Sinfully Sexy Alphas Box Set(19)

Secondly, the Nuns here were revered for their medicinal skills and  their learning. They were entirely self sufficient and wealthier than  the average religious order. And with the location on the shore, the  grounds were remarkably beautiful.         

     



 

Isabel thanked God every day that she had found them. She'd been lost  and alone, a runaway. When she'd run away she'd dressed as a boy.  Slowly, always traveling at night, she had made her way to the Nunnery.  And they had taken her in. Of course, her generous dowry had been an  asset, but they would have taken her regardless.

Not just because she could read and write.

Because she was in need.

She knew it in her heart.

With steady fingers she lifted the parchment and set it aside. Then she  began again. The steady rhythm of the work soothed her, as did  everything about this place.

Her safe haven.

Her uncle had come after her of course. But by then she'd been protected  by rules and high strong walls. That didn't stop him from coming again.  And again. Three times that first year. Twice the second. One a year  after that. Until, finally, his threatening visits had tapered off.

It had been several years now since her uncle had shown his decidedly  unpleasant visage. Isabel had begun to truly relax. Her duties filled  her with a sense of accomplishment and calm. Though in truth, she wanted  more.

A husband and children had always been part of her vision for her  future. A future that her uncle's plans had snatched away from her at  the moment of her deepest grief. But she knew she was lucky to have this  place, even if her devotion to God was less than ardent.

This was the main reason that she had yet to take her final vows. The  Mother Superior herself kept putting it off. The woman was beyond wise,  and an astute judge of character. Isabel had a sneaking suspicion the  wiley old woman had other plans for her.

Only time would tell what those plans might be.

She sighed and dipped her quill into the ink pot. Twas nearly time to  mix some more ink. She finished the page she was working on and went  back to the storage room to gather her supplies.





Two


Geoffrey looked around the brightly lit room. It was the anteroom to the  Mother Superior's private chambers. To say that it exuded wealth would  be an understatement.

Opulent was the wrong word to use however. The only artwork was  religious in nature. The only comforts were a small fire and two chairs  that faced a writing table.

Of course.

Unlike most women, the Mother Superior could read and write. She had to. And tally numbers most likely.

That was a task even Geoffrey found cumbersome.

He frowned. He'd have to find someone then. To handle his books. Once he'd begun managing his property.

Twas too bad there weren't more learned women around. He'd marry a plain  woman if she could count sums! That was highly unlikely to happen  though. Especially in court.

All these thoughts of marriage were depressing him. Not only did he have  to escort some prim lipped virgin across the land but he'd have to find  a wife in short order as well! No man of property wanted to leave it to  chance that he'd find a proper heir before he left this earth. So the  sooner he found a woman and begat a child on her, the better.

He sighed and shifted his weight. No one had offered him wine or told  him he could sit. He wasn't sure what the etiquette was here but twas  always better to err on the side of graciousness.

In fact... if he could charm the Mother Superior... perhaps he could  convince her to give him the best nun she had! The prettiest and most  docile! That would make the ride home much more tolerable.

Aye, a fine plan it was indeed!

The door opened behind him and he turned, pinning an almost blinding  smile to his face. The Mother Superior looked momentarily taken aback,  and then immediately suspicious thereafter. Clearly, the woman was no  fool. He tempered his smile to a more sedate expression.

She took her seat behind her desk and gestured to a chair. He'd been  right not to sit, though it irked him. Then she did something that  placed her firmly back in his good graces.

She offered him wine.

He felt the foolish grin creep back onto his face as he accepted the  heavy goblet from her. He sipped and sipped again. Why, he'd never  tasted better!

"Tis very good! I thank you!"

Even to him, his voice sounded overloud. He cursed inwardly. Why did  women such as this make him so nervous? The Mother Superior merely  nodded and folded her hands.

"Now, Sir Geoffrey, what may I do for you?"

