Read The Barefoot Princess Online

Authors: Christina Dodd

Tags: #Romance, #Adult, #Historical

The Barefoot Princess (27 page)

BOOK: The Barefoot Princess
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But the woman: petite, blond, carrying a baby…she walked steadily, her gaze fixed on Amy, her smile irrepressible.

Amy blinked. She stared. It was impossible, yet…recognition and belief arrived in a rush. “Clarice!” She ran. She screamed. “Clarice!”

Clarice handed the baby to the stranger and raced toward Amy.

The sisters met. Clarice’s arms enclosed Amy. Amy’s arms enclosed Clarice. Amy laughed and cried. Clarice laughed and cried. They drew back, looked at each other in the light of the big moon.

Amy saw the beloved, familiar, beautiful features. “Oh, Clarice. I’ve missed you,” she choked. “So much.”

“I’ve wondered every day where you were, what you were doing. I prayed you were safe.” With trembling fingers, Clarice stroked Amy’s hair.

“I shouldn’t have left you. That was wrong of me. I’m sorry.” The apology came easily, more easily than Amy could ever have imagined. “But you taught me well. I was never in trouble. I’m fine.”

Clarice smiled through her tears. “You are! I know.” She laid her palm on Amy’s belly. “And now this!”

“I did get in a
little
trouble,” Amy admitted.

The others gathered close. Everyone chuckled.

Turning to Jermyn, Amy fiercely hugged him. “You’ve made me so happy.”

“It’s fair that I should return your kindness,” he said in her ear, and for one precious moment of connection, he held her tightly. Then, arm in arm, they faced the others.

A flurry of introductions ensued. Clarice exclaimed over Jermyn, charming him without effort. Amy remembered the man at her sister’s side—Robert MacKenzie, earl of Hepburn. Her sister’s husband, the father of her baby, and a man who in Scotland had frankly frightened Amy. But holding the sleeping baby made him almost…approachable.

“The day I got your letter, I was so happy. I would have come at once, but…” Clarice gestured toward the baby.

“Oh, let me see!” Amy peered into the little face, smoothed her hand over the fuzzy head. “How beautiful. Is it a…boy? A girl?”

“Her name is Sorcha.” Clarice’s voice was heavy with sadness.

Amy glanced up. “Have you heard from her? Have you heard from our sister?”

Clarice shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Prince Rainger found me,” Amy said. “I told him that we thought she was in an abbey.”

“Robert looked throughout the Highlands, trying to find her.” Clarice took the baby into her arms and cradled her as if the weight of the small, warm body brought her comfort.

“I found nothing,” Robert’s voice reflected his frustration. “If there is an island abbey, it’s well hidden.”

“He said”—Amy’s voice wavered—“Rainger said her life was in danger.”

“If that’s true, Rainger is the man who will protect her.” Jermyn sounded absolutely confident.

Robert nodded.

Amy and Clarice drew comfort from the men’s conviction.

“Come up to my cottage and have your reunion.” Miss Victorine put an arm around each of the sisters and led them forward. “I made an extra plum cake just for you.”

Four weeks later, Prince Rainger of Richarte stood outside an abbey in the isolated outer island of the Scottish Highlands. He stared up at the lichen-covered stone walls, observed its formidable gate and the tiny, high-set windows. Smiling grimly, he tied a handkerchief over his head and one eye, and prepared to kidnap his bride.

 

BOOK: The Barefoot Princess
2.27Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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