True Love Brides 02 - The Highlander’s Curse (39 page)

“I should be honored by your trust,” Garrett said with a bow.

“And Nigel can aid you with your wedding gift,” Aileen interjected.

Annelise knew her confusion showed. Aileen gestured and servants carried four hooded falcons to the group. They were large birds with fiercely sharp beaks, fine leather hoods covering their eyes and jesses with bells upon their ankles.

“Two breeding pair,” the Hawk said, then turned to Garrett. “Inverfyre is in the Highlands, with little land for crops. Our revenue comes from the breeding and training of hunting falcons. These two pair can be your own hawks, or can be the foundation of a sister empire, for it sounds as if you will face similar challenges at Killairig. I would be delighted to lend you any assistance you need.”

Garrett appeared to be overwhelmed, but Annelise knew what was in his mind.

“Perhaps you might visit us,” Annelise suggested. “Garrett has said that he would welcome the advice of my family with regards to his holding, and I would be happy to have you visit our home.”

“We would be honored,” the Hawk said and Aileen nodded. “It would be best to travel there from here and arrive home before the snow. In the spring we have too many concerns with the breeding.”

Garrett was clearly both pleased and surprised. He bowed deeply to the Hawk, who urged Garrett to straighten so he could shake his hand. “I thank you, sir, for such uncommon generosity.”

“We are family now,” the Hawk said with a smile. “And we must guard each other’s backs.” The two men’s gazes met and held for a moment, then they nodded in unison. Annelise did not doubt that they would readily understand each other and perhaps become good friends as well as family.

Father Malachy came bustling toward them then, climbing the path from the village and huffing as he did so. “Lady Annelise!” he exclaimed with undisguised pleasure. His eyes danced. “Your brother instructed me that there would be a wedding upon your arrival, and all is prepared.”

“Today?” Annelise asked in surprise.

Alexander smiled. “Garrett wrote and asked if I would put your hand in his as soon as possible,” he said, casting an admiring glance at the man in question. “And so I will. Your choice is made and love will reign. I see no cause for delay.”

Annelise might have protested that she had need of a bath and a new kirtle, but her sisters whisked her into the hall and up the stairs. They laughed at her surprise that the bath was already poured, for the preparations had been finalized while they all talked in the bailey. In the merest of moments, Annelise was bathed and changed into a kirtle newly made for her by her sisters, with fresh flowers in her hair. She descended to the hall to find Alexander waiting for her and tears rose in her eyes. She was nigh overwhelmed by the power of love in her family. She and Alexander walked together to the chapel and she was certain all would hear her heart singing.

Garrett was waiting on the steps of Kinfairlie’s chapel with Father Malachy, his hands folded before himself and his smile making her heart thunder. He, too, had been rushed to a prepared bath and his hair was still damp on his collar. Annelise stood before him and smiled up at him as Alexander put her hand in his. Father Malachy spoke as the sun shone down upon them and Annelise knew a happiness beyond anything she had ever expected.

All because she chose to be bold and make her future be her own.

She smiled up at Garrett and repeated her vows, glad beyond belief that their adventure together had only just begun.

A large family in a large household in a long, linked series means many characters passing through each book. This character list should help you place everyone as you read. Names in bold type are characters with their own listings.

The character list has been updated for this current book, so if you have not read The Rogues of Ravensmuir, The Jewels of Kinfairlie and The Renegade’s Heart, there may be spoilers. Babies born and marriages made will be added with each new book in the series.

Alexander Lammergeier—
oldest son of Catherine and
Roland
; Laird of Kinfairlie after 1420; married to
Eleanor Havilland
; father of Roland (the younger) and Tynan (the younger). His story is told in THE SNOW WHITE BRIDE.

Annelise
Lammergeier
—third daughter of Catherine and
Roland
and their sixth child; sister of
Alexander,
wife of
Garrett MacLachlan
. Her story is told in THE HIGHLANDER’S CURSE.

