Highland Sanctuary (31 page)

Serena choked and her chest ached as icy fear twisted through her heart. Her mind went numb with the mental chant,
Lord, please don't let this man be my da.

"Brokenhearted by my wife's betrayal, I set out to find them to no avail. When it became clear I wouldn't find them, I dedicated my life to battling the evil that took my wife. I joined the church, became ordained, and worked hard to set other families free, sparing other men from my fate."

He stopped talking and Serena sat still, afraid to move. Devlin strode forward, towering over her. "My daughter would be about your age. So you see, I'm determined to succeed in this. The first thing you'll do is write your mother. Ask her to come visit you."

"Why?" Alarm prompted her heart as it beat faster. If he was her father, could he harm her mother? Make demands upon her? After all, he was still her husband, wasn't he?

"Because I want to meet her." A mischievous grin slid across his face. "It often helps to meet the families of the person I'm trying to set free. Family members often reveal secrets about a loved one that the individual themselves will never give." He leaned forward. "But in this instance, I've more to gain. Would you not agree?"

Serena lifted her chin and met his gaze. "I know not. There's naught my mither can tell ye that I canna. She may be unable to come. She's suffering from burns on her face and isn't well."

"If she's who I think she is, I want her here." He pointed a finger at the floor. "Would her name happen to be . . . Evelina?"

Serena gulped, never straying from his gaze. She couldn't let him see her fear. It would only give him the upper hand in this battle of wills.

"I see ye've been askin' around about us." She lifted her chin.

"You'll write that letter, and I'll oversee every word of it. The writing will be in your hand, and if I know one thing about mothers, they'll come to the aid of their children—no matter their age—especially Evelina."

Serena wanted to weep. Regardless of how much of a mad monster he was, she knew he was right about her mother.

With unwavering determination, Father Tomas induced Gavin to let him come along. Gavin hitched Sholto to a small wagon Tomas kept in a shed behind his cottage. Once they arrived in town, Gavin was glad he'd succumbed to the idea. They arrived in Braighwick in better spirits than they would have been on their own.

Gavin secured a tavern inn with two rooms, one for Evelina and the other for himself and Father Tomas. Throughout the night, he slept little as Father Tomas snored like rumbling thunder.

The next morning, he and Tomas consumed a plate of eggs and a chunk of bread as Evelina finally appeared, wearing a black gown and a matching veil. She glided toward them with a straight posture and floated into the chair opposite them.

"I trust ye slept well?" Gavin asked.

"Hardly at all." Her quiet voice drifted through the netting. "I couldn't help thinking about Serena. All sorts of things vexed my mind. I'm sure the Lord is disappointed in my lack of faith."

"Not at all," Father Tomas said. "That's why God established grace. He's strong when we're weak. 'Tis one of the greatest blessings—to have a Savior we can depend on."

Silence followed as Evelina and Gavin processed Tomas's words. Gavin lifted his cup of water and noticed Evelina still had no food.

"Please forgive me for not offering sooner, but would ye like me to order somethin' to break yer fast?"

"Nay." She shook her head. "My stomach is tied in knots at the thought of having to face Devlin again."

"A wee bit of bread might settle yer stomach, and besides, ye need to keep up yer strength. Serena may need ye." Gavin held out a chunck of bread from his plate.

"I'll try." Her trembling hand reached for it. She slipped it beneath her veil and chewed in silence.

"I've been thinking about our approach—whether we should all arrive together and ask to see Serena, or if we should try alone at different times," Tomas said.

"Aye. Such thoughts have been on my mind as well." Gavin glanced between the two of them. "While Evelina is Serena's mither and would have the best chance at seeing her, she could also be in danger from Devlin as his long-lost and disobedient wife. I don't think she should risk going alone."

"True, but from what Evelina has said and the level of respect he's achieved in the kirk, I'd imagine him a verra prideful man. He may be too ashamed to reveal her as his wife. 'Twould make him look like a failure in his own household, and he would lose his priesthood."

"Aye." Evelina coughed, touching her chest. "He's prideful, but that's naught compared to his need for revenge. If he's like the man I remember, vengeance will weigh him down, and he'll somehow justify it through his idea of religion."

"Then that settles it. We'll attempt to visit all together at once," Gavin said.

Evelina sighed. "I must admit, that does make me feel better."

