Set title

by O’Donnell, Laurel

  He turned to the coach, hoping the lad would follow.

  “Wait,” the boy said. “We need our things.” He ran toward the side of the road and returned, lugging a large bag.

  The groom took it from the boy and managed to hold the light and the umbrella as well. He set the bag down to open the coach door to allow Tristan to climb inside with the woman in his arms.

  Tristan hesitated, realizing he couldn’t simply place her on the bench, not when the terrible road conditions caused the coach to lurch and sway. She’d end up on the floor.

  Instead he sat and continued to hold her in his arms. The soft glow of the carriage light revealed her delicate, feminine features. She was quite beautiful, he realized with surprise, her lashes a dark sweep against alabaster skin, matching her brown hair. Her nose was slim and straight, and the length of her chin gave her face a heart-shaped appearance. She moaned once more, the sound both reassuring and concerning at the same time.

  The groom lifted the boy into the coach along with the satchel. “Will you need my assistance, my lord?”

  “No.” At least he didn’t think so. Then again, he wasn’t certain of anything at the moment. “Help James as best you can.”

  The lad stared at his mother’s still form.

  “My home isn’t far.” Tristan tried to think of comforting words he could offer the child. But in truth, he had no idea what to say. “We’ll have you warm and dry in no time.”

  “Is Mama going to be all right?” The boy eased forward to gently touch his mother’s cheek.

  Tristan hesitated, not wanting to lie yet wanting to reassure him. “We’ll take a closer look once we get her to my home, shall we?”

  The boy’s worried gaze lifted from her to Tristan. “Are you the vicar?”

  “No.”

  “We were going to the vicar’s.”

  Tristan frowned, wondering why they were walking in such poor conditions to the vicar’s whose home was a fair distance from the village.

  The coach slid to the side then eased forward, causing the boy to stumble.

  “Take a seat before you fall.” Tristan scowled at the gruffness of his tone. The poor boy was worried about his mother. The last thing he needed was to be berated by a stranger. He cleared his throat and tried again. “What’s your name?”

  “Matthew.” He kept a wary watch on both Tristan and his mother as he scooted back on the opposite bench.

  “It won’t take long now.” He wanted to ask more details of the boy but held his tongue. It would be more appropriate to ask his mother when she recovered. If she recovered. The idea of anything else didn’t bear thinking about.

  Yet as the silence drew long, Tristan’s curiosity got the better of him. Perhaps conversation might help allay the boy’s fears. “Do you live nearby?”

  “No. We’re going to London and having a grand adventure.”

  Tristan couldn’t help but be amused at his word choice. Obviously, his mother was trying to convince him the journey was an exciting one. The events of this evening were surely not what she had in mind.

  From the tailored cut of the boy’s clothes and the fine wool fabric of the woman’s cloak, Tristan puzzled over what circumstances had brought them to the side of the deserted country lane on a rainy evening. The road was rarely used as it led to Crawford House and ended there. Chances were unlikely they would’ve met anyone had his coach not come along.

  The boy shifted to the edge of the seat and reached forward to take his mother’s hand, the small gesture displaying his love and concern. The image burned into Tristan’s mind. He couldn’t imagine doing such a thing when he was Matthew’s age, or now for that matter. His own childhood had been far from idyllic.

  Memories of broken pieces of a hobby horse tossed into the fire, of angry words and hurt-filled faces, and a terrible, heavy silence filled him. They were not welcome in this moment. Or ever.

  Matthew and his mother might be in a difficult situation at the moment, but the boy’s life appeared to hold many blessings that Tristan’s had never known, including the woman in Tristan’s arms. She must be an incredible mother to her son.

  He couldn’t help but look down to study her more closely, curious as to what sort of person she might be. He only hoped he had the chance to find out.

  The minutes ticked by slowly as the coach lumbered along, slipping and sliding as it went until at last drawing to a halt before his home.

  Tristan paused as he stepped out of the coach with the woman carefully cradled against him. “Come along, Matthew. Help me see your mother inside.”

  The groom held the umbrella with one hand as he helped the boy out of the carriage with the other.

  Footmen rushed down the front steps with more umbrellas and lights held high.

  “Shall I take her from you, my lord?” one asked.

  Tightening his hold, Tristan shook his head. “The less we jostle her, the better. Have a room prepared. Send for the doctor as well.”

  The servants scurried around him as he made his way up the steps. “We’ll have you warm and dry in no time,” he whispered to his charge as he entered the foyer of the one house amidst all his holdings he called home.

  “Good evening, my lord,” his butler greeted him with a bow. “One of the guest rooms is already prepared if you’ll follow me.” He led the way up two flights of stairs where the housekeeper waited near the bedroom door, wringing her hands.

  “This way, my lord. Terrible night out there. So pleased you made it safely.”

  Her comment only made Tristan feel guiltier.

  A fire already burned brightly in the room, and she’d placed a blanket over the top of the velvet coverlet. “If you’ll put her here, we’ll get her out of those muddy, wet clothes and see her settled.”

