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“Father, it’s extreo to—”
Before she could finish her explanation, Ramsey forcefully interrupted “Didn’t Gillian have to cliet Alec Maitland? Iain told e”
“She’s right in front of you, Raested
She wasn’t paying any attention to the two lairds now “Father, ould you need to ask—”
“Did you, Gillian?”
Once again Ramsey had interrupted her, and had she not known better, she would have thought that he’d done it on purpose, but that was ridiculous, of course Unlike Brodick, Ra, he was diplomatic to a fault
“Did I what?” she asked somewhat absentmindedly as she continued to study the priest Why in heaven’s name did she have to satisfy the Church before she could continue on to Ra?
Repeating his question, Ramsey demanded that she look at hied the priest’s indulgence before turning her back on him
“Yes, Raet Alec”
Before he could ask her another question, she gave the priest her undivided attention once again “Father, are you telling o any further until I satisfy the Church? Did I hear you correctly?”
“Yes, e from this very spot until I’m completely satisfied I lare at Brodick
“You will be satisfied,” Brodick assured him
“I don’t understand” she began
“I will make certain you do understand,” the priest said “The Buchanans are experts in trickery and deception They will do whatever it takes to get what they want, and since your parents and your confessor are not here to protect you, I feel it’s uardian and your priest Now do you understand?”
She didn’t understand at all She started to shake her head and thought to ask Father why he felt she needed someone to look out for her Didn’t he realize that Brodick was there to help?
“Father, I asked Brodick—”
The priest was so startled, he didn’t let her finish “You asked him? Then you weren’t coerced?”
Gillian was beginning to think that Father Laggan ain she patiently tried to explain “If anyone has done any coercing, it is I Brodick would have gone back home if I hadn’t asked him to—”
Brodick cut her off “She has her own mind, Father I have neither forced nor manipulated her Isn’t that so, Gillian?”
“Yes, it is so,” she agreed “But Father, I’ why you feel it necessary to play ood hands?”
Father Laggan looked as though he wanted to weep for her “Dear Lady, you cannot possibly knohat you’re getting into,” he cried out, stunned by her calm acquiescence “Answer me this,” he de?”
“No, I haven’t”
The priest threw up his hands in despair “There you have it,” he said triumphantly and in a near shout
“What I have seen of the Highlands is very beautiful,” she said “And I iine that Brodick’s land is just as lovely”
“But you’ve never es who call themselves Buchanans, now have you, lass?” the priest asked in a shrill voice
It was hly upset, and hoping to soothe him, she responded, “No, I haven’t met many of his followers, but I’es”
“Dear God above, she thinks they’re pleasant Did you hear her, Ramsey? Did you?”
Rah when he answered “I heard, Father, but I would remind you of what Brodick has said Gillian has her own mind ’Tis my belief she will find his followers very pleasant”
“How could she—” the priest began
“She finds the Buchanan laird pleasant enough He wouldn’t be by her side if she did not Brodick can be quitecharwhen he puts his mind to the task” Rahter
The priest returned to Brodick “She can’t possibly knohat’s in store for her”
“Are you suggesting that I will not look out for her or that any of my clan will mistreat her?”
Father Laggan realized he’d overstepped his bounds and hastily tried to repair the da his hands he said, “No, no, I was entle ladyand I cannot iine how she will survive such a harsh environment”
Gillian couldn’t understand what had precipitated this peculiar conversation and why Father Laggan was so obviously distressed She looked at Brodick, hoping he would explain what in heaven’s nanored her as he spoke to the priest in rapid Gaelic His brogue was thick, his hostility apparent, and she was horrified that he would speak to a er
He was telling the priest howany harm co, but Father Laggan did, and at the moment that was all that mattered
Brodick was vastly amused when Gillian blurted out, “You mustn’t speak to a priest so harshly God won’t like it” Turning to Father, she said, “He doesn’t mean to be insolent”
“You need not apologize for me,” Brodick said
“I’ your soul,” she snapped
“You are mindful of his soul?” the priest asked
“Soet to heaven without assistance Surely you realize that, Father, for you have known hier than I”
“Gillian, enough of this foolish talk,” Brodick ordered
She ignored hiood heart, Father He just doesn’t want anyone to know it”
The priest soodness within him?”
“Aye,” she answered softly “I have seen it”
The priest squinted as he studied her “You were raised in a peaceful household?”
“Yes, I was My uncle’s home was very peaceful”
“Yet you’re willing” Father Laggan shook his head “As I said before, I do not kno you will ever survive in such a harsh environment”
“Father, Brodick and I are going to Ra to correct any
“But you will not stay there forever,” he shouted in frustration “You will have to go home sometime”
“Yes, of course I will I o back to—”
“Gillian, how did you e it?” Ramsey shouted
Startled, she turned to hie what, Ramsey?”
“If you’re afraid, how did you et Alec?”
“You want to discuss this now?”
“I do”
“But I was just explaining to Father Laggan that I must—”
“Answer Ramsey’s question, Gillian,” Brodick ordered
She gave up trying to control the conversation then and there “How did I cliet Alec? It was simple I closed my eyes”
“It ray a few e”
“I didn’t have a choice, and I didn’t have ”
“Now, lass, if I could gain your cooperation for a moment, I would like to ask a few pertinent questions,” Father Laggan insisted
At the very same ti you’re so obviously afraid of required bravery”
“Gillian did what
needed to be done Of course she’s brave,” Brodick said
She disagreed “No, I wasn’t brave at all I was so scared I was shaking And I cried,” she thought to add
“Gillian, you will not argue with me about this I have said that you are brave, and you will accept that I knohat I’ about”
She didn’t like being contradicted “Brodick, the pope is infallible You are not Therefore, you cannot possibly know—”
“I really would like to continue,” the priest urged “Now, lass, I need to know this Are you in good standing with the Church?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“He wants to know if you’re in good standing with the Church,” Brodick repeated
She looked from one to the other “I believe I am”
“And as your last confession?” Laggan asked
She hesitated
“Answer him,” Brodick ordered
Her temper flared “I have asked you not to take that tone with me,” she whispered “I don’t like it”