Page 146 of Laird of Smoke
As he trudged through the forest toward Mauchline, he practiced his explanation in a contrite murmur.
“I apologize, Eve.But ’twas a necessary deception I had to employ in the course of avoiding a war.”
That sounded good.It would impress her.
“You should be proud, Eve.You played an instrumental part in resolving the conflict between Laird Fergus and the king.”
That was good as well.Eve would have a story to tell for generations to come.
“I asked the king to keep you hostage, Eve, because I care for you, and I knew it was the place you would be the most safe.”
Aye, that was the one.That would soften her heart.
“It may make you glad to hear the king rewarded me with silver for my negotiations, Eve, and I delivered the coin as restitution to the alewife.”
Even better.Eve would be relieved to know he’d sought justice so selflessly.
Then he sighed.
All of them were true.Yet the words sounded like feeble excuses for his wretched behavior, even to his own ears.
He feared her heart would never heal from the damage he’d done to it.And if that happened, he didn’t think he’d find happiness again.
He was still brooding over what he would say when he arrived at the convent.It looked old, but well-kept, standing in a broad clearing of the wood.A stone wall surrounded the close, with bare-limbed fruit trees peering over the top.
When he passed through the gates, he saw several nuns toiling in the yard.Some were pruning the trees.Others tilled small patches of soil by hand.He perused their faces.None of them were Eve.
A pair of novices pulling neeps from the garden spotted him first, whispered together, and then ran off, probably to fetch the abbess.
A moment later, a rosy-cheeked, matronly nun greeted him from across the close.
“Brother, welcome!”
Behind her scurried the two novices, and the laborers stopped their work to watch.Life in a nunnery was dull.A stranger was cause for excitement.
The abbess clasped her hands before her.“What brings ye to our fair convent, Brother…”
“Adam, Reverend Mother.”
“Adam,” she repeated.
Behind her, the novices giggled into their hands.
“Sisters!”the abbess hissed.Then she addressed him.“Forgive their rudeness, Brother.We get few visitors.”
The abbess shooed the novices along and ushered him into the refectory.There, two more nuns brought him oatcakes and ale.
Neither of them were Eve.
“What brings ye to our fair convent?”the abbess asked.
“I’m searchin’ for an acquaintance o’ mine.”
“An acquaintance?”
“A nun.”
“Ah.And her name?”
