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Claiming His Highland Bride
Terri Brisbin
Safe in her Highlander’s arms!Discovering her role in her father’s plot to destroy another clan, Sorcha MacMillan risks her life to go into hiding. Her safety relies on her disguise, but she is drawn to a man who could see through her…Unknown to Sorcha, Alan Cameron has been sent to track her down. He’s attracted to the woman in disguise. Even discovering her true identity, he can’t overcome his instinct to protect her. No matter the danger, he will keep Sorcha safe…and claim her as his bride!
Safe in her Highlander’s arms!
After discovering her role in her father’s plot to destroy another clan, Sorcha MacMillan risks her life to go into hiding. Her safety relies on her disguise, but she is drawn to a man who could see through her...
Unknown to Sorcha, Alan Cameron has been sent to track her down. He’s attracted to the woman in disguise. Even after learning her true identity, he can’t overcome his instinct to protect her. No matter the danger, he will keep Sorcha safe...and claim her as his bride!
Sorcha could not explain her reaction to Alan Cameron.
Of all the men here, he was the most dangerous to her. God forbid she should slip up and err in front of him. What had James said about him? Ah, aye, that he was a tracker. He found and sorted clues to find missing things and people.
All the enjoyment she’d felt during the last few hours soured as she realised he was the worst possible man for her to spend too much time around. Her inexperience with men while under her father’s protection had left her with little knowledge of how to protect herself from him.
Sorcha understood the danger of him. Of his appeal. Of his smile. Of the way he met her gaze and stared back. But for tonight she would allow herself the weakness of savouring those few special moments during which he’d been with her.
Author Note (#u4ba1be2e-826f-55a5-9d56-b6ebdf077d0c)
While I was researching I came across information about the three-centuries-long feud between two powerful Scottish clans–the Mackintoshes and the Camerons–and knew I’d found a wonderful source of stories. That’s how A Highland Feuding began–as a way to share many generations, many locations and a lot of history with my readers.
Alan Cameron appeared in the first book in this series, Stolen by the Highlander, as a young man, and he even tried to be the hero in the most recent one, Kidnapped by the Highland Rogue. I took that as a message that Alan needed to be a hero in his own right. So here is his story. Though you will find some familiar faces, there are some intriguing new ones that might show up in their own stories, too.
Sorcha MacMillan is a woman lost–and she must not be found. Of course there’s nothing more enticing to a man experienced in finding things than that. Drawn in by her vulnerability, Alan discovers many of his own secrets in this story as he seeks out Sorcha’s truth.
I hope you enjoy Claiming His Highland Bride!
PS–I’ve just got home from a wonderful trip to Scotland, where I had the chance to visit Cameron lands and the Clan Museum. Let’s just say that my visit and my sightseeing and research have inspired many stories. See you soon!
Claiming His Highland Bride
Terri Brisbin
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
TERRI BRISBIN is wife to one, mother of three, and dental hygienist to hundreds–when not living the life of a glamorous romance author. She was born, raised, and is still living in the southern New Jersey suburbs. Terri’s love of history led her to write time-travel romances and historical romances set in Scotland and England.
Books by Terri Brisbin
Mills & Boon Historical Romance
and Mills & Boon Historical Undone! eBooks
A Highland Feuding
Stolen by the Highlander
The Highlander’s Runaway Bride
Kidnapped by the Highland Rogue
Claiming His Highland Bride
The MacLerie Clan
Taming the Highlander
Surrender to the Highlander
Possessed by the Highlander
Taming the Highland Rogue (Undone!)
The Highlander’s Stolen Touch
At the Highlander’s Mercy
The Highlander’s Dangerous Temptation
Yield to the Highlander
Linked to The MacLerie Clan
The Earl’s Secret
Regency Candlelit Christmas
‘Blame It on the Mistletoe’
Highlanders
‘The Forbidden Highlander’
Visit the Author Profile page
at www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk) for more titles.
This last year I have been very busy with the two very special girls I call the ‘Brisbin Princesses’–Alexis and Sydney, my first two granddaughters. Watching them grow has been amazing for me. Now, with more grandbabies expected in 2017–just around the release of this book–I’d like to dedicate this book to them.
To my grandchildren Alexis and Sydney–and the new ones coming–I wish you happiness, health, success and lots of friends and family around you at all times. But mostly I wish you lots of love and books!
