How to Train Your Knight: A Medieval Romance Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

empty. They’d need new flowers from the meadow soon, or they’d go to seed and the season would be missed. Their vat should be bubbling and boiling away constantly to have colored wool ready for the fair.
    Her feet dragged her toward the abbey. What good could it do to put off the inevitable? She knocked on the door, lowered her eyes, and bowed her head.
    Brother James, the elder, rose from his knees and took her hands in his. “I’ve been waiting for you. What happened to your face, child?”
    Her confessor motioned her outside and into the light. Holding her chin, he wiggled her jaw back and forth. A fierce frown made him appear more warrior than priest. “Did Blackwell do this to you?”
    She shook her head, no.
    “Come in and be seated. Tell me all.” He led her into the small church, where she sat on a thick wooden pew and gave him the story, almost fully truthful. Mayhap not the bit about taking her knife to that rude Thomas. Or all the cursing. Or the spitting.
    “Ann, Ann, Ann,” he lamented. “I believe even the angels in the heavens above cringed this morning at your temper.”
    “Do you think God will demand vengeance? He was quite ornery in the old testament.” She glanced up at God’s wrathful face frowning down from a mural. He did not look pleased what-so-ever.
    Brother James laughed. “Kneel and say your contrition. All will be forgiven.”
    “Bless me father, for I have sinned.” She closed her eyes and went on to give a full list of curses and blasphemies, along with other white sins, then finished with, “and vow to sin no more. Amen.”
    Sighing heavily, he rolled his eyes to heaven and doled out a vast penance. Before she had a chance to complain, he said, “Beware of Blackwell. The bards sing of his ruthlessness in the Holy Lands. The king, too, has fondness for the man. It would be best to make peace. Join with him in normal relations as man and wife.”
    She swallowed the lump in her throat. “All is lost, then.”
    “God’s ways are most mysterious.” As he’d done since she was a small child, he patted her hand, but this time she found no solace.
    “Do you suppose I could have the marriage annulled?”
    He shook his tonsured head. “A second son like Blackwell craves land and title.”
    “But what am I to do? I won’t survive another marriage.” Grabbing her confessor’s simple brown sleeve, she choked back a sob.
    His rough robe met her cheek when he took her into a hug. “Not all marriages are like your first one. Give the joining a chance. The knight may surprise you. I’ll speak to him on your behalf and I’ll pray to God.”
    She tossed her head side to side vehemently and her hair escaped the cap. “But God hasn’t been on my side recently. I think He tires of my cursing. My un-ladylike behavior. Oh, I believe He hath finally washed His hands of me fully.”
    Brother John rose and walked behind the altar. “There, there, don’t be silly. Finish your penance. I’ll have something new to show you when you’re done.”
    “Did the mechanism book arrive?” Her heavy heart was put aside.
    “Aye, dear. It did. After your prayers. Would you like me to have it brought to your chambers?” Reappearing, he held a treasure of bound parchment.
    “Umm, no. I’ll take it with me. It’s not well known amongst The Beast’s men that I’m out of my chamber.” She squirmed under his stern stare.
    “About the manly attire . . .”
    “Yes?” She batted her eyelashes and feigned innocence. It hadn’t actually worked for years, but the look was all she had as defense against his keen insight.
    “You forgot to list that amongst your many sins today. Say twenty Our-Fathers for that alone.” He sighed mightily and brushed the book dust from the front of his robe.
    “Yes, Brother.” Her folded hands hid her smirk. Mayhap she’d just join these prayers to tomorrow’s batch and get both done at once. God would applaud her efficiency.
    After she’d finished her