A Mother's Love

by Marian Unn

  Chapter 10

  I was not allowed to leave the castle.

  Someone had seen Mrs. Reylina and me speaking. Thankfully, they did not know her, but of course they knew me. They spread some story about me, which I never really heard about, because as soon as someone would begin to tell me, my son would glare so intensely at them they dared not speak any further. All I know about the matter was that I was made out to be doing something improper of my place, which caused my son to scold me. He surprisingly kept his temper in check when reprimanding me, though his eyes did blaze.

  Weeks went by, and then months. The restrictions on where I could go and when I could go there increased more and more. It must have been due to the rumors. At the end of the second month, I could not go to town for any reason, not disguised nor otherwise, which meant I was incapable of attending mass. And so not only was my body trapped in the castle, but my very soul! I longed for the precious sacrament! I longed for it to heal me, to fill me, to give me the graces to live on in this terrible prison! But such a gift, my soul received not.