Title: The Highland Chieftan by Amy Jerecki
Lords of the Highlands Sereis Book Four
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Summary:
He is the last man she would ever marry…
After being unceremoniously jilted by her betrothed, Lady Mairi MacKenzie is humiliated and heartbroken – but she’s not desperate. As the daughter of an earl, she won’t give her hand to just anyone, and she definitely isn’t swayed by a last-minute proposal from Laird Duncan MacRae. The powerful clan chieftain may be disarmingly handsome and charming, but he’s not a nobleman. Mairi doesn’t want his pity or his charity – even though his dark smoldering gaze makes her melt with desire.
She is the only woman he could ever love…
Dunn may be a battle-hardened clansman, but he’s always had a soft spot for Mairi. For years, she tormented him with flirtation – only to reject him. But he’s not giving up. When Mairi is attacked by redcoats, Dunn goes after the woman he loves. Through brute strength and fierce action, he will protect her life at any cost. But to win her heart, he will have to show her the tenderness in his own.
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Excerpt
En route to Urqhart Castle, midsummer 1711
Bless it, you look worse than a rheumy-eyed ragamuffin.” Mairi’s father folded his gazette and slapped it on the bench beside him. “I’ve had enough of your moping. ’Tis time to sit straight and wipe away those confounding tears. There will be many influential men at the gathering, and I expect you to show the aristocracy of Scotland that the House of Cromartie is undaunted by your recent misfortune.”
Her insides hollow and drained, Lady Mairi MacKenzie wiped a hand across her face, her gaze shifting to her father. They’d been riding in the coach for hours upon hours, yet the Earl of Cromartie looked as crisp as when they’d set out at dawn. His long, curled periwig framed the hard angles of his face, his lace neckerchief tied perfectly beneath his chin. Da expected her to be thus composed regardless of if she was disgraced, ruined, and too mortified to ever again be seen in society.
How can I possibly face everyone and pretend nothing is amiss?
She’d pleaded with her father to allow her to remain home at Castle Leod, but nay, Mairi was given no choice but to hold her chin high and behave as if all was well. In the past, she’d enjoyed attending Highland fetes—the food, the dancing, meeting old friends, especially those of the male variety. But today, she was merely doing her duty. She didn’t want to laugh or dance or be sociable. She wanted to hide in her bedchamber with the shutters closed.
She could envision it now. As soon as she alighted from the coach, everyone would stare and the ladies would whisper behind their fans about her woeful state of affairs. Mairi could hear the gossip as well: Redheads are the devil’s spawn…Poor Cromartie, he’ll be lumbered with a spinster for the rest of his days.
All too soon, the coach rolled to a stop outside the crumbling gates of Urquhart Castle. Mairi closed the shutter, sat back, and crossed her arms.
Da reached over and tucked a curl under her bonnet. “Come, lass, ’tis time to put the past behind you. Square your shoulders, and hold your chin high.”
Mairi gulped. She’d rather be facing a smithy with a pair of tongs and submit to a tooth extraction than show her face. “Must I? If the coach turned around right now, we’d arrive home by—”
“Absolutely out of the question.” Da opened the door, climbed down the ladder, then thrust his hand inside. “Come, dearest, show the vultures you have a backbone of iron.”
She stared at the outstretched palm and drew a stuttering breath. Now she knew how a caged lion must feel, wanting to pounce but powerless to do so. Indeed, creating a scene would double her humiliation. With no other choice, Mairi took Da’s hand and climbed outside into the blinding sunlight. She swiftly opened her parasol, blinking rapidly.
Keeping her gaze downcast, she started for the drawbridge.
“Take heed!” a rider bellowed, reining a horse to a skidding stop as dirt and stones flew. The enormous black horse snorted and grunted, sidestepping. Mairi leaped out of the way while her parasol caught the wind, ripped from her hand, and flew to the ground.
“M’lady?” boomed the rider in a deep brogue—a familiar, rumbling voice that sent a shiver across the back of her neck.
Author Bio
Award winning and Amazon All-Star author, Amy Jarecki likes to grab life, latch on, and reach for the stars. She’s married to a mountain-biking pharmacist and has put four kids through college. She studies karate, ballet, yoga, and often you’ll find her hiking Utah’s Santa Clara Hills. Reinventing herself a number of times, Amy sang and danced with the Follies, was a ballet dancer, a plant manager, and an accountant for Arnott’s Biscuits in Australia. After earning her MBA from Heroit-Watt University in Scotland, she dove into the world of Scottish historical romance and hasn’t returned. Become a part of her world and learn more about Amy’s books on amyjarecki.com.
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