‘He was always my enemy. What I did for Giselle makes no difference. Banan is evil, Abbot, truly evil, and relentless in his cruelty.’
‘T’is a sad fact, Lyall, that some men are twisted, in all sorts of ways. With some, it is on the outside, like me. Women have always recoiled in disgust at the sight of my affliction, and, had I been low born, I would have spent my life suffering ridicule and disdain. Taking holy orders and eschewing the pleasures of the flesh was easy for me. Then there are some men twisted on the inside, with withered minds, and hearts poisoned by lust - for money, for power or for women. Banan MacGregor sounds such a one, and perhaps his deformity is greater than mine and abides in his mind. And then there are men like you, Lyall, who have stout hearts and honourable intentions, but, like all men, you have a weakness. Women are drawn to that handsome face of yours. That innocent girl will be like dough in your hands, and you know it. Perhaps God has placed her under your power to test you in some way, as Eve tested Adam with the apple. I fear it is a test you are doomed to fail, for I have yet to meet a man whose conscience is more steadfast than the pull of his desires.’
‘In all honour, what would you have me do?’ sighed Lyall.
‘I know what men do in the name of war and conquest – I am not blind to their weakness. But I would have had you protect the girl for the night, Lyall, and then let her go free. That was a choice, was it not? Did that not occur to you?’ Abbot Aifric tutted and shook his head. ‘Honour be damned. I know exactly why you took her, and it had nothing to do with honour.’
‘Abbot, my intention, however misguided, was to keep her safe. It was meant as a kindness.’
‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions.’
‘I am well along the path to hell, Abbot, and I did not think that…’
‘No, you did not think. And what will your brother say about this girl when you drag her home to Beharra? Cormac hates the English, he won’t want one under his roof, no matter how pretty she is.’
‘Cormac can say what he likes, it will make no difference to me.’
‘Where will she sleep tomorrow when you are back on the road to Beharra, pray? What is to stop her warming your bed then?’
‘I’ll not have a bed, we will sleep in the open most likely,’ smirked Lyall.
‘Save me your insolence.’
‘I swore a vow to her, Abbot, on my honour.’
‘I not sure you have any, Lyall Buchanan.’
‘I need your help and your counsel, please.’
‘Oh, do you now? I have more pressing concerns than your lust for an English girl. I have just returned from a long and tiring sea voyage all the way to France, puking my guts out, to no avail.’
‘Does the Pope still refuse to recognise Robert’s legitimacy as King of Scotland?’
‘His holiness will not give way on the matter while the English press their cause. They paint us as villains and say that Robert is dividing Christendom with his demands for independence, that it is because of him that the crusade to the Holy Land cannot proceed. They say that he alone is to blame for this war continuing. Robert the Bruce has been excommunicated, Lyall.’
‘The King will burst with rage at this latest slight. He will wound England, and Edward, for this.’
‘Aye, so it is best to get your pretty hostage well clear of it. Send her back home as soon as may be.’
‘Will you despatch a letter to her home and demand a ransom? It is a place called Ravensworth, in Derbyshire.’
‘That will take some weeks, so you will have to be patient and, of course, the lass must remain unmolested, which will surely test your honour, Lyall.’
‘Well, I can hardly ride into Ravensworth and declare myself before the Baron as his daughter’s captor, can I?
‘No. I will have the letter drawn up at once, and despatch a messenger at first light.’
‘I thank you, Abbot. Now, I will go to see to Giselle’s welfare.’
‘You will do no such thing. You will find a bed with the monks, and try to take on some of their chaste ways, instead of foisting your charms onto a naive and frightened, young woman in my care. Be off with you, to your own bed, and move on at first light. Your hostage is far too bonnie for her own good, so she can’t stay here.’