It had been a month since Kate had ventured inside any kind of religious space. The chapel was warmer than the rest of the air-conditioned hospital, and while that familiar citrus hospital scent clung to the walls and dark maroon carpet, there was something about the soft glow of the flameless candles above the prie-dieu that felt cosy.

She focused on the rosary beads in Sister Mary Monica’s grip. At the end of the chain of black beads, separated by a few Our Fathers and a Hail Mary was a medallion. Saint Joan. “I heard about what happened with Sister Tessie,” Kate whispered. “I’m so sorry that you had to move her.”

“Yes, well…” Sister Mary Monica’s sentence went unfinished, her wrinkled cheek hollowing as the line of her jaw drew tight with emotion.

“It’s funny the way things work out sometimes,” Kate offered.

“Yes. It is. In fact, I said the very same thing to Matilda just this morning.”

At the mere mention of Tilly, Kate felt the immediate need to steer the conversation to safer territory. “I don’t know if you heard but I got a job at Lawson Grammar. Permanent full-time. Head of the Music Department.”

“Tilly did mention that you had an interview. Lawson Grammar. My, you’ll have your hands full.”

“It’s not a boarding school—it’ll be a breeze.”

“I don’t doubt it. You certainly managed very well this year as housemother.”

“Thank you. I had help. You all helped.”

“And Matilda.”

Tersely, Kate nodded.

Sister Mary Monica cleared her throat. “I’m sure Tilly would like it if you visited before she heads off tomorrow afternoon.”

Kate stiffened. Tilly was leaving Lords tomorrow?

A tired chuckle forced its way between Kate’s lips and she cursed herself as one of Sister Mary Monica’s thick eyebrows arched in question. A wave of nervous energy tingled over her skin. Don’t play coy, Sister. Sister Mary Monica wasn’t stupid. Even if she was completely oblivious to the fact that something romantic had happened between them, she had to be aware there was a reason why Tilly’s broken engagement had coincided with Kate’s departure. Kate balled her fists and dragged them up and down her thighs. “I don’t think…that’s probably not the best idea right now. Tilly’s probably too busy…”

After a few seconds of silence, Sister Mary Monica made a sound of disagreement. “I don’t think Tilly has ever been too busy for you, has she?”

Kate’s hands ceased their movement. Was it her imagination, or was Sister Mary Monica implying that she knew about the two of them? She couldn’t possibly know. Sister Ruth would never tell her, and there was no chance Tilly had.

The moment grew long and heavy. Then, in a show of affection so strange, so unfamiliar, Sister Mary Monica reached out and patted Kate’s knee once, twice. “I have to get back upstairs.” Slowly, she stood. She looked down at Kate and drew a deep breath as she set her shoulders in perfect alignment. “I hope we haven’t seen the last of you on Lords, Katherine York. You’ve been a blessing to us all.”