  He laid her as gently as possible on the blanket, alarmed at how pale her face was in the well-lit room. Dirt smudged one cheek, and he couldn’t resist running the pad of his thumb along the soft expanse to remove it.

  Her eyes remained firmly closed despite his close perusal. A welt was now visible near her hairline. He could only imagine what other bruises or broken bones she’d sustained as a result of his carelessness.

  Still leaning over her, he realized heat radiated from her. He held his fingers against her cheek, oddly grateful for another excuse to touch her. “She’s rather warm.”

  Mrs. Hicks placed the back of her hand on the woman’s forehead, careful to avoid the welt. “The lady has a fever. No doubt of that.” She leaned closer to listen. “Her breathing sounds wheezy as well. Poor dear must be under the weather.”

  “Why doesn’t she wake up?” The boy’s voice from the end of the bed had Tristan starting in surprise. He’d nearly forgotten about the lad.

  “She’ll do so soon enough,” Mrs. Hicks advised him with a smile. “You mark my words. We’ll have her right as rain in no time.” Her reassurances had Tristan feeling marginally better. He hoped they did the same for Matthew.

  The housekeeper assisted the maid with removing the lady’s hat and cloak as she spoke. The black crepe gown underneath spoke of a woman in mourning.

  That only added to the many questions Tristan had.

  Mrs. Hicks timidly turned to Tristan, her hands twisting before her once again. “May I suggest the two of you change into dry clothes? Cook has some soup prepared. That will warm you from the inside out.”

  Before he could protest, he found himself standing outside the guest room door, the little boy walking up the stairs to the nursery with a maid. Unanswered questions still circled in his mind.

  Tristan felt oddly bereft without the woman in his arms, as though he no longer had a purpose. Scowling, he retired to his room.

  Order RESCUING THE EARL now!

  OTHER BOOKS BY LANA WILLIAMS

  Victorian Romances:

  The Seven Curses of London Series:

  Trusting the Wolfe, a Novella, Book .5 - Amazon

  Loving the Hawke, Book I - Amazon

/>   Rescuing the Earl, Book III - Amazon

  Dancing Under the Mistletoe, A Novella, Book IV - Amazon

  Tempting the Scoundrel, Book V - Amazon

  Falling for the Viscount, Book VI - Amazon

  Daring the Duke, Book VII - Amazon

  Wishing Upon A Christmas Star, a Novella, Book VIII - Amazon

  Ruby’s Gamble, A Novella - Amazon

  Gambling for the Governess, Book IX, Coming Soon!

  The Secret Trilogy:

  Unraveling Secrets, Book I - Amazon

  Passionate Secrets, Book II - Amazon

  Shattered Secrets, Book III - Amazon

  Regency Romances:

  The Rogue Chronicles:

  Romancing the Rogue, Book 1- Amazon

  A Rogue’s Reputation, Book 2,

  Available for Pre-order July 17, 2019 in WINTER WISHES

  Medieval Romances:

  Falling For A Knight Series:

  A Knight’s Christmas Wish, A Novella, Book .5 - Amazon

  A Knight’s Quest, Book 1 - Amazon

  A Knight’s Temptation, Book 2 - Amazon

  A Knight’s Captive, Book 3 - Amazon

  (Books 1-3 also available on Audio)

  The Vengeance Trilogy:

  A Vow To Keep, Book I - Amazon

  A Knight’s Kiss, Book 1.5 - Amazon

  Trust In Me, Book II - Amazon

  Believe In Me, Book III - Amazon

  Contemporary Romances:

  Yours for the Weekend - Amazon

  If you liked this book, I invite you to sign up to my newsletter to find out when the next one is released.

  If you enjoyed this story, please consider writing a review!

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading CHARMING THE SCHOLAR, the second full-length story in The Seven Curses of London series. I invite you to read TRUSTING THE WOLFE, the novella that begins the series along with LOVING THE HAWKE, the first full-length book in the series, if you haven’t already.

  The Seven Curses of London was written by James Greenwood and published in 1869. It provides a glimpse into some of the problems troubling London. CHARMING THE SCHOLAR focuses on Professional Thieves, which is chapter two of Greenwood’s book. As noted in some of the brief quotes of the book, children who were born into a life of crime were a problem that authorities struggled with as well as other types of thieves.

  A big THANK YOU to my critique partners, Michelle Major, Lani Joramo, and Robin Nolet. Your assistance in creating and honing the story is priceless! My beta readers are so helpful as well and include Linda Benning, Sarah Billing, Lauren Billing, and Tracy Emro. Your feedback and support are incredibly helpful! Hugs to all of you!

  If you’d like to know when my next book becomes available, I invite you to sign up for my email newsletter, follow me on Facebook or on Twitter at @LanaWilliams28.

  Reviews help authors tremendously and also help other readers find books, so please consider leaving a review. They are much appreciated, and I read them all.

  More historical romances are coming your way!

