A Sword Upon The Rose by Brenda Joyce

Author:Brenda Joyce [Brenda Joyce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Love Story, Romance, Scottish Medieval Romance, Medieval Romance, Scotland, Warriors, Warrior, Highlander, Highlanders, Highland Warriors, Knights
ISBN: 9780373778850
Amazon: 0373778856
Barnesnoble: 0373778856
Goodreads: 18721545
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-06-30T14:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

ALANA PAUSED ON the threshold of the great hall the following day, clasping a wool mantle tightly to her chest.

Everyone had gathered for the breakfast. Buchan was eating with a hearty appetite, as was Godfrey. Her father was sitting back, not eating, clearly absorbed in thought.

Alana stared at him, trembling.

What did her vision of the night before mean? Was her father going to die—and would she be present when he did?

She had not slept at all last night, worried as she was about her father. She might be distrustful of him and his intentions, and she was hurt to the quick by his favoritism, but she had no wish for him to die.

As she had done when she had had her vision of the destruction of the Buchan earldom, she prayed this vision was a false one, too.

And if it was not? What was she going to do?

Her father saw her and smiled.

Buchan saw her, too. There was no turning back. Alana started forward with Eleanor, her insides churning. She wanted to do her duty, of course she did. The problem was, she no longer knew what that duty was, or to whom it was owed.

Alana sat down next to Godfrey, across from Sir Alexander. As she greeted everyone, all she could see was her father lying dead on that bed, the sheets soaked with his blood.

“Good morn, Alana.” Sir Alexander was cheerful.

Alana somehow smiled. “Good morning.”

“You are not eating,” Buchan told his brother. “If my scouts come early enough today, we will ride out immediately.”

Sir Alexander stabbed a piece of duck. “My appetite has suddenly improved.” He smiled at Alana, but it quickly faded. “Do you not feel well today?”

Alana realized she could not smile back. In that moment, she understood why her mother had been charmed. His smile made him a beautiful man, and he had the ability to seem so concerned and caring. “I am fine.”

She began to eat some bread with cheese, realizing she had hardly eaten in days. She stole a glance at Buchan. She had no intention of suffering his wrath another time. She was not going to bring him a vision he did not like.

“Are you all right this morning?” Godfrey asked, low.

She glanced quickly at him. Was he beginning to know her well, after all these years, so that he could see she was distressed? Or had he always known her well—and she had not wanted to see it? “I did not sleep well. You frightened me when you spoke of Elgin falling, and Brodie being surrounded. What happens here at Brodie when my uncle leaves?” she asked him.

“He is leaving us with twenty more men,” Godfrey said.

Twenty extra men would not hold Iain back should he ever wish to take Brodie.

“I cannot spare more,” Buchan said, having been listening to them. “I received a message from Mowbray last night. He wants to find Bruce, chase him from his lair and rout him, once and for all.”

Alana laid her bread down. “Is that even possible?”

“It’s possible if we can surprise him,” Buchan said.

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