His Highland Heart
Page 25
“Aye. I have a wife who’s doing her best to learn the job as well.”
While Ella laughed, Muireall sat back with a snort and fixed her husband with a steely stare. “Dinna tell me now ye have the job, ye are going to object to training the lasses. I’ll no’ stand for it. Annie willna, either.”
Euan held up both hands. “Nay, nay. Of course no’. Ye will keep training the wee lasses. When they get older, any who want to continue will train with the lads. The competition will do them all good.”
“Euan! That’s brilliant. But, ach, the Council will…”
“Do nothing. Iain, Kenneth and I are in complete accord. Annie and ye have demonstrated the value very well. Ye have won, lass.”
Muireall glanced at Ella and grinned, then turned back to Euan. “Only the first of many…”
Euan kissed her, then leaned an elbow on the table. “We have reasons. Iain thinks trouble is coming. More archers, including the lasses, could make the difference in protecting the keep.”
“But…I thought things were settled with Ross.”
“Aye, they are. Erik Ross is no’ the problem. We’ve long known we’re caught twixt Domnhall of the Isles to the west and Albany in the south. Iain supported Annie’s radical ideas with the Council for that very reason. In truth, he’s been readying Brodie since he took over. And with James Rose, they’ve been building alliances with other clans. ’Tis one reason what happened with Ross—with ye—was so important to him. We couldna have an enemy so close by. Nor could Munro.” He sat up and took Muireall’s hand. “Whatever happens, Brodie willna stand alone.”
Coming Soon!
HIS HIGHLAND LOVE
A Love Denied
Kenneth Brodie offered for young Mary Catherine Rose but her father declined, then a year later accepted an offer from another clan. Furious at hearing Cat would be married soon to someone else, Kenneth fled to France and drowned his disappointment in wine, women and war.
A Love Lost
Two years after her father demanded they wait until Cat was older, she doesn't understand why Kenneth hasn’t returned for her. Broken-hearted, Cat spurns yet another betrothal her father arranges and runs away to her cousin in St. Andrews, vowing never to marry.
A Love Worth Fighting For
By the time Kenneth returns home, trouble is brewing in Scotland. Sent to St. Andrews as hostage for his clan to the Regent, Kenneth resents being exiled—until he encounters his lost love, Cat Rose. When war breaks out, they must escape. And even though he betrayed her with more than one mademoiselle, he’s the only man Cat trusts to get her home to the Highlands. Can she forgive his past and renew the love they once shared?
His Highland Heart Series Book 1
by Willa Blair
Catherine’s crestfallen expression nearly swayed Kenneth from his purpose, but her safety was more important than how much he wanted her.
“What are ye doing here? Is yer husband with ye?” He kept his tone neutral, as though his question was only meant to be polite conversation, not a veiled expression of yearning from a man who hadn’t seen her in much too long.
“My…? Nay, I am no’ wed. I never have been, though Da has tried often enough. I came here to avoid his latest attempt.”
The upwelling of joy in Kenneth’s chest nearly overwhelmed him. He fought the urge to reach for her. “I heard ye were betrothed to a Makintosh.”
“Among others. Da has tried three times to find an alliance with a husband I will accept.” She crossed her arms and glanced around as if making sure they were alone. “The only husband I want…I ever wanted…is ye. So why did ye no’ come for me? We had an agree—”
“Childish fancy,” he said, cutting her off before her words could wound him any worse.
She blinked and took a step back.
She’d waited for him, fought her father to honor her promise to him and his to her. All the while, he’d been fighting in France and bedding every willing mademoiselle who crossed his path. He swallowed, hard. He was not even worthy of her regard, much less her love.
“Ye thought any of that was serious?” The words burned his tongue. It hurt to speak the lie nearly as much as it probably hurt her to hear it. But Kenneth could not let her get involved with him again, not while he languished in Albany’s care, and given his past, not ever. So he twisted the knife. “Ye were a wee lassie, and I no’ much more grown.”
Her lips thinned and a muscle in her jaw jumped. “And we are so much older now, aye? Or are ye so much more experienced that a lass like me can no longer satisfy ye…?”
Ach, Cat. Still spitting and hissing and going after what she wanted. She made him proud, and terrified him. He lifted his chin, but forced back the smile that threatened to undo every bit of distance he’d just fought to put between them.
“Aye, ye have the right of it,” he answered, hating the way she seemed to shrink as his words penetrated. He softened his tone. “Heed me. Ye must no’ be seen with me. I’m no’ here because I wish to be. So flee, Cat. And dinna speak to me, or of me, again.” She stiffened and opened her mouth to argue, so he forced past his lips the lie he feared he would always regret. “Yer da will do what is best for ye.” He waved a hand as if pushing her away. “I never will.”
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About the Author
Willa Blair is an Award-winning Amazon and Barnes & Noble #1 Bestselling author of Scottish Historical, light Paranormal, and Contemporary romance. She has been featured on and contributes to USAToday’s Happy Ever After romance blog, Savvy Authors, Romance University, and more.
Her books have won numerous honors, including the Marlene, the Merritt, National Readers’ Choice Award Finalist, The Reader’s Crown finalist, Historical Romance finalist and Honorable Mention in InD’Tale Magazine’s prestigious RONE Award, NightOwl Reviews Top Pick, and InD’tale Review’s Crowned Heart.
A life-long student and reader, she has been a stained glass artist and instructor, a foreign language teacher, a computer scientist, an analyst, a manager and an executive. She has visited five continents and can get by in several languages. She loves scouting new settings for books, and thinks being an author is the best job she’s ever had.
I love hearing from my readers! Contact me:
@willablair
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authorwillablair@gmail.com
Acknowledgments
When I decided to write and self-publish a new Highland historical series, there were several people whose support I absolutely had to have to make the series a success. My heartfelt thanks go out to my editor, Maureen Sevilla, my cover artist, Tamra Westberry, my Beta readers, Lisa Benton-Short and Laura Stephens, and last but never least, my husband, Laird Peter. Book One is done! On to the next!
Afterword
I hope you’ll enjoy the adventures—and romances—in my new His Highland Heart Scottish historical series.. Look for the next book, His Highland Love, in June 2017.
His Highland Rose (His Highland Heart Prequel)
His Highland Heart (His Highland Heart Book 1)
His Highland Love (His Highland Heart Book 2)
His Highland Bride (His Highland Heart Book 3)
And find the rest of my books on my website!
Heart of Stone (Highland Talents Prequel)
Highland Healer (Highland Talents Book 1)
Highland Seer (Highland Talents Book 2)
Highland Troth (Highland Talents Book 3)
The Healer’s Gift (A Highland Talents Novella)
When Highland Lightning Strikes (A Highland Talents Novella)
Sweetie Pie (A Candy Hearts Novella)
Waiting for the Laird
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