Forbidden Heart (Hearts of the Highlands #6) - Paula Quinn Page 0,72
here. She needs our protection.”
Three older men stood out from the crowd and nodded. His uncles, no doubt. She knew immediately which one was Galeren’s father.
More cheering went up.
“Are ye a woman of God?” the priest asked her quietly.
“Aye, Father. I spend time with Him every day.”
“We will protect the woman of God to the death!” a deadly Highlander called out.
“At the threat of war?” Galeren put to them. They were his kin. He needed their help.
“At the threat of death!” the men shouted.
After another toast, she was introduced to everyone. For the most part, she remembered them.
She was offered a chair by the hearth and given a small cup of wine.
Galeren had left her alone for a moment when his uncle pulled him away for a word, which was likely about her.
She caught sight of Galeren’s mother. One could truly not miss her in the large room. Her long locks were plaited down her back, but torchlight found a way to dance over the top of her pale blonde head like a halo in a painting Silene had seen. She drew the eye like a moth to a flame. Her radiance was made even more glorious by her thoughtful smile when she set her cornflower blue eyes on Silene.
She was coming over!
She was petite, like a veil that a strong wind could sweep away. All the women here were beautiful. How could Galeren think her pretty?
“Greetings,” his mother said brightly. “Do I call ye Sister or Silene?”
“Silene.” Galeren called her Silene. She felt a slight smile tilt her lips. She couldn’t help it, she loved when he spoke her name, but it was destroyed by her next thought. What must this woman think of her? Braya Hetherington MacPherson had fought battles over borders while Silene couldn’t even resist a man.
“Silene,” his mother repeated with a warming smile. “My son appears quite enamored with you.”
Silene nodded. Her eyes moved to find him as if they had a will of their own. He stood with some of the most handsome men she’d ever seen, but Galeren stood out with his mother’s face and his father’s piercing green eyes. There seemed to be more of a smolder in Galeren’s gaze, though, he was looking at her.
“He is very kind and patient,” Silene told her. There was so much more to say about him, but she was sure his mother knew. And besides, Aleysia d’Argentan MacPherson was approaching.
“Tell me,” Braya leaned in and looked intently at her. “Would you say he is knightly?”
Her eyes flicked for just an instant, but Silene saw it.
“Oh, aye!” She tried to stop herself from sighing and grew a little lightheaded. “He saved me from men who had vile intentions toward me.”
“Very knightly, indeed. Aye, Aly?”
“I would expect nothing less from one of Torin’s sons,” Aleysia replied.
She was every bit as striking as Braya, but darker. Elysande looked almost exactly like her save for the gray in Aleysia’s hair.
“And God used him to save me from an arrow,” Silene added.
Both mothers looked equally stunned and impressed. “God used him,” Aleysia repeated with a smile. “There is no higher honor.”
Braya nodded and the two women giggled as if they were young maidens.
Silene knew she would like these two. And there were more. Julianna Feathers MacPherson, Nicholas MacPherson’s wife had red hair like Silene’s. It was plaited into a thick braid that hung over her shoulder. It made Silene want to grow her hair again.
“There will be many broken hearts when the lasses learn that Galeren the Bonny has lost his heart to a maiden,” Julianna told her. “That is when you will really have to watch your back as well as your front.”
The others laughed good-naturedly. Silene wasn’t sure if she should actually pray about such a matter as jealousy. She knew she would be miserable if he loved another.
“’Twill not matter if she is to become a nun,” Aleysia pointed out. Her voice was so soft and serene, Silene wanted to rest in it. “Or has our dear Galeren stolen your heart?” There was no malice in her tone, only curiosity.
“He has not stolen it, my lady,” Silene said softly. “He has asked for it.”
“And your reply?” his mother asked.
The small crowd of women suddenly parted and Father Timothy came forward.
“’Tis my turn to speak with her. If ye will excuse us. I willna keep her overly long.”
They all agreed and watched quietly as he invited her to the private chapel.