Page 35 of Fallen
The knot in Coira’s breast clenched tighter. He suspected right—and if he ever discovered the truth, it would be over for all of them.
Long moments passed, and then MacKinnon’s attention shifted to the abbot. “Father Camron … how long have ye been visiting the abbey?”
“Nearly two weeks now,” the abbot replied, helping himself to a cup of ale.
“And ye have not seen anything to arouse yer suspicions?”
Coira’s breathing hitched, her heart now racing so fast she started to feel dizzy. Suddenly, she wanted to dive under the table and cower there like a beaten dog. She felt exposed seated at the same table as MacKinnon—and was grateful that he hadn’t yet noticed her presence at the far end of the dais.
But the abbot had long been looking for an opportunity to cause trouble—and now it had arrived.
Father Camron’s mouth curved into a small, wintry smile, an expression that did not warm his dark eyes. “I’m here in the role of inquisitor … did ye not know, MacKinnon?”
The clan-chief raised a dark eyebrow. “And why’s that?”
The abbot raised his cup to his lips and took a leisurely sip, aware that all eyes were now upon him. For the first time since the meal had begun, the abbess’s serene mask was slipping. Tension now bracketed her mouth, and her gaze had narrowed.
“Of course, ye know about the two nuns who havemysteriouslyleft the order of late,” the abbot continued.
“Aye … ye know I do.” The words were uttered roughly, a sign that MacKinnon’s patience was thinning.
Coira wondered then whether the abbot would dare raise the issue of MacKinnon’s own part in Leanna’s disappearance.
Her fingers clenched around her spoon. Father Camron was playing a game, and from the glint in his eyes, she knew he was enjoying it. For the first time since arriving at Kilbride, he felt in control.
“The Pope takes a dim view of such things,” he said after a pause, clearly deciding to steer clear of the clan-chief’s poor behavior. “I have written to him, and he has given me permission to investigate Mother Shona.”
MacKinnon inclined his head. “And have ye found any condemning evidence?”
Feeling a gaze upon her, Coira glanced over to where Sister Elspeth was watching her. Of course, all of the nuns knew about her run-ins with the abbot. And the warning glint in the older nun’s eye told Coira that Sister Elspeth knew Camron was going to drop her right in it.
Coira’s spine tensed. There was nothing she could say or do; she was trapped.
“The abbess is far too lenient with her nuns,” the abbot drawled, favoring Mother Shona with a quick, nasty smile. “She allows them to practice with weapons … to take witching hour walks outside the abbey walls with no explanation.”
And then, Father Camron looked straight at Coira.
The world stopped, and it felt as if, for an instant, so did Coira’s heart.
All gazes at the table swiveled to her—including MacKinnon’s.
And when he looked at Coira, his expression froze. Until this moment he’d been so intent on his conversation with the abbot and abbess that he’d barely paid any attention to the senior nuns seated around the table.
But he did now.
MacKinnon and Coira’s gazes fused. The years rolled back, and suddenly Coira was cringing upon a soiled bed atThe Goat and Goose, watching as MacKinnon loomed over her.
Despite that the air was close inside the refectory, Coira’s limbs started to tremble as if she’d just caught a chill.
“How many of the nuns have behaved this way?” MacKinnon asked. His voice was soft now, barely above a whisper.
“Just this one.” Father Camron’s tone was jubilant. “Sister Coira.” He paused a moment before adding. “Although I suspect there are others who are just asdeviant.”
MacKinnon ignored the abbot’s last comment, his attention never wavering. “Sister Coira.”
“Aye … two of my monks found her practicing with a quarter-staff in the orchard over a week ago. She wields it like a man.” The disgust in the abbot’s voice was evident, yet MacKinnon continued to ignore him. “And I suspect her offornication.”
An unpleasant smile twisted the clan-chief’s lips. His gaze then shifted to Mother Shona. “I need to question this nun,” he drawled. “Alone.”