  Happy reading,

  Lana Williams

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  COPYRIGHT

  Charming the Scholar Copyright © 2016 by Lana Williams

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: 978-1533577559

  ISBN-10: 1533577552

  By payment of required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this book. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without the express written permission of copyright owner.

  Please Note

  The reverse engineering, uploading, and/or distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

  Thank you.

  Cover art by The Killion Group

  http://thekilliongroupinc.com

  Master of the Highlands

  A Highland Knights Romance

  Sue-Ellen Welfonder

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  Master of the Highlands

  He was lord of nothing…

  No man is a worse candidate for penance than hot-tempered Iain MacLean. As a fierce Highland warrior and brother to a mighty, well-respected laird, he never dreamed he’d someday don a pilgrim’s robe and travel the land, bending his knee at holy sites rather than swinging his sword. But that is exactly what he must do after accidentally setting fire to his family’s chapel. He will lose everything unless he delivers his clan’s greatest treasure to a sacred shrine – the price for his wild and reckless ways.

  Until he claimed her heart…

  No lass is less suited for the convent than passionate Madeline Drummond. Neither should any maid see her family’s castle overrun, her people threatened, and worse. She couldn’t prevent tragedy, but she will take revenge on the murderous villain who destroyed her clan. Retribution will ruin her, leaving her no choice but to seek forgiveness in a nunnery. When the fiery Highlander and the lady meet, desire flames and their souls are scorched by a single kiss. Together, they journey across Scotland to regain Madeline’s ancestral home. And as wrongs are righted, she learns vengeance can be sweet – especially as the one true love of the Master of the Highlands.

  Praise for Master of the Highlands

  Romantic Times TOP PICK, 4 ½ Stars, and K.I.S.S Hero Award

  “Highly romantic…will steal your heart.” ~ RT Book Reviews

  “Deeply sensual…for those who like heroes dark, ultra-hot, and sexy.” ~ HistoricalRomanceWriters.com

  “A bonnie Scottish romance to inspire pleasantly sinful dreams…compelling…super-abundance of sexual tension.” ~ Heartstrings

  “So good … a real treat for readers.” ~ Amazon

  “Welfonder is always on the mark … you feel as though you are living the story!” ~ Amazon

  “Powerful and passionate. If this intensely sensual Highlander doesn’t steal your heart, you might be comatose.” ~ Amazon

  A conquering hero…

  “Can it be, sir, that you are arrogant?”

  “So some say,” Iain admitted, his tone darkening again. “I would say pride is the least of my sins.”

  “Is another tossing women over your shoulder and riding off with them?”

  “I have tossed more than a few lassies o’er my shoulder, but only to carry them up a turret stair.”

  “I see.” Madeline narrowed her eyes, sure the number of such conquests was huge. Perhaps innumerable. “You ravished them, I suppose?”

  “Perhaps they devoured me?” He shifted then, and she was certain his shoulders shook.

  The rogue was laughing at her.

  Dedication

  For those who have lost everything, including hope. May brighter days bless you soon.

  Acknowledgment

  As always, heartfelt appreciation to my very handsome husband, Manfred, my real life hero, whose patience and support allows me to hide away in my turret and chase my dreams. And in loving memory of my four-legged champion, my Jack Russell terrier, Em. He may be gone, but his huge heart beats on in my own. I have no words for how much I miss him. Also to my darling gray tabby, once-feral cat, Snuggles aka 00Snug Super Spy Kittie. Sweet little man, how could I get through my days without you? />
  A Personal Note to Readers…

  Please note this is a work of fiction and not meant to reflect cold, hard reality. The following pages contain elements of fantasy such as Celtic myth and legend, Highland magic, etc. A suspension of belief is therefore required. As this is a romance novel, there is lovemaking. Such scenes are steamy and graphic. As a romance novel written by me, the story does not contain the F-word or other profanity. It does include men in kilts, big swords that do get bloodied, the rowdiness of medieval inns, and a few Scottish locations that are dear to me. Some place names have been changed, though most are actual locations. Above all, this story is about redemption and the amazing power of love. The real world won’t be found in this book’s pages, only a reflection of how I wish the world could be. I hope you’ll enjoy spending time there.

  Wishing you Highland magic,

  Sue-Ellen Welfonder

  (aka Allie Mackay)

  The MacLean Bane

  Farther back in time than any living clansman would dare to question, two notable characteristics began distinguishing MacLean males, setting them apart from all other men: the fierceness of their heated blood and their ability to love, truly love, only one woman, the latter trait being either a blessing or a curse.

  Depending.

  And willingly or not, in the early days of summer 1331, on the fair Isle of Doon, the most hot-tempered MacLean of them all is about to challenge tradition.

  Chapter One

  Baldoon Castle

  The Isle of Doon, Summer 1331

  Exactly one year to the day since his sweet lady wife breathed her last, Iain MacLean’s black temper unleashed the disaster his clan had always dreaded. And now that it’d happened, neither the frantic labors of his kinsmen nor the deceptive beauty of the calm night could undo his terrible act.