Once Upon A Haunted Castle: A Celtic Romance Anthology

by Eliza Knight

  “Ye heard them scream like bairns then?” she asked.

  “Aye, we heard them.” Alex nodded. “How many were there?”

  “Nigh to a dozen.” An eerie smile lit her features. “I separated them, each one from the others, and let them see their own deaths. They will not bother ye again.”

  His breath whooshed out at her words and Isabel startled. Agneis made a small gesture with her hand and whispered something that caused Isabel to sleep more deeply. Alex looked at Agneis, alarmed by this power.

  “She needs her rest, ye ken?” Agneis came closer and touched Isabel’s head. Gently. Carefully.

  “Why did you help us?” he asked. “Can you never leave this place?”

  “I couldna help my bairn. It happened so fast, there was not a thing I could do. But, I swore with my dying breath that I would help protect another’s bairn if I could.” Agneis smiled softly and shrugged. “I kenned she was carrying as soon as I saw her. Someone had to protect the babe.”

  “Well, you have my thanks, Agneis,” he said. The calmness with which he sat speaking to a creature of legend amazed him. “I wish I could do something for you.”

  “Och, no matter. I am here until the Almighty says otherwise.”

  Then, before he could say another word, the sound of a baby floated into the chamber. One old enough to walk and laugh and play, from the sound of it. Agneis heard it, too, and she spun around looking for the source.

  “That’s my wee bairn!” she said. “That’s my Robbie!” More childish laughter echoed and Agneis looked towards the corridor. “Could he be here?”

  Her form disappeared and a few seconds later, Alex heard peals of laughter from upstairs. He eased himself away from Isabel and followed the happy sounds until he reached the top storey of the keep. All that remained was part of the wall and the bottom of a window.

  The window where she had dropped the babe in her charge.

  Now, as the sun rose, Alex watched two misty figures dancing there—Agneis held on to a child tightly and spun in circles.

  “Ah, my boy! I hiv missed ye so verra much!” she said and then she kissed the boy. The boy laughed, grabbing Agneis’ hair and letting her have her way. Agneis clutched the babe to her once more and smiled at Alex.

  “Hiv a care for yer son, Alexander MacDonald. Yer family comes for ye now.” Agneis nodded to the north, towards Kilmalaug Bay.

  They drifted up over the keep, becoming harder and harder to see in the sun’s brightening light. Soon, they were nothing more than wisps of mist in the sky above. Alex stood staring, unable to believe what he had witnessed.

  “Alex?” He turned and found Isabel there.

  “Are you well?” he asked, sliding his arm around her shoulders and bringing her close.

  “I woke and thought I heard you speaking to someone up here.”

  “I was.” He nodded above them at the now empty sky. “Agneis is gone now.”

  “Agneis? What happened?” He guided Isabel away from edge and back to the steps and below.

  “Her name was Agneis MacDonald and a bairn in her care died. The father cursed her soul.” Alex smiled at Isabel. “I think that by protecting our child, she broke the curse and her soul was released.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  “Aye, while you slept. It was the most wondrous thing, Isabel. We heard the sound of a child laughing and she went to him. They were together at last.”

  Then he realized the bit of news Agneis had given him in her parting words. He would keep that to himself and tell her later when they could savor it. Now, they needed to get to the bay and meet Brodie and the others.

  “Come,” he said, gathering up their belongings and holding out his hand to her. “Our journey is almost at an end.”

  Chapter Eleven

  ’Twas not Brodie who greeted them on the shore at Kilmalaug Bay after all. A huge man with muscled arms and a severe expression watched their approach and he was none too happy from the look of him.

  Isabel shivered then at the sight before her.

  Alex had spoken of one boat, a small birlinn mayhap, coming to help them escape. Not one but four larger boats sat in the bay there. All carried the banners of the MacDonalds. So, that meant that this man could only be. . . .

  “Isabel, may I make you known to my father, Eoin MacDonald of Sleat?” Alex’s voice was calm as he spoke the words, but she could feel the tension in his hand that held hers.

