Read Parthena's Promise for Free Online Page B

Thena had no idea what the rules of prison were, but they would be harsh and she would have no things of her own, for her crime was not because of debt, but a true crime of theft. She had stolen money – and a lot of it. Society would have most likely thought more of her if she had used her body to earn it, no doubt; a tear ran down her cheek, silently falling as he answered her question.
    “Miss Munro, you will come back with me to my room. There you will explain what possessed a woman trained or qualified in life enough to be a governess to steal from someone who had offered her help. For now, say nothing. The wench in the inn will presume you are my woman and I do not care if she does. You have cost me enough. You will accompany me to my room and there you will answer all my questions. If you choose not to then I will not ask again. I will take you to York myself and lay a formal charge.”
    She turned her face to look down at him. “Would you do that to me after… knowing that I was a governess?” she said quietly.
    “Miss, even murderers can be gentlemen, vicars and politicians, they still have to answer for their crimes. You stole – you broke the law and you had no right to call it a loan when we had no agreement. Now be quiet and be grateful that you have the opportunity to come with me.” He swung up into the saddle behind her and she felt his body’s warmth close to her. He wrapped one arm around her waist. She held on tightly to her bag as the animal moved forward. Using one hand she clung to it for she found it a steadier option to hold his arm with the other. Propriety had left when she had fallen foul of the law, now she had to survive and stay out of prison. Then a thought crossed her mind: if he was a barrister and he knew the law, he should be interested in seeking justice. He could possibly help her. Had she not been wronged by her cousin? Had he not sent her on a wild goose chase and no doubt he had hoped she would never return or recover from the shame of it? A flicker of hope lit in her heart, but it was a very small one that could so easily be extinguished, but at least it was there. Mr Fender might take pity on her circumstance and seek out her cousin. The bully would not stand up to a man like Fender, of that she was sure.
    They did not go far before he rode into the stabling area of an inn. The woman serving did not look surprised when he came back in with her.
    “Found her? Ah good! Would she want food and a tub too?” she asked.
    “No, I’m fine,” Thena said quickly. “I’ve eaten, thank you.”
    “Yes, she does,” he said completely ignoring her words.
    The woman smiled, baring her ugly teeth and Thena wished she could turn around and just walk out. But she could hardly run to the abbey again. She had rebuffed the mother superior’s offer for her to stay so she had made her bed – seemingly – and now she might literally have to lie in it. The thought made her shiver as she looked up at the tall frame of Mr Jerome Fender. Would he expect her to lay with him?
    He had muttered something to her, but lost in her own thoughts she had quite frozen in time, so many emotions were running through her. Not repeating his words he just cupped her elbow and pushed her firmly in front of him so that she had to go up the wooden stairs first.
    The room was sparse, but there was a warm fire and the tub was being filled by a boy and a girl who were running up and down the stairs with pails of warmed water. “Won’t take long, miss,” the girl said, as she waited at the top for them to stand on the landing as the stairs were so narrow that no one could pass. “We always have water on the fire for the laundry. Sally does it in the tub house out back,” she said, before running back down.

 
     
    Chapter 6
     
    They stood in silence, waiting for the last two pails of hot water to be poured into the tub. A rough piece of soap was placed on a tray on the floorboards and a cloth for her to dry