“Captain.” Matilda kept her voice low and as dispassionate as she could. “I only bring it up because I dinna want tongues flappin’ and my husband’s reputation bein’ soiled.”
Ah, the truth. Finally. It was, of course, her husband’s reputation that concerned her. Not Silene’s.
“Well? What happened?” the steward demanded now.
“Nothin’ happened,” the captain told him, sounding irritated now. “One of the men’s cats gave birth to kittens and I accepted one from him.”
“Captain, a cat? Why would ye?” Matilda complained.
“I ran into Sister Silene in the hall,” the captain continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “I asked her to say a prayer over the small kitten. Yer wife came along and thought…well, I dinna know what she thought.”
The steward looked annoyed with his wife. “Was the novice in yer chambers alone with ye at any time?”
Silene was offended that her uncle hadn’t asked her the question. Did he not think he would get the truth from her?
“No, John,” the captain answered. “Yer bairns were in my room feedin’ the kitten.”
John tossed his wife another angry scowl. “Mayhap ye should quit concernin’ yerself with the captain’s doin’s.”
Matilda wasn’t finished. “Of course. Fergive me, but there is one more thing, Captain. Why would ye get a kitten when ye know ’tis what Margaret wants most?”
The captain exhaled and quirked his mouth just a little. “I think that is the verra reason I accepted it.”
Her husband laughed, but not to mock her. “Ye are clever, Galeren. One way or another, ye procured the pet fer my daughter withoot even needin’ my wife’s permission.”
The captain tried not to smile but Silene could see a hint of humor around his mouth.
“Ye are much like yer father,” the steward added. “A sly fox.”
Galeren laughed softly but shook his head and looked at Matilda, as if to say none of it was true. He hadn’t tried to fool her. Matilda didn’t seem to mind for too long and, once again, forgave him.
He didn’t use his innate charm for any malevolent purpose. He had done her no great harm.
Silene was glad that she forgave him so quickly and they could finish their meal.
Matilda turned to her. “Silene, ye imp. Why did ye not tell me of this animal the captain and my children adopted?”
Silene took another sip from her cup. “I am forbidden to speak of something someone tells me in confidence.”
That seemed to mollify her uncle’s wife and she finally went back to eating.
Her uncle and his wife were quite different from what she expected. She hadn’t expected that Matilda would be so fond of her husband’s captain. She wondered what the church would think of that.
“If you will excuse me.” Silene rose from her seat and swayed a little. The captain was up in a flash. She held up her hand to stop him from perhaps leaping over the table to help her. “’Tis time for my prayers and then bed.” She turned slowly toward her uncle. “Thank you for supper, my lord.”
She left the table without looking at the captain. She could be easily read—it seemed—around him. She hurried to her room and disappeared inside. Oh, she drank too much!
She pressed her back to the cool wood and finally let herself breathe and sway on her feet.
Were those footsteps she heard in the hall?
Someone knocked on the door. Three raps that made her want to leap from her skin.
“Go away,” she spoke out on the softest sigh.
“Silene,” his husky, Highland burr stirred her blood, her soul.
She closed her eyes and prayed for strength.