  His father closed the space between them in two long strides. From his appearance alone, she should be terrified of him. He was carrying every weapon a warrior could carry and seemed every bit ready to use them all. And yet, the funniest thought came to her in that moment. She smiled as she bowed her head to him.

  “Father, may I present to you, Lady Isabel MacLeod, my wife?” A moment of silence was followed by sheer mayhem.

  “Wife?” his father yelled.

  “Wife!” another man who looked remarkably like Alex called out. He pushed others out of his way to approach them. Before Alex could stop him, the man took her hand and pulled her into his arms, squeezing the very breath from her. “You married her? You married her!” he yelled.

  “Connor, let go of my wife,” Alex ordered in a growl.

  Connor. Oh, this was his older brother, Connor! Before he released her completely, he leaned in and kissed her on her cheek.

  “If I had known you were this bonny, I would have agreed to marry you myself, lass.”

  Alex finally managed to pry her loose from his brother and she was left facing his father. Her husband entwined their fingers and began to speak.

  “Father, we married three months past.”

  “And I am only finding out about it now?” His father crossed his massive arms over his chest and narrowed his gaze at both of them. “And ’tis not my son who tells me of his marriage to our enemy’s daughter. Nay, ’tis Brodie.”

  Isabel could not help but smile as this bear of a man growled at them. Any fool could see his love for his son there in his gaze. But men were not always able to see it, were they? Loosening her hand from Alex’s, she stepped up to The MacDonald and placed her hand on his forearm.

  “Aye, my lord. Your son married your enemy’s daughter. And your enemy’s daughter now carries your first grandchild in her womb.”

  Alex’s father crumbled into laughter then, leaning over with his hands on his knees to support himself. Everyone else looked on in shock, not expecting this to happen, she could tell. After several minutes, the chieftain stood and grew serious once more. Alex stepped to her side and smiled proudly at her.

  “I guess we’ll have to keep you then.”

  As the others cheered, he motioned for Alex to come closer and whispered some fierce words to only him before he released her husband back to her. Then, with a wave, he summoned her to him. Alex tensed as though worried over what his father would do, but she did not worry. She walked to him, stopping only when she could go no further and then looked up and up and up to meet his gaze.

  “Why did you smile when you saw me?” he asked.

  “You are bigger than my father and his man, Gair. I knew you were the perfect one to be at my back if my father challenges my marriage to your son.” She had surprised him and she knew it at once.

  “How do you ken I will back this marriage?” he asked gruffly. “’Twill be more trouble than you ken.”

  “Because,” she began, leaning in closer. “You love your son and will stand at his side when he needs you there.” He shook his head as if denying it. “Come now, any fool with eyes can see it.”

  One moment she was watching him and the next she was being hugged to within an inch of her life. Alex grabbed his father’s arms to try to free her, but even the pain could not make her give up this embrace. It felt so wonderful to have the support of this man, when she had never gotten it from her own father.

  As big as he was, The MacDonald could be gentle, too, for when she gasped, he loosened his hold on her and t
hen released her to Alex.

  “Come. We saw more MacLeod warriors gathering a few miles back and one of their ships behind us.” Eoin called out orders and within a shorter time than she thought possible, they were out to sea.

  As they passed the cliffs where Duntulm sat, Alex kissed her. Staring up at the crumbling ruins there, she thought about the poor woman who had suffered so many years and was now free. In a small way, that could describe her own life. Isabel smiled then as the years ahead stretched out before them, much as the miles of sea that surrounded Skye did.

  Endlessly she hoped.

  The End

  Author’s Note

  Dear Readers,

  I hope you enjoyed Isabel and Alex’s story. The tale of forbidden love between enemies is timeless and I just loved writing about them.

  Both of the castles in my story are rumored to be among the most haunted places in Scotland. Along with the well-known Fairy Flag, the ghost of a piper still roams Dunvegan and the sound of him playing his pipes echoes through the castle. At Duntulm, the nursemaid’s ghost keeps company with the spirit of a MacDonald killed for betrayal and another woman who was shunned by her husband. Sad tales to be sure.

