Unlaced by the Outlaw (Secrets in Silk) by Michelle Willingham

Author:Michelle Willingham [Willingham, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Britain, England, Great Britain, Highlander, Highlanders, Highlands, Historical Romance, London, Love Story, Regency Britain, Regency England, Regency London, Regency Romance, Regency Scotland, Romance, Scot, Scotland, Scotland Highland, Scotland Highlands, Scots, Scottish, Scottish Highland, Scottish Highlander, Scottish Highlands
ISBN: 9781477826010
Google: Qs8BoQEACAAJ
Amazon: 1477826017
Goodreads: 22180772
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Published: 2014-12-01T14:00:00+00:00

FIVE YEARS EARLIER

“But . . . we can’t leave, Cain.” Jonah stared up at him, his nine-year-old face shocked. “This is our home.”

Cain had begun throwing clothes, food—whatever he could find—into a bundle. He didn’t stop to look for anything but kept adding as much as he could carry. When he glanced up, his brother was still staring at him, frozen in disbelief.

“Don’t stand there, lad. We have to leave within the hour.” He knew what would happen to the crofters who refused to leave their homes. Strathland had ordered them all to go, and there was no choice in it.

“He canna do this,” Jonah protested. “We’ve always lived here. How can he make us leave?”

“Because the earl owns this land.” His younger brother didn’t understand that Strathland’s men were riding even now, torches in hand. Those who had not yet abandoned their homes would be forced to leave when the flames struck the thatched roofs. Cain had seen the fires in the distance and heard the screams of the folk whose belongings were going up in smoke. It was only a matter of time before they reached these dwellings.

“Take everything you can carry,” he commanded. “We’ve no time left.”

His brother didn’t seem to understand the urgency but kept staring at the walls as if he couldn’t decide what to leave behind.

“Now, Jonah,” Cain said softly. “Or you’ll no’ be able to carry any of it.”

When his brother turned, his face was stricken with fear. He picked up a handkerchief that had belonged to their mother, crumpling it in his hand. “Where will we go?” This was the only home he’d known, and Cain could see how close Jonah was to tears.

“To Lady Lanfordshire,” Cain said. “We’ll ask to set up our shelters there until we can find another place. Near the coast, maybe.” He reached for the pistol that had belonged to their father, tucking it in at his waist. At least they could have a few things that would remind them of their parents.

Jonah was already shaking his head. “I won’t go, Cain. I canna leave.”

The sound of horses drew nearer, and there was no choice but to seize as many of their clothes as he could gather.

“Jonah, get out!” he shouted.

A lighted torch landed upon the thatched roof, and it caught fire immediately. The flames took hold, the black smoke thickening the space.

Cain grabbed his brother by the hand and jerked him outside. Only moments later, a bundle of charred thatch and bits of the roof fell inside where his brother had been standing. Hatred darkened the boy’s face when he saw their home go up in flames.

“We did naught to Strathland,” he told Cain. “It wasna our fault.”

No, but they were at the mercy of a man who had decided they were no longer useful to him.

“Our fault was in living upon his land,” was the only answer Cain could give. Then he led the boy away from the blaze of fire, pretending a confidence he didn’t feel.

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.