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“’Tis unkind of her to treat others as she does.”
Guy had met her only once, but it was enough for him to take her measure. He was about to ask again if his nun had something to tell him when she suddenly stopped laughing. Her laughing eyes had been replaced by such a fierce expression of determination, he was momentarily taken aback.
“Take me with you.”
Surely she did not just say that.
It was his turn to laugh.
“This place must be affecting me more than I feared. It sounded as if you said—”
“I’ve no wish to be here and want you to take me with you.”
“You’ve no wish . . .” This conversation was not progressing as he’d expected. “Sister?” He didn’t even know her name.
“Sabine.”
“Sister Sabine. I cannot simply abscond from Holybourne with one of its nuns.”
“You can and you will.”
She was serious.
The woman really wanted him to take her away from the abbey. He had so many questions, but none mattered. Such a thing was not possible.
“You cannot come with me. Aside from the fact that it is simply not done, even if I wanted to take you,” he stammered, “I could not do so.”
“Because of your mission?”
His eyes narrowed.
“I know of your plot. And of Bishop Salerno’s role in it. And because I heard every word spoken in here, you will take me with you.”
Gone was the mild-mannered nun he’d passed in the corridor. She looked at him with eyes blazing with conviction.
“You think to . . . blackmail me?”
“Call it what you will.”
“Then I’ll call it as I see it. And I will not be blackmailed. By a nun.”
She appeared too unconcerned by his statement for his comfort.
He would play along.
“Why, pray tell, do you wish to leave Holybourne? And why do you wish to do so with me?”
She frowned as if the question were too bothersome to contemplate.
“I stay here against my will. The fact that I need you, or anyone, to escape is more vexing to me than you know, sir. But I do, and I’ll continue to need protection once I leave. For a time. I am the ward of Lord Burge, who installed me here for coin. The abbess, of course, will retrieve the money from him should my escape attempt prove fruitful.”
By God’s own nails, this woman was actually requesting his assistance for her escape.
“And how, if I may be so bold to ask, am I to offer such protection? If our escape attempt were successful?”
Guy wasn’t even sure why he asked such a question. Because it would not be happening.
She lifted her chin, giving him the distinct impression he wouldn’t like what she had to say next.
