by Evie North
DUGALD
The duke found it all very amusing. Dugald was glad of that—he had worried when he came home from Tighe that things would not go well. But after his talk with Jeanette Gordon he had discovered there were still some influential relatives left and one was a man the duke was keen to do business with.
“I think you are right,” he had declared, one memorable evening, when they had both drunk far too much. “You should marry this girl. It will be of benefit to us both. Yes, Dugald, I am feeling benevolent. Let love have its way.”
Dugald wasn’t sure what he would have done if his first plan hadn’t worked, but he had others. He had been determined.
“Go and walk the garden,” the duke shooed them. “The showers seem to have passed for now.”
Dugald didn’t wait. He took Rosina’s hand and hurried her out. “What do you mean this is my home?” she asked him, when he paused long enough for her to speak. “I thought we were visiting and—”
“I want you to live here with me.”
“Dugald …” Her grey eyes were big.
“Before you tell me I’m too young,” he teased, “I think we should clear up a little matter.”
“What matter?” she asked, looking worried.
Really, he would have to teach his love not to think that at any moment her happiness would be swept out from under her, as it had been ten years ago.
“You know I have forgiven you for what happened. I understand. I may not agree that sacrificing our happiness was the best way of doing things, but I understand. And I do not pretend I was completely innocent. I should have realised you would not tear us apart unless you saw no other way.”
“Dugald,” she murmured, tears in her eyes.
“I have even forgiven your harridan of a mother. I am in a very forgiving mood. Do you know why?”
“I … No. Unless, are you getting married?” He could see it was something she had dreaded.
He smiled. “I am.”
“Is she … important?” she managed, looking away.
“Important to me. How long do you think the engagement should last,” he said.
Her mouth opened and closed again, and suddenly he could not play games any longer. His love was hurting.
He bent down to capture her lips with his.
“I favour not very long,” he murmured, and kissed her again.
“Dugald, I cannot …”
“I spoke to your mother when I was at Tighe. Did you know you have some relatives the duke is interested in fleecing?”
“They never received my mother’s letters,” she said with a sigh.
“No, they didn’t,” he replied solemnly. “Of course, if they had, you and I would not be here now.”
“Mary, too.”
“The duke is eager to form an alliance between the Gordons and myself. I would have married you anyway, Rosina, but this way I do not have to go against his wishes, which is better for all of us. We will marry and there will be only smiles at the wedding.”
She seemed to be struggling to make sense of it.
“I love you, Rosina. We will marry and you and Mary will live here with me. Your mother, too, unless I can find a Gordon to take her.”
He was very serious, and yet she saw the light-hearted boy he had been in his handsome face.
“I love you, Dugald,” she said, her hand against his jaw, her grey eyes fixed on his. “Always. Forever.”
“Are you saying yes?” he demanded.
“Yes,” she whispered. “I am saying yes.”
Dugald suddenly looked around him. “There’s a gazebo here somewhere,” he said. “We’ll be out of the way of any showers in there. We need to inspect it.”
“We … what?” Rosina squealed as he swung her up in his arms.
“I have been waiting for you for two months,” he informed her, with a grin. “I can’t wait any longer. I need to be inside you, my love.”
She nestled against his chest. “Don’t expect me to argue with that,” she said. “And as for the engagement … there’s always hand fasting. It’s much quicker.”
He bent his head and kissed her. Suddenly he was grave again. “We will do better this time, Rosina. We will make our promises and we will never break them.”
Rosina nodded, too full of happiness to speak, and besides it was useless arguing with him when he was being bossy. So she rested her head against her Dugald’s shoulder as he carried her across the lawn.
Also by Evie North
Coming in 2020
Highland Surrender (The Campbell Brothers 3)
Finlay Campbell is a soldier with no time for complications of the heart. Women, though necessary, are a distraction and he has never felt the need to keep one. That is until he is sent by his father to enforce the surrender of the castle belonging to Lady Ishbel.
* * *
Ishbel does not trust powerful men. She has struggled all her life not to be a pawn in the games they play. Now she is faced with a man who seems different to the others. He makes her heart sing, but can she trust him?
Also by Evie North
Have you read book #1 in the Campbell Brothers series, Highland Warrior?
* * *
Ewen Campbell fell in love with Lady Elspit at first sight. He can touch her body but he refuses to make her completely his until they are wed. Poor and landless, Ewen is forced by Elspit’s father to leave. Now, ten years later, Ewen is a seasoned warrior with powerful friends. And he’s come back to claim Elspit.
Elspit has waited for Ewen for ten long years. Married to a man she loathed and then forced to return to her father’s castle, she gave up on love. Now Ewen is back. Has he really come for her or is it her father’s lands he desires? The boy Elspit loved is now a man, and she is afraid he will break her heart all over again.
And yet she is unable to resist him.
Available Now at Amazon.com
Also By EVIE NORTH
Knights of Passion Series One Box Set
Knights of Passion Series Two Box Set
The Castle on the Loch
One Night of Surrender (Brothers Mortmain 1)
Two Days of Temptation (Brothers Mortmain 2)
Three Desperate Choices (Brothers Mortmain 3)
Brothers Mortmain Box Set
Highland Warrior (The Campbell Brothers 1)
About the Author
Evie North writes steamy historical romance, from Medieval Knights to Scottish Highlanders.
Keep up to date with her work on her website www.evienorth.com
Or her Facebook page. She also has a Bookbub page for new releases.
Thank you for reading her stories!