Anthony
—castellan of Kinfairlie, serving
Alexander
and
Roland
before him.

Darg
—a spriggan, and one very fond of ale. This small fairy can be seen and heard by
Elizabeth
but disappeared in THE RENEGADE’S HEART.

Eleanor Havilland
—wife of Alexander and Lady of Kinfairlie; mother of Roland (the younger) and Tynan (the younger). Her story is told in THE SNOW WHITE BRIDE.

Elizabeth
Lammergeier
—youngest sibling in the family at Kinfairlie; fifth daughter of Catherine and
Roland
. She has the ability to see the Fae.

The Elphine Queen
—a Fae queen of Scotland. Like
Finvarra
, she has a taste for mortal partners.

Erik Sinclair
—Laird of Blackleith
;
husband of
Vivienne
; father of Mairi and Astrid by his first wife, Beatrice; father of Catherine (the younger) and William by Vivienne. His story is told in THE ROSE RED BRIDE.

Evangeline Armstrong
—daughter of the house of Inverfyre, widow of Fergus of Balquhidder and wife of
Gawain Lammergeier
. Mother of
Michael (the Hawk)
and adoptive mother of
Rosamunde
. Her story is told in THE SCOUNDREL.

Father Malachy
—Kinfairlie’s priest.

Finvarra
—King of the
Daoine Sidhe
. Although usually resident in Ireland, he visits the court of the
Elphine Queen
annually. His wife is Una, but he is not faithful to her. He is also an excellent chess player and likes to engage mortals in games with high stakes.

Garrett MacLachlan
—husband of
Annelise Lammergeier
, half-Fae son of Florine and Laird of Killairig. His story is told in THE HIGHLANDER’S CURSE.

Gawain Lammergeier
—younger brother of
Merlyn
; husband of
Evangeline
; Laird of Inverfyre; father of
Michael (the Hawk)
and adoptive father of
Rosamunde
. His story is told in THE SCOUNDREL.

Isabella
Lammergeier
—fourth daughter of Catherine and
Roland
and their seventh child; sister of
Alexander
, wife of
Murdoch
. Her story is told in THE RENEGADE’S HEART.

Madeline
FitzHenry
—oldest daughter of Catherine and
Roland
and their second child; sister of
Alexander
; wife of
Rhys FitzHenry
; mother of Dafydd and Rhiannon. Her story is told in THE BEAUTY BRIDE.

Malcolm
Lammergeier
—second son of Catherine and
Roland
and their fourth child; Laird of Ravensmuir
in absentia
. Malcolm has been fighting as a mercenary on the continent, but will return to Ravensmuir and Kinfairlie for his book, THE FROST MAIDEN’S KISS.

Matthew
—the son of Kinfairlie’s miller. His courtship of his wife, Ceara, occurred in THE SNOW WHITE BRIDE.

Michael (the Hawk) Lammergeier
—Laird of Inverfyre; son of
Evangeline
and
Gawain
; milk cousin to
Roland
; husband of Aileen, father of Nigel, Evangeline (the younger), Mhairi, Gawain (the younger) and Avery. His story is told in THE WARRIOR.

Moira Goodall
—
Eleanor
’s maid. She has served Eleanor since the lady’s infancy.

Murdoch
Seton
—brother of
Duncan
; husband of
Isabella
, Laird of Seton Manor. His story is told in THE RENEGADE’S HEART.

Merlyn
Lammergeier
—Laird of Ravensmuir and later Laird of Kinfairlie; married to Ysabella; father of
Tynan
and
Roland
. His story is told in THE ROGUE.

Owen
—Kinfairlie’s ostler.

Roland
Lammergeier
—Laird of Kinfairlie by his father,
Merlyn
; husband of Catherine; father of eight children:
Alexander
,
Madeline
,
Vivienne
,
Malcolm
,
Ross
,
Annelise
,
Isabella
,
Elizabeth
; died in a shipwreck in 1420 along with Catherine. He makes a brief appearance with his family at the end of THE WARRIOR.

