The Promise of Peace by Carol Umberger

Author:Carol Umberger [Umberger, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Romance, ebook, book
ISBN: 9781591451662
Google: 1z36WpGzs2kC
Amazon: 1591451663
Barnesnoble: 1591451663
Goodreads: 1013635
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2004-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

TEN

Homelea 1326

AT LAST THE TIME CAME for Keifer to be knighted. Nola was delighted when her father agreed to take her to Homelea for the celebration. In fact, the whole family would make the trip. And Adam invited Will Macpherson to accompany them.

Will had been pressing her to let him ask her father for her hand, but while he had managed to needle his way into her heart, again she put him off. The promise she’d made to Keifer remained closer still. Was there any hope?

Nola was determined to enjoy the time away from the glen and to not obsess on Will’s pressing ways or the worry over Keifer. The trip seemed to take much longer than her earlier one, not only because of Will’s presence, but because Nola was anxious to see Keifer again. She was anxious for him to see that she was no longer a child.

She caught Will staring at her bosom—he had certainly noticed the changes. And if he mentioned his desire for a betrothal one more time, she would forbid him to speak with her!

Will had changed since his mother died. It seemed that without her hand to gentle him, his arrogance went unchecked. Will’s father had all he could do to care for his land and tenants, and precious little time to deal with his son. Still, Nola had to admire Will’s brash ways, his confidence. And he made her feel wanted and constantly admired. Yet she worried that all the good things she saw in him would fade once he had her at his side for good. Will was a conqueror by habit, not a partner.

Nola no longer lived with the Macphersons at Inversie, but she went there once or twice a week to help with Mary. Nola loved the little girl and grieved for Suisan and the child that had died within weeks of its birth. This journey to Homelea came as a much-needed respite from caring for others. For once Nola planned to selfishly look to her own interests.

When they arrived at Homelea at last, the place bustled with guests. Sir Bryan came to meet them in the bailey and gave orders for their horses to be tended. As her father greeted Sir Bryan, Nola scanned the busy courtyard for Keifer. Her father drew her forward.

“You remember my daughter, Nola.”

Nola brought her attention back to her father and the handsome man she’d met on her earlier trip to Homelea.

“You’ve become a lovely young woman, just as I predicted,” the earl said as he took her hand. She dipped a curtsy.

“And this is our neighbor, Will Macpherson. He and Nola and Keifer grew up together. Will’s father and I thought it would be good for him to see some of the country.”

Nola bit her tongue. She’d had to beg to get her father to bring her along. Yet he invited Will because it would be good for him to see some of the world.

“So, where is our knight to be?” Adam asked.

“He is in the village, helping with the preparations.

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