The Wrong Highland Bridegroom by Amanda Forester

Author:Amanda Forester
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published: 2014-02-17T22:00:00+00:00

Nine

The next morning, Effie flung off the blankets and jumped out of bed, ready for the morn. Yesterday had ended poorly, but she was not of a brooding nature. The rain had stopped, the sun was out, and she was determined to make the most of it.

She was dressed much as she was the day before. She put on a clean linen chemise and kirtle and over that the silver-blue gown from a bygone era with the sweeping sleeves. Her blond hair was braided in two long plaits and the silver crown was placed on her head.

“Indeed, you look lovely,” said Isabelle. “We have never had such a charming Maid Marian.”

“Thank ye,” murmured Effie, distracted.

“And today shall be the big day for Marian, the day Robin Hood is crowned and she bestows on him a kiss.”

Effie’s head snapped up. “Och, aye.” She bit her lip and hoped she would enjoy this kiss more than she had her last.

A sudden yell of male voices drew their attention.

“What was that?” asked Isabelle.

“Are the lads preparing in the courtyard?” asked Effie. They both opened the shutter to look out the window. Yet nothing was out of the ordinary.

Another yell came from the distance, making them both pause.

“I am going to look from the tower,” said Effie.

“Keep your head down. Don’t be seen by either the English or your brother. You know how he feels about towers.”

“Aye. Heard it much too often.” Effie bounded up the stone stairs. David’s dislike of high places was legendary, yet in a cruel twist of fate, all his siblings enjoyed an elevated view, thus creating more than one difference of opinion on whether castle towers should be frequented or not.

Effie opened the wooden trapdoor on the tower. Connor was there. Crouched behind the battlements, looking out on the valley below. He turned and acknowledged her with a nod. Effie acknowledged him stiffly in return, her heart giving him a silent greeting with an extra beat.

Connor was not wearing his usual great plaid, as was common for Highlanders; instead, he wore a surcoat, padded hauberk, and breeches. She was surprised for a moment until she remembered today was the joust. The men would be wearing armor. She had never before considered how armor could improve the look of a man.

But it did.

Effie crept to him, careful to keep low so as not to be a target for the English bowmen. “Good morn to ye, Sir Connor.” She disliked the mixed emotions he swirled within her.

“Good morn to ye, Lady Euphemia.”

Effie scrunched her nose at hearing her formal name. The only time her family used that name was when she was in trouble. Another warrior’s yell sliced through the morning and Effie looked out through the battlements at the scene below.

“What is all that racket?” asked Effie.

“The English are doing some fool thing. They are arranged into formations and are marching around, yelling at each other.”

Hundreds of English soldiers had arranged into neat square formations and were marching down the

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