They all laughed.
Galeren did not. Soon, she wouldn’t be with them. He had worried about how she would hold up to his men, but she not only wasn’t bothered by their bickering, she had them all doing their best to please her.
He shook his head, trying to clear her out of it.
He wouldn’t have to concern himself with her anymore. He wouldn’t allow as many stops today. If they stopped so she could pray nine times a day, they would never get to their destination. He had to tell her.
“Sister.”
She frowned, mirroring his expression.
“Come fer a walk with me. I wish to discuss somethin’ with ye.”
“A walk?” she asked, looking worried.
“I vow I willna touch ye.”
She looked like she wanted to say more, but only nodded instead.
When they were alone amidst the trees, she turned to him. “What is it, Captain?”
“I’m afraid…”
Her eyes widened. Her gaze filled with concern.
This wasn’t going well. He pulled himself together. “I’m afraid we canna stop so often today.”
She blinked her eyes and he felt as if she’d kicked him in the guts.
“How often may I stop?”
He wanted to look away, but he knew he shouldn’t. He needed to be stern. “We will stop twice.”
Now her wide, sea-foam gaze grew darker—like a storm coming in quickly from the horizon. “You expect me to give up the rest of my prayers?”
He shook his head slightly. “No. Ye can pray on yer horse.”
“I cannot.”
His move. Her gaze on him was steady, almost unblinking. What more could he say? That he wanted to get to Dundonald as soon as possible? To be away from her? He opened his mouth to speak.
“Is that all, Captain?”
No storm, but it left glaciers in its place.
He didn’t want to keep looking at her, but he couldn’t look away. “That is all.”
She kept quiet and waited for him to lead the way.
He felt like hell. He needed to get back to Dundonald, back to his duties that didn’t include her. The less he spoke to her, the less he would miss the sound of her voice.
He hated himself for being held captive by a novice of the church. Thankfully, it wasn’t too late to forget her, resist her. He barely knew her. He didn’t love her. He was taken with her, drawn to her. Nothing more. There was nothing between them.
Nothing but a kiss.
A kiss like nothing Cecilia had ever made him feel. He wiped his brow. How would he tell John that he did not want to wed Miss Birchet? How would he tell the king that he would not wed her? He would go home to Invergarry.
He wanted to laugh at being so vexed over the novice. The solution was simple. Be truthful with King David, John, and with Cecilia, and then leave Dundonald for a while, mayhap longer.