The Enchantress (37 page)

William had sent a message back, agreeing to the terms. Treasure for Nichola Percy, they had written. By Midsummer’s Eve.

Then, telling Sir Wyntoun MacLean only what was necessary, William and Laura had then enlisted the knight’s service in going to Barra and bringing Adrianne Percy back to her sisters at Balvenie Castle. He would bring her back without fail, Wyntoun had promised them as he’d mounted his horse.

A soft knock on the door roused Laura from her reverie. Hurriedly, she folded the presents on the bed into a shawl, and turned in time to see the door opening. Laura smiled at the sight of Miriam’s dark head peeking in.

“Come in, my love.” No sooner had she uttered the words than two puppies tumbled in ahead of the little girl, tearing across the floor and disappearing under the great bed. Smiling, Laura glanced from the bed to the cloth package tucked under Miriam’s arm. “Wait, let me help you with that old bundle of cloths.”

“Nay!” Miriam giggled before dashing to the other side of the room and standing in a very dignified fashion. “They are the gifts, Laura, and you cannot see them until I give them out.”

Laura took her own bundle off the bed and followed the little imp into the adjoining chamber.

William and Laura had given gifts to the household and to Gilbert and Father Francis earlier in the day in the Great Hall, and Miriam had delighted in presenting the cloaks and brogues and bolts of cloth and knives from Inverness to the assembly. The three of them, however, had decided to exchange gifts among themselves in William’s study.

Laura found her husband waiting for them, and after giving him an affectionate kiss, she sat down in the chair he offered her. A warm fire was burning, and Miriam’s two pups followed them in, curling up together on the hearth and dozing off almost immediately.

“May I give my presents last?” Miriam asked.

“Aye,” William said, handing a small wrapped package to each of the two women of his heart. “And I will go first.”

Miriam erupted with glee as she opened the gift. In her hand lay a gold coin. The Tudor rose gleamed in the firelight. It was William’s own coin, Laura was sure. The child threw her arms around the laird.

“Now I can really practice rolling the coin over my knuckles.”

“Aye, lass. That you can. And I’ll help you with it as well.”

Laura was quite curious herself as she opened the small parcel William handed to her. He had already given her so much. Too much, she thought, considering the new dangers she was presenting him with. She gazed lovingly into his blue eyes before lowering her gaze to the package. Her breath came out as a gasp, and her eyes pooled with tears.

“My cross and chain!” she murmured with disbelief. The same jeweled cross that Laura had given to Guff for helping them escape the Convent of St. Agnes. The same cross that had once belonged to her mother lay on a beautifully embroidered linen kerchief.

William moved over to her and carefully placed the chain around her neck. She felt her skin heat to the touch of his lips when he brushed a kiss over her cheek. She entwined her fingers with his and gazed up into his handsome face as he stood beside her.

“But how did you get it?”

“My man Tar and a few of the others went up to the convent after the wedding. In addition to bringing the news of our marriage to the nuns, I had them buy the cross and chain from Guff. Thankfully, the old rascal still had it in his possession, though it took a good deal of persuading to get him to part with it, they tell me.”

“And were the mother superior and the rest of the nuns faring well?”

“Aye. The woman told Tar that those Lowlanders and that squint-eyed monk never went back to the convent after we led them away from the place that night.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Two of the men stayed around for a few days to lend Guff a hand with a few tasks he couldn’t do himself, but Tar assured me that those women are settled comfortably for the rest of the winter. The kerchief is from the mother superior.”

Laura looked at it admiringly and then at the restless little girl standing at her knee. Any more questions of the convent would have to wait.

She let go of her husband’s hand and picked up a folded scarf. In it was the gift she had made for Miriam. The child’s blue eyes shone with curiosity as she fidgeted impatiently.

“Reach under the edge of the scarf and take out the first thing that you feel.”

“A bairn! A black-haired, blue-eyed lassie,” she said with awe in her voice. She held up the carefully stitched figure and looked at it in amazement.

