Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“I will find you,” he said, returning the whisper as his hand drifted down along her arm to take her hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
Shade smiled and a faint pink stained her cheeks.
Quint slipped his arm around her waist to walk her to the door and before she stepped out of the room, he leaned in close to her and whispered, “Later I am going to make your entire body blush.”
Shade gasped softly, her blush deepening. “The cleric will hear.”
“We commit no sin, we are wed, and he knows that for sure since he wed us. Now go but remember that later I intend to make you blush all over.” He shut the door, the image of her now red cheeks burned in his memory and bringing a smile to his face. A smile that vanished as soon as he turned and faced the cleric.
“I was right. You two are in love,” Brother Peter said pleased.
“Very much so,” Quint confirmed. “Now tell me what one of Asher’s men wanted with you.”
“I don’t know the man you call Asher, though I heard that he works closely with Lord Torrance. The man, who you believe to be Asher’s man, confronted me on my way here—”
“You meant to come to Clan MacLeish?”
“Aye,” Brother Peter said, bobbing his head. “I could not forsake my duty after seeing so many wounded fleeing from the direction I was headed. So, I knew I was needed here more than at Clan Glencairn. The other cleric I was with, the one who recognized you as The Monk went on ahead to Glencairn. I turned around to come here, stopping often to pray and give aid to the wounded along the way.”
“That is most kind of you. Now tell me about the man who confronted you.”
“He appeared suddenly and demanded to know what I was doing in the area and my response seemed to displease him until he finally accused me of spying for Lord Torrance.”
“And are you spying for Lord Torrance?” Quint asked.
“Good, Lord, absolutely not,” Brother Peter said affronted. “I am a man of God. I do not spy. I offer hope to the needy and absolution to the wicked. You would do well to consider that. Confess that you killed the monks at Coggshall Abbey, and I will absolve you of the sin.”
“Vicious, senseless murders like those cannot be absolved by mere words, it takes revenge to bring those souls peace,” Quint said.
“And what about your soul, my son?”
Quint chuckled. “I have that angel you mentioned who looks after me.”
CHAPTER 25
Shade watched her husband lead Clan MacLeish as though he was born to it. He was stern and commanding when needed but also fair when needed. The people complied, understanding it was a ruse and their strong and courageous chieftain would return and save them from the inevitable evil of Lord Torrance. Even Witley and Monty played along though they didn’t know it, obeying every word and command The Monk gave them.
The injured warriors were improving, regaining their strength and eager to do whatever was necessary to keep their clan from falling to Lord Torrance. So, the warrior The Monk yelled at for talking with a woman when he should have been alert while sentinel on the perimeter of the village, repeatedly offered his apology. The Monk ordered him to do extra guard duty since this was the second incident of him failing at his given task, and he warned the warrior that if there was a third time he’d spend a whole day in the stocks he had built for just such a purpose.
Shade was aware the incident had been planned. Quint wanted to see if Witley or Monty, or anyone for that matter would try and sneak past him and rendezvous with someone. Her husband had sent men out to see if Asher’s men were lurking nearby, concerned about the incident with Brother Peter. Something had not set right about it with Quint, and he didn’t want to take any chances.
When he finished giving the warrior a tongue lashing, he headed back toward the keep where she waited on the steps, but Bethy stopped him. She stretched her arms out for him to pick her up and he did.
Shade smiled when she saw the little lass whisper in his ear. It had taken several cleanings with her ear pick, but she finally got the little lass’s ears cleared of all wax and she was able to hear normally. So, it made Shade happy to see Bethy whisper.
The little lass kissed The Monk on the cheek before he set her back down on the ground and she happily ran off. The more she saw how good Quint was with Bethy and how much he seemed to enjoy talking with her, the more guilty she felt about not bearing him a child.