He wanted to see her but when he’d knocked on her door this morning, she was already gone.
He was happy she liked Father Timothy and even more grateful that Father Timothy convinced her that she’d made an acceptable decision.
He would make her his wife in four days. It was getting harder to wait.
“I am returnin’ to the stronghold,” he told the men. “Come with me and eat at my kin’s table. ’Tis big enough. The three of ye can come back here tonight and sleep. I have been told that Jamie the shepherd who lives here is off on a visit to his brother in Perth. He willna be back until next month.”
They left the cottage with him and headed down the hill, and back to level ground and the stronghold gates.
Galeren looked around for Morgann but he didn’t see him anywhere. Had he gone through the forest? Galeren hated to admit it, but he hoped not. Morgann wouldn’t make it a quarter of a mile before he set something off in the trees.
Where was Silene? He checked the church when they finally opened the gate. No one was inside. Where would Father Timothy have taken her?
“Are ye goin’ to marry Sister Silene?” Will asked him.
“Aye, I am. And dinna call her Sister. She is just Silene.”
“But,” Will challenged, “ye can have yer pick of so many lasses. A different beauty every night.”
“I only want her.”
Will finally accepted that the captain was in love with one lass and walked on ahead with Mac.
“Is yer father still the friendliest of the three brothers?” Padrig put to him as they drew near the manor houses.
“He isna the friendliest,” Galeren told him with a sly smile. “He only makes ye believe he is. That is how he brought down the most English strongholds in the kingdoms. From the inside.”
“Like our young Mr. Bell,” Mac pointed out.
“Not quite,” Galeren disagreed as they entered his father’s house.
He spread his gaze over his parents in the dining hall. Father Timothy and Silene sat with them. When he saw her, he smiled and went to her, as if pulled by unseen tethers.
She looked especially lovely today in a forest green tabard, belted at the waist, and reaching to her knees with hose underneath and boots. Her habit was put away.
“Good mornin’, lass.” He knew he looked pitifully happy to see her. He didn’t care. “How were yer prayers?”
“Calming,” she told him, smiling, “and thankful.”
“Ye are a blessed man to be takin’ Silene as yer wife, Galeren,” Father Timothy told him happily.
“I know, Father.”
“She has to be special to have won our son’s heart,” his mother said as she beamed at Silene. Silene made a good impression then. He hoped his kin had done the same.
He pulled out a chair and sat beside Silene at the table. His men sat at the table after Galeren reintroduced them to his kin. He watched her notice his men were sitting with her. Her premonition had been incorrect.
“Thank you for retrieving my bag from Dundonald, Will,” she said with a wide smile after Galeren gave it to her. “I have a special dress in here that I did not want to lose.”
He winked when her eyes caught his.
“How is Morgann?” she asked on a low voice in case he didn’t want his parents to know about the lad.
“Free. I sent him off.”
“Oh.”
She looked off to the side and bit her fingernail.