“The captain has been kind to me, my lady. He is my friend. Should I just forget him and everything he has done for me because of a few wagging tongues?”
“Aye. Forget it all,” Matilda warned. “Captain MacPherson is…mesmerizin’. ’Tis understandable that ye could be taken with him. As I told ye, everyone is.”
Silene’s eyes widened. “I do not know what to say.”
“His vow of celibacy is almost over,” Matilda went on as if she hadn’t heard her. “Ye must—”
Silene held up her hand to stop her. She didn’t want to hear another word. “Your words insult me, my lady.”
Matilda’s eyes opened wide. “I am tryin’ to save ye from further insult.”
Silene nodded. Her uncle’s wife was correct. But staying away from the captain was already impossible.
“How is Lizzie feeling?” she asked, cutting off the bickering. And she was genuinely concerned for the child.
“She seems better, Silene.” Matilda’s smile softened on her. “She was up and playin’ fer a bit this mornin’. Will ye not come and pray fer her again?”
“Of course.”
Matilda showed her to her chambers.
Silene’s first afternoon at Dundonald passed with her thoughts and prayers on three-year-old Lizzie and no one else.
Matilda invited her to sit with her and the steward at supper and Silene accepted.
The captain would be there to obey Matilda’s demand that he give account of why they were alone outside his door. Would they eat together? Would the other men be there? Was her premonition incorrect? She hoped so.
“I purchased a new habit and all this—” she circled her fingers in front of her face, “that ye wear. ’Tis waitin’ fer ye in yer bedchamber.”
“You found one so quickly,” Silene remarked.
“Aye. Well, ye are John’s tie to the church. We want ye to look perfect. Now, I couldna find a white gown, only gray. But there is a white overcoat so ye should feel fine in it.”
Silene thanked her, though she was only supposed to wear white, and finally retired to her chambers to change for supper.
She eyed the folded purple gown from Katherine, Adam’s mother. She was tempted to run her hand down the soft silk. She’d never possessed anything so fine.
Why had the captain told her to keep it?
Louise arrived a short while later to help her into her clothes. Silene didn’t like the serving girl serving her. If Silene wasn’t a novice, she would have a lower duty than Louise had.
“I should be serving you,” she remarked while Louise fit Silene’s wimple and veil into place and tucked all her hair underneath.
Louise laughed and promised to let Silene braid her hair later.
“Tell me, what do ye think of Captain MacPherson?”
The question surprised Silene and she wasn’t sure how to answer—though she was getting sick and tired of answering it.
“I think he is well liked by everyone.”
“Even ye?” Louise asked.
“He is my friend, Louise.”
The servant eyed her. “No one wants the captain as a friend, Sister. I only ask because there are whispers goin’ aboot that the captain cares for ye and he is…betrothed, after all.”
What? Betrothed? No! He would have told her! Silene did everything she could to keep quiet. She wanted to weep but she had no right.