The Shattered Rose Page 0,106

attended by women. Perhaps this was one of Jehanne's less inspired ideas, coming out of her need to always be involved in whatever was happening.

On the other hand, Jehanne had begun to come to terms with that fault.

Aline really didn't think she would be trying to attend the hearing out of willful impulse. She had something of importance to contribute, something that couldn't be achieved by a simple message.

However, they were all prisoners, and though the convent was not a formidable prison, it was strong enough.

Aline sighed. In view of Jehanne's message, she supposed she had to try to engineer an escape.

Then a new range of problems came to mind.

Jehanne could not separate from Donata for any length of time, and escaping with a baby would be very tricky indeed. Moreover, if Jehanne wanted to attend the hearing, it would be best if she escaped not long before it. Trying to hide all night from a full hue and cry, screaming babe in arms, was enough to make anyone quail.

Aline saw why her cousin had mentioned Raoul. He was just the sort of man who might be able to arrange all this, and there was the additional benefit that he was foreign. If the king flew into a rage at their behavior, Raoul could flee back to his native land.

Alone.

Aline pushed that thought away and settled to making real plans. By the time the nuns emerged from the nones prayer, she had a strategy of sorts. It would have to wait for vespers, though, and so she sat to unpicking her message from one blanket, and stitching another in a clean one, explaining briefly what she intended.

Late in the afternoon Sister Martha came for Donate, and Aline sat, fidgeting, to wait.

The trouble with her plan was that it depended upon so many uncertainties.

The other trouble was that it terrified her.

When the nun returned with the babe, Aline clutched her belly. "I don't feel very well," she moaned. "I think I might be ill. I don't know what it is, but I'm worried about the baby. She might catch something. . . ."

"Oh, my. Oh, no!" exclaimed the nun, looking around for help. But the bell was ringing for vespers and through the open door, Aline could see the community filing toward the chapel. At least the timing was working right.

"Perhaps the infirmary . . ." Aline gasped, covering her mouth as if about to vomit.

"Yes!" exclaimed the sister. "We can't endanger the baby." She grasped Aline and dragged her out of the small room before locking the door.

Aline leaned against a wall and sent up a prayer of thanks. She sent up another prayer that the infirmarian be at vespers.

Having done her best for the safety of the baby, Sister Martha became her usual friendly self, and put an arm around Aline. "You poor thing. Come along to the infirmary. There's a privy there, and as soon as vespers are over, Sister Fredeswide will find you something to help."

Thank you, oh. Blessed Mother, Aline said silently. There was a chance she would be left alone.

The small, whitewashed room held six beds, all empty. Another cause for thanks. Perhaps God and His mother smiled on this enterprise. Aline collapsed onto one bed with a moan. Sister Martha, unfortunately, sat on another.

"Do you have a pain in your belly, Lady Aline?"

"Yes. A bad one."

"I'll get you a bowl."

But that only took the nun to a cupboard at the end of the room.

Aline took the bowl and mumbled her thanks, thinking hard. "Perhaps I can sleep," she said after awhile. "Please don't feel you need to miss vespers."

"I am excused for now to see to our guests."

Guard us, in other words. Aline thought frantically. "Don't you think you should go to where you can hear Winifred if she calls? What if Donata turns sick too?"

Sister Martha leaped to her feet. "Oh, dear! Indeed! The poor precious mite. Perhaps I should get Sister Fredeswide . . ."

Before Aline could think of an objection to that, the nun muttered, "But she has such a tongue on her, and hates to be bothered unnecessarily. . . ."

Aline waited, praying.

"I'll sit in the cloister," said Sister Martha with a nod. "I'll be able to hear you or the baby's nurse if you call." She hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure you'll be all right?"

"Yes. I'm sorry to be a trouble."

The nun patted her hand. "Don't you worry, dear. You'll soon be healthy again."

Once she was sure