The Faithful Heart Read Online Free PDF

brains and
    skill.”
     
     
“And what will happen if she accepts the clan’s vote of confidence
    and becomes the named heir?”
     
     
Ruairc threw his hands wide in despair. “Then she will be in danger
    as tanaist of the sept, which is right back where this
    discussion started. I don’t have all the answers, Aunt Agatha. I
    can’t see into the future. All I know is that her father needs her
    now.”
     
     
Ruairc began to pace the room once more, running his fingers through
    his thick black hair, his lustrous green eyes sparkling in the
    firelight.
     
     
At length he declared. “I don’t know if she will trust me, or ever
    be able to love me again, but she did once, long ago, of that I'm
    sure. Perhaps in time she will again. But I can't break my
    confidence. Unless the person responsible tells her where I was on
    the day of Conor’s death, I must remain silent upon the subject.
     
     
"But I give you my word, she is the only thing of value I cherish in
    this whole world. I will not allow her to be harmed. Nor will I give
    her up to the Church, or to another man, without a fight.”
     
     
Morgana’s tap and entrance into the room prevented Agatha from
    making any reply. She walked up to the Mother Superior for a
    blessing.
     
     
“My prayers are with you and your family, my dear," she said,
    resting her hands on Morgana's head. "The Lord will watch over you
    and those you love."
     
     
Morgana felt a lump in her throat as she whispered, “I’ll be back
    soon, Mother.”
     
     
Morgana felt her hand placed in Ruairc’s strong grip. The sensation
    was both entrapping, and oh so right, like she had been on a long
    journey, and had at last come home. She removed her fingers from his
    clasp gently, though her instinct made her want to jerk them away.
    She did not even look at him.
     
     
He gritted his teeth, but schooled himself to be patient. The
    mistrust and suspicion of the past two years was not going to be
    wiped out in only a few minutes.
     
     
Agatha said softly, “If I never see you again, Morgana, remember I
    will always be with you in spirit.”
     
     
Ruairc saw his aunt’s face whiten, and he sat her down in a chair
    quickly.
     
     
“You're not ill, are you, Aunt?” Ruairc whispered, as the icy grip
    of her gnarled old hand clutched at his arm.
     
     
“Of course not, my son. But none of us can predict the future, now
    can we? It is all in the hands of God. Farewell to you both.
     
     
"Ruairc, take her now, and go. Don’t come back unless she insists,
    and don’t argue,” Agatha added in an undertone as Ruairc bent to
    kiss her wrinkled cheek.
     
     
Ruairc took Morgana by the hand once more. Oddly chastened by
    Agatha's words, she went along to the stables as meekly as a lamb.
     
     
"Are you ready, Morgana?" he asked softly.
     
     
He was linking his fingers together near the side of one of the
    saddled horses. She knew what he was asking. But there was a great
    deal more to his question than whether she would mount the steed.
     
     
She smiled impishly to herself. Taking a few steps to the rear of
    the beast, she ran up and jumped, pushing off the beast's great rump
    with both hands, to land squarely in the saddle.
     
     
Despite himself, Ruairc laughed. "Not even two years as a novice can
    tame your spirit, I see."
     
     
"Nay, nor any man either," she said stiffly, gathering the reins.
    She thumped her heels into the horse's side and moved off, leaving
    him staring after her with a look of longing that was unmistakable.
     
     
As was the joy in her soul as she headed out of the gates. Home! Morgana’s heart sang within her breast. I’m going home.
     
     
She tried to tell herself that Ruairc being with her had nothing to
    do with the sensation, but all the same, as he settled his horse
    into an easy canter beside her, it was hard to forget the fact that
    he had been so much a part of her life for so many years that them
    being together had been like the