The baths had existed since the time of the original castle. Far below ground they were fed from a hot spring. Steaming water gushed from a culvert and into a huge lead-lined basin, large enough to accommodate the entire inhabitants of the convent.
Sister Alice had been waiting, and immediately lay Olivia on a bench and set about massaging oils into her body, soothing any aches and pains until they had all but disappeared. Then for some inexplicable reason she departed, telling Olivia to immerse herself in the water to help the oils soak into her skin and really do their work. Olivia swam underwater to the other side of the pool and back again, her long hair trailing behind like a dark, shimmering cloak. It was here that the trials and tribulations of the world were forgotten.
There were no more than a dozen or so other nuns in the chamber. It was lit by torches let into alcoves. They created a dreamlike, ruddy effect as if the water were on fire. In half-shadow some of the nuns padded naked around the perimeter. Some languished and caressed each other, and others just whispered the gossip of the convent. Olivia was largely ignored as she floated on the surface of the soft water, moving her hands and feet in gentle waves.
She drifted to the far side of the basin where it was almost dark. Here the ceiling was lower and the basin narrowed to little more than a body's width.
'Alice?' she murmured, aware of another presence but without opening her eyes.
Hands gripped her shoulders and began to massage them beautifully, working the thumbs along the top of the blades and into the crook of her neck. It seemed a world away from being chased and hunted around the quadrangle like an animal.
The hands slipped furtively from her shoulders and covered her breasts. It felt wonderful. They embraced them and studiously teased the nipples. They massaged in hypnotic circles. A deep purr escaped Olivia's lips; so good did it feel to be pampered.
'What have I done to deserve this?' she whispered.
'What have you done? You have been very patient. It's the least I can do.'
The voice was not that of Alice, but from the past. A voice she had not heard for a long time. But it couldn't be - she was dreaming; the soothing atmosphere of the chamber making her imagine things. The hands left her breasts and went under her shoulders. The unseen person slipped off the edge of the pool and into the gently lapping water behind her. Olivia was half-lifted and then settled back between a pair of lovely white thighs that floated to the surface on either side of her. Her head rested on a yielding cushion of milky breasts as they drifted further into the shadows. Fingers returned to tease her nipples, and others worked their way down to her velvet fleece.
'Open your mouth,' the voice breathed in her ear.
Olivia obeyed without question, so naturally close did she feel to this mystery partner, and sucked on the fingertips that slipped unhindered between her parted lips. Again something stirred in the distant recesses of her mind - and again she dismissed it as ridiculous. She moaned when one of the mischievous fingers burrowed between her labia and instantly located her most sensitive spot.
'Good?'
'Hmm.'
'Shall I continue?'
Olivia couldn't remember the last time she had been shown such genuine consideration. What else could she do but nod her desire?
The fingers in her mouth she caressed with her tongue, while the others slipped gently inside her waiting sex, seeking only to give the ultimate satisfaction.
'You feel good,' Olivia gasped as her clitoris responded to the intimate coaxing.
'And your nipples - would you like me to touch your nipples again?' The voice was so low she could barely hear it above the rippling water and the distant whispers and giggles from the other nuns on the opposite side of the chamber.
'Yes please. Do anything you like to me.'
The anonymous hands moved together, one teasing her towards orgasm, the other relaxing around her nipples, thumbing and rolling the erect teats. Olivia looked dreamily at her silky-wet breasts rising out of the water like twin islands.
'When did you last feel this good?'
Olivia sighed. 'Oh, not for a long time. Not since I...' She caught her breath as her juices began to seep over the gliding fingers.
'When you...?'
'When I was in a House of Correction. I had a friend there. We met again in London... and...'
The hand spread across Olivia's whole breast and squeezed it hard. The pain was both agonising and deeply satisfying. Slowly her back arched in the lap of her lover. Her legs floated on the scented surface.
'You were telling me about your friend,' the voice coaxed in her ear.
Olivia took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. 'We were in London... she rescued me from a brothel...'
The expert hands continued to work their magic. Olivia shivered. Her legs floated wider.
'Tell me about the brothel.'
'It was a horrible place. I had to dress up and do things for the customers.'
'You didn't like that?'
'No, not really. I tried to please them, but usually they would spank me afterwards.'
'Didn't you like being spanked?'
Olivia frowned and tried to remember just how she had felt. 'I - I don't know. It didn't really hurt - I suppose.'
'Shall I spank you now?'
Lips fluttered against Olivia's ear as the seductive voice toyed with her. She really didn't know what she wanted, but the thought of a wet palm stinging her wet bottom knotted her stomach. She stared at the bricks overhead, and then at the ruddy glow beyond the secluded arch. There was nobody close to observe what they were doing.
'If you would like to,' she consented. 'But please don't hurt me too much. It's so lovely and peaceful here.'
'You like the convent then?'
'The convent, no. But the baths, yes. I like it here.'
'If you relax and accept, you might grow to like the convent. Everyone is happy here. I couldn't live anywhere else.'
'What were you outside?'
'Turn over and let me spank you.'
The unknown nun slithered back onto a stone ledge-seat that just broke the surface at the edge of the pool. Olivia closed her eyes, not wanting to break the mystical spell. She twisted and luxuriated in the feel of the warm swirling water as she lay over a pair of slippery thighs. Her tummy rested comfortably on the smooth flesh. Her legs rested on the seat on one side of the nun, and her forehead rested on her folded arms on the other.
'Are you ready?'
Olivia nodded, and swooned as the first wet slap landed on her raised buttocks. It stung a little more than she expected - but it was nice. The spanking continued, but it was tender - without malice. The sound of flesh hitting flesh reverberated lightly off the low arch.
'Your delightful bottom is made for smacking.'
