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Amelie awoke the following morning with a knot in the pit of her stomach. This was going to be the true test, she thought. Evan had promised to come and visit her in the nunnery, but his words had been hollow. She would see if Ro could follow through with his intentions, and solidify all the things he had confessed to her the previous day. She went about her morning duties with a sense of excitement, and when the middle of the day arrived she heard his booming voice surging through the nunnery. Her heart leapt and she hurriedly completed her task, before rushing to see him.

She slowed her pace before he came into view, not wishing him to see how eager she was. Ro was in the kitchen, talking to one of the nuns. They were both laughing. For a moment Amelie wondered if she was interrupting, and she felt horrible again, just as she had when she had witnessed Evan caught in an intimate quarrel. However, as soon as she walked into the room, Ro turned to greet her. His big, broad face lit up with delight and he walked up to her, bowing his head.

“It’s a pleasure tae see ye again,” he spoke in a deep rolling voice that made her knees shake. He grabbed a hamper and held it in front of him. “I took the liberty of preparing a picnic. I thought we could make use of the warm weather, for it is nae likely tae last long,” he chuckled and then gestured for her to join him. She fell into step with him and they walked to the far reaches of the garden. They were framed by blossoming flowers and lush trees. The sunlight streamed down, peppering the ground with golden shards. Insects buzzed about, creating a gentle sense of excitement.

Ro laid down a blanket and then began to set out the food. Amelie’s eyes widened at what he had brought for her. There were thick slices of meat, small pies, sweet bread, cakes, jam, various fruits, nuts, and a few other things. It seemed like far too much for just the two of them.

Ro noticed her reaction and caught himself. “Ah, I hope that this is nae a sin, I just thought it would be a nice treat. I hae some good relations with bakers and butchers and grocers, and they often give me a hearty meal. It’s only fitting tae share it with ye,” he said and began serving her the food. Amelie merely smiled and then pulled out her slate.

It’s wonderful. Thank you, she wrote.

Ro nodded, and then they began eating. She nibbled on her food, while he took huge bites, devouring it all as if it was going to disappear if he did not finish it quickly. He leaned back, patting his stomach.

“It is beautiful here. Ye are fortunate tae live in such a beautiful part of the world.”

If it is so beautiful, then why would you want to leave?She asked.

“Well, I always just thought there was more out there. And I thought since I hae seen the most beautiful place in the world the only thing that could hold any delight for me was seeing something new. But I would nae leave now,” he shook his head and looked somber. “After what happened tae my family I want tae make sure I put down roots here. I just wish I could be at home again. I hae everything just the way I wanted it tae be, and then it was all ruined,” he spat, his words turning bitter. Amelie furrowed her brow. She didn’t remember him mentioning his home being lost the previous day.

Your home was taken away too?She inquired.

Ro ran his hand across his mouth, wiping his lips to catch any stray pieces of food. He then cleared his throat. “Ah, aye,” he stammered. “Well, when Da died it became harder tae maintain the home without his income, and then after Ma… the place hae sae many bad memories for me. I decided that I could nae keep it. There was nae really much point considering I was on the road sae much.” He looked at Amelie directly and his words took on a more earnest tone. “I want tae make a new home, one that I can fill with new memories and new hopes. I want tae leave the sadness of the past behind.” The smile lingered on his face for a few moments, before it then turned to a scowl. “But I still harbor hatred for those who ended up costing me my home. By killing my Da, those bandits took everything away from me. I hae been stripped of the right tae walk through those halls, tae feel like I belong. That place hae always been sae special, but now it hae been tainted because of them.”

Darkness fell over his face and once again Amelie’s heart went out to him. She wished she was brave enough to touch him and offer him some tender comfort, but she wasn’t ready to make that sort of gesture yet. Instead, she grabbed her slate and asked him something different.

Tell me a good memory of your father, she said.

The anger faded from Ro’s face as he tilted his head back and took a deep breath. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, a gesture that Amelie usually saw from men who wore a beard. She gazed at him intently, trying to imagine what he would look like with hair sweeping across his lower jaw. However, she had never been very good at that sort of thing, and she soon became distracted by Ro’s story.

“He was a good man. He hae high standards as well, nae just for me, but for everyone. The… community in which we lived… it was filled with people who dinnae always behave as they should have. Da took it upon himself tae show them the proper way. He made them see the error of their ways. Aye, some of them hated him for being sae strict, but he was only trying tae make the world better, in his own way. If they hae just listened tae him then I’m sure their lives would hae been better. He always knew what was right. He could see the future, as though it was a path tae walk,” as Ro said this, he raised a hand and pointed his fingers directly in front of his eyes. “Sadly, he could nae see the brazen attack by the bandits. I suppose he dinnae think that anyone would be sae foolish as tae attack him, but then some men enjoy taking risks,” he sighed.

Amelie gave him a sympathetic sigh and tilted her head.

“Will ye tell me something about yer Da?” he asked gently.

She nodded and bent down to look at her slate. He was a merchant from France. My mother went away to marry him, but then he abandoned all of us. He shunned us and sent us out into the streets of Paris, leaving us to survive by ourselves.

Ro nodded with understanding and murmured. “He sounds like a monster. A man who pushes away his family is nae man at all. I am sorry ye hae tae live through that, but I am glad that God brought ye tae a better place,” he said. She was a little surprised that he did not react to the news that she was not originally from the Highlands. Perhaps it did not matter to him though, just as her inability to speak did not matter. She liked to think he found other things important. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. His musky scent peppered the air, and her vision became filled with him.

“I hope I am nae being tae forward, Amelie, but I want tae tell ye that I take loyalty very seriously. I would never act as yer Da acted. As far as I am concerned, men like him hae nae place in the world. A man is only as good as his word and must stand by the promises he makes. I made a promise tae my Da, a promise that I intend to keep.” His words were filled with intense emotion and it stirred similar feelings within her heart. The more time she spent with Ro, the more she felt a kinship with him, and when he looked at her it was as though she was the only thing he saw.

What did you promise him?

Ro thought for a moment. His eyes glazed over and then his voice caught on emotion as he spoke.

“Tae be a good man,” he said.

Amelie thought he had succeeded, and she hoped she would be able to play some small part in helping him to keep this promise.

* * *

Evan was at the training grounds. He was supposed to be overseeing a sparring session, but his mind was elsewhere. It had been ever since Amelie had left. It had pained him when she hadn’t said farewell to him. After the kiss they shared he thought that they had reached a special understanding, yet she had ghosted away from the castle before he had a chance to find her. He had chased after her, finding her chamber empty, just as his heart was. Spending time with her had been a delight. If only he could have explained what happened at the feast. She just never gave him a chance.

In the days that followed he had tried to tell himself that she was just a lass, that she didn’t matter at all and had just passed through his life like so many others in the past. He hadn’t even danced with her!

But she wasn’t like any other girl. She was special. He had known it from the first time they had met, from the first glimpse he had caught of her. His heart had swelled and it was as though a veil had been lifted from the world. Being with her allowed him to understand something that had been elusive before, and now that she was gone, well, he was plunged into confusion again.