Forbidden Heart (Hearts of the Highlands #6) - Paula Quinn Page 0,38
“How was yer journey?”
Galeren smiled at them. “Uneventful.”
“Uneventful,” the other man, Jack MacKinny, repeated with a doubtful arch of his dark brow. He was dressed like Desmond in boots and a plaid with a léine underneath. At his waist, he wore a leather belt that was heavy with various weapons. “Save that ye and the lads killed a large group of men after they attacked the nun.”
“Novice,” Galeren corrected.
Alistair tossed back his bald head and laughed. “That isna uneventful, Captain.”
“To him ’tis.” Will laughed, joining them. With him was Father Alphonsus.
Upon seeing the priest, Alistair and Jack disappeared.
“Truly?” Father Alphonsus asked, stepping closer. “It is uneventful for you to kill ten men?”
“Those ten men. Aye, Father,” Galeren told him and moved away. He stopped after a few steps. “Have ye sent Father Nathaniel to Sister Silene?”
“I have not seen him,” Father Alphonsus sneered.
Galeren gave him a black stare. He’d never be forgiven for striking a man of God. But the priest didn’t know that Galeren cared about such a thing. “May I suggest ye find him?” he uttered as more of a command than a question.
Will laughed and pushed Galeren away. “I’m sure the good Father Alphonsus will find him.”
“What are ye doin’ with him?” Galeren demanded quietly as they left the hall.
“Findin’ oot when our dear novice is to face the church and how many of us can be there to pledge ourselves to her safety.”
Since when had she become their novice? And why did Will emphasize the word?
“And?” he couldn’t help but ask. In truth, he liked that his men wanted to continue to protect her.
“In eight days and she can have no guard with her.”
Galeren stopped to turn to him. “She will have a guard. Me.”
His friend gave him an amazed look. “Ye intend to defy the church?”
Galeren squared his shoulders. “If I must.”
Will smiled and patted him on the back before he broke away to head to another room. “Be careful, Cap.”
Galeren nodded and continue on. He couldn’t say it was good to be back. He’d told Alistair the trip was uneventful but, in truth, it had changed everything in his life.
He had to break things off with Cecilia. He didn’t love her. He never would. He had to come to the truth that he might be falling in love with one of God’s betrothed.
Ye have many, Lord, he beseeched in his mind. I only want one.
He kept walking, turning the corner toward the exit. He hurried and nearly walked into the arms of a lass crossing his path.
“Cecilia!”
“Galeren!” she answered, sounding just as stunned to see him almost running into her arms.
No! Not her. Not now.
“I heard you had returned. Why did you not come directly to me?” She pouted her pink lips and let her gaze go hot. She stomped her slippered foot just like a spoiled child. If she had one of her temper tantrums now, he didn’t know what he might say to her. He wanted to go outside. Take a walk. Be alone.
“I didna know ye were here.” He moved out of her embrace. “What are ye doin’ here, Cecilia?”
She lifted her hand to her flowing, honey-hued hair and patted it. “Father had dealings with the steward and brought me along to Dundonald. He thought I might want to see you. He was correct. Imagine my supreme disappointment to learn you had not yet returned.”
“Aye, we ran into some difficulties. It couldna be helped.”
She pouted again.
“We will speak of it later. And of other things.”
“But I am leaving shortly—”
He didn’t wait for the rest, but continued walking, finally reaching for the door. He saw his plaid hanging on a peg near the entrance.
“Captain!”
He drew in a breath and turned again. This time, he saw Alex, the steward’s son, and Margaret, the lad’s seven-year-old sister, offering him their brightest smiles.
“What are ye doin’?” Alex asked.
“Are ye goin’ oot?” asked his sister.
“Aye. I am goin’ oot.”
“We want to go oot, too!” one of them cried.
Galeren looked around. Where were their nurses or teachers? Anyone watching over them.
“Who escorts ye through the halls?” He knew the rules, for he had made them. John and Matilda’s children must not be about alone. The steward had too many enemies.
“No one escorts us,” Alex told him timidly. “Our teacher said he felt ill. He told us to find our nurse, Gwendolyn. But we couldna find her.”
Galeren ground his jaw. So busy were they?
He felt something on his leg. He looked down and saw Margaret hugging his calf.