The Highlander's Bride Trouble (28 page)

Yet she did not lament her actions to set him free of the contract her father had
made with him.

Ye enjoyed the duty sure enough…

Her cheeks heated, and her pace quickened. She’d let Norris Sutherland seduce her
so Broen MacNicols might renounce her and wed the woman he loved. Their night of passion
had served a purpose. She had no reason to be upset over Norris Sutherland’s taking
a bride. The man owed her no affection.

Keith wasn’t the only man wearing her father’s colors who resented her choices. But
a child? She didn’t need the guilt of knowing she’d forced an innocent to wear the
label of bastard. Even being the child of Norris Sutherland, heir to the earldom,
wouldn’t save it from scorn. She smoothed her hand over her belly, searching for proof
that it wasn’t rounding.

What she needed was for her courses to arrive and silence the rumors, but they had
never been predictable, so there was no way of knowing if she were late or not. If
she bled, it would make her happy, but she feared it would be yet another reason for
her people to resent her.

At least the horses greeted her kindly. She rubbed the velvet muzzle of one and muttered
softly to it.

“Shall we go and sample some of the fine summer weather?”

As if understanding, the horse tossed its head, sending its mane flouncing. No one
would help her saddle the animal, but she knew the way of it. The stable master was
a good friend of Keith’s and always sent his workers in the opposite direction when
she appeared.

They thought she should be ashamed.

“Ye’ve a solid point about the sheep.”

Keith startled her. She jumped and muffled a curse when the horse sidestepped nervously.
Keith frowned, but she reached up and took the bit, controlling the animal with a
steady hand.

His disapproval softened. “Even if I think ye should have been thinking of yer clan
when ye broke yer betrothal with Laird MacNicols.”

More retainers walked down the rows of stalls. Horses tossed their heads and snorted
as the men began to saddle them. The stable was full of the scent of straw and leather.

“The first time I refused to wed him, I did it to prevent him fighting with Laird
Chisholms. There would have been a feud.”

Keith pulled a leather strap tight before granting her a grudging nod. “I agree ye
did a good thing there, even if they be the ones who should be ashamed for acting
like lads no higher than me waist. We do nae need a feud, especially one started over
a woman, even a laird’s daughter. I find meself liking that bit of action on yer part.”

She used the stall rail to help her mount and suffered the harsh looks of some of
the men. She bit back the tart response she would have liked to make. Pointing out
that she was a foot shorter than any of them would serve only to remind them she was
a female trying to take on the duties of a man.

“But the way I heard it…” Keith continued as he led his stallion out of the stable,
“the second time, ye defied even the young king by refusing to take yer place as Laird
MacNicols’s bride.”

Daphne flattened her body across the horse’s neck to make it through the doorway of
the stable and into the yard. “Which gained us Laird MacNicols’s good will. The man
is in love with another woman. He’d have wed me sure enough and resented me.”

Keith mounted and reached up to adjust his knitted bonnet. He’d been her father’s
head of retainers and still wore one of his three feathers upward. By tradition, he
should have lowered the feather, since the new laird would be the one deciding who
claimed the privilege of serving in such a high position. It was just one more detail
that screamed out the lack of respect her father’s men had for her.

“The marriage contracts were agreed upon by yer father and Laird MacNicols. The man
should have kept his word or at least made recompense to us, nae left it to ye to
disgrace yerself so he might be happy.”

“He didn’t. I made the choice.” And she refused to regret it. “Enough. I know yer
position on the matter. Ye’ve told me plainly enough. Let’s get the sheep.”

Keith surprised her by grinning. He was a fair-enough-looking man when he wasn’t scowling
at her. His hair was a dark sable, and his eyes a warm brown. There was a thin scar
running along the right side of his cheek, but it served only to make him look capable.

“I do respect yer ability to recognize what we need to survive.”

She turned her horse toward the gate and rode through it. A smile graced her lips
even as she leaned low to flow more fluidly with the motions of the animal. She rode
a mare, but a young one with plenty of spirit. The animal took to the uneven ground
easily as Daphne guided her toward the border of her father’s land. The wind was warm,
and it tore at her blonde hair. She’d cut it off a year ago, and the strands were
only a foot long now. They didn’t want to stay in the braid Gitta had woven at sunrise,
but slowly worked free.

Well, it suited her, for her hair wasn’t the only part of her that didn’t want to
be contained. She’d grown up with Broen MacNicols and hadn’t wanted to be his wife.
The single kiss he’d pressed against her lips had left her cold.

Norris’s kiss had sent her heart racing…

She might never have known the difference—or worse, learned of it after she was wed.
Maybe the Church was wrong about infidelity. Maybe those who strayed from their wedded
partners were to be pitied because they’d been locked into unions with the wrong person.

Ye’re going to get locked in the stocks for thinking like that…

Well, only if she was foolish enough to voice such ideas. She raised her head and
felt confidence rising inside her. Over the last year, she’d learned a thing or two
about keeping her thoughts to herself.

Ye’ve also learned how to take a hand in yer own destiny…

Maybe she was meant to be alone in life. The Church also preached that women should
remain humble and yield to a man’s authority. Well, she was far past yielding. She
wrapped the reins around her fists and urged the horse faster. Maybe she wasn’t humble,
but her father’s people needed someone to take action now.

Maybe she was exactly what she needed to
be.

