Julie Garwood Book Saving Grace Read Online

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When Lady Johanna learned that she was a widow, she vowed she would never marry once more. Only 16, she possessed a strength of will that impressed all who looked past her golden-haired beauty. Yet when King John demanded that she remarry—and selected a bridegroom for her—information technology seemed she must acquiesce, until her beloved foster blood brother suggested she wed his friend, the handsome Scottish warrior Gabriel MacBain.

At kickoff Johanna was shy, only as Gabriel tenderly revealed the splendid pleasures they would share, she came to suspect that she was falling in love with her gruff new husband. And it was shortly apparent to the entire Highlands association that their brusque, gallant laird had surrendered his heart completely. But now a desperate royal intrigue threatened to tear her from his side—and to destroy the human being whose love meant more than to her than she had e'er dreamed!

* * *

Julie Garwood

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Affiliate iii

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter six

Affiliate 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Affiliate 11

Chapter 12

Affiliate thirteen

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Affiliate 18

Chapter 19

Affiliate 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

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Julie Garwood

Saving Grace

(Джулия Гарвуд — "Добрый ангел")

— прим. Lady Morgana

Prologue

Barnslay Monastery, England, 1200

Holy Bishop Hallwick, will yous explain to usa the hierarchy in heaven and on earth? Who is the most esteemed in God's eyes?" the student asked.

"Don't the apostles stand starting time in God's good graces?" the second student inquired.

"Nay," replied the wise bishop. "The archangel Gabriel, protector of women and children, our champion of the innocents, stands first to a higher place all others."

"Who next then?" the starting time pupil asked.

"All the other angels, of course," the bishop answered. "Next stand the apostles, with Peter get-go amid the twelve, then follow the prophets and miracle workers and those practiced teachers of God's word on world. Terminal in heaven stand all the other saints."

"But who is the most important here on world, Bishop Hallwick? Who is near blest in God'south eyes here?"

"Man," came the firsthand reply. "And the highest and well-nigh of import amongst men is our holy pope."

The ii students nodded credence of that dictate. Thomas, the elder of the two young men, leaned frontwards on his perch atop the stone wall outside the sanctuary. His brow was wrinkled with concentration. "Next in God'due south love stand the cardinals and then the other ordained men of God," he interjected.

"That is so," the bishop agreed, pleased with his student's guess.

"Just who stands next in importance?" the second educatee asked.

"Why the rulers of kingdoms here on globe," the bishop explained. He sat down in the eye of the wooden bench, spread his ornately decorated black robes, and so added, "Those leaders who fatten the church building'due south treasury are more loved by God, of class, than those who hoard gilded for their own pleasure."

Iii more than young men walked over to listen to their holy leader's lecture. They settled themselves in a half circle at the bishop's feet.

"Do married and so unmarried men stand side by side?" Thomas asked.

"Yep," the bishop replied. "And they are of the same position every bit the merchants and the sheriffs but just in a higher place the serfs chained to the land."

"Who adjacent, Bishop?" the 2nd educatee asked.

"The animals, starting with the most loyal, man's dog," the bishop answered, "and catastrophe with the wearisome-witted oxen. In that location, I believe I have given yous the full hierarchy to echo to your students once you have taken your vows and are ordained men of God."

Thomas shook his head. "You lot've forgotten women, Bishop Hallwick. Where exercise they stand in God's love?"

The bishop rubbed his brow while he considered the question. "I have not forgotten women," he finally said. "They are last in God's love."

"Below dull-witted oxen?" the second educatee asked.

"Aye, below oxen."

The three young men seated on the basis immediately nodded their agreement.

"Bishop?" Thomas asked.

"What is information technology, my son?"

"Take you given u.s.a. God's hierarchy or the church'due south?"

The bishop was appalled by the question. It smelled blasphemous to him. "They are the same, are they non?"

A great number of men who lived in the early centuries did believe that God'southward views were always accurately interpreted by the church.

Some women knew better. This is a story nearly ane of them.