'Thank you,' Olivia whispered stupidly. She squirmed a little on the lap, but an arm lay across her back and pinned her in place. The hand continued to fall rhythmically until Olivia's excitement threatened to burst, and then it stopped and deftly pushed its way between her buttocks.
'Are any of the other nuns watching us?' she mumbled into her arm.
'One or two.'
'They won't stop us, will they?'
The mystery nun chuckled softly and stroked Olivia's wet hair. 'They wouldn't dare.'
'Are you keeping me all to yourself?'
'Yes - for a while.'
A finger slipped into Olivia's wetness again and she gasped, 'Please let me come.'
'In a moment, my little treasure.'
The weight of the arm left her back, and Olivia felt her buttocks being prised apart. The lubricated finger retreated from her sex and then rubbed gently around her rear entrance. She held her breath; the nun's intent was clear - even through her swirling emotions. Olivia whimpered. The finger eased down. There was a slight resistance, and then Olivia's bottom opened and welcomed the rude intrusion.
Both women were silent now, save for their slow breathing. The free hand patted Olivia's cheeks and moulded them around the buried digit. The nun leaned down and kissed the nape of Olivia's neck, sending thrilling ripples down her spine. Olivia purred and writhed like a kitten.
'Keep still, Miss Holland,' admonished the secret nun kindly. 'Or I'll have to send you straight back to the brothel, and I won't be there to rescue you.'
Olivia froze. Did she know all about that? No. It was impossible. It was a crude threat to make her obey. 'Alice,' she beseeched, 'why are you teasing me? Please make me come. You know I want to. You know I'm close.'
The nun whispered softly, 'Turn over, Olivia.'
For a full minute Olivia stared incredulously into the smiling eyes. 'But, it - it's impossible!' she stammered at last. 'I - I can't believe this! Is it really you?'
Flora put her arms around Olivia's shoulders and lifted her onto the ledge. 'It is me,' she cooed like a mother hen, brushing a lock of wet hair from Olivia's furrowed brow.
'But I thought - I mean - the telegram...'
'I'm afraid that was a trick too.'
'But how long have you been here?'
'Ever since I left London. There never was a boarding house, I made that place up. I knew you were coming, but was told to keep silent.'
Olivia wasn't sure whether the tears in her eyes were those of relief or shock. 'So all the time you were here, knowing that I was trying to reach you in Ottery.'
Flora seated herself more comfortably. She pulled Olivia close, settling her head on her shoulder.
'I couldn't reveal myself, not until you'd passed all the tests. It was part of your training, filling you with false hope, leading you on, seeing how determined you were to escape. You nearly made it, and might have done if Walpurga hadn't led you into the woods.'
'That was all a trick too, I suppose.'
'No, it wasn't actually. The Abbess was furious when she learned that Walpurga had got you out. Walpurga wanted you for her own, you see. I suppose she was afraid of losing you to me and the Abbess, and so she decided to steal you from us.'
Olivia threw her arms around Flora and kissed her throat. She remained quiet in the safe warmth of her friend for a few minutes, but there was so much she needed to know. 'What's the purpose of all these spiteful rituals?' she soon gabbled like an inquisitive child. 'And what's this mysterious ceremony I keep hearing about?'
'There's nothing mysterious about it,' Flora reassured as best she could. 'Hundreds of years ago the nuns were evicted from their convent. They settled here, in this empty castle, and the Abbess hid her plate and the sacred books so the order could continue to flourish. But there was one immense problem; how were they to keep—'
'Recruiting,' Olivia interrupted, beginning to understand.
'Precisely. Because the nuns were banished no one would send their daughters to take up the order—'
'So they resorted to other methods - like having unsuspecting girls abused, robbed, and left naked on the highway to be conveniently picked up and brought here.' The stress of recent events fought for release, and tears started to trickle down Olivia's pink cheeks. Flora soothed her with tender kisses, and Olivia sniffled an apology for her outburst and silly emotions.
'Now, now then,' Flora whispered kindly. 'It's not all as bad as it may seem. You easily exceeded expectations. You're almost one of us now - a nun in the order of saint Dulcinea. After the ceremony you will be a confirmed Dulcinite.' She said it with such pride and devotion that Olivia was temporarily lost for words.
'What does "Spiritus Licentia Copulatum" mean?' she asked suddenly.
'It's Latin. It means, spiritual freedom to act without restraint.' She laughed. 'In plain English, it means we can do just what we like with each other, providing the rules are obeyed.'
'And no one has any say in who sleeps with them?'
'You'll get used to it,' Flora assured quietly.
Olivia thought she would never get used to indulging in sexual practices with a whole castle full of frustrated women, with the threat of being punished if she refused them the privilege. The more Flora told her the less she liked the idea. It was perfectly clear that once she had been accepted as a Dulcinite she would never again be allowed to set foot outside the walls as a free person.
'What exactly happens during the ceremony?' she asked.
'I am not permitted to tell you. But you will find out soon enough; only a couple of days to go, and then everybody will gather to witness your acceptance into our order. And when you have been accepted life will become much easier. You'll be offered a choice as to your new profession. If I were you, I'd ask to work alongside Sister Lupa the herbalist. Or you could...'
Olivia stopped listening to Flora's words. She was amazed at how her friend had become so easily influenced against the outside world. Olivia knew it was a race against time. The longer she was there the more like them she would become, rather like a convict or a whore who prefer a prison or a brothel because they offer a security that is difficult to find in the harshness of day to day existence outside.
'The herbalist will suit me nicely,' she said when she became aware her friend had stopped talking. She lowered her lips to the erect nipple that quivered beneath her breath, wondering if the drug she was sure had been put in her wine could be administered to the whole convent.