The Daring Escape (Runaway Regency Brides Book 2) by Regina Darcy

Author:Regina Darcy [Darcy, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Clean and Wholesome Romance
Published: 2019-07-12T23:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

Unknown to Michael, the news of the runaway bride had already travelled from London to the convent. The Abbess, was, despite the cloister, well aware of the topics of interest in the village outside the walls of Cannington Court. The nuns lived apart from the community, but it would have been incorrect to say that they were isolated from its doings. They tended to the sick, helped in childbirth, provided comfort and care to the aged and the distressed.

So it was that one of the nuns informed the Abbess that strangers had been seen in the county who were believed to be in the service of the Duke of Ivanhoe.

The Abbess received the news with equanimity. She seldom exposed her emotions to the sisters. But after prayer, and meditation on the matter, she decided to summon Lady Honora to her office.

With some trepidation, Honora made her way to the Abbess. She had adopted the behaviour of the nuns, walking with her head down so that she would not intrude upon the contemplation of the sisters. Her hands were clasped in front of her as she walked. To an unknowing eye, she would have seemed no different from any of the young women who had entered the convent because they had a vocation.

But as the Abbess surveyed Honora, she could see the signs of a disquiet spirit. For Lady Honora, a life of seclusion was not one that she sought, even though she was in hiding. It was unfortunate, the Abbess thought, that young women were at the mercy of their families, who seldom seemed to consider the wishes of their daughters. It was far better to be removed from the community and subject only to God, the Abbess thought.

“My dear,” she said warmly. “It seems that London has a far reach. Our village has detected the presence of men in service of the Duke of Ivanhoe who is searching for you. I will warn the sisters that there are strangers about intent upon misdeeds. But I am not sure that I can protect you for much longer by offering you sanctuary among our sisterhood.”

Honora drew a deep breath. “I understand, Mother Clothilda. It is not my wish to endanger others.”

“Pray upon the matter tonight, child. God will give you guidance.”

Honora attended evening prayers with the others, but she knew that while their pious thoughts were focused upon God, hers were concentrated upon her fear of the Duke of Ivanhoe, her dread of what her parents might be enduring, and her awareness that, knowing now that she loved the Marquess, she could not submit to the intimacy of Ivanhoe.

When prayers ended and the sisters returned to their solitary cells, Honora remained in the chapel. The Abbess saw her and nodded approvingly, leaving her to, what Mother Clothilda assumed were, holy ponderings. In fact, Honora was trying to summon her courage to do what she knew she must do. She must return home and submit to the will of her parents and her marriage to the Duke.

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