  For the purposes of my story, I have changed the timing of Duntulm’s ownership and its decline. It did, indeed, change hands many times over its history, moving from the MacLeods to the MacDonalds and back again until the MacDonalds abandoned it in the early 1800s. Huge swaths of land all over Skye did the same through the centuries, too.

  When I first visited Duntulm in 2002, I could still walk among the ruins and look out over the water to the Hebrides. But, on my last trip there in 2009, it was deemed unsafe and closed to the public. I wonder if the ghosts are even lonelier now without mortal visitors walking there.

  Terri

  About Terri

  Award-winning, USA Today best-selling author Terri Brisbin is a mom, a wife, grandmom! and a dental hygienist who has sold more than 2 million copies of her historical and paranormal romance novels and novellas in more than 25 countries and 20 languages around the world. Her current and upcoming historical and paranormal/fantasy romances will be published by Harlequin Historicals and NAL Signet through 2019. Terri’s also working on several indie projects and has republished her earlier time travel romances, too.

  Connect with Terri and learn more by visiting www.terribrisbin.com or friending her at www.facebook.com/terribrisbin or tweet to her at www.twitter.com/Terri_Brisbin.

  Books by Terri Brisbin

  A Love Through Time, 11/1998, 2012

  A Matter of Time, 11/1999, 2012

  The Queen’s Man, 11/2000, 2012

  Once Forbidden, 5/2002, 2012

  The Dumont Bride, 11/2002

  The Norman’s Bride. 3/2004

  The Countess Bride, 6/2004****

  “Love at First Step”, THE CHRISTMAS VISIT, 11/2004

  The King’s Mistress, 1/2005****

  “The Claiming of Lady Joanna”, THE BETROTHAL, 4/2005

  The Duchess’s Next Husband, 5/2005

  The Maid of Lorne, 1/2006

  Taming the Highlander, 7/2006

  The Earl’s Secret, 1/2007

  Surrender to the Highlander, 2/2008

  Possessed by the Highlander, 8/2008♥

  “Blame It On The Mistletoe”, ONE CANDLELIT CHRISTMAS, 11/2008****♥

  “A Night for Her Pleasure”, ebook, 6/2009

  and in PLEASURABLY UNDONE print, 4/2010

  The Conqueror’s Lady, 7/2009

  A Storm of Passion, 12/2009

  “A Storm of Love”, UNDONE, 5/ 2010

  The Mercenary’s Bride, 7/2010

  A Storm of Pleasure, 10/2010

  “Kidnapping the Laird” in The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance, 1/2011

  Digital in February 2011

  His Enemy’s Daughter, 3/2011

  “What The Duchess Wants”, digital release, 4/2011

  And in ROYAL WEDDINGS THROUGH THE AGES, Print release, 2/2012

  Mistress of the Storm, 7/2011

  “Taming The Highlander Rogue”, digital only, 8/2012

  The Highlander’s Stolen Touch, 9/2012

  “The Forbidden Highlander”, HIGHLANDERS, 6/2013

  At The Highlander’s Mercy, 4/2013

  The Highlander’s Dangerous Temptation, 11/2013

  Yield to The Highlander, 5/2014

  Rising Fire – 3/ 2015♥

  Stolen by the Highlander – 4/2015

  Raging Sea – 10/2015

  The Highlander’s Runaway Bride, 3/2016

  Blazing Earth – 4/2016

  “Upon a Misty Skye” in ONCE UPON A HAUNTED CASTLE, 9/2016

  Kidnapped by the Highland Rogue, 10/2016

  For more info, visit:

  www.terribrisbin.com/books/index.php

  A Ghostly Tale of Forbidden Love

  Madeline Martin

  Senara becomes a lady’s maid at Castle of Park to help ease the financial burden of her beloved family. She does not expect to have such a wicked mistress any more than she expects to find a handsome laird…or a ghost with a burning need for retribution.