Chapter 1

England, 1206

The news was going to destroy her.

Kelmet, her true-blue steward and senior in charge since Businesswoman Raulf Williamson'southward hasty departure from England on the king's personal business, was given the responsibility of telling his mistress the god-awful news. The servant didn't put off the dreaded task, for he guessed Lady Johanna would wish to question the ii messengers before they returned to London, if his mistress could speak to anyone after she'd heard about her beloved husband.

Aye, he needed to tell the gentle lady every bit shortly as possible. Kelmet understood his duty well plenty, and though he believed he was broken-hearted to get it done, his feet still dragged as though mired in knee joint-deep mud as he made his mode to the newly congenital chapel where Lady Johanna was in afternoon prayers.

Father Peter MacKechnie, a visiting cleric from the Maclaurin belongings in the Highlands, was making his style up the steep incline from the lower bailey when Kelmet happened to spot him. The steward let out a quick sigh of relief before shouting a summons to the bleak-faced priest.

"I've need of your services, MacKechnie," Kelmet bellowed over the rising current of air.

The priest nodded, then scowled. He however hadn't forgiven the steward for his insulting behavior of ii days past.

"Are you wanting me to hear your confession?" the priest shouted back, a hint of mockery in his thick brogue.

"Nay, Father."

MacKechnie shook his caput. "You've got yourself a blackness soul, Kelmet."

The steward made no response to the barb but patiently waited until the nighttime-haired Scot had gained his side. He could see the amusement in the priest's optics and knew then he was jesting with him.

"There is another matter more important than my confession," Kelmet began. "I've merely received word…"

The priest wouldn't permit him finish his explanation. "Today'southward Good Friday," he interrupted. "Nothing could be more of import than that. You won't be getting communion from me come Easter forenoon unless y'all confess your sins today and beg God's forgiveness. You might brainstorm with the distasteful sin of rudeness, Kelmet. Aye, that would be a proper start."

Kelmet held his patience. "I gave you my apology, Father, but I encounter that you still oasis't forgiven me."

"'Tis the truth I haven't."

The steward frowned. "As I explained yesterday and the day before, I would not allow yous archway into the keep because I was given specific orders past Baron Raulf non to permit anyone inside while he was away. I was told even to deny Lady Johanna's brother, Nicholas, entry should he come calling. Begetter, try to sympathise. I'1000 the third steward hither in less than i year's time, and I try only to hold onto my position longer than all the others."

MacKechnie snorted. He wasn't quite through baiting the steward. "If Lady Johanna hadn't intervened, I'd still be camped outside the walls, wouldn'

t I at present?"

Kelmet nodded. "Yes, y'all would," he admitted. "Unless you gave upwardly your vigil and returned home."

"I won't be going anywhere until I've spoken to Baron Raulf and set him directly nearly the havoc his vassal is causing on Maclaurin land. Plain murder of innocents is going on, Kelmet, but I'chiliad praying your businesswoman doesn't have any idea what an evil, power-hungry man Marshall has turned out to exist. I've heard it said Businesswoman Raulf's an honor able man. I hope that praise be true, for he must right this barbarism with all possible haste. Why, even now some of the Maclaurin soldiers are turning to the bastard MacBain for assistance. Once they've given him their pledge of loyalty and named him laird, all hell's going to break complimentary. MacBain will go to war against Marshall and every other Englishman preying on Maclaurin country. The Highland warrior is no stranger to fury or vengeance, and I'd wager my soul fifty-fifty Baron Raulf'south hibernate will be in jeopardy once MacBain sees for himself the rape of the Maclaurin country by the infidels your baron placed in charge."

Kelmet, although not personally involved in the plight of the Scots, was however caught up in the story. There was besides the fact that the priest was inadvertently aiding him in putting off his dreaded task. A few more than minutes surely wouldn't injure, Kelmet thought to himself.

"Are y'all suggesting this MacBain warrior would come to England?"

"I'm not suggesting," the priest countered. "I'yard stating fact. Your baron won't have the slightest inkling he's hither either until he feels MacBain'south bract at his throat. It volition be also belatedly then, of course."

