The Prince's Highland Bride: Book 6, the Hardy Heroines series by Cathy MacRae & DD MacRae

Author:Cathy MacRae & DD MacRae [MacRae, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Short Dog Press
Published: 2020-05-12T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Phillipe reached deep within, seeking calm buried beneath a jumbled mass of fear, destroyed expectations, and anger. Each slap of a wave against the ship’s hull reminded him of his flight from Cilicia and the life he left behind.

All is as God wills.

He’d spoken to Balgair as if this were the holiest truth. Yet, he’d lived his life as it suited him, not always in the service of others as he’d been taught. His vows as a knight and as a king had sworn self-sacrifice to those in need. If his imprisonment in Sis Castle had been punishment for neglecting the good of the people of Cilicia, then it was on his head, not God’s. He rather doubted The Almighty had a hand in Konstantin’s demand for his death.

Helping Maggie could be a step toward atonement. One step in whatever time was granted him to do some good with his life. His narrow escape from death had to be for some greater purpose. To achieve this goal, he would be forced to face something that disturbed him more than Konstantin and his assassination plot. He would reveal his inadequacies and failures to the man who’d always been like a father to him. Phillipe was not certain he could survive the sorrow and disappointment in Baron MacLean’s eyes.

A thousand ways to speak to the baron of the past three years paraded through Phillipe’s mind. Starting. Stopping. Tempting him to abandon the task. Telling him how much easier it would be to travel north. South. Anywhere except Morvern. He stepped to the rail, gripped the wood until his knuckles whitened.

I will do this.

It helped to remember he’d already spoken to Alex, who’d encouraged him to return to Morvern.

Ye are more a brother to me, Alex, than any my father sired.

For a time, his thoughts returned to Maggie. She’d been tipsy on mead the previous night, her normal restraint delightfully absent. He smiled. It had led to an interesting conversation.

She likes me without my mail shirt. His smile widened. Her blunder showed plainly on her face, cheeks flushed with embarrassment when she realized she spoke aloud. He’d struggled to keep from responding—keeping the words to himself nigh impossible.

I would love to see her naked. The statement would not have been a lie. Though, ’tis not the thing to say to a woman such as she. Such words make me no better than the men who pursue her.

She was completely unexpected, her sweetness mingled with a strength of spirit that captured his heart.

If life had been different; if he hadn’t followed his father’s decree and married Zabel; if he hadn’t once given his heart to Arbela . . ..

Had he not done those things, he would not have left the Holy Land. Would not have traveled to Scotland. Would not have met Maggie.

Evening wind swept through the strait, pushing the birlinn faster. It skimmed the tops of the waves, making short work of the distance to Morvern. Tall masts appeared as the boat rounded the point, each rooted within the bowels of ships resting at the quay.

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