An Uncertain Choice(9)

At the sight of the duke, the abbot came to an abrupt halt. He grasped his side and sucked in a deep breath. James walked out of the Great Hall and bowed to him, almost as if he’d been awaiting the abbot’s arrival.

“James,” the abbot quietly rebuked, “you should have called me sooner.”

James kept his bald head bent. “I sent a messenger as soon as I could.”

I stepped forward, acutely aware of the great breach in etiquette the abbot was making with the duke. “Father Abbot,” I said, waving my hand toward our esteemed guest, “surely you remember the Noblest Knight? The Duke of Rivenshire?”

At my words, the abbot’s face transformed into the calm, peaceful expression to which I was accustomed. He nodded at the duke. “Your Grace, how good of you to delight us with your presence after so long an absence.”

“Happy Midsummer’s Eve to you, Abbot Francis Michael.” The duke bowed in respect to the man of God. “We were just speaking of you.”

“Oh?” the abbot said, working to control his heavy breathing. Standing next to the muscular and bronzed knight, he looked like a tall, pale sapling that would snap with the slightest breeze. “I’m only sorry I wasn’t here to greet you properly when you arrived.”

“Lady Rosemarie’s sweet greeting is all I needed,” the duke replied.

The abbot tucked his hands under his long, flowing sleeves and met the knight’s probing gaze. Something seemed to pass between them that I didn’t understand.

“We were just discussing her parents’ vow,” the duke continued. “And I was telling Rosemarie about an exception to the Ancient Vow.”

“There is no exception,” the abbot said matter-of-factly without looking away from the knight. “The Ancient Vow of Hannah stipulates that Lady Rosemarie is to enter the convent on her eighteenth birthday and live her life in service to God.”

“Unless she finds true love and gets married first.”

“Nonsense,” the abbot said. “How dare you come here and fill Lady Rosemarie’s head with such false and dangerous notions —?”

“His scribes have found the text that makes such a claim,” I interrupted.

The duke held out the parchment to the abbot.

The abbot read the sheet quickly and then handed it back to the duke. His face was devoid of emotion. If the vow surprised him, he didn’t show it. “You know as well as I do that if she breaks the vow, she’ll die.”

“Not if she finds true love first.” The duke crossed his arms over his broad chest.

The abbot paused for a long moment. From the direction of the kitchen off the Great Hall came the clatter of lids and the shout of my cook, likely yelling at one of the scullion boys.

When the abbot finally spoke again, his tone was calm. “What could be more worthy than Lady Rosemarie honoring the Ancient Vow? Surely you don’t think earthly married life is more desirable than a life set apart in union and service to God himself?”

“Haven’t you puzzled, as I have, why the earl and countess never told Lady Rosemarie about the vow?” the duke asked.

“They would have eventually.”

“Perhaps. But what if they knew about the exception? What if they fully expected Rosemarie to fall in love and get married before her eighteenth year? Did you ever consider that possibility?”


I started at the duke’s explanation. Was that why my parents had been so encouraging when I’d been attracted to Lord Caldwell? Although I’d tried to bury the memories, I could still clearly picture the last hunting party, where Thomas had helped me from my horse and had lingered close to me. At the time my parents had both looked on with encouragement and not with the rebuke I’d anticipated.

Had they been hoping I’d fall in love with Thomas and marry him?

Outside, the sun had disappeared behind a cloud and the clatter in the courtyard had faded. The other knights, squires, and servants had moved to the stables. The eerie stillness reflected an unsettled silence in my soul. Only hours ago, the course of my life had been so certain and safe. But now, with the appearance of my erstwhile friend, my life had been turned upside-down. And I didn’t like it in the least.

As if sensing my inner turmoil, the duke crossed to me and tucked a finger under my chin. He lifted my face so that I was again looking into his kind eyes. “I believe if your parents had known about the exception, they would have wanted you to have the chance to find a love like theirs.”

“You could be right, your Grace,” the abbot said. “But I also know that the earl and countess took the Ancient Vow very seriously. They assured me they would love and enjoy their daughter as long as they could have her, but they ultimately knew she belonged to God.”

That indeed sounded like something my parents would have said. Perhaps they had waited to tell me about the Vow, hoping to shield me from my future a little while longer.

The duke squeezed my shoulder before taking a step back as though letting me know he understood my confusion. “I propose we give Lady Rosemarie the next month to test for herself the right course for her life.”

“Test how?” I asked.

“You’ll allow my three noble knights to court you and attempt to win your hand. And if you don’t fall in love with one of them by your eighteenth birthday, then we shall take that as a sign from God that you’re destined for the convent.”