Page 76 of Unforgotten
Abbot Camron wasn’t a man to make an enemy of. He was haughty and petty. She’d just humiliated him, and he wouldn’t forget it easily.
Once the abbot and his monks had disappeared, the abbess heaved a sigh and turned away from the gates.
For years she’d managed to keep the peace here at Kilbride, but a sense of foreboding settled over her now. The incident with Ella had set things in motion that couldn’t be stopped. The abbey had two enemies now: MacKinnon and Abbot Camron. She would need to be wary of giving either of those men further offense.
A chill wind whipped through the abbey then, tugging at the abbess’s habit and veil. The sky had darkened, and the scent of rain was in the air.
Despite herself, Mother Shona allowed a grim smile to curve her mouth. It looked as if Abbot Camron was about to get a soaking on his way to Dunan.
What a shame.
“Mother Shona.” A voice hailed her, and she turned to see a small figure hurry across to her.
“Sister Leanna,” Mother Shona greeted the young woman with a frown, waiting while the nun knelt before her, before she made the sign of the cross to bless her. “Ye shouldn’t be outdoors at this hour.”
“I know, Mother Shona.” Leanna rose to her feet, her gaze pleading. “But I had to speak to ye … when the other sisters weren’t present.”
The abbess inclined her head. “What is it, Sister?”
“Sister Ella … Ella … brought back a message for me from Dunan,” Sister Leanna replied hastily. “She wanted me to warn ye and my father, when I was ready.”
The abbess tensed at these words, but didn’t reply. After a brief pause the novice continued. Her voice was unusually high-pitched, betraying her nervousness. “As ye know, MacKinnon wished to wed me … but my father was against the match and sent me here so that I would be free of him.”
Mother Shona nodded. Niall MacDonald of Sleat had been wise to protect his daughter from MacKinnon. Apart from Sisters Ella and Coira—whom the novice had confided in—they’d decided to keep this news from the other nuns. Sister Leanna was leaving her past behind her, after all.
Sister Leanna’s gaze grew haunted. “Ella told me that MacKinnon intends to come for me … he gave her a message. He says that the walls of Kilbride will not protect me. Sooner or later I will be his wife.” The nun paused, dropping her gaze. “When his men searched the abbey for Ella, I hid in the pig sty.”
The abbess grew still. Alarm filtered through her. The news shouldn’t have surprised her, yet it did. Of course, MacKinnon had wed Siusan Campbell after being thwarted by Niall MacDonald. Unfortunately, he was now free to wed again—and he had not forgotten Lady Leanna.
Troubled, Mother Shona resisted the urge to mutter an ungodly curse. Life had become increasingly difficult of late. She didn’t like that MacKinnon had yet another reason to disturb their peace.
“He cannot touch ye here, child,” she said finally, hoping that her voice didn’t betray the unease that simmered in her breast. “Next year ye shall take yer perpetual vows.”
Did she imagine it or did Sister Leanna’s hazel eyes shadow at that? Mother Shona knew that coming to live at Kilbride had not been the lass’s choice, yet she had adapted well to life here. The abbess had thought she was content in her decision, but maybe she wasn’t.
“Yer father would never permit the union,” Mother Shona continued. She reached out and placed a comforting hand upon Sister Leanna’s arm. “Fear not.”
Sister Leanna’s chin firmed, and she managed a wan smile. “Thank ye, Mother Shona. I apologize for burdening ye.”
“And I’m glad ye shared this news with me,” the abbess replied. “Go now and get some rest. We have archery practice this afternoon.”
Sister Leanna nodded before turning and hurrying away.
Mother Shona watched her go, misgiving settling upon her.
This was ill-news indeed. She hadn’t realized that MacKinnon still wanted the lass. He was a strangely obsessive man; once his mind fixed upon something, he would never give it up. It made her fear him a little.
I need to increase our training sessions,she counselled herself as she turned on her heel and set off across the yard.The sisters must be ready to defend themselves if the need should arise.
The abbess entered her hall, a narrow annex that abutted the refectory. Stepping inside the dimly lit space, she felt her shoulders lower, a little of the day’s tension draining from her. This was her sanctuary, a quiet space where she could let herself relax. In this place she wasn’t ‘Mother Shona’, but just merely ‘Shona of Lismore’.
Her hall was sparsely furnished, with a desk and chair at one end and a narrow sleeping pallet at the other, shielded from view by a heavy curtain. A large hearth, unlit at this hour, sat alongside one wall, flanked by two high-backed wooden chairs. Mother Shona lowered herself onto one.
A sense of disquiet settled over her, causing her belly to tense and her breathing to quicken. Kilbride had been her life’s work. She had poured her passion, her soul, into making it strong, into making the women who lived within its walls independent and learned.
But now, a shadow had fallen over them. Dunan was half a day’s ride away, yet it now felt as if MacKinnon lived far too close. There had been times over the years when she’d almost forgotten that the abbey sat on MacKinnon lands—but of late she’d received a sharp reminder.
Difficult times lay ahead, she sensed it in her bones.
