Adora Read Online Free Page A

was annoyed, and as her desire for a peach became overwhelming she looked for another means of entry into the orchard, and she found it.
    Where the garden wall met the orchard wall along the street side of the convent property, there was a thick gnarled vine. Tucking up her simple lime green cotton tunic dress Theadora clambered up the vine to the top. Then, chuckling gleefully to herself, she walked carefully along the wall looking for a similar vine so she might get down into the orchard. Finding it, she descended, picked several of the plumpest fruits, and put them in her pockets. Then she climbed back up to the top of the wall.
    The wall, however, was old, and worn away in several places. Its only traffic for many years had been the cats of the city who frequently courted the privacy of the convent gardens. Flushed with her success, Theadora did not watch her footing and suddenly she found herself falling. But, to her surprise, she did not hit the ground. Instead, she fell—shrieking—into the strong arms of a laughing young man.
    The arms cradled her, gently but firmly, and seemed in no hurry to release her. Jet-black eyes looked her over thoroughly, admiringly. “Are you a thief? Or merely a naughty little nun?” he asked.
    “Neither.” She was amazed to find she still had a voice. “Please put me down, sir.”
    “Not until I learn your identity, violet eyes. You are not veiled, so you cannot be Turkish. Who are you?”
    Theadora had never been this close to a man other than her father. It was not unpleasant. The man’s chest was hard, somehow reassuring, and he smelled of sunshine.
    “Have you lost your tongue, little one?” he queried softly.
    She blushed and bit her lip in vexation. She had the uncomfortable feeling that he knew what she had been thinking. “I am a student at the convent,” she said. “Please, sir, would you help me back up onto the wall? If they find me gone, I shall be scolded.”
    Setting her down, he quickly climbed onto the wall. Leaning over, he pulled her up onto the wall. Then, leaping lightly into the convent garden, he held out his arms to her. “Jump, violet eyes.” He caught her easily and set her on her feet. “Now you won’t be scolded,” he chuckled. “What on earth made you climb the wall?”
    Feeling more secure now, she looked up at him mischievously. Reaching into a pocket of her tunic dress, Theadora drew out a peach. “I wanted one,” she said simply, biting into it. The juice ran down her chin. “The gate was locked, so I climbed the wall.”
    “Do you always get what you want?”
    “Yes, but I do not usually want very much,” she answered.
    He laughed. “My name is Murad. What’s yours?”
    “Theadora.”
    “Too formal. I shall call you Adora, for you’re a most adorable creature.”
    She blushed, then gasped in surprise as he bent and kissed her. “Oh! How dare you, sir? You must
not
do that again! I am a married woman.”
    The black eyes twinkled. “Yet, Adora, I will wager that was your first kiss.” She flushed again and tried to turn awayfrom him, but he gently caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “And,” he continued, “I will also wager that you’re wed to an old man. No young man with blood in his veins would leave you languishing in a convent. You are quite outrageously fair.”
    She raised her eyes to him, and he saw with amazement that in the sunlight they shone an amethyst color. “It is true that I have not seen my husband for several years, but you must not speak thusly to me. He is a good man. Please go now, sir. If you were caught here, it would not go well for you.”
    He made no move to leave. “Tomorrow night begins the week of the full moon. I shall wait for you in the orchard.”
    “I will certainly not come!”
    “Are you afraid of me, Adora?” he taunted.
    “No!”
    “Then prove it—and come.” Reaching out he caught her to him, kissing her slowly with a gentle, controlled passion. For the