Excerpt from The Highlander’s French Bride:
Melisende’s arms fell to her sides. “Why would you go
back to such a life?”
“To the parties,” Lucienne answered, “and the gowns of
fabrics so fantastic they make you cry from the sheer pleasure of them. Laces
so delicate they can scarcely withstand the needle. Embroidery so fine it takes
four seamstresses a week just to produce one sleeve.” Her eyes closed and
rapture lit her face. “The men so courteous, so eager to woo me. Dancing,
stealing kisses behind the fountain. They tell me how beautiful I am, how much
they desire me.” She opened her eyes, settling her gaze on Melisende’s shocked
face.
“Once Raul began annulment proceedings, their interest
increased a hundredfold. I will have no lack of sponsors once I return.”
“That is a shameful way to live, and you know it,
Lucienne.” Tears burned in Melisende’s eyes. “How can you do this to yourself?”
She swept a hand toward the bed. “To her?”
The scorn returned to Lucienne’s face, casting ugly
shadows beneath her high cheeks. “You think you know what is right for me. That
I should be exactly like you, drowning behind your polite façade. You believe
everything is perfect in your little world with your adorable new husband who
loves you?” Her eyes narrowed as she slid her gaze to Arielle. “Have you not
wondered why she looks like him?”
Melisende immediately looked at the child asleep on
the bed. Her dark hair spilled across the pillow like a shadow in the dimly lit
room. She glanced back at her sister. “Why do you say that? I think she looks
just like you.”
“She has my nose and eyes, oui. But her dark hair comes from her father.”
“Raul.”
“Non. From
your oh-so-sweet husband.”
Melisende’s gaze bounced from Lucienne back to the
child. Lucienne’s parting words so many years ago loosed themselves from the
depths of her mind. What do you think
went on whilst he slept in our house—only me and him? He would be unable to
look you in the eye if you knew everything that happened.
She shook her head. Non! It is impossible to think of it! He has already assured me there was nothing between himself and
Lucienne. But her heart grew cold in her breast.
Lucienne strolled to the bed and stroked her
daughter’s hair. “She looks so much like me. But she has Kinnon’s hair.” Her
smile set an arrow in Melisende’s heart.
Brushing aside her doubts, Melisende stepped forward.
“Do not be absurd, Lucienne. Her hair is much like mine, and Raul’s is dark as
well.”
Lucienne tossed her head. “You do not seem to recall
Arielle was born early—or so I told Raul.”
“Lucienne, did you have relations with someone whilst
we lived in Randon?” Melisende demanded. “Did you marry Raul knowing you were
already enceinte?”
Lucienne sent her a mocking look. “You would love to
believe that, wouldn’t you? To keep your lover innocent of the deed.”
“I do not believe you,” Melisende replied firmly,
against the reservations that gnawed at her.
Lucienne’s eyebrows raised, a lofty smile taunting
Melisende. “Yet you see the resemblance, non?
No matter what you tell yourself, you will always know there is the
possibility. We spent an entire week together, unchaperoned. You know how
insatiable he is, n’ai-je pas raison?”
Her eyes glittered. “No matter what you try to believe, you will always wonder
if he shared his body with me first.”
Back Cover Copy for The Highlander’s French Bride:
Heir to a lairdship, Kinnon Macrory is driven to prove
his worth by fighting the English on the battlefields of France. His dreams of
heroic valor are destroyed by the realities of war—the atrocities visited by
fellow soldiers on the very people he is sworn to protect. Three years in a
French prison for a crime he did not commit leave Kinnon longing for the one
thing of beauty in his war-torn life—a young woman of great kindness and wisdom
named Melisende.
Melisende de la Roche struggles to stay one step ahead
of soldiers who would imprison her for helping an injured Scotsman wrongly
accused of treason. She finds refuge in her uncle’s shop—until a chance
encounter sends her fleeing into the unknown once again, haunted by the
beguiling friendship with the troubled young Scotsman she is certain she will
never see again.
Determined to find the woman of his dreams, Kinnon
returns to France, only to discover a trail of clues to Melisende’s
whereabouts. Their reunion will open the doors to passion, but half-truths and
lies from the past could destroy the one thing they both are willing to fight
for—each other.
Sounds most intriguing!
ReplyDeleteThere is a bit of tension between the sisters, Beppie 😊
DeleteThanks for hosting me today, Ruth! Have a lovely day!
ReplyDelete