by Bree Wolf
At the helm, she’d spotted a man, tall and broad, wrapped in a heavy cloak and a hat drawn low into his face. Still, Blair had seen a few blond tendrils dancing in the wind and glimpsed the deep blue of his eyes.
It had been her father.
Blair was certain of it.
His gaze had been watchful, the lines of his face hard as he’d kept his eyes fixed on the horizon, standing guard over those that slept below deck. At first, her heart had wilted seeing the stern look upon his face. She’d seen it before and knew that it spoke of a broken heart silenced by an iron will.
It had been thus all her life.
But then something had changed. Blair couldn’t quite say what it had been, but somehow she’d known that his heart was no longer broken. That it now beat strong and loud for another. Someone who lingered in his thoughts. Someone who trusted and loved him in return. Someone who slept below deck.
A small smile played over Blair’s face as she looked out at the moon. The same moon that had shone down upon her father.
Somewhere.
Her heart rejoiced at the thought while her mind voiced its doubts. Of course, Blair knew that her father had been swallowed up by the sea. After all, she’d been there on the cliff top the day he’d sacrificed himself to save her. She knew what had happened. She knew that he was lost to her. That he was dead.
And yet, her heart protested, clinging to the images she saw, certain that somewhere her father still lived.
Perhaps.
THE END
Are you eager for more stories of Clan MacDrummond? Or Clan Brunwood?
Have you read these?
In Tamed & Unleashed − The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife, Garrett sets out in search of his English bride. However, when he finally discovers her, he is shocked to realise that she does not have the slightest inkling who he is. Determined to remind her of their love, Garrett follows her across England, offering her his help and protection as she searches for…someone. Find an excerpt on the following pages!
In Banished & Welcomed – The Laird’s Reckless Wife, Moira tries to find her place among the MacDrummands and is inexplicably drawn to their taciturn laird, Cormag MacDrummand. We first meet Moira in Abandoned & Protected – The Marquis’ Passionate Wife. So if you haven’t read it yet, grab your copy now and learn why Moira was banished from her clan.
In Haunted & Revered − The Scotsman's Destined Love, Deidre Brunwood embarks on a fateful journey that is prophesied to cost her her husband’s love. However, Alastair has never been a man to give up…easy or otherwise, and he will most certainly not lose the woman he’s loved all his life!
Don't forget to check out my other novels at
www.breewolf.com
Overview
Love’s Second Chance Series
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Also by Bree
Love's Second Chance Series
FREE on Kindle Unlimited
A collection of marriage-of-convenience stories with a touch of mystery and swoon worthy kisses that will tug at your heartstrings and keep you up till the wee hours of the morning.
#1 Forgotten & Remembered - The Duke's Late Wife
#2 Cursed & Cherished - The Duke's Wilful Wife
#3 Despised & Desired - The Marquess' Passionate Wife
#4 Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife
#5 Ruined & Redeemed - The Earl's Fallen Wife
#6 Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife
#7 Deceived & Honoured - The Baron's Vexing Wife
#8 Sacrificed & Reclaimed - The Soldier’s Daring Widow
#9 Condemned & Admired - The Earl’s Cunning Wife
#10 Trapped & Liberated - The Privateer’s Bold Beloved
#11 Oppressed & Empowered - The Viscount’s Capable Wife
#12 Destroyed & Restored - The Baron’s Courageous Wife
#13 Tamed & Unleashed - The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife
#14 Banished & Welcomed - The Laird’s Reckless Wife
#15 Haunted & Revered - The Scotsman’s Destined Love
#16 Fooled & Enlightened - The Englishman’s Scottish Wife
Box Set One: Novels 1-4
Box Set Two: Novels 5-8
Box Set Three: Novels 9-12
Ladies of Miss Bell’s Finishing School (multi-author series)
The Spinster - Prequel to the Forbidden Love Novella Series
A Forbidden Love Novella Series
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A collection of forbidden love stories filled with intense relationships, vibrant chemistry and strong characters that will captivate your heart.
#1 The Wrong Brother
#2 A Brilliant Rose
#3 The Forgotten Wife
#4 An Unwelcome Proposal
#5 Rules to Be Broken
#6 Hearts to Be Mended
#7 Winning her Hand
#8 Conquering her Heart
Box Set One: Novellas 1 - 4
Box Set Two: Novellas 5 - 8
Complete Series: Novellas 1 - 8
Happy Ever Regency Series
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A new Regency Series of Fairy Tale re-tellings filled with endless and undying love.
#1 How To Wake A Sleeping Lady
#2 How To Tame A Beastly Lord
#3 How To Climb A Lady’s Tower
#4 How To Steal A Thief’s Heart coming June 25
Read a Sneak-Peek
Tamed & Unleashed
The Highlander’s Vivacious Wife
(#13)
A forgotten night. A stolen child.
And a stranger who feels all too familiar.