"The King has bade me bring one of your order with me to his court."

"To what purpose?"

"I know not. I assume only that he wants to learn more of your ways. May  I say how remarkable this place is? Tis a marvel of efficiency, truly."

Now at last, he was granted a sincere smile from the Mother Superior.

Best to strike now, whilst he was in her good graces.

"He did- that is the King- did mention that I should bring a fair Nun."

The Mother Superiors eyebrows shot up, nearly disappearing under her wimple.

"Fair?"         

     



 

He nodded eagerly.

"Aye, the fairest."

She leaned back and frowned, watching him closely.

"Did he say why?"

He shook his head.

"Nay he did not. But I suspect twill keep you in his favor to do so. Him  being a man and more predisposed to be in good humor when dealing with a  pretty face."

A sly look came onto the Mother Superiors face. Her fingertips tapped together as she titled her head and watched him.

"Are you married Sir Geoffrey?"

"Not as yet."

"Betrothed?"

He frowned, uncertain where this was going.

"Nay."

"And I have your word that the lady in question will be unharmed? Unmolested by your men?"

"Aye, of course. Who would molest a nun?"

"One last thing- are you a man of property Sir Geoffrey?"

He puffed his chest out and nodded.

"Indeed, the King has recently awarded me with Haverly Keep. Tis a small castle near the Southern Coast."

She seemed to decide something then and stood, slapping her hands on the table.

"Excellent. Come with me Sir Geoffrey. I think we may have just the woman for you."

He followed her through several long hallways, utterly baffled by her  sudden change in mood. The Mother Superior was smiling widely as she led  him further and further into the Nunnery.

The place was enormous and meticulously kept. Sedate looking women were  everywhere, going about their daily routines. He expected them to notice  him, as women usually did, but they kept their eyes demurely lowered.

At last the Mother Superior led him to a large airy room. High windows  on all sides allowed bright light to illuminate the scribes working  there. He was shocked to see so many learned women. They were a rarity  indeed.

She led him to a plain faced nun. He hoped this was not the woman she  had in mind. Perhaps as a nun she did not understand what he had meant  by fair...

"Where is Isabel?"

"In the back. Shall I fetch her Abbess?"

The Mother Superior nodded her head and the plain faced nun ran off to  do her bidding. She was not unlike a queen Geoffrey realized. Perhaps  the King found that to be disagreeable he thought.

And then he ceased to think at all.

An angel was walking towards him.

His eyes widened as he took in her beauteous features. Her face was  perfectly symmetrical, dominated by wide set, overlarge eyes that were  the dark green of the forest at dusk. Her pert nose was sweet, her round  cheeks high and her lips so overfull and sensual that he felt a shot of  lust go straight through him.

He forced himself to stand perfectly still as she walked forward with a  grace that belied her somber black gown and white wimple. At her temples  a wisp of golden hair had escaped its confines, curling sweetly against  her cheek. He tried to keep his composure but he could not so he tried  to look away.

Instead he noticed the faint shadow of her breasts where they pressed  against the top of her shapeless gown. They appeared to be generous and  sweetly rounded. She was the most delightfully feminine creature he'd  ever beheld. He jerked his eyes away, desperate now to regain some sort  of control over himself.

He glanced down and saw something that finally held his attention without creating a tidal wave of lust.

Her finger tips were stained blue.

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Isabel stared in fear at the Mother Superior and her guest.

A man was here.

Men were rarely seen inside these walls, other than an occasional  laborer. But this man was no laborer. Tall, broad and almost sinfully  handsome, this man was utterly virile. A force to be reckoned with.

With his strong jaw and even features, wavy bright hair and sparkling  blue eyes, he was by far the most handsome man she'd ever clapped eyes  on. Not that she'd seen many. Not for many years at least.

Perhaps that's all this was... this strange reaction she was having to his warm gaze.

And it was warm. There was no escaping that. No man had ever looked at her in quite that way.