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.MacLaren had refused to go; he was on shaky ground, and he knew it.Chaumont and Mary stood nearby, and many of the nuns watched the scene, not sure what to do.Chaumont came up to MacLaren and spoke softly."Watch yourself, my friend.He's a Templar.""How would ye ken?"Chaumont looked away."I know most of the old Templars out of France, those that survived the slaughter, that is."MacLaren nodded, storing this information away for future questioning.There seemed to be much he did not know about his friend."Are you sure you want to pursue this?" Chaumont asked."You are on holy ground.If you attack an abbot on Church grounds, you'll be excommunicated for sure." MacLaren weighed his options.He wanted desperately to talk to Aila.He distrusted this abbot, but he had to admit Aila had tried to run away to the convent before for just this purpose.It was possible she had changed her mind again.Would he fight the abbot and drag her back against her will? Silently, he prayed for wisdom.He sighed and resheathed his blade."I've no' come to fight ye, Father.I wish only to speak wi' my wife.If she wishes to stay, I winna press her." MacLaren was resolute.Aila was not Marguerite.He understood that now.If she chose God over him, how could he feel betrayed? Perhaps it would be the better choice for her.He realized he loved her enough to let her go, if it be her wish.Time would heal his heart.Eventually.Maybe.Not."Nay, wait!"MacLaren turned with a jolt.It was Aila.His heart raced to see her, but then he frowned.Her dress was torn, her face smudged with dirt, her hair a mess.What had happened here?"Father Abbot says ye wish to stay." MacLaren addressed Aila."If that be so, I will leave at once.Tell me true for now and evermore.Do ye wish to take orders, or do ye wish to be my wife?" MacLaren spoke without emotion, preparing to walk away with at least a shred of his dignity intact.Aila glanced between MacLaren and the abbot.Both men waited on her answer."When my father said I was to marry ye, I was given no choice.Now, I do have the right to choose.But I would no' wish for bloodshed, especially no' in this holy place." Aila frowned, the concern clear in her eye."Go on, lass.'Tis time to choose," MacLaren said gruffly.Aila glanced nervously at Father Barrick then straight ened her shoulders."Sir Padyn MacLaren, I would be proud to be yer wife for the rest o' my days."MacLaren closed the gap between them and seizedher in a kiss.She melted into his arms, and MacLaren wanted to hold onto her forever."Noooo!" shouted the abbot and rushed forth with his sword.MacLaren pivoted quickly, drawing his own blade and blocking the abbot's attack that would have cut Aila to shreds."I dinna want to fight ye, Barrick, but I will defend my wife to the death, whatever the consequences," MacLaren snarled."She was meant for the convent, until you poisoned her mind.I will not let her leave with you.Her inheri tance belongs to the Church," seethed the abbot, striking again against MacLaren's sword."Her inheritance belongs where her father wishes.The Church has no right to interfere.""Please, ye must no' fight o'er my inheritance," begged Aila as Chaumont dragged her away from the fight.No one was listening to her.She yelled louder, "My husband is a righteous, God-fearing man who intends to give my dower lands, the land the convent and abbey were built on, to the Church."That got everyone's attention.MacLaren and the abbot stopped and stared at her.MacLaren frowned."That is very generous of you, Sir Padyn," said Sister Enid as she limped in between the combatants."We greatly appreciate your kind remembrance of our poor community."The abbot scowled at MacLaren."If this be your intent, give me your pledge now."MacLaren had no intention of giving Aila's land to the Church.He needed her land for himself, yet he had not considered the holy community that had already been built on it.All eyes were on him now—the abbot, Sister Enid, Chaumont, Mary, Gavin, and Aila, who looked up at him beseechingly.Give up the land? That is why he had married her in the first place.Suddenly he felt the eyes of God on him as well, and felt ashamed at his own greed.It all belonged to the Lord anyway.He rolled his eyes heavenward.The land was gone."Aye, I pledge Aila's dower lands to the Church." MacLaren knew in that instant that he may have given away all of the land he had coveted, should Graham bear another legitimate heir.He didn't care.More than the land, he wanted Aila, not her inheritance, just Aila.Aila smiled up at him, the recognition of what he had given away not lost on her."I accept your pledge and will hold you to it," replied the abbot, looking most irritated as he resheathed his sword."Thank you for your generosity to our community.You are welcome anytime.Now get thee gone [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]