England 1809: After marrying an English lass in Gretna Green, highlander GARRETT MACDRUMMOND returns to their room only to find her gone. While his heart yearns to go after his wife, his duty forces him to return to his clan. Still, his thoughts are consumed by the dark-haired lass with the blazing blue eyes and sharp tongue, and he counts the minutes until he can finally set out to claim her as his once again.
After a drunken night, CLAUDIA DAVENPORT, sister to Viscount Ashwood, wakes in an unfamiliar bed with no memory of how she’d gotten into it…or with whom. Fleeing the scene, she returns to England, only to find herself with child not long after. In order to preserve her reputation, her brother sends her to a remote estate to wait out her pregnancy and give birth in secret.
Searching London for his missing wife, Garrett is pushed to the point of madness when she seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth. No one’s seen her in months. No one’s heard from her in months.
After the birth of her child, Claudia returns to society. However, nothing is as it once was. For although her brother managed to contain knowledge of her indiscretion, he could not keep her heart from breaking into a thousand pieces the day she had to give up her newborn son.
Nevertheless, when Claudia receives word that her precious child has been stolen, she can no longer deny the bond that connects them. Alone, she sets out to discover his whereabouts…and her path crosses that of a stranger.
A stranger, who feels all to familiar.
A stranger, whose dark green eyes look at her with intimate knowledge…
…and whose kiss stirs a faint memory.
Prologue
Gretna Green, Scotland, Summer 1808 (or a variation thereof)
Upon waking, Claudia Davenport, sister to Viscount Ashwood, found her head throbbing with such intensity that she feared it would split in two. Groaning, she rolled onto her side, her hands reaching up to cover her face in a futile attempt to shield her from the blinding sun penetrating even her closed lids. Had the world gone mad?
Never in her life had Claudia awoken to such pain. Never had the sun been her enemy. Never had she felt sick to her stomach.
Not quite like this.
Pinching her eyes shut, Claudia buried her face in the pillow, slowly forcing one deep breath after another down her throat and into her lung
s. To her relief, she found that holding her head still eased the pain somewhat, and so she simply lay there for a long while, breathing in and out.
After a small eternity, her ears began to pick up on various sounds drifting in through the closed windows as well as the door to her room. The sounds of people going about their business. And yet, the sounds were not quite as she remembered them.
As they ought to be.
Something was different, and a frown emerged on her face.
Slowly, she cracked open an eye and peered at her surroundings.
A moment later, Claudia bolted upright in bed.
Instantly, her head rebelled at such treatment, sending jolts of pain through her being that would have brought her to her knees had she been standing. Her hands flew up, pressing hard onto her temples in the hopes of easing the pain. Still, it took a long while before she dared open her eyes again.
Squinting, Claudia took in the small chamber, the simple and sparse furnishings, the lack of luxury. “What happened?” she whispered to herself. “Where am I?”
For this was definitely not her bedchamber back at Farnworth Manor.
This was a room she had never seen before.
Swallowing the panic that began to rise, Claudia closed her eyes once more, trying to remember how on earth she had ended up in this place. The last thing she could recall was attending Lord Campton’s ball.
Once more, she heard the soft notes of the music drifting through the large rooms. Again, she found herself standing with the other young debutantes, eyes gliding over the gentlemen in attendance until−
“William,” Claudia gasped as his face took form before her inner eye. “We danced. We laughed. We−” Again, a gasp tore from her throat, and one hand fell from her temple covering her mouth in shock. “We ran off.”
Trying to swallow the lump in her throat, Claudia once more glanced about the room as though William might have been hiding somewhere in plain sight all along. But he was not. She was alone.
Careful not to move too much, Claudia inhaled a few deep breaths, allowing her mind to wander back to the night before. Slowly, images returned of her taking William’s hand and following him outside into the dark night. She remembered him helping her into his carriage, the way he had held her in his arms as the horses had pulled them toward their destination, his assurances that all would be well.
“We eloped,” Claudia mumbled, her eyes drifting around the room. “This is…this is an inn…in Gretna Green. It must be.” The breath caught in her throat, and she slowly turned her head to the left, her eyes focusing on the other side of the bed.
It was empty, and yet, someone had lain there. There was an unmistakable indentation, and…a warmth lingered that sent a shiver down her back. “What have I done?” Slowly, she pulled back the thin blanket and her heart slammed to a momentary halt.
In the bright morning sun, a few droplets of blood shone on the white linen like rubies.
The air rushed from Claudia’s lungs, and the nausea in her stomach sent her flying from the bed. Her body tensed, revolted, and she sank to her knees, one arm reaching for the chamber pot. Then her insides contracted expelling last night’s dinner−and drink! −into the small bowl.
When it was over, she sank down, head resting against the side of the bed, her mind momentarily focused on drawing fresh air into her body. Her hand pushed the chamber pot away as the stench of its contents threatened to overwhelm her delicate hold on her body once more.
