A Friend at the Highland Court: A Wounded Hero Highlander Romance (The Highland Ladies Book 13) by Celeste Barclay

Author:Celeste Barclay [Barclay, Celeste]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Published: 2021-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

Caitlyn glanced over her shoulder, certain someone followed her and the other ladies. She’d hurried to her chamber upon her return to the castle and quickly changed in time to meet the queen for Terce. Her mind had been on everything but the prayer service. She recalled every intimate detail of sharing a bed with Alex, both the good and the bad. She thought about how things stood between them and accepted that as unresolved as it felt to her, there was no other outcome than Alex leaving her behind. She’d spied him in the lists as she followed the queen on her morning constitutional. It shocked her to watch him sparring with his men, but warmth spread through her as she wondered if he was feeling more like himself. She chided herself for not accepting that there was a new Alex, and the old one would never really come back. Even if he felt more confident after defending her and spending time in the Mangerton and Stirling lists, that didn’t mean he felt any differently about marrying her.

As she moved through the passageways with a heavy heart, she thought her initial sense of unease came from hurt and rejection. It wasn’t until she heard a heavy tread on the stairs below her that she was certain they were being followed. She glanced over the rope railing and down the spiral staircase. The men following her and the other ladies weren’t in the royal livery. They were as large as most of the Highlanders she’d met, but none wore plaids nor leines.

The men dressed as Lowlanders. The only Lowlander men she’d met who rivaled their size were Alex and her father. Both were unusually tall and broad, even among warriors. Innes had always teased Alex that he was trying to catch up to his foster father until Alex knocked Innes off his feet for the first time. Innes returned the favor by getting Alex drunk for the first time.

Caitlyn didn’t want to alarm the other ladies, but she silently encouraged them to move faster as she picked up the pace. When they reached the third floor where the queen’s solar lay, Caitlyn glanced back. The men were out of sight, but she sensed they were there. She breathed easier when they reached the queen’s chamber and flowed through the doorway as a group. She spent the next three hours pretending to listen to the other ladies gossip, sing, and read aloud. All the while, she wondered who the men were and whether they followed her or someone else in her group. Her mind railed against the latter. She was positive she was their target.

“Lady Caitlyn.” Queen Elizabeth broke through Caitlyn’s foggy thoughts and beckoned her over. “The king informed me this morn that he is considering your suitors.”

My suitors? I only had one, and he won’t marry me. Caitlyn kept her expression neutral despite being disconcerted.

“Since Armstrong isn’t pursuing his courtship anymore, it is time to cast the net elsewhere. The king asked for my opinion, but I’m wary to name anyone.

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