Page 33 of Highland Flame

Chapter Ten

Cam went back to the hidden room in the catacombs, needing to get away from Yvaine, as well as Avianca. Lighting a candle, he entered the room, liking the dead silence in the underground place. With the cacophony of voices in his head right now, all he wanted was a moment of peace. He wasn’t a man easily shaken by anything, but he felt out of sorts because of what just happened.

“What is the matter with ye?” he asked himself aloud, heading over to the bed and flopping down upon it. He lay on his back staring up at the ceiling. Shadows danced above him from the flicker of the flame, and he swore he saw the silhouette of Yvaine above him.

Letting out a sigh, he buried his face in his hands, closing his eyes and wishing this punishment was over. Did he really just kiss a woman who’d not only just lost her husband, but who was planning on giving the rest of her life to the Order? What the hell was he thinking? Mayhap he really did have a problem with the lassies, after all, since he just couldn’t stop himself from doing it.

All he could seem to think about was Yvaine. He blamed it on the fact that it must be because she was one of the only women inside these walls who wasn’t already a nun, and it was making him feel desperate. Or was it?

Who was he fooling? It had nothing to do with that at all. He’d already been attracted to her from the moment he met her back at Hermitage Castle. There were plenty of women around him then, so desperation wasn’t what made him feel this way, after all. Something about her pulled him in. Was it the fact that he felt sorry for her? After all, she was a young widow who was about to give up her life to the Order. Mayhap, his attraction to the lass had something to do with the way she looked after Avianca who wasn’t even her daughter.

The wee lass was his daughter.

Or was she?

Confusion filled his brain.

Cam’s life was changing so quickly that it made him feel unsettled. It also threatened any belief he’d ever had in his life. As if finding out he had a four-year-old daughter wasn’t shocking enough, now he was insanely attracted to a woman who didn’t even like him, not that he could ever have her anyway.

“I just want to go back to the Highlands,” he mumbled, drifting off to sleep and wishing to escape his new prison. Perhaps his prison wasn’t the priory, after all. Mayhap his thoughts, wants and beliefs were the only things holding him captive right now.

*

“Where is myfaither?” asked Avianca as Yvaine walked with the little girl from the church after compline – the last prayer service of the day before bedtime.

“I dinna ken, but ye’d better call him Cam like he asked,” said Yvaine, noticing the monks lighting a few torches in the courtyard since the sun had already set. Yvaine looked around, walking up to one of the monks who might have seen Cam.

“Excuse me, but do ye ken where I can find the Highlander named Cam, or perhaps his friends?” she asked the monk, but he remained silent. “How about ye?” she asked another, but he didn’t answer either.

“Why willna they speak to us?” asked the little girl.

“I’m afraid it’s because they’ve taken a vow of silence, and arena allowed to speak.” She let out a sigh. This was already proving to be harder than she thought it would be. She looked down to the black robe of a nun that she wore. She hadn’t wanted to don it, but her brother gave it to her to cover her gown so it wouldn’t become soiled while she unpacked the chandler tools.

Being pregnant made Yvaine tired. She was nearly four months along now and although she wasn’t really showing, she could feel herself starting to thicken around her middle. It wouldn’t be long before her gowns no longer fit and she had to wear these ghastly robes every day. Mayhap she could make herself some new clothes. At least she thankfully had the skill of knowing how to sew.

“Why dinna they speak?” asked the curious little girl. “Dinna they have anythin’ to say?”

“I’m afraid I dinna ken the answer to that.”

Yvaine heard voices in the dark and looked up to see the silhouettes of Cam’s Highland friends making their way across the courtyard from the vineyards.

“Nash! North!” she called out, waving them down. When they got closer, one look at them almost made her laugh aloud. “What happened to ye two?” she asked, stifling a giggle. Both the men were barefooted and carrying their shoes. Their legs were dyed purple all the way up to their knees, and she guessed probably up higher under their plaids as well.

“We were dancin’ on bluidy grapes for hours,” griped Nash.

“I never want to have to do that wretched job again,” added North. “I am tired and hungry and need to sleep.”

“Oh, my,” said Yvaine, holding her hand up to her mouth, hoping they didn’t see the smile she tried to hide in the dark. “Was Cam stompin’ grapes with ye?” she asked.

“Nay, but he should have been,” complained Nash.

“This is supposed to be his bluidy punishment, but my brathair and I are the ones doin’ all the chores,” North added.

“Well, where is Cam?”

“If he’s no’ with ye, my guess is he’s lyin’ on a soft bed, dreamin’ of girls,” snapped Nash.

“Oh, so did Brathair Gillies give ye three a nice place to stay?” she asked.