In her weakened state, Claudia felt numb and strangely detached. Her mind moved slowly as though it did not have the strength to provide her with what she sought: answers.
Still, despite an almost desperate desire to curl up into a ball and hide in a corner, Claudia knew that she could not pretend this had not happened − whatever this was!
Had she married William? Had they arrived in Gretna Green, sought out an anvil priest and−?
Claudia froze as an image drifted to the front of her mind, an image of William hanging his head in defeat, his eyes downcast and apologetic…as he had stepped away from her…and followed his elder brother, Viscount Crowemore, to their waiting carriage.
Again, panic welled up as her memories cleared.
Yes, they had come to Gretna Green, but they had not gotten married. William’s brother had found them first, ending their adventure by ordering his brother to return with him.
And William had complied.
He had bowed his head.
He had left her.
Shocked beyond words, Claudia stared across the room at the plain wall, reliving the moment disillusionment had set in. She remembered her feeling of betrayal when William had abandoned her, complying with his family’s wishes and a long-standing contract. He was to marry a duke’s daughter.
Not her.
Despite his promises, he had abandoned her.
Left her behind in Gretna Green.
Alone.
A distant part of Claudia’s mind tried to remind her that she had refused to accompany them back to England, cursing and yelling at the top of her voice. However, that part was soon shushed by the sense of betrayal and disappointment that washed over her.
Closing her eyes, Claudia wept for a dream ruined, for a life that was not to be, for the harshness of the world. Still, her emotional turmoil only managed to keep her mind silenced for a short while. Before long, it piped up once more, asking questions Claudia now feared to know the answer to.
If William had indeed returned to England with his brother, then who had slept beside her? Who had spent the night in her room? In her bed? Who had she been intimate with? A complete stranger?
It had to be, for what other answer could there be?
Gritting her teeth, Claudia pushed to her feet, doing her best to ignore the throbbing pain behind her temples as well as the slight swaying of the room. She glimpsed her clothes hanging over the back of a chair and slowly hobbled toward them.
Dressing proved to be quite a challenge in her state, and yet, it provided a momentary relief from the panic that threatened to consume her. Once that was taken care of though, her thoughts immediately refocused on that which she did not know.
And panic returned.
“No!” Claudia snapped, forcing herself not to succumb to this line of thinking for it would lead her nowhere.
What was to be done? Now that was a productive question. A question that needed an answer. Here and now.
“I need to get home,” Claudia said, feeling her mind clearing as she spoke. “I need to get back.” For no matter how angry her brother would be once he learnt what she had done, he would never turn from her. He could be a cold-hearted and unfeeling bastard, but he would not forget his obligation to her, his duty to see to his family.
Of that she was certain.
How to get home, on the other hand, was a different matter. After all, they had come here in William’s carriage, and as far as Claudia was aware, she did not have any money on her.
A frown drew down her brows, sending fresh pain through her head. How had she paid for the room? Or had−?
Loud footsteps echoed up the stairs outside her chamber, and Claudia froze. Her eyes were fixed on the door, and her mind was reeling with the thought that she was about to come face to face with whomever she had shared her bed with last night. Would she remember him? Or would he still be a stranger?
The echo grew louder as the man stormed down the corridor…and stopped outside her door.
Inhaling a deep breath, Claudia braced herself for what was to come when the door finally swung open…and her brother stormed in.
Seeing his face, Claudia almost sank to the floor as the air rushed from her lungs. Utter relief filled her, but only at first for the dark look on her brother’s face would have sent anyone running for the hills.
For a long moment, they merely looked at one another, speechless. Claudia could see the tension holding him rigid, the way his chest rose and fell as he tried his best to contain
his anger, his outrage…his disappointment.
Her brother was not prone to losing his temper−never had been−but the quiet darkness that rested in his eyes sent chills down her back.
“What have you done?” he finally asked, his voice low and menacing as his silver eyes took in the room, the bed, her dishevelled state, the implications that hung in the air. “What were you thinking?”
Claudia felt her chin begin to quiver and tears sting the back of her eyes, and yet, she would not give him the satisfaction of seeing her defeated. Raising her chin, she met his eyes. “It was my choice, not yours. You have no right−”
“That it was,” he interrupted, raking a hand through his hair. In two large strides, he was in front of her, his hands gripping her by the upper arms. “This is without a doubt the most foolish thing you’ve ever done, and whether you like it or not, this time you’ll have to pay for it.”
Claudia gritted her teeth against the pain thudding behind her temples. “What did you expect when you all but locked me away? I am not free to do anything I want. I−”
“Don’t blame me for your mistakes!” he hissed before he stepped back and held the door open for her. “We shall discuss everything further at home.”
“If you insist,” Claudia snapped, relieved to at least have an answer delivered to her with regard to how she was to get home. Glaring at her brother, she stomped past him, along the corridor and down the stairs, all the while berating him, doing her best to ignore the pounding in her head.
