‘Hmm,’ she mused. ‘Think I’ll have one myself.’ Deliberately closing her mind to the filthy skirt and the finger that the nun had used to stir, Helewise sipped her drink. It tasted surprisingly good; there was the distinct sweetness of honey. ‘Now,’ the nun said, settling beside Helewise, ‘you’re here about Alba.’ ‘How did you know?’ The woman smiled faintly. ‘We have our share of troubles here at Sedgebeck. Most of them – loneliness, not enough to eat, mist, damp, ague – we can cope with. Alba, however, was beyond our skills.’ She sighed. Desperately curious to hear more, nevertheless Helewise remembered her manners. ‘Are you – forgive my asking, but are you the superior here? Only. . . .’ ‘Only you should not speak of such private matters other than to another superior. Quite right, Abbess . . . ?’ ‘Helewise.’ ‘Abbess Helewise. Yes, I am the superior. I am Abbess Madelina.’ ‘And you are sure that our talking will not disturb your sleeping sisters?’ Abbess Madelina gave a quiet laugh.
What do You think about The Chatter Of The Maidens?
