Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders: A Mackenzies McBrides Holiday Novella by Jennifer Ashley

Author:Jennifer Ashley [Ashley, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JA / AG Publishing
Published: 2020-11-28T18:30:00+00:00

The first wisps of snow began to fall as they crossed the last open valley and into the fold of mountain where lay the Macdonald family home.

Fiona eyed the glen with mixed feelings. She’d played here in her happy girlhood, knew sorrow with the deaths of first her mother then her father, and grew frustrated when she realized her brother saw her as a commodity to be married off. A clanswoman could be used to strengthen ties with other clans. Broc hadn’t intended for her to fall for a Cameron, especially one with Jacobite sympathies—Broc believed that being loyal to King Geordie would help him rise in profit and status.

Stuart had said very little to her since his impetuous kiss, resuming the trek through the cold wind. Fiona hadn’t quite recovered, and wasn’t certain she would. The kiss had staggered her, opening up places she’d forced closed.

Her thoughts went back to the last kiss she’d shared with Stuart, September of the previous year, before Teàrlach reached Edinburgh and took it over. They’d had a grand ball at Castle Mòr, Broc’s way of saying he wasn’t afraid. He’d invited both Jacobites and loyalists, as though daring anyone to make trouble. The Camerons had come, Stuart in their lead, and with him had been Mal, Alec, and Will Mackenzie.

Fiona had laughed and danced with them all, knowing in her heart disaster was near. Those supporting Teàrlach were too confident, those opposing too scornful. Their arrogance would clash violently, and she’d been right.

Stuart had swung her out of the Scots dance and into a hall outside the ballroom. He’d leaned her against a wall, his fiery hair loosening from its queue, his body warm in the night.

“Come with me, lass,” he’d whispered. “When all this is over and Scotland ruled by its own king, come home with me. We’ll have a grand celebration, with you as my lady.”

It wasn’t exactly a proposal of marriage but Fiona had known that was what he meant.

They’d kissed, long and passionately, Stuart’s hands on her waist, one coming up to cup her breast. The taste of him had lingered from that day to this, brought to life once more by their kiss outside the shelter.

Fiona hadn’t given him an answer that night. The future had been so uncertain, and she hadn’t wanted to upset Broc.

Stuart had come to her one more time before he’d left to join Teàrlach’s army, and Broc had threatened to kill him.

Ye think I’ll let me sister run off with a bloody Jacobite? What will ye drag her to, a hovel while you hide as a traitor?

’Twill be a damned better fate for her than being forced to marry one of your toadies, Stuart had growled. Have the grace to follow Teàrlach and die like a man for your lands. Let Fiona be laird—she’ll be far better at it than you.

Broc had let out a snarl of fury and drawn his dagger. Fiona, in alarm, had stepped between the two men.

I’m going nowhere, she’d shouted.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.