Christmastide with my Captain: Scottish Historical Romance (A Laird to Love) by Tammy Andresen

Author:Tammy Andresen [Andresen, Tammy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

Emilia could feel his eyes on her back as she rode. She’d turned around once, and his eyes had pierced into hers.

What she didn’t understand was what that meant. He touched her like she was important and he’d revealed truths about himself she knew he kept private. But he’d also been clear. He wouldn’t court her.

Was his own situation a convenient excuse for the truth? Her own insecurities crowded her mind. No man would ever love her, she didn’t inspire the feeling. She was dull, not pretty enough. But she pushed those thoughts aside. Right now, she’d be there for Jack.

Reaching the barn, she could see her father striding toward them. His walk purposeful, his face set in hard lines. Emilia felt her heart flutter in her throat. Something was wrong.

Jack rode up behind her. Swinging down from his stallion, he immediately moved to her side to lift her down from hers. She could see her father watching every move.

“Captain Andrews.” Her father’s rough was voice, making her even more nervous. Without knowing why, her hand rested upon his upper arm as she finally swung her worried gaze to his.

“Yes, my lord,” Jack replied, straightening and stepping in front of her. It was almost as though he were protecting her.

“I told ye, call me Haggis.” Her father stopped just in front of Jack. “A letter came by ship today. The boat is docked in the harbor waiting for yer reply.”

Jack’s shoulders relaxed and Emilia realized he had been about to defend her. It would have been very valiant, except for the fact that she wasn’t frightened of her father a lick. Jack didn’t know this of course. Her father looked gigantic, but he was really just about one of the sweetest men in all of Scotland.

Her fear had been for Jack. Her father looked rather serious, and not at all like himself.

Jack slid open the wax seal on the letter and then flipped open the pages. As his eyes scanned the pages, she saw every muscle tense in him and he took a half step back, nearly knocking into her. She put her hands up and rested them gently on his back. “What is it?”

He turned to her then and, in front of her father, gathered her in his arms. “He’s dying.”

She didn’t need to ask whom he spoke of and as her arms wrapped around him, she felt him shudder against her. “I’m so sorry, Jack.”

“I have to leave today. The Maria is waiting in the harbor to take me to him. My delay could already mean that I missed saying goodbye.” Jack straightened and as Emilia tipped her head up to him, she saw the raw pain in his eyes.

“Da,” she called over her shoulder. “We should go with him.”

Both men said, “Emilia.” In the exact same moment in the same surprised tone.

“Our family won’t make it back for at least a few days,” she said to her father. Then turning back to look at Jack, she added, “And no one should have to say goodbye like this, alone.

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