By the gleam in his eye, she half wondered if he meant to melt the cross down and keep the silver for himself.
But his sins weren’t hers to govern.She’d done her part.She’d repaid the priory for the damages.
Still, as long as she was here, and as long as he didn’t remember her face, it wouldn’t hurt to put in a request for the nunnery.It was a risky move.But she’d learned without risk, there was no reward.
“Ye know, Prior, there’s a wee convent to the west near Mauchline.My cousin is the abbess there.If ye have half-burned books ye no longer need, I know she’d be grateful for one or two.”
“Books?Indeed, if ye don’t mind blackened chapters and ashes betwixt the pages.I’ll send them forthwith.”
Eve didn’t have to feign her smile of gratitude.For a long while she’d bemoaned the lack of interesting books at the convent.The other sisters seemed to be content with one Bible and a few histories of the Saints.But how much more exciting were the kinds of books Scone Priory had—bestiaries and treatises on medicine and agriculture.
Eve could hardly keep the spring out of her step as she crossed the cloister to leave.This was what she loved.Her Greater Purpose.Not only had she repaid the priory.But she’d achieved what she’d failed to do at her last visit.Procured books for the convent.Books that would enlighten her dear sisters.
Indeed, so self-involved with delight was she, she almost didn’t notice the monk lingering near the fountain in the midst of the cloister yard.
His head was covered by a brown hood.His shoulders were draped by a brown scapula.His belted cassock was brown and nondescript.To any other eye, he was simply one of a dozen faceless monks inhabiting the cloister.
But she knew instantly it was Adam.
Her heart jumped into her throat.
What was he doing here?Why was he dressed like a monk?Was he spying on her?How had he gotten here so fast?Had he followed her?
Her joy soured into anxiety.
On her own, she felt confident, sure of herself, able to take control even when things went awry.
But with Adam here…
He could easily undermine her efforts.Reveal her duality.Add peril to her mission.And endanger himself in the process.
She had to get him out of here.
“Ssss!”she hissed sharply, keeping her eyes trained ahead, but slowing her step as she passed.“Adam!”
Adam frowned in disbelief.
How the Devil had she recognized him?
He was completely concealed from head to toe.Not an inch of his face was visible.Not even his own mother would have known him.
“What are ye…?”she rasped out between her teeth, stopping and pretending to admire the fountain, but too vexed to even finish her sentence.“Begone.Now.”
“How did ye know ’twas me?”he asked in wonder.
He lifted his hand to peel back his hood.After all, there was no need to hide now.
Her eyes widened as she whispered, “Nay!Don’t!”Her fingers tightened on the stone edge of the fountain.
He froze.What was wrong with her?
Staring into the water intensely enough to boil it, she muttered, “Why did ye follow me?”
He answered with the truth.“I didn’t want to say goodbye.”
Following her had seemed a good idea at the time.Now he wasn’t so sure.She seemed very upset.
After a split-second of indecision, she said, “Follow me,” and turned on her heel toward the gates.
