Wages of Sin Read Online Free Page B

what she might have let herself in for.
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Chapter Four
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    Sunlight was already glinting through the narrow leaded window of her chamber when she woke, dull and heavy-headed. She had spent the night tossing and turning, her mind racing like a rat in a trap as she tried to see a way out of her difficulties. She had finally fallen into a thick sleep when the sky was turning from black to grey and the birds were beginning their dawn chorus. Even then she had been troubled by evil dreams where she pursued Ralph down endless woodland trails, never managing to reach him - while in the distance she heard hoof beats behind her, getting closer and closer no matter how hard she ran.
    She shook herself and swung her legs out of bed, biting her lip at the pain in her buttocks from her stepfather’s beating. Despite her aching muscles, her usual early-morning ride would blow the cobwebs away and let her think more clearly.
    The water in her ewer was cold but she welcomed its icy sting against her warm skin. Washing herself quickly, she slipped into her ancient green riding-dress, tiptoed towards the door and turned the handle.
    It refused to open. She pulled harder, a flicker of fear gripping her insides. It was locked! Taking a deep breath to control her rising panic, she beat upon it with the flat of her hand. ‘Alice!’ she called. ‘Alice! Open this door immediately. I command you!’
    She stopped to listen and heard the shuffle of Alice’s feet as she hurried along the corridor. ‘Open this door!’ she ordered again, forcing her voice to sound confident and imperious. ‘Or I shall have you beaten.’
    There was a faint moan; Jane could imagine Alice standing on the other side of the door, wringing her hands in dismay. She softened her voice. ‘Please, Alice,’ she wheedled. ‘Unlock the door.’
    â€˜I daren’t, my lady,’ whimpered Alice. ‘It’s more than my life’s worth. Your father has ordered that you be confined to your chamber until the midwife arrives.’
    Jane paused in bewilderment. Midwife? Why should he need a midwife? She was not with child. The colour drained from her face as realisation dawned. He was going to have her examined to find out if she had been lying. She groaned in dismay. He had been outraged at the very thought that her maidenhead was gone. What would he be like when he found out the truth? With leaden feet she retraced her steps and curled up in a small ball on her bed, wrapping her arms round herself for comfort.
    How long she lay there for, she didn’t know. The only sign of time passing was the sunlight creeping slowly across her chamber floor. Finally she heard the clatter of hooves in the courtyard and got stiffly to her feet.
    From her window she could see the woman descending from her donkey. She removed a leather script from the pommel before the animal was led away. Her mother stood, wringing her hands in the background, while her stepfather, gesticulating fiercely, his face purple with anger and embarrassment, was obviously explaining the reason why she had been called. The woman nodded and the unlikely procession began to make its way towards the house.
    Jane fled to the safety of her bed again, pulling the covers up to her chin.
    All too soon she heard footsteps in the passage and the sound of the key being fumbled in the lock. The door swung open and the woman was ushered in.
    Jane stared at her with frightened eyes. She was tall and her plain but well-made garments showed how successful she was in her profession. Rings - no doubt the gifts of her more well-born clients - glinted on her fingers as advertisement of her talents. When many women failed to survive childbirth, a good midwife could mean the difference between life and death. Jane suppressed a bitter smile. No mumbling, toothless old granny for her. Her stepfather had spared no expense to check on her maidenhead.
    â€˜There she