Page 20 of Highland Flame

Chapter Seven

The sound of the monks chanting filled the church, sending shivers up Yvaine’s spine. The church was magnificent, and huge! She felt so alive being here. Her eyes closed as she breathed deeply, feeling a good energy enter her body.

She had just started to relax when her eyes drifted open to see Jesus on the crucifix behind the altar, staring down at her. Suddenly, she didn’t feel worthy of being in this holy place at all. She was a murderer now, and certainly God knew it! Her body stiffened, and her head dizzied. She needed to get out of here fast. She didn’t belong here – not when God knew her terrible secret.

“Pardon me,” she said, squeezing in front of Cam, trying to get out of the pew. His hand shot out and he gripped her around the wrist, almost making her cry out.

“Ye’re no’ leavin’ if I have to be here,” he whispered to her.

“Let go of me,” she said through clenched teeth. “Ye’re hurtin’ me.” She managed to twist out of his grip and hurried down the aisle, away from him.

“What was thatall about?” whispered North, looking over at Cam.

Cam shrugged. Then he leaned over and whispered to Nash. “Watch the child. I’m goin’ after Yvaine.”

“Nay!” said Nash in a loud whisper, looking terrified. Cam smiled.

“She willna bite,” he said, looking down at Avianca, who was playing with a prayer book, pretending like she knew how to read. “However, I’m no’ so sure about Yvaine.”

Cam stepped out from the pew and hurried out of the church after Yvaine. He didn’t see her anywhere, so he headed across the courtyard toward the stables. When he heard a whimper from inside one of the cloistered walkways, he stopped in his tracks and turned around. Quickly, he headed over in that direction.

“Yvaine?” he called out, stepping into the shadows of the covered walkway to find her sitting on one of the stone benches. She saw him and quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

She faked a smile, but he didn’t believe it in the least.

“Nothin’,” she answered.

“Then why did ye leave before mass was over?”

“I just . . . needed some air.” She sniffled, looking in the other direction.

Cam walked over and sat down next to her. “I’m sorry,” he said in a low voice.

“Sorry? Whatever for?”

“Ye said I was hurtin’ ye when I took yer wrist. I never meant to harm ye, Yvaine.”

“Oh, that.” She sniffled again and flashed a quick smile. “Ye didna hurt me. No’ really.”

“Then why did ye say I did?”

“I – I just didna want to stay . . . I guess.”

“Ye and me both,” said Cam, making her giggle.

“Do ye think it’ll really be that bad stayin’ here at the priory?” she asked him.

“Ye tell me,” he answered. This time, it was his turn to fake a smile. “It sounds like there’s no’ much that goes on here besides prayin’. They dinna even let the monks talk. Are ye sure this is the kind of life ye want?”

“Of course no’,” she said. “Who would want that?”

“Nay? Then why are ye goin’ to be a nun?” he asked, confused as to her true purpose here.

“A nun?”

“Aye. That’s why ye’re here, isna it? I ken it is what happens to a lot of lassies when they are widowed at a young age. They become nuns and give their lives to the church.”

“I’m no’ thatyoung,” said Yvaine, eager to change the subject. She didn’t want to mislead him, but if he thought she was in training to be a nun, mayhap it wouldn’t hurt. Then, he wouldn’t woo her like he did with all the lassies, especially the whores. Cam had a reputation for spending most of his time with a woman in his arms. She didn’t want to be his next trollop.