “What is it now, good Sister?"
    "There is a person to see you. He is in the Sisters’ chapel.” Seur Philomine waited to give Seur Aungelique escort, for Mère Léonie had given orders that Seur Aungelique was to go nowhere unaccompanied unless stripped first.
    "Very well. I am coming.” Seur Aungelique's head swam as she got from her knees to her feet, and she steadied herself against the wall before going the few steps toward the door. It was difficult for her to acknowledge the presence of Seur Philomine when the door opened, since it divided her already scattered thoughts.
    "Your guest has come far to speak with you,” Seur Philomine said pleasantly as she fell into step beside Seur Aungelique. “Mère Léonie would not ordinarily allow this opportunity."
    "Wouldn't she?” Seur Aungelique asked vaguely. “Is she afraid that I will