ames hurried up the steps of his manor and quickly locked the doors as soon as he was inside. He looked around for Mina and heard her laughter and Evie’s giggles coming from the kitchen. As he rushed in, Mina turned to stare.
“You’re just in time, husband!” she exclaimed. “Look what our brilliant child has learned!”
He sighed deeply to catch his breath and forced himself to smile.
“What has my Evie learned today?” he said proudly, smiling at her rosy cheeks beaming through the white flour on her face.
“Look, Father!” Evie replied. “I chopped vegetables and learned to pluck a pheasant clean!”
He looked over at the table and saw small piles of vegetables from Mina’s garden, as well as a freshly cleaned pheasant. As he approached the table for a better look, Evie tapped him on the arm and held up a butcher knife.
“Mother taught me how to use it,” she said proudly.
“Oh! I see,” he replied and took it from her, surprised at how she brandished it so skillfully.
“Narah,” he called to the maidservant, “can you please bring Evie to change for dinner?”
“Yes, Lord Fenwick,” Narah replied and took Evie’s hand with a gentle smile.
“But Father, I wanted to show you all I’d made while you were away,” Evie whined.
“Be good, Evie, and dress for dinner,” he replied sternly. “You can tell me all about it when you return.”
“All right,” she muttered with an exaggerated pout.
Mina stared at James for his almost abrasive tone he’d never used on either of them. As soon as Evie had left the room, he turned to Mina and pulled her with him to sit at the small meal preparation table.
“James?” she said in worry. “What’s happened? You’ve been away since early morning, and it’s already past dinner time. Richard told Narah you had instructed him to meet you at the fence for maintenance on the stone wall, but you never arrived.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Mina darling,” he said regretfully. “There was an incident in the countryside that involved the Church.”
“The Church?” she wondered.
“Yes, dear,” he replied. “Do you remember the woman and her two sons Father O’Brien was seeing to?”
“Before he passed on in that tragic accident?” she answered. “Yes, I believe so.”
“One of the boys killed his father,” he told her to her dismay. “He was an abusive man, if you recall, and it was all the boy could to do to protect her and his younger brother. The woman took the blame, and the Church wanted her and the boy condemned for colluding with demons.”
“Oh, no!” Mina exclaimed, her hands cupped over her mouth in fear.
“Not to worry,” he eased her mind with a pat to her knee. “The townsfolk came to their senses and I and the constables were able to stop the new priest’s intentions. I intend to alert the Vatican about his handling of the common people, and that’s why I must have you do something for me.”
“Anything, James,” she agreed and held his hand in hers.
“That priest, Father Michael, is set on seeing anyone who doesn’t respect him condemned for heresy and witchcraft,” he said. “He wasn’t happy when the men and I stopped his unlawful abuse of the people. He went into a rage and cursed us all.”
“Oh, James! Are you hurt?” she asked as she looked him over.
“No, Mina dear, I’m safe and sound,” he smiled as he squeezed her hands. “I’m worried what will come of this, though. The country people are set in their ways and raised on superstition. They regretted that their actions almost hurt an innocent woman, but how long will that guilt last? I don’t believe they will give such courtesy to strangers who come through.
This new priest seemed confident in his words and deeds, so I’m left to assume he was working on the orders of the Vatican, itself.”
“What are you saying, James?” she wanted him to clarify.
She sat straighter in her chair, prepared to hear the worst.
“Mina darling, you should know Aldis was one of the judges who sent Father Michael to do as he saw fit with the woman,” he informed her. “He’s trying to gain favor with the Church. He won’t be happy that I’ve undermined his authority. Neither will my father. The Church won’t be pleased that I’ve contradicted their decree of demonic possessions being prevalent among the rural provinces.
From now on, I want you and Evie to use your maiden name: Sorensen.”
“James, I’m your wife,” she said determinedly. “I’ll not dishonor my husband’s name by using another as though our marriage means nothing. Evie is your daughter. She’ll not forsake her father by refusing his name.”
He sighed and brought her hands up to his lips. He kissed the backs of her fingers and smiled at her.
“Mina, my dear sweet wife, you’ll not be doing either,” he assured her. “You will both still have my name. When in public, however, I ask that you greet those you don’t know with your maiden name.
It’s a precaution. I don’t know if anything more will come of this, but you know Aldis and my father are never to be trusted. With the Vatican behind them now, they’re even more dangerous. Beyond even that, if his majesty becomes involved in our family’s squabbles since it involves the Church, we will most certainly be in danger.”
He sighed and pulled her close to hold her.
“My dear, I am truly sorry,” he said softly against her light blonde hair. “I simply could not stand idly by while that innocent woman was burned to death for protecting her family. I didn’t have time to think of what it could mean for my family. I am truly sorry.”
Mina held onto James and patted his back. “You’ve nothing to apologize for, dear husband. I fell in love with you for just such moral character. Evie and I will be all right. You’ll see. Neither the king nor the Vatican will care about such a small event in their wider kingdom full of wars and feuding royals.”
She pulled away and smiled as he blinked back tears of worry. He lightly kissed the bridge of her nose and brushed a flour-covered tendril of hair from her face.
“I can always depend upon you to calm my worries,” he smiled.
He was about to say more when they heard Evie running down the hallway toward the kitchen.
“Let us put Evie to be early tonight,” he whispered against her temple, and she giggled before pulling away to set the table.
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