“‘Tis a doll, Miriam. A doll for you to love and to teach and to care for, like a bairn of your own.”

“A doll. I’ve never had a doll.” She threw her arms around Laura and hugged her with unabashed affection. Laura held the child against her chest and looked up into William’s misty eyes.

As abruptly as she’d thrown herself into Laura’s arms, Miriam pulled back and danced in a circle with the doll in her arms. Then she stopped.

“Is it my turn yet? Can I give you both my presents?”

“Just one more.” Laura rose to her feet and offered the scarf-wrapped gift to her husband.

His brow arched with curiosity as he pulled open the scarf. “A drinking cup?”

“Aye. But does it not look familiar?” He was holding the two-handled cup with both hands, and she placed her hands over his. Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “‘Tis, well, ‘twas
formerly
the laird’s cup at the Three Cups Tavern.”

His eyes shone with mischief. “And did you have to hurt the poor wench to get it?”

“Not too badly,” Laura answered. She smiled shyly. “Though it did take some coercing to get her to promise to teach me some of her special "dance" steps.”

He leaned forward and brushed a kiss on her lips, his mouth still lingering near. “I’d say you have nothing to learn from her.”

She shook her head. “Nay, m’lord. I am only a novice. But then again, we have a lifetime to work at making me an expert.”

“Is it my turn now?”

William and Laura both turned, smiling at the child’s impatience. Miriam tucked the doll under one arm and brought a package to Laura.

Laura sat back down in the chair and lifted Miriam onto her lap before opening the gift. Inside the cloth wrapping she found the most beautiful linen shift. Embroidered with violet knot-designs all around the neckline, it was the most beautiful nightgown Laura had ever owned. Holding it up before her, she gazed on it speechlessly. How much work, she thought, must have gone into making something so delicate and so beautiful?

“
Knowing you always sleep in that raggedy old man’s shirt, I thought you might like something...something more pretty.”

Laura couldn’t ignore her husband’s appreciative smile. The firelight shone right through the thin fabric.

“I did not make it all by myself. Peter’s Wife and auld Maire helped, and then Luella helped me with the embroidery around the neck.”

“‘Tis beautiful,” Laura murmured against the child’s soft hair as she hugged her against her chest. “‘Tis absolutely the most beautiful shift I’ve ever seen.”

A satisfied smile brightening her face, Miriam edged off of Laura’s lap and from the floor fetched a second package.

“‘Tis just a little thing,” she whispered nervously, handing it to William. “But...but I made it all by myself.”

Laura and William both smiled at the shuffling feet, the look of anticipation in her blue eyes. “If...if you like it...perhaps I can sew it for you onto your tartan...”

The child was coming apart just standing there. Laura rose to her feet and took Miriam by the hand. They both stood next to William.

As he opened the gift, Laura watched the muscles in his face grow taut. A tear escaped the corner of his eye. Laying the gift suddenly on the table, he took them both in a tight embrace, holding them fiercely.

Turning her head, she looked down at the gift. Just a small linen patch, embroidered with gold. And a single word.

“Father.”

The Treasure of Tiberius...

Gold? Jewels? Is it evil or is it sacred? What is it about this mysterious treasure that drives men to sell their souls?

As this second book in the trilogy of the Percy sisters concludes, we hope you are ready for the adventure and excitement that we have in store for you in the final installment,
The Firebrand.

In this book we introduced you to Sir Wyntoun MacLean, the secretive and very dangerous Blade of Barra. As he continues his search for the Treasure of Tiberius, he must face the contest of wills, the crossing of swords, and the battle of hearts that await him as he encounters Adrianne Percy.

Wyntoun is a laird and a pirate with only one goal in mind...capturing the Treasure of Tiberius.

Adrianne is a warrior at heart...a woman ready to forfeit her own life to protect the elusive treasure from the likes of the Blade of Barra.

In
The Firebrand
, you will again get a chance to see Catherine and the earl of Athol from
The Dreamer
, and Laura and William Ross from
The Enchantress
, as the three sisters converge on Balvenie Castle to thwart their enemies, rescue their mother, and defend the Treasure of Tiberius.