The steward shook his head. "Baron Raulf'due south soldiers would kill him before he even reached the drawbridge."

"They'd never get the adventure," MacKechnie announced, his voice business firm with conviction.

"Y'all make this warrior sound invincible."

"I'grand thinking he could be. 'Tis the truth I've never met another like him. I won't chill you with the tales I've heard about the MacBain. Suffice it to say yous don't want his wrath pouring down on this go on."

"None of information technology matters now, Father," Kelmet whispered, his tone weary.

"Oh, it matters all right," the priest snapped. "I'm going to wait to see your baron for as long as need be. The matter is too grave for impatience to accept hold."

Father MacKechnie paused to get together his control. He knew the Maclaurin event was of no concern to the steward, notwithstanding one time he started to explain, the anger he'd been carefully guarding within spilled out and he wasn't able to continue the fury out of his voice. He forced himself to speak in a much calmer voice when he changed the topic.

"You're still a sinner, Kelmet, with the soul of an sometime dog, simply you're an honest man trying to do your duty. God will call up that when y'all stand before Him on Judgment Day. If you're non wanting me to hear your confession now, then what service do you lot require?"

"I demand your assistance with Lady Johanna, Father. Word has just arrived from King John."

"Yes?" MacKechnie prodded when the steward didn't immediately continue his explanation.

"Baron Raulf is dead."

"Proficient Lord above, you cannot mean it."

"It's true, Male parent."

MacKechnie gave a harsh gasp, then hastily made the sign of the cross. He bowed his head, pressed his hands together, and whispered a prayer for the baron's soul.

The air current sent the hem of the priest's blackness cassock slapping against his legs, but MacKechnie was besides intent on his prayers to pay any attending. Kelmet turned his gaze to the heaven. The clouds were blackness, swollen, and being nudged overhead by an insistent, howling wind. The sound of the storm's advance was eerie, ominous… fitting.

The priest finished his prayer, made some other sign of the cantankerous, and and then turned his attention to the steward once more. "Why didn't you tell me right abroad? Why did you allow me continue and on? You should take interrupted me. Praise God, what will happen to the Maclaurins now?"

Kelmet shook his caput. "I don't have any answers for you, Father, regarding the baron'south holding in the Highlands."

"You should accept told me right off," the priest said again, still staggered by the blackness news.

"A few more minutes makes no difference," Kelmet replied. "And perhaps I was putting off this task past keeping you in conversation. Information technology is my duty to inform Lady Johanna, y'all meet, and I would greatly appreciate your help. She's so immature, then innocent of treachery. Her centre is going to exist broken."

MacKechnie nodded. "I've known your mistress for simply two short days, just I've already seen she has a gentle nature and a pure heart. I'm not certain I tin be of much help though. Your mistress seems to be very frightened of me."

"She fears most priests, Father. She has sound reason."

"And what would that reason be?"

"Her confessor is Bishop Hallwick."

Begetter MacKechnie frowned. "Yous needn't say another discussion," he muttered with disgust. "Hallwick'due south wicked reputation is well known, even in the Highlands. No wonder the lass is fearful. It'southward a wonder she came to my assistance and insisted you let me in, Kelmet. That took courage, I'm realizing now. The poor lass," he added with a sigh. "She doesn't deserve the pain of losing her beloved husband at such a tender age. How long has she been married to the baron?"

"She'southward been his wife for over three years. Lady Johanna was little more than a child when she was wednesday. Father, delight come with me to the chapel."

"Certainly."

The two men walked adjacent. Kelmet's vocalism was halting when he next spoke. "I know I won't take the proper words. I'k not certain… how to say…"

"Be directly," the priest advised. "She'll appreciate that. Don't make her judge by giving her hints. Perhaps it would do us well to fetch a woman to aid comfort your mistress. Lady Johanna volition surely need another woman's pity besides as our own."

