Elysande invited her to her home, a large manor house connected by the walkway to the first house.
“What ye are feelin’ is natural attraction and love fer him.”
“What should I do about it?”
Elysande gave her a furtive smile that made her look even more beautiful. “Marry him. And do it soon.”
“He betrayed me,”John the Steward said while he thrust his arms into his coat. “I want his head and I want to be the one who takes it.” He’d given his men two days to find Galeren and Sister Silene. When they found nothing, John knew he had to do it himself.
If John’s captain was smart, and John knew he was, he’d be on his way to Invergarry by now to hide out in his family’s stronghold. John was going to have to find a way to get into the fortress. Fortunately, he had Morgann Bell at Galeren’s side and another means of information he hoped could be trusted. He would soon find out.
“What about the girl?” Alphonsus asked, already in his extra robes for the cool day.
John slanted his smile at the man. He didn’t have to say, for his lust showed in his eyes. “She ruined my chance to sit on the council, because she wants a man inside her. I’m goin’ to show her what an error her decision was.”
“They say the MacPherson stronghold is impenetrable,” the priest said. “How are we going to get in if they are inside?”
“I have some surprises under my belt. A hellcat, fer whom the captain isna prepared. She guarantees she can capture him fer me. We just have to get her to Invergarry.”
“And her name?” the priest asked.
“Ah, that is my concern. Ye will find oot soon enough. I trust no one.”
“Not even me?” Alphonsus asked him, looking insulted.
“Especially not ye,” John told him, not giving a damn what the priest thought of him.
Chapter Twenty
She would beGaleren’s wife in two days. Time could not pass quickly enough, though Galeren’s kin kept Silene busy between her prayers, which Father Timothy told her could be shortened, now that she was no longer to be a nun, to however many times a day she wanted to say them. She found herself saying the ritualistic, structured prayers less and just speaking to God the way she would Father Timothy, more. She was happier at the stronghold than she could ever remember being.
With so many relatives, she didn’t see Galeren as much as she would have liked.
She wooed him by baking hot apple and pumpkin pies. She darned all of the clothes his cousins, Adela and Geva, found for her in his room that needed repair. She hadn’t minded sewing up holes in his hose, fixing tattered hems on his léines or coats. It really was nothing, but he smiled when he saw everything piled neatly on his bed and listened while she and Elysande told him how much she had done.
“Ye have my sincerest thanks, my love,” he had said and then asked Elysande to leave. Of course, his cousin refused his request.
Pity. Silene wanted time alone with him. She sighed now thinking about it. They sat in the dining hall for the last meal of the day. She stared at him while he ate and laughed with his family and his friends.
She was thankful to be dining with the men. Thankful her feeling that she would never dine with them again had been wrong. Were they all wrong? Did she rely too much on them? What did it matter? She was here, in his stronghold, protected as he’d promised.
“How is Daffodil?” she asked when his gaze slipped to hers as if he could feel her watching. His smile deepened.
“Loud.” He laughed softly. “At night. Until I put her with me in my bed.”
Silene wished he was puttingherinto his bed. She didn’t blame the cat.
“I couldna bring her,” he continued, “so she could walk my kin’s supper table and try to eat from everyone’s plates.”
Silene nodded and laughed, “Although I do not believe your mother would mind.” She sobered a moment later. “I miss the children.”
“Aye, as do I,” he agreed, quieting.
“Galeren,” she said, taking on a somber tone, “I am happy you brought me here, but if not for me,youwould not be here. You would be at Dundonald with my uncle’s children, teaching them to be good, honorable adults.”
“They are not mine, lass, though I wish they were.”
“I will give you children,” she promised.