Stand by for the exciting conclusion of...well, you know the rest!

We love to hear from our readers. You can contact us at:

May McGoldrick

e-mail:
[email protected]

www.JanCoffey.com

Our 16th Century books...

In
The Thistle and the Rose
, Colin Campbell and Celia Muir are introduced...

And we also introduce Alec Macpherson, who is the hero of our second book,
Angel of Skye
...

Alec has two brothers, Ambrose and John, who are the heroes of
Heart of Gold
and
The Beauty of the Mist
, respectively...

In
Angel of Skye
, we also introduce a little boy, Malcolm MacLeod, and in
Heart of Gold
we introduce a little girl, Jaime...

When Malcolm MacLeod and Jaime grow up, they are the hero and heroine of
The Intended
...

In
Heart of Gold
, we also introduce Gavin Kerr, who becomes the hero of
Flame.
..

In
Flame
, we introduce a number of characters who show up in
The Dreamer, The Enchantress,
and
The Firebrand
(the
Highland Treasure Trilogy
), including John Stewart, the earl of Athol and a number of villains...

The Highland Treasure Trilogy
is the story of three sisters...Catherine Percy of
The Dreamer
, Laura Percy of
The Enchantress
, and Adrianne Percy of
The Firebrand
...

In
The Enchantress
, we introduce Sir Wyntoun MacLean, who also appears in
The Firebrand
...

In
The Firebrand
, we also introduce Gillie the Fairie-Borne, who may just have a story of his own one day...

Colin Campbell and Celia (from The Thistle and the Rose) also make a 'cameo' appearance in The Firebrand...

Alec Macpherson and Fiona (from Angel of Skye) have three sons. The youngest, Colin Macpherson, is the hero of
Tess and the Highlander
(a young adult novel published by HarperCollins in November 2002)...

Our 18th Century Books

In The Promise, Samuel Wakefield, the earl of Stanmore, and Rebecca Neville/Ford are the hero and heroine...

In that book we also introduce Stanmore's friend, Sir Nicholas Spencer, who becomes the hero of The Rebel, which is set in Ireland...

Stanmore and Rebecca also appear in The Rebel...

In The Promise, we also introduce Rebecca's friend, Millicent Wentworth, who becomes the heroine of Borrowed Dreams...

Borrowed Dreams is the start of a new trilogy about three Scottish brothers, starting with Lyon Pennington, earl of Aytoun. We also meet a new cast of characters who show up in the trilogy. Violet, from The Promise, plays a big role in this book, too. She will show up again in the third book in the trilogy, Dreams of Destiny.

In Captured Dreams, we see Lyon and Millicent and the entire household of Baronsford in Scotland, along with wonderful heroes and villains that David Pennington meets in colonial Boston.

In Dreams of Destiny, the mystery of Emma's death is solved...

Ghost of the Thames…a Dickensian novel.

Visit us at www.JanCoffey.com and on May McGoldrick, facebook page for discount offers of our other ebooks.

About the Author

Nikoo & Jim McGoldrick have spent their lives gathering material for their novels. Nikoo, a mechanical engineer, and Jim, who has a Ph.D. in sixteenth-century British literature, wrote their first May McGoldrick novel in 1994. Since then, they have taken their readers from the Highlands of Scotland to the mountains of Kurdistan in bestselling, award-winning historical romance and contemporary suspense novels under the names May McGoldrick, Nicole Cody, and Jan Coffey.

You can contact us at [email protected]

Please like May McGoldrick author page on facebook to receive the latest updates.

Complete Book List as of 2012

Writing As May McGoldrick:

Made In Heaven

Ghost of the Thames

Scottish Dream Trilogy

Dreams Of Destiny

Captured Dreams

Borrowed Dreams

The Rebel

Tess and The Highlander (A YA Novel)

The Promise

Highland Treasure Trilogy

The Firebrand

The Enchantress

The Dreamer

Flame

The Intended

Macpherson Trilogy

Beauty Of The Mist