Becoming a Highlander: A Steamy Scottish Medieval Historical Romance by Ann Marie Scott

Author:Ann Marie Scott [Scott, Ann Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-23T16:00:00+00:00

13

“It must be my cousin’s messenger!” Adam cried, and leapt up from his chair, then rushed outside to where the man was standing gazing down at the valley below. Adam heard him say something to himself, and when he turned around he was smiling.

The messenger proved to be a tall, broad man, almost the same size as Adam himself, which was very unusual, but he looked as though he was descended from Viking stock, since he had fair hair and startling blue eyes. He bowed to Adam, then addressed him in a surprisingly soft voice. “I am Nicholas Rolfe,” he said, smiling. “May I say what a beautiful view this is?”

“This is not my home,” Adam corrected him. He was puzzled. “But you are right. How did you find your way here?”

“I went to the castle and they told me where you might be,” Nicholas answered. “Although it took me a while to find anyone who spoke English!” He looked outraged. “And I must say, they are not very friendly!”

Adam was not the only one who noticed the man’s supercilious manner and his sneering tone as he spoke of the villagers. He led Nicholas Rolfe into the parlor, shuddering to think that he had been like this man at first.

“You are speaking a foreign tongue,” said Emilia, her voice as hard as flint as she came out of the pantry, wiping her hands on a cloth. “And it is the language of the enemy.”

Nicholas’s eyes had widened at the sight of the beautiful woman before him. “We are your enemy no more,” he pointed out. “Mistress, I am Nicholas Rolfe. It is a pleasure to meet you.” He reached for Emilia’s hand to kiss it but she withdrew it sharply and tucked it behind her back. Nicholas’s smile faded.

“The pleasure is all yours, I assure you,” she said coldly, then turned away and went outside.

“Not friendly at all,” the messenger said, frowning. “Are they all like this?”

Adam shook his head. “Not at all,” he replied. “They take a while to get used to you is all. They were the same with me when I arrived but I am learning their language and it helps a great deal. Also, a little humility goes a long way.” He stopped for a moment and looked at the man to see if the point had hit home, but his bland expression did not flicker. He carried on. “In fact, they are wonderful, solid people, not afraid of hard work and proud of themselves and their culture, as well they should be.” He gave the messenger a defiant look and the man appeared to make an effort to soften his tone.

“Perhaps I have been too hasty,” he said, sliding his gaze away from Adam’s.

Father Gordon stepped up at that moment and introduced himself, his eyes scanning the man from head to foot. “Father Emmanuel Gordon,” he said, heavily. Then he blessed the messenger and made a sign of the cross over him, and Nicholas crossed himself too, then Agnes came up to curtsey and he kissed her hand.

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