Contents
Cover (#u3f900dd1-d143-5a99-afd7-2aca6479fa17)
Back Cover Text (#udc6d00c2-864d-509b-bd6f-05cd6cdf1969)
Introduction (#u610115a3-0437-5dac-adb8-8f5b2fd197f8)
Author Note (#uc7c0499e-05b5-5e7a-8033-e9a8ace7bbd5)
Title Page (#ub5cfd04d-fc44-50ab-b57c-b9789e4f0362)
About the Author (#u88ce25b7-a736-5e2f-a04e-33dcb76ea59b)
Dedication (#uad893e59-1b55-53af-8c65-a865ee8602ee)
Prologue (#u850de627-1651-5411-849f-de68dac001fe)
Chapter One (#u0afa2307-cec1-5fcd-99bd-65c8d06bc22a)
Chapter Two (#u744d8f88-dfec-511d-83a2-9374f4b8329b)
Chapter Three (#u3be00a07-f2c9-50c6-92ad-539ff9b0e5fd)
Chapter Four (#ue197cb61-ccd3-5cae-a588-3c64ddae533b)
Chapter Five (#uac8902de-1af2-5a55-b061-23674ef0d0c3)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#u4ba1be2e-826f-55a5-9d56-b6ebdf077d0c)
Castle Sween, Lands of Knap, Argyll,
Scotland—summer, ad 1370
‘Sorcha, come and sit with me a while.’
Sorcha glanced over at her mother’s companion for permission before approaching her bed. Anna nodded, so Sorcha climbed up on the high rope-strung mattress, having a care not to sit too close. Her mother had been ill and failing for years, but the last few weeks had brought a sunken and grey look to her face. From Anna’s grim expression and her mother’s glassy, weak gaze, Sorcha understood that Erca MacNeill had little time left living on this earth.
Sliding a bit closer and reaching out to touch her mother’s hand, Sorcha found it difficult to speak. Her throat tightened and clogged with tears as she understood this might be their last conversation. With a slight movement of her eyes, her mother dismissed Anna and soon the silence was disturbed only by the sound of laboured breathing.
‘Honour,’ her mother whispered before coughing. When she regained her breath, she struggled to say two more words, two words Sorcha knew would follow. ‘Loyalty. Courage.’ More rough, deep coughing that produced blood filled the chamber. Even when she tried to hush her mother from trying to speak, the woman shook her head and forced herself to continue.
‘Mother, I pray you, do not speak,’ she urged, as she leaned closer. Careful not to press against her mother’s frail body, Sorcha felt the tears tracking down her own cheeks.
‘Honour. Loyalty. Courage, Sorcha,’ her mother whispered, tugging her hand to bring her closer still. ‘Women know it. Women live it.’
‘Aye, Mother.’ She nodded and promised, hoping it would quiet her mother’s spirit and struggles. ‘I will live it. As you taught me.’
‘You father has none. He follows a path that will lead to our destruction and your death.’
Her mother’s gaze cleared then and Sorcha saw a strength there she’d not seen in years. Her father made certain his wife was obedient and biddable, if not with harsh words and commands, then with his fists and other punishments. Yet just now Sorcha recognised something in her mother’s eyes that had been long gone—defiance.
‘Mother, you should rest now,’ Sorcha began. The tight squeezing of her hand stopped her.
‘I will not go to my death without protecting you, Sorcha. I will not allow him to sell you into a life of suffering and pain and destroy the rest. Not as I was. Not for gold. Not for power. Nor for this castle. I will not.’
The words admitted things that her mother had never spoken of between them. Everyone knew the laird was a rough man, with little tenderness or mercy within him. Everyone whispered behind their hands that he beat his wife. Everyone guessed Erca MacNeill would die soon and that her daughter would be married off and gone soon. With that, his claim on Castle Sween would weaken. He had needed a son off Erca MacNeill and she’d denied him that.
What most were not privy to was the fact that her father was in talks with a powerful chieftain in the Highlands for Sorcha’s hand in marriage. One who was surely powerful enough to shore up his claim against anyone who tried to push him out. But that was not the disturbing part of the rumours. Nay, there was something more. Something worse and more frightening to her.
She’d heard the gossip about the harsh lord whose past wives had met unhappy ends, but they’d only been rumours. As a dutiful daughter who understood her place and her value to her clan, she’d wait on her father’s word about her future. Though now, with her mother’s warning and declaration fresh, she wondered if the stories were true and if there were more to this than she knew.
One glance at the frail and failing woman on the bed told Sorcha that refusing her mother’s attempts to speak about it would exhaust her mother and upset her even more. So, Sorcha stroked her mother’s hand and nodded.
‘Tell me, Mother. What would you have me do?’ She expected some ramblings about a woman’s place and the choices ahead of her, but instead her mother spoke with clarity.
‘You must be ready. It may be before I pass or just after. Someone will come in the light of day or dark of night. Someone you know I trust will bring you word.’
