“Captain!” she breathed on his chin, tilting her face to see him.
She didn’t want him to let go. She didn’t think about where they were or who might see. She forgot it all in his embrace, gazing into his warm, green eyes.
“I have missed yer face, lass.”
She smiled. He always made her feel beautiful just by the way he looked at her. “And I have missed yours, Captain.”
She felt the muscles in his arms tremble before he reluctantly released her.
“Come, please speak with me, Silene.”
She agreed and hurried with him down two more halls, until they came to an outside balcony and stepped onto it.
He looked out over Dundonald’s lands instead of at her. “When I found oot aboot the church and yer vows, I tried to see ye. Why did ye hide from me? Were ye goin’ to speak yer vows withoot even a word to me?”
He still hadn’t looked at her. She wanted him to. She tugged on his shirt. He finally turned.
“I’m not certain, Captain, but I think I’m in love with you.”
He turned the rest of his body until he faced her fully and took her hands in his. “Then come! Let us leave now!”
Could she? Could they get away? For how long? “If ye were killed, I would—”
“Lass—” He drew his forehead close to hers. “Better is a moment with ye than a thousand years withoot ye.”
“I want more than a moment, Galeren. But I…I cannot…”
She watched tears pool above his lids.
“Silene, if ye dinna come, I fear ye may be killed here. My grandsire told me to get ye away from these men. I intend to do that. Please, lass, if I am killed, ye can speak yer vows. Fer death would have parted us.”
“Nay!” She tried to step away, but he held her by the arms and wouldn’t let her go.
“I want to fight fer ye, Silene. But I canna fight against God. Tell me ye do this fer Him and not oot of fear of yer uncle and I will walk away.”
They heard a sound inside. Silene looked around the balcony and saw Morgann. He appeared to be searching the halls.
She called to him and the captain approached and waited at her side.
“Ah, Captain. I was sent to look fer ye.”
“By whom?”
“The steward,” Morgann let him know. “He said to tell ye he awaits ye in the great hall.”
“Thank ye, Morgann. Ye may go.”
Morgann’s blue eyes met Silene’s. He smiled briefly and then looked away. She called out to him before he left the balcony.
“’Tis good to see you, Morgann. Are you well?”
“Aye, Sister,” he replied, and then was gone.
She hadn’t expected his cool response. Aye, he was the stoic, serious one, but they had become friends. He had warmed to her on their journey. Now, it was all gone. She suddenly felt like weeping.
She felt the captain’s gaze on her and turned to him.
“What is it?” he was quick to ask.