Conqueror's Kiss by Hannah Howell

Author:Hannah Howell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Scottish Borders (England and Scotland), Historical Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Abduction, Fiction
ISBN: 9780821780053
Publisher: Zebra
Published: 1991-01-02T07:00:00+00:00

Holding her woolen cloak snugly around her, Jennet made her way to the rear of the stables. An hysterical Katherine had demanded that she go to the stables and do something about her father. Poor Katherine had come to visit her pampered mare and had heard enough to know that Artair and Ranald were heartily misbehaving themselves. What Jennet did not understand was why Katherine had not simply tended to the matter herself. Ranald was Katherine's son, after all.

Jennet had no trouble finding the culprits. She scowled down at the two couples sprawled in the hay only a few feet away from each other, all oblivious to her presence. She grabbed a wooden pail hanging from a nail and threw it against the door of an empty stall. "Ye said ye would behave!" she shouted.

All four miscreants jumped and turned toward her, grabbing pieces of their scattered clothing and trying to cover themselves. She ought not to be surprised. Her father had been very good for eight long, dull, winter weeks. This, however, was no saint who lay sprawled on his back clutching a corner of the blanket over his privates.

"Ye said ye would behave!" she repeated.

"I have behaved, verra weel." He wriggled his auburn brows and grinned at the buxom woman kneeling by his side. "Havenae I, lassie?" He chuckled when the woman giggled.

Ignoring that, Jennet continued, "And to drag Ranald into sin as weel. Ye cannae tell me 'tis not your influence which has him rolling about in the hay with wanton abandon."

"Actually, Jennet," Ranald drawled, and patting the shoulder of the woman at his side, "her name is Fenella."

She gaped at her young friend and glared at her father. "Now he even has your impertinence."

"Aye." Moving to ruffle Ranald's thick hair, Artair laughed. "The lad's a fast learner. Lots of promise in the boy."

Turning her back on them, Jennet fought against laughing. She had to be stern. While she did not really see the harm in frolicking about with willing maids, it could lead to trouble. Katherine had taken to wailing about Ranald's slipping into "the depths of depravity," and she pinned the blame squarely on Artair Graeme. Jennet preferred such tirades to reminders of how long Hacon had been gone, but she knew she could not simply ignore Katherine's anger. Feeling in control again, Jennet turned to frown at the group.

"Weel, his mother doesnae like the lessons ye teach." She ignored Ranald's muttered complaints.

"The woman coddles the boy," Artair protested. "Boy? He is more a mon than a boy."

Although she agreed, Jennet was about to point out that it was not her father's place to interfere when someone called her name. Frowning in puzzlement, she turned just as a young man appeared in the doorway. It took her a moment to recognize Donald, Robert's brother. Her delight over how completely he had recovered from his wounds was brief, fading when she saw the concern in his expression.

"What is it, Donald?" she had to ask, for his attention was momentarily diverted by the four lovers.

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