of faith get the notion to do such a thing?”
Cora felt her breath freezing in her chest.
“It’s my fault.”
Cora blinked and realized she hadn’t imagined the voice. The priests were looking past her. Cora turned her head to see Brynna nodding.
“The mistress has given me a far higher place than I ever thought to have. So when I saw her feeling so forlorn over being neglected by her husband last night…I…told her how to entice him. To wear only her smock in the rain,” Brynna said. “I grew up in a brothel.”
“Brynna…” Cora looked at her in shock.
“Orla told ye I am a bad sort, Mistress.” Brynna lowered herself. “Thank ye for being kind to me, but I can nae allow ye to suffer for my misdeeds.”
“Orla?” The older priest raised his voice.
The Head-of-House was quick to answer the summons.
“Is it true?” the priest demanded. “Is this girl from a brothel?”
“She served in one as a maid,” Orla replied. “She passed the midwife’s inspection and is still a virgin. So as a McKay, she is allowed to serve in this house. The sin was her father’s for not allowing for her mother to raise her in a better place.”
“It would seem yer sin is allowing her to tend to the mistress,” one of the younger priests accused Orla.
“Aye.” The Head-of-House sunk into a low reverence.
“A servant is not responsible for my behavior. As mistress, it falls to me to set the example,” Cora quickly spoke up. “I submit to yer judgment.” She joined Orla in deep reverence.
“This is my house,” Faolan said. “This woman is my wife. I have the blessing of the Church to have her in me bed.”
“Yet the duty of marriage is not to be soiled with lust” The older priest shook his head.
The three priests put their heads together once more. They spoke for a time as Cora felt a little trickle of perspiration.
“Ye,” the older priest pointed at Brynna, “will receive four blows from the whip for inciting the mistress to entice her husband.”
“Ye…” the priest pointed at Cora. “Will receive two blows.”
“The Head-of-House receives two as well.”
The hall was silent for a long moment.
“Forgive me,” Faolan said. “But the first man who lays a hand on me wife for courting me attention will feel the weight of me fists.”
There was a ripple of amusement in the hall. All three of the priests’ expressions tightened.
“Defy the will of the Church, and none of ye will receive the holy sacrament!”
“Bring the whip,” Cora ordered. “I will take all the blows since it is my behavior that caused concern.”
She marched down the aisle toward the large doors. She heard Faolan make a sound as his captains surround him to hold him back.
Outside, there was a raised platform built of stone. It was a place of public punishment. Cora yanked her skirts out of the way as she mounted the steps. There seemed to be a discussion over who would wield the whip. Brynna was trying to join her.
“Ye will stay there, Brynna,” Cora ordered the girl.
“But…”
“I am yer mistress,” Cora declared to one and all. “Since the Church is angry with me, I will suffer the price. Orla, ye’ll stand there, as well, and mind me.”
An older Retainer shook his head but finally climbed the steps with the whip in his hand. Cora turned and grasped the large iron ring that prisoners were often tied to. She offered her back and set her teeth.
The first blow was harsher than she imagined. The pain bit into her, penetrating to her bones. Her vision became fuzzy, so she gasped, pulling in a deep breath to keep herself from passing out. Whoever was wielding the whip was merciful, for they kept the pace quick, delivering three more blows without pausing.
“Courage, Mistress,” he muttered to her as he pulled her hands off the ring.
Cora had clenched her fingers around the ring to stay in place.
“Look them straight in the eyes,” he advised softly.
Cora enjoyed his humor. “I intend to.”
She turned and lifted her chin. Her eyes burned, but she faced the priests. There was a mutter of approval from the crowd. It didn’t please the priests, though. They put their heads together and conversed for a time.
The priest pointed at the Retainer, who had wielded the whip. “Ye were too soft. She did not yell.”
The Retainer tilted his head to one side. “Would ye care to come and have a sample so ye might make a fair judgment?”
The crowd chuckled, making