Highlander Deceived (Stolen Highland Hearts #1) - Jayne Castel
Iona Nunnery
The Isle of Iona, Scotland
Early autumn, 1426
RHIANNA WEPT AS though her heart were breaking. Head buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking from the force of her sobs, the young woman appeared oblivious to her surroundings. Similarly, the apple tree she huddled beneath, laden with rosy-cheeked fruit, paid no attention to her suffering.
Keira approached her friend slowly, a frown creasing her forehead. She’d never seen Rhianna like this before. The lass was usually such lively, bright company. Keira couldn’t imagine what had reduced her to tears. Despite that the two of them had become close friends in the months since Keira had come to the nunnery, she felt as if she was intruding.
Keira’s step faltered. Rhianna had clearly sought out solitude for a reason.
And yet the muffled sound of her crying, which filtered across the walled garden behind the low-slung complex of stone buildings, rent at Keira’s breast like a dirk-blade.
“Rhianna.” Keira stopped before the spreading apple tree. She carried a basket under one arm, as she had come into the garden this afternoon intending to pick fruit. “What is the matter?”
Rhianna’s sobbing stilled, and she raised her flushed, tear-streaked face, her watery gaze fixing upon her friend. Then, to Keira’s surprise, she gasped, “My life is over!”
Keira’s pulse quickened in alarm, and she hunkered down before her friend so that their gazes were level. Like her, Rhianna wore a black habit, girded around the waist with a narrow plaited-leather belt. However, despite the drab attire, the young woman’s beauty shone like the afternoon sun above them. She had fine, aristocratic features and sea-blue eyes. Unlike the nuns here, Rhianna didn’t wear a wimple. Instead, her thick mane of golden-brown hair was tamed into a long braid down her back. Even bereft, her face mottled from crying, she was still lovely. Keira knew she didn’t look like that after she’d been weeping. Her eyes usually became puffy and raw, and her nose ran.
She’d wept much since coming to live at Iona nunnery, had soaked her pillow through many a night. Only her friendship with Rhianna had eased her sadness. As such, it pained Keira to see her best and only friend so upset.
“Whatever do ye mean?” she pressed. “Has something happened?”
Rhianna’s throat bobbed. “I’ve just come from seeing Mother Jean,” she replied, her voice raspy. “The day has come … my betrothed is traveling here to collect me … I will be wed.”
Keira stilled. She and Rhianna had spoken little about the future over the past months. Of course, Keira knew that her friend wasn’t a novice like her, a young woman destined for a future as a nun. Instead, Rhianna Ross was an oblate, given to the nunnery by her family to watch over her and ensure her chastity until her wedding day.
“I thought yer betrothed wasn’t ready to be wed?” Keira asked weakly, disappointment a stone in her belly. Rhianna was the only good thing about this place, and now she was going to be taken from her.
More tears spilled down Rhianna’s cheeks, but she knuckled them away. “My uncle has just sent me a missive. Apparently, there was a great battle between the Gunns and the Mackays over the summer … a terrible slaughter on both sides.” Keira inhaled sharply at this. She was a Gunn and knew nothing of this battle. However, oblivious to her reaction, Rhianna continued, “The Mackays of Farr lost their chieftain … which means my betrothed is now laird. He’s expected to take a wife.”
It was hard to miss the bitter inflection on the word ‘betrothed’.
Keira had always been bemused at the rancor Rhianna bore a man she’d never met. It had always been her dream to marry—a dream her parents had denied her. She would have given anything to be in Rhianna’s place right now.
If only her betrothed was traveling to this isle to sweep her away from this life.
Swallowing down her own sadness that soon they’d be parted, and her bitterness that she wasn’t in her friend’s place, Keira reached out and took Rhianna’s hand, squeezing gently. “Ye knew this day would come,” she murmured, forcing what she hoped was an encouraging smile. “A new life at Farr Castle in the north will be far better than being stuck here. What do ye know of yer husband-to-be?”
Rhianna’s beautiful features tightened, and she slowly withdrew her hand from Keira’s. “Connor Mackay is reputed to be brave and handsome … but it’s not him I want.”