  Gavin vowed on his father’s death bed to watch over his aunt, and regrets it every day. Especially when her new maid arrives. The woman is extraordinarily fascinating, which not only stirs his interest, but also his aunt’s ire. Can he protect Senara from his aunt? Even more important, can he keep himself from giving in to his longing for the country lass?

  Theirs is a journey of treacherous pasts, painful loss, hidden longing and vengeance.

  Dedication

  To Mr. Awesome for being worthy of so wonderful a name and for your unending support. I’m so fortunate to have you in my life.

  Acknowledgments

  First of all, a huge thank you to Eliza Knight, Kathryn Le Veque, Terri Brisbin and Ruth A Casie for such a wonderful experience in writing an anthology together. It’s been an honor to work with you amazing ladies!

  Thank you so much to Lorrie for everything she does always and to Janet Kazmirski for always doing a final read-through for me for last minute input and changes, and for always being so incredibly supportive.

  Thank you to my amazing beta readers who helped make this story so much more with their wonderful suggestions: Kacy Stanfield, Karen Archer, and Alli Preslar.

  And thank you so much to my readers for always being so fantastically supportive and eager for my next book.

  Chapter One

  Banff, Scotland June 1604

  Senara had never fought against four men at once, but she wasn’t about to back down from the challenge.

  “Give us the horse and we’ll leave ye be.” The taller of the men gripped her fingers where she held Norbert’s reins. His hand was as large as both of hers combined.

  Norbert huffed out a breath of warm air, as if he found the idea preposterous. For indeed it was. She’d no sooner give up her horse than she would her father’s sword.

  Her parents had been generous to gift her with both prior to her departure. She’d rather die than lose either.

  “I’ll be damned if I give ye anything.” Senara swept a dagger from her waist and drew the razor-sharp tip over the man’s thumb.

  He loosed a curse and jerked his hand back. “The cat’s got claws, lads.” The look he gave the others was not one of caution, but of malice.

  Of foul intent.

  Senara glanced at the swells of purple heather surrounding the trail and at the heavy green trees beyond. It did not appear there were more men.

  Four men would not be impossible.

  She edged in front of Norbert.

  “That’s quite a blade ye got there, lass.” A man with a tangle of blond hair grinned at the first man. “Did she stick ye with her poker?”

  The other two laughed.

  Senara slid free her father’s sword from the leather scabbard. The steel glinted in the afternoon sun, embodied with all the strength and bravery of her father.

  “Does
she even know how to use it?” the blond asked.

  Senara didn’t answer.

  They would see.

  The man with the injured hand – nay, the injured pride – charged at her. Senara stepped aside from his clumsy attack.

  The others laughed.

  The tall man’s face went red. This time he pulled out his own sword – a terribly large thing he had to hold with two hands.

  Her heart skittered against her ribs, but she tamped down the swell of fear. She’d done mock fights with her father and brother many times.

  Norbert, she reminded herself. She was doing this to save her sweet Norbert.

  The tall man swung his blade down toward her head. She crossed her sword and dagger against one another and stopped the lethal blow. The clang of metal was almost deafening, and the vibrations carried up her arms and near rattled her back teeth.

  She shoved the man’s blade from her and lashed out with her own sword. He moved to block her assault, which was exactly what she’d wanted.

  In a deft move, she attacked with the dagger, plunging it into his side. She pulled the blade free and a warm wash of blood gushed out over her hand.

  Surprise showed on the man’s face. He staggered back with a hand to the wound.

  Though not a mortal hit, it was a warning.

  She was no lass easily defeated.

  Two of the men lunged toward her at once. She arched her sword through the air as her father had shown her and both their blows were blocked with a metallic ring.

  Senara knelt and stabbed with the blade, catching one man in the thigh and swiping the other on the rump.

  Truth be told, she hadn’t meant to hit him there, but it was the only flesh within reach. And if it came down to his injured bum or saving Norbert, well – she’d save Norbert.