Mary Wine is a multi-published author in romantic suspense, fantasy, and Western romance.
Her interest in historical reenactment and costuming also inspired her to turn her
pen to historical romance with her popular Highlander series. She lives with her husband
and sons in Southern California, where the whole family enjoys participating in historical
reenactment.

by Victoria Roberts

She’s on her way to safety

It’s a sign of Lady Rosalia Armstrong’s desperation that she’s seeking refuge in a
place as rugged and challenging as the Scottish Highlands. She doesn’t care about
hardship and discomfort, if only she can become master of her own life. Laird Ciaran
MacGregor, however, is completely beyond her control…

He redefines dangerous…

Ciaran MacGregor knows it’s perilous to get embroiled with a fiery Lowland lass, especially
one as headstrong as Rosalia. Having made a rash promise to escort her all the way
to Glengarry, now he’s stuck with her, even though she challenges his legendary prowess
at every opportunity. When temptation reaches its peak, he’ll be ready to show her
who he really is… on and off the battlefield.

“Wonderful adventure with sensual and compelling romance.” —Amanda Forester, acclaimed
author of
True Highland Spirit

For more Victoria Roberts, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Victoria Roberts

He’s fierce, he’s proud, he’s everything she was warned against.

Declan MacGregor hadn’t a care in the world beyond finding a soft bed and willing
woman… until he had to escort Lady Liadain Campbell to the English court. The woman
needles him at every turn, but he can’t just abandon her to that vipers’ nest without
protection.

Liadain wasn’t thrilled to be left in the care of her clan’s archrival. It was as
if the man never had a lady tell him no before! And yet as whispers of treason swirl
through the court and the threat of danger grows ever sharper, her bitter enemy soon
becomes the only one she can trust…

Praise for
Temptation in a Kilt:

“Well written, full of intrigue, and a sensual, believable romance, this book captivates
the reader immediately.” —
RT Book Reviews

“Filled with everything I love most about Highland romance…” —Melissa Mayhue, award-winning
author of
Warrior’s Redemption

For more Victoria Roberts, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Victoria Roberts

Torn between his duty and his soul mate, what will this Highland bad boy choose?

When a beautiful traitor is discovered under his own roof, Laird Alexander MacDonnell
is faced with a decision he never thought possible. He’s sworn to protect his clan,
but following his duty will mean losing his heart forever to the woman who betrayed
him—his wife.

Lady Sybella MacKenzie is forced to search for her clan’s ancient seeing stone under
the roof of her father’s enemy. But when she finally finds the precious artifact,
ensuring her family’s survival will mean turning her back on the man who has captured
her soul.

Praise for
Temptation in a Kilt:

“An exciting Highland adventure with sensual and compelling romance.” —Amanda Forester,
acclaimed author of
True Highland Spirit

“Filled with everything I love most about Highland romance…” —Melissa Mayhue, award-winning
author of
Warrior’s Redemption

For more Victoria Roberts, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Amanda Forester

A quiet, flame-haired beauty with secrets of her own...

Lady Aila Graham is destined for the convent, until her brother’s death leaves her
an heiress. Soon she is caught between a hastily arranged marriage with a Highland
warrior, the Abbot’s insistence that she take her vows, the Scottish Laird who kidnaps
her, and the traitor from within who betrays them all.

She’s nothing he expected and everything he really needs...

Padyn MacLaren, a battled-hardened knight, returns home to the Highlands after years
of fighting the English in France. MacLaren bears the physical scars of battle, but
it is the deeper wounds of betrayal that have rocked his faith. Arriving with only
a band of war-weary knights, MacLaren finds his land pillaged and his clan scattered.
Determined to restore his clan, he sees Aila’s fortune as the answer to his problems…but
maybe it’s the woman herself.

“Plenty of intrigue keeps the reader cheering all the way.” —
Publishers Weekly

For m
ore Amanda Forester books, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Amanda Forester

She’s nobody’s prisoner

Lady Isabelle Tynsdale’s flight over the Scottish border would have been the perfect
escape, if only she hadn’t run straight into the arms of a gorgeous Highland laird.
Whether his plan is ransom or seduction, her only hope is to outwit him, or she’ll
lose herself entirely…

And he’s nobody’s fool

Laird David Campbell thought Lady Isabelle was going to be easy to handle and profitable
too. He never imagined he’d have such a hard time keeping one enticing English countess
out of trouble. And out of his heart…

“An engrossing, enthralling, and totally riveting read. Outstanding!” —Jackie Ivie,
national bestselling author of
A Knight and White Satin

For more Amanda Forester books, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Amanda Forester

Seduction is a powerful weapon...

Morrigan McNab is a Highland lady, robbed of her birthright and with no choice but
to fight alongside her brothers to protect their impoverished clan. When she encounters
Sir Jacques Dragonet, she discovers her fiercest opponent…

Sir Jacques Dragonet is a Noble Knight of the Hospitaller Order, willing to give his
life to defend Scotland from the English. He can’t stop himself from admiring the
beautiful Highland lass who wields her weapons as well as he can and endangers his
heart even more than his life…

Now they’re racing each other to find a priceless relic. No matter who wins this heated
rivalry, both will lose unless they can find a way to share the spoils.

“A masterful storyteller, Amanda Forester brings new excitement to Scottish medieval
romance!” —Gerri Russell, award-winning author of
To Tempt a Knight

For more Amanda Forester books, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

by Connie Mason with Mia Marlowe

ABDUCTION

Never had Elspeth Stewart imagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired
stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping her into his arms, and carrying
her off across the wild Scottish Highlands. Pressed against his hard chest and nestled
between his strong thighs, she ought to have feared for her life. But her captor silenced
all protests with a soul-searing kiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind
his passion—a pain only she could ease.

OBSESSION

“Mad Rob” MacLaren thought stealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the perfect revenge.
But Rob never reckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of
him he thought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed to introduce
the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his, and only his,
forever.

“Ms. Mason always provides a hot romance.” —
RT Book Reviews

For more Connie Mason and Mia Marlowe, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com