The Bedeviled Heart (The Highland Heather and Hearts Scottish Romance Series) by Carmen Caine

Author:Carmen Caine [Caine, Carmen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scottish romance scottish romances highlands marriage of convenience historical romance historical romances scottish romance novels
Publisher: Bento Box Books
Published: 2011-12-19T23:00:00+00:00

Slowly, she backed out of the chamber and softly closed the door. Resting her head upon the door a moment, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and took a deep breath.

Returning to Princess Anabella’s chambers, she ignored her pallet spread next to the sleeping Lady Nicoletta and instead spent a sleepless night, sitting at the window and staring out into the darkness.

The princess did not call for her the following morning but instead set out for the daily feast with her dog and two other ladies in tow, leaving the remaining ladies-in-waiting to stay in her chambers.

Time crawled.

Kate moved about restlessly, listening to the women gossip as one played the lute, and the others labored over their needlework.

Kate suppressed a sigh.

This was hardly an existence.

Again, she felt like a caged canary, but she was less inclined to grumble this time, comforting herself with the fact that by remaining thus, she was helping to keep Cameron safe.

She wandered to the window, at first trying to resist all thoughts of the man, but it was nigh impossible. At last, she succumbed to the temptation and let herself relive their wondrously passionate night, only occasionally fretting over the possibility of a bairn.

A sudden knock sent them all in a flurry.

Nicoletta opened the door and stepped back as Thomas Cochrane strutted importantly into the chamber.

His eyes went straight to Kate.

With a falsely benevolent smile, he held out a small, silver dish. “I’ve come to welcome ye, Kate, and to gift ye with the finest honeyed-pears from the king’s own table.”

A soft cloud of appreciative “ahs!” circled through the gathered ladies. One of them squealed outright in delight.

Smoothing his trimmed, sleek beard, he extended his hand in invitation. “Walk with me a moment, will ye, Kate?”

Kate hesitated but knew she had little choice. She’d learned enough to know the man was the king’s favorite, though she failed to understand what the king saw in him. He was hardly appealing.

Ach, she was cornered, with no choice but to keep the man’s company.

“Allow me to fetch a mantle,” Lady Nicoletta inserted skillfully, drawing Kate to the side to throw a soft, velvet mantle over her shoulders and to murmur a warning. “Step carefully, Kate. There is danger here.”

She hadn’t needed to be told, but Kate nodded her thanks just the same.

Shuddering at his touch, she allowed Thomas to guide her from the royal apartments, out into the open air and down the winding stair to the king’s gardens below.

At the foot of the gravel pathway, she hesitated.

“There is no place denied me, Kate,” Thomas boasted, noting her reluctance. “The king denies me naught. In his eyes, we are equal.”

Kate blinked at his arrogance.

He extended his arm, but she pretended not to notice and stepped onto the path as the wind rippled through the fresh green grass and rustled the tender leaves of the trees lining the garden’s edge.

“We share much, Kate, and could be of great service to each other.” Thomas’ nasal voice took on an almost wheedling tone as he fell into step beside her.

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