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You will take care of Sister Bertha?
I do not need you to tell me my duty. Sister Anne's eyes narrowed to jealous slits.
I am glad you are going. You do not belong in this place.
Why do you say that?
I know you for the wicked creature you are. The nun took a step closer. I have
heard your blasphemy and seen your unholy rituals. You have the evil eye. Your
powers come not from God, but from the horned beast himself. Sister Anne crossed
herself swiftly. I know you saved Sister Bertha's life, but you have endangered her
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immortal soul. If you had not bewitched her, she would rather have gone to her grave
than submit to your foul arts.
That is a lie! Isolde cried. She felt an iciness at the nape of her neck and shivered. I
have no rituals, no special healing power.
I have seen and heard you, the nun said. You have powerful friends to support
you, but one day, they will desert you and then you shall be revealed in all your foul
wickedness!
You have the foul mind, not I, Isolde said, her head going up proudly. It is not me
who will answer for my sins at the day of judgement, but you. You will surely burn in
Hell for your wicked thoughts.
She turned and walked away, leaving the nun to stare after her.
Witch... Witch!
Isolde did not hear, nor would she have paid attention or looked back if she had. Her
mind was looking forward to the future and to life itself.
42
Trial by Fire
Chapter Five
Ally, Christmas 1998
It's freezing out, Paul said as she greeted him on Christmas morning. It looked as if
it was going to snow again, and then I should never have got here. He kissed his sister's
cheek, noticing the new perfume, which was rather intoxicating. Hmm, I approve of
the perfume, what is it?
Oh, just something I bought the other day, Ally said. I rather liked it.
So do I, Paul said. It's sensual and you look wonderful, Ally, much better than
you did a few weeks ago.
Thanks, Paul, Ally hugged his arm. Maybe it's being here in the cottage. I really
like it, except for the whispers, that is. They can be a bit scary sometimes.
Whispers? Paul arched his brows at her. Are you saying someone has been
annoying you or that the place is haunted?
I think it's haunted, Ally said with a self-conscious grin. Brian says all this area
belonged to the monastery once.
Yes, of course. I knew that but surely you don't think the cottage is haunted?
Ally laughed and shook her head, her hair spraying about her face, sending out wafts
of her delicious new perfume. Paul noticed there was a new huskiness in her laughter, a
glow about her that hadn't been there before. He certainly hadn't noticed it, and it made
him feel a little odd. He was seeing her as a desirable woman and not his sister. He
pulled his thoughts up sharply. What the hell was he thinking!
No, not really I expect it s this book I'm writing. Not the thriller I came down here
to write. I've done a few chapters of that, but for the moment, I've had to put it on hold
this other damn thing won't let me be. I'm getting up at all hours to write it.
Sounds as though it might be good, Paul said. Am I allowed to read it?
Not yet, you know I hate that. My books aren't fit to be read until I'm finished with
them. I've no real idea of what I'm doing as it's set in the fourteenth century.
Good grief! Do you know anything about the period?
That's the odd thing, Ally replied. I wasn't aware I knew anything, but it seems to
be flowing. I thought I might be making it up as I went along, but I checked some stuff
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Anne Ireland
at the library and so far, I seem to be getting it right.
Well, I suppose the important thing is that you're writing, Paul said. You couldn't
for a long while, could you?
No, that's the surprising thing, Ally said. The ideas seemed to come the moment I
got here but let's leave this for now. I want to give you your present, then I'll go and see
how dinner is coming on.
Paul followed her into the sitting room. A huge fire was burning in the grate and
there was a warm, comforting atmosphere. He glanced at the Christmas tree, thinking
how attractive it was and that it reminded him of his childhood, when life had been so
much better somehow.
Sherry or a glass of wine? Ally asked. She took the parcels she had left beneath the
tree and gave them to him. Happy Christmas, Paul. I hope you will like your present.
Paul kissed her cheek. Her skin was soft and the perfume really was sensational. It
made him feel extremely odd. He handed her the gifts he d bought for her, half-wishing
he'd gone for something more glamorous. Chocolates, a book, and a mobile phone had
seemed like a good idea at the time. But now he wished he'd selected something more
personal. A silk blouse or underwear. No, not that! Good grief! He had better put a
check on his thoughts; she was his sister, not a potential lover.
Ally tore the wrappings from her gifts, exclaiming in delight.
You always know exactly what I like, she said. Thank you, Paul. I've been
meaning to get this book and a mobile is exactly what I need. I could have done with it
the other night when my car skidded off the road.
It's the very latest& Paul broke off as he saw what Ally had bought for him. My
God, Ally! This is fantastic. Where did you find it?
Oh at a shop in Cambridge, she said carelessly. Do you like it?
It's wonderful. Is it very old? It looks as though it must be.
The dealer didn't seem to know much about it, Ally said. It was in a dreadful
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