Forbidden Heart (Hearts of the Highlands #6) - Paula Quinn Page 0,22
his gaze over his men, his friends. They were all on their feet. Mac was fixing his belt to his waist. It sagged from the many weapons attached to it. Padrig was adjusting the leather straps crisscrossing his back, a long claymore attached to each strap. Will pulled on his boots, a sword at his side and a bow and arrows slung across his back.
Only Morgann stood ready to go.
“Mornin’, Captain,” he offered first then was followed by the other three.
Galeren let a smile pass over his lips and then looked toward the kitchen. He wasn’t as disciplined as she gave him credit for being. She would change her opinion of him quickly if she knew of his foolish, reckless desire to go to her even now.
“Everythin’ well, Cap?”
Galeren widened his smile on Mac. “Aye. I was thinkin’ aboot…ehm…”
Mac nodded. “We know. We will miss her as well.”
“Your dear grandmother has done everything she could,” Silene’s dulcet voice fell like the sound of bells across his ears, “but she could not get the bloodstains out of my veil and wimple.”
Galeren and Mac—and the other three all turned to the sound of her.
She stood in the doorway, there being nothing feminine about her silhouette in her hose and tunic, her hair cut above her ears. And yet, she was the most perfectly delicate woman Galeren had ever looked upon.
She held her veil and wimple out to them. The blood staining both was lighter, pinker, but it was still blood.
“I cannot wear it!”
Galeren offered her a sympathetic gaze but, and he was surely going to hell for this, he wasn’t sorry that she couldn’t wear it. He raised his eyes to her mop of fiery hair atop her head.
“Mayhap we can find another habit fer ye, Sister,” Will suggested with a reassuring smile that turned a bit mischievous when Galeren set his eyes on him.
Her eyes widened with hopefulness. “Will we be stopping in any other towns?”
Galeren unclenched his teeth. “Aye.”
She smiled at him, looking relieved. It pricked him in the guts. This was who she was. Almost a nun. He had to accept it and leave her alone.
He swallowed a hundred words and nearly choked on them all.
Chapter Six
Forgive me.
Silene said ten more Hail Marys as they crossed the border. The prayers though were not for her safety, but for her soul.
She thought about getting ready for bed against a wooden door that was surprisingly warm. She imagined the captain’s body, asleep on the other side, had warmed it. He haunted her dreams. He liked her. She could see it in his eyes, in his gaze that followed her. But he was well disciplined. She was glad. Wasn’t she? She said another twenty Our Fathers. It sickened her to think of the betrayal of her upcoming vows.
What kind of woman was she to fall captivated with a man just because he was gloriously handsome? Of course, there was more than that or she wouldn’t have given him a spare thought. She shouldn’t be sparing him any now! He was thoughtful. He hadn’t complained once about stopping so often. He’d even tried to find the most peaceful, beautiful spots for her. He was patient with her and with his friends and kind to his grandparents.
She shook her head at her inability to stop thinking of him.
I need Your help.
She said one last prayer and made the sign of the cross and opened her eyes.
He was there. A few feet away, his gaze ever on her. His duty. Was it more than that? And why her? She was plain and…red with all her curls cut off. Surely the captain could have his choice of many women, she thought rising off her knees and going to them.
“We will stop in the market town fer supplies after we cross the border,” he let her know, finally looking away—and then returning his attention to her. “’Tis not far.”
Should she smile? No. They needed to stop smiling at each other. It was tempting.
She nodded and then walked by him, talking to God instead of the captain.
You have to know he is tempting. I cannot seem to resist him. I want to smile at him all the time—even just after an hour-long prayer of repentance. Oh, I need Your help!
“Carrot soup fer our midday meal, Sister,” Mac informed her when she stepped into the camp.
“’Tis all we had left,” Padrig defended while fixing her a bowl.
“Well then, we are blessed to have you to prepare it.”