Page 94 of Edge of Yesterday

Dread slithered through Cailean’s innards and he couldn’t escape the idea that he knew.

“There were rumors Lady Elizabeth had a child,” Father Andrew said slowly.

“But you dinnae believe it?”

He shrugged. “No one came forth claiming to have her child.”

“Why would they?” Cailean said. “As a bastard, the child would be shunned.”

The priest shook his head. “Patrick was the first man to have Lady Elizabeth. The child could just as easily have been his. But that was no matter. The marriage contract had been signed.”

Cailean nodded. “Which meant any child she bore would carry Patrick’s name.”

“If there was a child.” Father Andrew took a long sip of wine, then wiped his mouth with a linen napkin.

“But you do no’ believe there was a child?” Cailean pressed.

“As I said, there was never any proof.”

“Did you look for one?”

The priest studied him. “What is your interest in this?”

“My family told me Lady Elizabeth gave birth to a child.”

He seemed to consider that. “Even so, why do ye care?”

“Wouldn’t that child be Patrick’s rightful heir?” From the corner of his eye, Cailean glimpsed the narrowing of Lennox’s eyes.

“Do ye think to swing the power from Alexander?” The priest grunted. “He willnae give up control.”

Cailean shook his head. “Nae. I don’t care about suchlike.”

“Then why pursue this?”

Cailean shrugged. “Curiosity.”

“Curiosity can get a man killed.”

“That sounds like a threat, Father.”

“Cailean.” Beneath the table, Julianna stomped on his toe. “Father Andrew wouldnae threaten a mouse.”

“That sword he wears says otherwise.”

“Even a priest must sometimes defend the weak.” Father Andrew took another drink. “Let me speak plainly. Curiosity is a fine thing. But if Alexander thinks you are trying to unseat him, he may no’ care that you are simply curious. Even you must admit that your interest is strange.”

He couldn’t argue with that.

“Untangling what happened might be more trouble than it’s worth,” Cailean finally said. Especially when he’d be gone soon.

“One thing we know for certain is that Patrick sinned grievously when he gave his betrothed to his men.”

Father Andrew’s tone said he disapproved, but Cailean wasn’t buying. He recalled Lady Morgana playing the part of Lady Elizabeth dying in Valdar’s arms. Cailean cast a sideways glance at Julianna. Lady Morgana was dark, Julianna fair, but both women were petite—compared to him, at any rate. He couldn’t imagine Julianna being passed around by men like—Cailean looked at Father Andrew—like Father Andrew.

~*~

Father Andrew insisted on giving them a tour of the gardens and orchard, which took the better part of the afternoon. He then led them into the monastery’s main dining area where they were ushered to the long table at the head of the room, an area as vast as any castle’s great hall. Cailean’s stomach rumbled in response to the delicious smells wafting from the trenchers and platters in the middle of the table. Father Andrew sat to Julianna’s left and to his left Father Gabriel sat at the head of the table. Lennox sat to Gabriel’s left and a dozen other priests and monks joined them. Cailean liked Father Gabriel, a pious man in his late sixties with the vigor of a man in his forties. Unlike Father Andrew, he didn’t carry a sword, but his broad shoulders and muscled arms said he’d grasp a weapon—any sort—when necessary.