Married to the Enemy by Patricia Bates

Author:Patricia Bates
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Highlander romance, enemies to lovers, historical romance in Scotland, Scottish Historical, Sexy Highlanders, Forced marriage romance
Publisher: P B Publications
Published: 2023-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Rolling hills with snow clinging to their face surrounded the line of riders as Ailen led his men through the pass. Fresh and crisp, the breeze swirled around the line of riders, tugging gently at Meredith’s hair. The scent of smoke drifted on the northern breeze as they crossed a narrow stone bridge and turned westward.

Meredith adjusted her weight in the saddle and looked upward. Flat, grey stone towered over the trail on one side, broken by the jagged cascade of ice tinted yellow. The steady dripping of water on stone spoke of warmer water beneath the surface.

A shiver drove her deeper into her brat and she rubbed her hands together in an effort to chase the chill from her skin. Her new clan’s territory was cold, frozen, the kiss of spring far from its cheek.

“My lady, ye are cold?”

Meredith turned, her gaze colliding with Angus’s as he trotted next to her. She clenched her jaw and focused on her horse’s head. There was nothing to say to her guard. He served her husband now, not her.

“Ye are displeased.” Angus’s statement held a final note, an all-knowing one that grated across her nerves like a dull blade over an infected wound.

“Displeased.” Meredith laughed, a cold, hard sound that offered little by way of humour. “Nay, I amna displeased, Angus. Displeased would be if I were to fall from my horse into the mud. Ye betrayed me. Ye turned yer back on everything I hold dear and swore–”

“I did what was necessary, my lady, to ensure I would be permitted to continue at yer side.” Angus leaned closer, his voice dropping. “Or have ye forgotten, ye are the one who all but begged the man to wed or at least pretend to wed ye to get out of a marriage to Acair Sinclair?”

“I have forgotten nothing. My people didna deserve to suffer having that bastard as heir to the throne. My plan was sound. It would have given us freedom.”

“Ye have freedom.” Angus directed his horse closer. “From Acair and ye hold position within one of the most respected and feared clans within the highlands. Yer father will come to understand, just as I have.”

“And Baird? What treachery did ye weave about for him? Battered, bloodied, he holds his tongue whilst ye ride about–”

“A simple family disagreement.” Angus gestured over his shoulder to the man in question, who rode next to Broderick. “His cousin is married to a Lindsey soldier.”

The air knocked from her lungs, Meredith twisted in the saddle to gape at the soldier behind them. Could it be? Had the clans shared a bond long before now? Did Ailen know? “Ye lie.”

“Do I? Ask him yerself. Baird will confirm what I have said. Lady Meredith, ye belong to the Lindsey chieftain now. Use yer position wisely, and ye will see our people free of the Sinclair threat...and strong enough to face the English.”

“At a cost ye dona have to pay.”

“I canna go home,” Angus shrugged. “I can only send word to my wife and children to see they come to me.

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