Welcome to #MidWeekTease again.
Boy I love this, it gives all of us a chance for a sneaky peek at other people's WIP or book, and also a way of letting our lovely readers see what's going on.
Last Monday The Scottish Lord's Secret Bride was published. Regency 'are we aren't we', set in Scotland, not far from where I live.
Of course it was a fizz evening...
(Thank you Dh)
Anyway, as ever I digress. On to #MidWeekTease which is taken from this latest release...
Secrets
never stay buried for long…
Reluctant
heiress Lady Morven Weston is tired of her mother interfering in her love
affairs. At twenty-six there’s only so many more society balls she can attend
before resigning herself to life as an unmarried maid.
But
when Lord Fraser Napier, the man Morven ran wild with one long, hot summer,
returns to Scotland, his shocking revelations change everything. Fraser
never annulled their whirlwind marriage all those years ago!
Preparing to take up his ancestral seat, Fraser’s not letting go of his
secret bride that easily – he needs an heir. It’s only a matter of time before
Morven surrenders to Fraser’s seductive touch and finds herself in his bed…
And your #MidWeekTease...
It was one of
those days you rarely get in Scotland. Soft warm sunshine, clear blue skies and
no midges.
The estate
was in festive mode, the games well underway and the ale and whisky going down
well. Children milled around, dressed in their Sunday best, and getting in
everyone’s way. Prizes were handed out for tossing the caber, putting the shot,
tidiest croft and prettiest goat. Emotions were high and happy and more than
one couple slipped away to see Tam Curtin the Romany, who for a few shillings
would conduct a hand fasting, or a wedding over the brush. As Fraser told
Morven both were considered legally binding and a lot simpler than having the
bans read.
Morven
wandered hand in hand with Fraser, laughing at the children, admiring the goats
and enjoying the day.
Until the
tall swarthy man with a body like a tree trunk, long, dark hair and even
darker, flashing eyes stood in front of them and raised one eyebrow. ‘Master,
will ye no come and let Tam give you a blessing?’ His deep voice with its soft
dialect was melodious and welcoming. ‘It’s part of today.’
Fraser turned
to Morven and smiled. ‘Are you ready to seal our friendship? Tell Tam how
important it is?’
‘Of course?’
What reason was there to hesitate? ‘Where?’
The man
pointed. ‘Over yonder by the rowan tree.’
Morven
glanced at Fraser as they followed the giant. ‘Why there?’
‘The tree is
said to have magical properties,’ Fraser said with a certainty she hadn’t heard
in his voice before. ‘To seal a friendship under its boughs is supposed to
bring better fortune.’
She liked the
idea of that. ‘We need all the good fortune we can get.’ This magical interlude
was coming to a close. All too soon she would be back in Rutland to gather her
clothes and then London for the coming season, both hundreds of miles distant
from the castle set high on a pass in the Trossachs and the people who lived
and worked there.
And one
special occupant. The man who filled her dreams and held her happiness in his hands.
The man who
stood beside her.
‘Barbados is
so far away,’ she said sadly and choked back her tears. ‘Why must you go?’
‘For the clan’s
sake. I have no option for it’s my duty to all my people both here and there.
However, that’s not today.’ Fraser kissed her tenderly. ‘Let’s go and stand in
front of Tam, and say what we really feel for each other. I’m yours for ever.’
Her eyes
misted over. ‘And I yours.’ In the glade, under the trees, all the sounds and
sights of the games faded into the background. It could have been only her,
Fraser and Tam, or there could have been thousands around. It was not
important. All that mattered was telling the man by her side what he meant to
her.
‘I, Morven,
do…’
Love it Raven! <3
ReplyDeleteAwesome snippet, Raven, and congrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteYou set a picturesque scene. Great teaser!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new release! Great teaser.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read this! :D
ReplyDeleteGreat snippet from a fabulous story :-)
ReplyDelete