Highland Fire by Ruth Langan

Author:Ruth Langan [Langan, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

When their meal was finished Colin turned to Megan. “I was going to take Bridget for a walk. Will you join us?”

“Aye.” She got to her feet and fell into step beside him.

As they exited the refectory he asked, “Have you seen the gardens yet, my lady?”

“Only from my balcony.”

“Then we will walk there.”

The door closed behind them, shutting out the hum of conversation.

Colin watched as Bridget danced ahead of them. They made their way between rows of carefully tended hedges. Here and there among the hedges were formal rose gardens and benches made from carved stone.

Megan glanced around in appreciation. A chorus of chirping birds hopped under the spray of water in a fountain, taking turns in a ritual of the bath.

The beauty of the garden seemed lost on Colin. He did not even see the lovely flowers or smell their glorious perfume.

“What troubles you, Colin?”

“So many things. Things I cannot speak of.”

“Oft times a problem shared seems less troublesome,” Megan said, laying a hand on his sleeve.

Colin gave her a long, silent look. “Aye, I think I could speak to you as I could not speak to many women, my dear Megan. But much of what lies in my heart cannot be spoken aloud. To anyone.”

She had so many questions. Was he a monk? And if so, why had he not told her? Or did he hope to become a priest soon? Why would that be unspeakable? She wondered, too, about the crimes that had brought him to Fleet Prison. But she kept her questions to herself. Whatever troubled Colin must remain his private torment until he was ready to share it willingly.

“My little maid, Aileen, told me about Bridget’s parents.” Megan squeezed his hand. “I am sorry, Colin. You must miss your sister very much.”

“Aye. I adored her. We all did.”

“When you arrived in England, did you learn anything about her fate?”

“Nay. There was so little time. Almost from the moment we stepped on English soil, we were followed. It was as if someone knew our intentions.”

“Had you confided in anyone?”

Colin shook his head. “Kieran and I have gone over this a score of times while we languished in prison. There were many who knew of our plans besides our mother and our friends. There is one among them who would betray us.”

“How sad that it is often the one we love the most who causes us the most pain.”

Colin glanced at her in surprise. “Aye. ’Tis true. But I cannot bear to think that it was a friend who sent us to that hellish place where we nearly lost our lives.”

She drew him down on a stone bench. “Tell me about Bridget.”

“I worry. She has been deeply affected by the loss of her parents.”

“It is natural to worry about the child. But at least she has the love of her family to comfort her.”

He watched as the little girl splashed in the fountain. “Aye. But she rarely speaks. It is as though she keeps all her thoughts locked inside.

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