dressed in her habit, with her wimple and veil. She was ready when Louise came to get her. She saw Matilda so happy for her that Silene had to keep her thoughts away from her uncle and his wife. They were part of the group to have her say her vows now. They had to secure her place so that John’s place in the church could be solidified. It had nothing to do with God.
She didn’t see Galeren in the great hall for breakfast. Now that she hadn’t seen him for a full day, she missed him. Neither Will nor Morgann had seen him. She tried to sit with them, but they were called away.
It was better this way, she told herself while she ate alone.
As long as she obeyed, she was sure John wouldn’t force his dear friend to marry Cecilia Birchet.
Everything would be well. She would go on with her life as planned, but where would she go? If her feeling was correct, not to St. Patrice’s.
Would she stay here? Forced to be with the captain every day? Would she somehow die? She made the sign of the cross and didn’t realize she had until Father Nate and Bishop Graham slipped into the bench beside her and asked if she was well.
She smiled but she felt anything but well, or in the mood to confess why. Rather than lie and tell them she was fine, she rose from her place. “If you would both excuse me, I would like to go pray.”
They excused her with bows. She wanted to run, but it would be unseemly. Still, she lifted her skirts above her ankles and hurried out of the hall.
She was suffocating and pulled off her veil to get to her wimple and pulled that off next.
Quickening her pace, she turned one corner on the way to her chambers and crashed into a wall.
A living, breathing wall, with strong arms that came around her to hold her steady.
“Captain!” she breathed on his chin, tilting her face to see him.
She didn’t want him to let go. She didn’t think about where they were or who might see. She forgot it all in his embrace, gazing into his warm, green eyes.
“I have missed yer face, lass.”
She smiled. He always made her feel beautiful just by the way he looked at her. “And I have missed yours, Captain.”
She felt the muscles in his arms tremble before he reluctantly released her.
“Come, please speak with me, Silene.”
She agreed and hurried with him down two more halls, until they came to an outside balcony and stepped onto it.
He looked out over Dundonald’s lands instead of at her. “When I found oot aboot the church and yer vows, I tried to see ye. Why did ye hide from me? Were ye goin’ to speak yer vows withoot even a word to me?”
He still hadn’t looked at her. She wanted him to. She tugged on his shirt. He finally turned.
“I’m not certain, Captain, but I think I’m in love with you.”
He turned the rest of his body until he faced her fully and took her hands in his. “Then come! Let us leave now!”
Could she? Could they get away? For how long? “If ye were killed, I would—”
“Lass—” He drew his forehead close to hers. “Better is a moment with ye than a thousand years withoot ye.”
“I want more than a moment, Galeren. But I…I cannot…”
She watched tears pool above his lids.
“Silene, if ye dinna come, I fear ye may be killed here. My grandsire told me to get ye away from these men. I intend to do that. Please, lass, if I am killed, ye can speak yer vows. Fer death would have parted us.”
“Nay!” She tried to step away, but he held her by the arms and wouldn’t let her go.
“I want to fight fer ye, Silene. But I canna fight against God. Tell me ye do this fer Him and not oot of fear of yer uncle and I will walk away.”
They heard a sound inside. Silene looked around the balcony and saw Morgann. He appeared to be searching the halls.
She called to him and the captain approached and waited at her side.
“Ah, Captain. I was sent to look fer ye.”
“By whom?”
“The steward,” Morgann let him know. “He said to tell ye he awaits ye in the great hall.”
“Thank ye, Morgann. Ye may go.”
Morgann’s blue eyes met Silene’s. He smiled briefly and then looked away. She called out to him before he left the