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than
Marion, but she had the force of personality that made others feel
she towered over them, especially when she was displeased. Right
now, Marion did not want her displeasure, for that was not the last
memory she wished these people to have of her.
    “ Everything shall work out,
daughter. God’s will be done,” the prioress said in a gentler tone,
seeing Marion’s hesitation. She motioned toward the door. “Now
bring them in.”
    Balls and chains dragged at each of her feet
as Marion went to open the door. The laird was standing beside it,
his expression arrogant. She wondered if he had overheard any of
the lecture she had received.
    “ You may enter,” she said
in as condescending a tone as she could muster.
    It was impossible to maintain a sour
attitude toward Brother Luke, as he seemed genuinely happy to see
her. And from the letters Marion had received from her aunts over
the years, she knew the cleric was a frequent visitor to Fleet
Tower. They exchanged a few pleasantries again at the door.
    Marion was relieved to see Sister Beatrice
join them, as well. The old nun was perhaps the most devoted friend
she had at the convent.
    “ Marion and I have spoken,”
the prioress announced to the others once the door was closed
again. Favoring a bad knee, the old woman limped around her desk to
a chair and sat down. “She will be ready to leave
today.”
    “ But I cannot travel alone
with a group of men.” The idea came out of nowhere. Marion figured
it had to be a divine intervention.
    The prioress paused over her concern for a
few short seconds before turning to the Armstrong laird. “Marion is
correct, m’lord. It would be completely improper for her to be in
the company of all your men for such a lengthy journey.”
    Iain thought for a moment, then glanced at
Brother Luke and Marion before looking back at the prioress. “May I
have a moment to speak to Brother Luke…by the window?”
    “ Of course,” the older
woman said.
    As the two men moved away to exchange a few
hushed words, Marion strained to hear what they were saying. She
didn’t like the look on Iain’s face as they came back toward
them.
    “ Perhaps,” she suggested
quickly to the prioress, “I can have couple of the nuns accompany
us on the trip south. Maybe Sister Beatrice would not
mind…”
    She glanced at Iain. He was looking at
Beatrice, and the pained look on his face was precious. The old nun
was nodding enthusiastically.
    “ That is out of the
question. Sister Beatrice’s health would never withstand so long a
journey, complicated by the fact that she would need to travel
right back before the winter storms set in.” The prioress shook her
head adamantly. “Perhaps some of the younger nuns.”
    “ I might suggest a more
reasonable solution to Lady Marion’s concerns,” Brother Luke
offered in a gentle tone.
    The confident look on Iain’s face told
Marion that she was not going to like the suggestion, whatever it
was.
    “ Pray continue,” the
prioress instructed.
    “ The betrothal is well
established, and the banns have all been read,” Luke said. “The
wedding that is to take place at Blackthorn Hall in little more
than a fortnight is ceremonial. It is simply an opportunity to feed
hundreds of guests and to allow everyone to witness a momentous
union of the Armstrong and McCall clans.”
    Marion felt like she was standing on the
edge of a cliff, ready to be pushed. Or to jump. She watched
Brother Luke wipe at the dust on his cloak before continuing.
    “ That celebration could
still go on as planned, but what I would suggest is to have these
two young people marry before we leave the convent.”
    “ That is impossible,”
Marion cried out.
    “ Why is it impossible?”
Iain asked coolly. “You’re the one who brought up the
inappropriateness of the travel arrangements.”
    “ My intention was to have
female companionship during what would surely be a very dull and
arduous journey.”
    “ Now you will have