Forbidden Heart (Hearts of the Highlands #6) - Paula Quinn Page 0,5

in the back and on the sides.

When she came to the field, sprinkled with long daffodils, she slowed, surprised to see a small bird stuck in the bramble. Its screeching stopped her as she grew closer. Its little wings flapped urgently.

“I know. I know.” She spoke soothingly to it and moved the branches away. “All will be well, little bird.” She parted the branches and looked up as the bird flew away.

She continued, humming and looking up at the sky often. Taking a deep, replenishing breath, she could smell the ocean. She could hear the roar of the surf in the distance.

She hurried toward the cliffs and relished the cool, briny wind in her face. She didn’t want to leave the sea, but she was thankful to have lived so close to it for the last four years. She tried to visit every day, but she wasn’t always able. She loved the power of the sea. Of course, she didn’t know how to swim. None of the sisters did, but they often waded in the shallows and played in the water in the summer. She would miss her sisters.

What would Sister Edith do when she broke out in hives? She did so whenever she was anxious, which was all the time. And what about Sister Marjorie Anne? Who would help her learn the Rosary? Poor dear had trouble remembering anything. Who would pray with Sister Agnes when she awoke in the middle of the night with one of her night terrors?

Everyone else in the cavernous room, which housed seven beds and that many novices, complained that Agnes woke them from their sleep. Silene’s bed was closest to Agnes’. But even if she wasn’t close, she would not have let Agnes cry alone. It wasn’t Agnes’ fault her father was killed before her eyes, or that in trying to keep her six children alive, Agnes’ mother turned to prostitution. Five years and five children later, Agnes was helping to pay to eat.

The prioress had seen Agnes trying to peddle herself and took her from her mother. She gave Agnes a new life. Agnes was twelve at the time. Her mother was offered a place at the priory but refused. Still, the prioress left the invitation open indefinitely.

Silene sighed and refused to cry. Perhaps she would return. Perhaps what she felt in her bones was incorrect. Hadn’t Mother just warned her against being ruled by her emotions? Perhaps she would go to Scotland, stand before the church, and then come home and speak her vows next spring.

A small sob escaped her because she knew it wasn’t true. She didn’t know how she knew. She just did. The sob felt as if she’d been holding it in all this time. It drifted away on the breeze. She swiped a tear from her—

“Pardon me, Lady.”

Silene turned to the man whose deep Highland voice startled her. The sight of him suddenly standing there made her run.

In her fright, she turned her feet the wrong way and lost her footing at the edge of the cliff.

Nay! Nay! Was this truly how she was to die? Falling to her death from her favored place?

A strong vise took hold of her wrist and yanked her back hard against his armored chest, straight into his arms.

“I have ye.”

She felt the rumble of his voice against her chest and her knees quaked. She looked up into large, deep green eyes eclipsed by dark golden waves that had escaped the queue behind his head. His sculpted jaw was also dusted in deep gold. But his lips…oh, his lips were full and lush and carved in decadence.

“Let me go,” she managed in a commanding tone and looked away from his mouth. She wished she had worn her habit and veil. His captivating gaze had settled on her hair.

He obeyed her order, but first he turned her in the proper direction so that she would not run off the cliff.

She stepped back and foolishly took another look at him before her feet carried her away.

Was he an angel? She gasped. He could be since he was all golden already.

But he wore men’s clothes, dark hose, boots, a cream-colored léine beneath his great belted plaid of blue and black. He motioned his hand to someone else within the trees. Not an angel. A Highlander. More of them stepped out.

She ran.

She ran back to the priory and slammed the gate shut. She needed to alert the prioress that there were strange men—she stopped in her