Highland Promise (45 page)

        He couldn't help but grin at her indignation. She had the most enchanting glower. "She is right and wrong. Your scheme was bad for you and good for me."

        Faith released a disgruntled snort and continued reading. "Imagine my surprise to discover Brendan Sutherland staking his claim on my virtuous little sister despite her idiotic disguise."

        He ran a knuckle along Faith's jaw and watched the pulse bound in her throat. "At least she's smart enough to know an idiotic disguise when she sees one."

        "Do you want to hear the rest of this or not?" she asked testily, pulling away from his hand.

        He sighed. "By all means, continue."

        "I met him many years ago and have watched him grow into a strong warrior of valor as well as a fine chieftain. Had a lesser man pursued you, I would have stormed White Tower and stolen you from the English pig's court to save you from your misinformed conscience. Bren did that for me." Faith turned a rueful countenance toward him. "Chris really doesn't like King Henry."

        "I could tell she had good taste when we met," he said and watched Faith's lips turn down. "Now don't get riled. Finish the letter."

        "If he kept his word, which Sutherlands are known to do, you'll read

this on the Feast of the Epiphany. Do you remember our Arturian custom? We celebrate this day and exchange tokens in honor of Caspar, Balthazar, and Melchior, who paid homage to the Christ child.

        "My gift to you is enclosed. While it may seem belated, I thought it important that you not receive it until you knew in your heart that you are where Divine Providence intended, which is certainly not in a convent—or a cesspit." Faith chuckled and continued reading. "In addition, I pray you have also learned the lesson I tried to impart. No one is your kin if they deny your right to blossom into the woman that God desires you to become. Clan Sutherland will prove better kin to you than your brothers were. I trust you will impart this bit of wisdom to the babe nestled in your womb."

        Brendan frowned. "How could she know about the babe? She gave me this months ago."

        "Who knows how Chris knows anything. When looking in her eyes, you would swear you see all the wisdom of the ages stored in her mind." Faith tilted her head thoughtfully. "Which is appropriate, I guess. One of her titles is The Sophiafilumina, though most people shorten it to The Sophia. Her title means wisdom and light."

        "What else does she say?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

        She returned to reading. "Remember Alera, Medea, you, and I are sister by choice—no matter the distance that separates us. Allow nothing and no one to break this bond. We are sworn to keep it as a sacred trust.

        "You once said you were jealous that Medea, Alera, and I seemed so close to our angelic guardians. I told you then you had no reason for such a feeling, because yours was one of the most powerful of all. You had only to call upon him to gain his companionship. Now that you have met Sancte Raphaelo, you know I spoke true. I also told you not to think you were less than us because of our gifts. While ours may seem more apparent, you have the holiest gift of all, though the results may not be so easy for others to see. Our Most Holy Mother Mary kissed you at birth and poured graces upon you. At her entreaty, Our Blessed Lord gave you the power to touch the hardest heart and restore faith where it has been lost. In this age when many prefer bloodshed to peace, your gift is most needed.

        "Remember also our pact. The four of us will meet this year on the summer solstice. Alera will have already delivered, and you will be too far along to travel. Thus, we intend our reunion to take place at your new home. If you have need of me before then, you know how to reach me.

        "Until then, may our Lord's blessings fall upon you in abundance and His holy angels keep you and your kin safe.

        "Before I close, take heed. Alfrid's old bones are right. The blizzard descending upon your land this night will rage and last six days. Tell Bren to get off the bed and finish preparing the clan for the onslaught. And tell Michael and Luthias no matter how rugged they think they are, a cave is no place to pass the next several days."

        Brendan frowned, remembering her prior warning about danger to Faith. "How does she know these things?"

        Faith looked at him for a moment in indecision. "Chris is now your sister too, so I trust you to guard her secret as I do. She is a warrior for God, who received many gifts from the Holy Ghost at birth."

        "Then she has the power of prophecy?"

        "Only some times. Other times she talks with angels and saints and they tell her things. Her angelic guardian is Saint Michael. He actually appears to her."

        "Just how many gifts does the lass have?"

        She bit her lip and frowned in a contemplative manner. "I am not sure, but she can read hearts and tell when two soul mates are together. She probably knew we were meant for each other or she would have stolen me from you."

        "Over my dead body."

        "Believe me, if she thought we weren't meant to be together, you would be dead."

        "Your confidence in my abilities is overwhelming," he said sarcastically.

        "Oh, I didn't mean to insult you." She placed a hand on his thigh and gazed at him earnestly. "'Tis just that Chris is so tiny that people tend to underestimate her. One of her protectors is a Highlander bigger than you. I once saw her take him down and he limped for a week. You have to promise me you won't fight her when she comes."

        Brendan was tired of hearing the virtues of Michael's wife and irritated his own wife thought the woman could best him. "What is in the other scroll?"

        Faith lifted it and frowned. "I recognize the seal. 'Tis from her uncle. What would the pope send me?"

        "Her uncle is truly the pope?" he asked, unable to his mask his disbelief.

        "Aye." She broke the wax and unfurled the parchment. Her jaw went slack by the time she reached the end.

        "What does it say?" he asked impatiently.

        "'Tis a papal declaration defrocking Father Abernathy. He nullified my penance, saying I did not commit the sin of which I was accused." She glanced back at the scroll and her eyes shifted to stormy green. "'Tis dated three years past. She could have saved me much worry if she had sent this sooner."

        "Nay." He drew her against him and caressed his cheek against her silken hair inhaling her appealing scent. "You were too comfortable in your disguise. Even had you known of the document, you still would have tried to go to a convent. Your sister was wise to let you discover who your family is and your worth on your own."

        Faith smiled and kissed his palm. "As great as this gift is, you have given me the greatest gift. You have taught me to trust and love from my heart again. I understand those words in a way I never considered before."

        Brendan tucked a fallen lock behind her ear, as an unfamiliar wave of humility rushed through him. "You gave me the same lesson. I did not even realize my life was half empty until I met you."

        He leaned down and began to nibble on her lower lip.

        She moaned into his mouth and drew back. "Brendan, I would like to pursue this...activity. But if both Alfid's bones and Chris are right, a blizzard will soon be upon us. We both have work to do."

        He sighed and drew back. "I plan to spend all six of those days and nights pursuing this activity once the first flake falls."

        "I will be happy to accommodate you." She gave him a sultry smile. "I'll meet you here before the first flake hits the ground."

About Mary

Mary has been telling stories all her life. Now she writes humorous and adventurous historical romance set mainly in the medieval Highlands and England. She is a member of Romance Writers of America; Hearts Through History Romance Writers; Celtic Hearts Romance Writers; The Golden Network; River City Romance Writer; Faith, Hope & Love, Inc. She has won or placed in over 43 historical romance contests and is a past Golden Hearts finalist. She loves history, has a particular fondness for the Greek through Medieval periods, and is glad research for her books has finally utilized her ability to speak Ecclesiastical Latin. Mary resides in Memphis, Tennessee with her Maltese, Regina Benita Catarina, who runs the apartment. Visit her blog Chats through Time
http://marymccall.wordpress.com
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www.marymccall.net
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