Less than an hour later, the three of them were shown into the sanctuary at St. Gilbert's Cathedral and told to sit upon the front bench. Inside, the building looked quite similar to other cathedrals Gavin had visited in Edinburg, Galloway, and London. The eerie silence thickened around them. Gavin's nerves twitched until he desired to pace. He had to grip the bench on each side of his legs to stay seated.

Father Kendrick appeared through a door behind the pulpit. A slight grin chiselled deep lines into his expression. He first greeted Father Tomas, then Evelina, and at last, Gavin.

"I knew it wouldn't be long before we had a visit from all of ye." He scratched his chin. "Serena is doing well, but I'm sorry to say that she canna receive visitors while Father Broderwick is in the process of an exorcism. It can last weeks . . . even months."

"What about a supervised visit where ye or Father Broderwick is present?" Gavin asked. Hope beat with each pounding pulse that pumped throughout his body.

Father Kendrick glanced down at his feet, shifted his weight back and forth as if considering the question. "I'm sorry, but we canna. Too much risk is involved."

"May we write her and receive letters from her?" Evelina asked.

"'Twould be permissible." Father Kendrick's eyes lit in obvious relief to offer some good news. "Though I must warn ye, the correspondence will be read to ensure no planned escapes or persuasion of the mind are present in the letters."

"Thank ye, Father." Evelina released a deep breath.

"There's one exception." Father Kendrick raised a finger and turned to face Evelina. "Father Broderwick has requested a private meeting with ye, Evelina. He asked Serena to write ye, but now that ye're here, he'd be pleased to meet with ye now if Father Tomas and Gavin will wait." Father Kendrick stepped back and tilted his head to the side.

Determined to learn what he could of Serena's situation and condition, Gavin leaned over and touched Evelina's arm. "We'd be happy to wait for ye."

"It's time," Father Tomas agreed.

Evelina stepped forward, straightened her shoulders, and lifted her veiled head. "I'm ready. Lead me to him."

As Gavin watched her leaving the sanctuary, he glanced up at the painted mural on the wall where Jesus lay on the cross with Mary bowed at his feet.
Lord, be with her. Give Evelina lots of wisdom and strength.

Father Kendrick led Evelina down a dark hall. His black robes blurred into the shadows surrounding them. Their footsteps were soft, steady clicks against the stone floor.

Evelina thought of her flight from Devlin twenty years ago and her courage returned with each step. God had not forsaken her then. He would not forsake her now.

He paused by an open door. "I've brought Evelina Boyd as ye requested."

"Good. Send her in and you may leave us," a deep voice said in an English accent. Even after all these years that voice had tormented her dreams and hovered upon her mind like a ghost—something that wasn't supposed to be, but still lurking. Evelina didn't believe in apparitions, but the perception still applied to her past with Devlin.

Father Kendrick stepped aside and waved her in. With her head held high, her chin lifted, and her spine straightened, Evelina strode into the study.

A small fire burned in the hearth, giving the air the smell of burning wood. Lit candles graced his dark wood desk littered with an open book, parchment paper, ink, and several quills in a container. Two candelabras permitted more light on opposite walls of dark panel.

Devlin stood and walked around the desk. Evelina wasn't expecting so much gray in his once-dark hair. He still kept it cut straight around his head like an upside down bowl and trimmed around the ears. His dark eyes sparkled through lined circles she didn't remember. He wore a black robe similar to Father Kendrick's with the exception of a silver chain around his waist. A silver cross hung from his neck and lay mid-length of his chest.

"Please sit." He pointed to the two brown chairs at angles facing the fire.

Evelina disliked the mischievous grin that slid across his face making his age lines even more visible. To make the best of her opportunity, she'd humble herself, bargain and beg if need be—anything to save Serena. Her gown swished as she walked further into the room and sat. She linked her black gloved hands in her lap.

"Where is Serena? May I see her?" At least her voice sounded steady.

"At the moment, she's fine. And no, you may not see her. I do not wish her to be influenced during the exorcism." He leaned forward. "I'm afraid you're at an advantage and I at a disadvantage. After twenty long years, you have the opportunity to see how I've aged. Must I continue conversing with you through that abominable black veil?"

His quick denial in letting her see Serena stung like a whip. A deep ache burdened her heart, so much that it was impossible to ignore.

"Please . . . must ye do this? Serena is a good lass. She loves the Lord with all her heart. No evil lurks inside her. What can I do to make ye believe her innocence?"