"I don't know who I would ask," Kelmet admitted. "Just the mean solar day before Baron Raulf left, he replaced the entire household staff yet again. My lady barely knows the servants' names. At that place have been and so many of them. My mistress keeps to herself these days," he added. "She'southward very kind, Father, but distant from her staff, and she has learned to hold her own council. 'Tis the truth she has no confidantes nosotros could bring along with usa now."

"How long has Baron Raulf been away?"

"Near to 6 months now."

"Yet in all that while, Lady Johanna hasn't come to depend upon anyone?"

"Nay, Father. She confides in no one, not fifty-fifty her steward," Kelmet said, referring to himself. "The businesswoman told the states he would only be away for a calendar week or two, and we've been living with the expectation of his inflow home each and every day."

"How did he die?"

"He lost his footing and vicious from a cliff." The steward shook his head. "I'm certain there's more to the explanation than I've been told, for Businesswoman Raulf wasn't an awkward man. Perhaps the king will tell Lady Johanna more than."

"A freak accident and so," the priest decided. "God'due south will exist done," he added almost as an afterthought.

"It might have been the devil's work," Kelmet muttered.

MacKechnie didn't remark on that possibility. "Lady Johanna will surely marry over again," he announced with a nod. "She'll inherit a sizable amount, won't she?"

"She'll proceeds a tertiary of her husband'south holdings. I've heard they're vast," Kelmet explained.

"Might one of those holdings be the Maclaurin land your King John stole away from Scotland's male monarch and gave to Baron Raulf?"

"Mayhap," Kelmet allowed.

MacKechnie filed that information away for future use. "With your lady's golden-colored hair and handsome blue eyes, I would imagine every unattached baron in England will want to marry her. She's very beautiful, and though information technology's probably sinful of me to acknowledge, I'll tell you lot I was quite afflicted by the sight of her. Her advent could easily bewitch a human, even without the estate she'll have to offer."

They reached the narrow steps leading up to the chapel doors when the priest finished his remarks.

"She is beautiful," the steward agreed. "I've seen grown men openly gawk at her. Barons will certainly desire her," he added, "but non in marriage."

"What nonsense is this?"

"She's barren," Kelmet said.

The priest's optics widened. "Dear God," he whispered. He lowered his caput, made the sign of the cross, and said a prayer for the dearest lady's brunt.

Lady Johanna was too in prayer. She stood behind the altar and said a prayer for guidance. She was determined to exercise the correct affair. She held a parchment curl in her hands, and when she finished her plea to God, she wrapped the scroll in linen cloths she had already spread on acme of the marble surface.

She once over again considered destroying the damning evidence against her king. Then she shook her head. Anytime, someone might find the gyre, and if merely one human learned the truth about the evil male monarch who once ruled England, so peradventure a thread of justice might be served.

Johanna placed the scroll betwixt the ii marble slabs below the chantry top. She fabricated certain it was subconscious from view and protected from impairment. Then she said another quick prayer, genuflected, and walked down the aisle. She opened the door to go outside.

The conversation betwixt Father MacKechnie and Kelmet immediately stopped.

The sight of Lady Johanna still affected the priest, and he acknowledged the truth without feeling a qualm of guilt. MacKechnie didn't consider himself caught by the sin of lust considering he noticed the shimmer in her hair or stared a scrap longer than necessary at her lovely confront. In his listen, Johanna was simply one of God's creatures, a magnificent example, to be sure, of the Lord'due south ability to create perfection.

She was Saxon through and through with her high cheekbones and off-white coloring. She was a little shorter in stature than others, for she was of but medium height, only she appeared taller to the priest considering of the queenly way she held herself.

Aye, her appearance pleased the priest, and he was certain she pleased her God also, equally she truly possessed a kind and gentle heart.

MacKechnie was a compassionate man. He ached over the cruel blow the dear lady had already been given. A barren woman served no purpose in this kingdom. Her very reason for existing had been snatched abroad. The burden she carried, knowing of her ain inferiority, was surely the reason he'd never seen her smile.

Julie Garwood Book Saving Grace Read Online

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