Rosamunde Lammergeier
—a foundling adopted and raised by
Gawain
and
Evangeline
as their own in THE SCOUNDREL; lover of
Tynan
; wife of Padraig Dean. Her story is told in
“The Ballad of Rosamunde.”

Ross Lammergeier
—third and youngest son of Catherine and
Roland
and their fifth child. He is training as a knight at Inverfyre.

Rhys FitzHenry
—Lord of Caerwyn; husband of
Madeline
; father of Dafydd and Rhiannon. His story is told in THE BEAUTY BRIDE.

Stewart
—a man-at-arms in the employ of
Murdoch Seton
.

Tynan
Lammergeier
—Laird of Ravensmuir after his father,
Merlyn
; lover of
Rosamunde
. Tynan died in the collapse of Ravensmuir in THE ROSE RED BRIDE, choosing his holding and responsibilities over his love.

Vera
—chamber maid at Kinfairlie, who has long attended the daughters of the house.

Vivienne Sinclair
—second daughter of Catherine and
Roland
and their third child; wife of
Erik Sinclair
; step-mother to Mairi and Astrid; mother of Catherine (the younger) and William. Her story is told in THE ROSE RED BRIDE.

Ready for more of the family from Kinfairlie?

Read on for an excerpt from

The Frost Maiden’s Kiss

This is Malcolm’s story and third in the True Love Brides Series.

Copyright 2013 by Deborah A. Cooke

Scotland

Christmas 1425

“Tell me that it does not get colder,” Rafael said, his tone grim. Malcolm and his companion had just entered the forests outside of Kinfairlie, and the trees hung thickly with ice. Snow was falling with purpose, but at least the forest gave shelter from the biting wind. Malcolm had never seen such a storm, but he doubted his companion would believe any such claim.

It was not ideal weather for a homecoming, although Malcolm felt the weather echoed his own mood. He felt cold himself, chilled by what he had done to fill his bags with gold and silver. The wind and snow swirled around them obscuring the landscape from view, and he acknowledged that he felt lost.

Kinfairlie. He was within moments of home. As much as he wanted to see his older brother Alexander, he did not want to face his older brother’s censure. There would be disapproval, even more of it than before. Alexander had been displeased when Malcolm had chosen the life of a mercenary over his inheritance of Ravensmuir: his brother would be disgusted to learn how much blood was on Malcolm’s blade now.

“I am chilled to my very marrow,” Rafael complained. “I cannot even feel my toes. Have you not heard of the marvel known as fire in this remote place?” The mercenary cast a glance around himself and his disgust would have been comical if Malcolm’s mood had been lighter. “It would not surprise me, as evidently the inhabitants here are unfamiliar with the sun.”

It was falling dark early, far earlier than had been their experience on the continent. Rafael was from the south of Spain, his skin a rich golden hue from the sun’s caress, his eyes and hair of darkest brown. His teeth flashed when he smiled, which was usually after the death of an enemy. Rafael was better as friend than foe, the perfect warrior to have at one’s back, and his bitterness made Malcolm feel a little less cold himself. Rafael had seen much, experienced more, and expected less than any man Malcolm had ever known.

“I can understand readily enough why you left this miserable place,” Rafael continued. “The mystery, my friend, is why you would ever return.”

“You will have your feet before a hearty fire soon enough,” Malcolm said, hoping it would be so.

His companion made a sound of skepticism. “That fire will be thawing a corpse at this rate,” Rafael muttered. “How much farther?”

Malcolm halted his horse at a familiar crossroads in the midst of the forest. The right road would take them to Kinfairlie. His family would be gathered for the Yule, and the hall where he had grown up would be filled with music and candlelight. There would be children and merriment, a board groaning with food and greenery decking the hall. Rafael would have his fire and more.

Such joys were not for Malcolm, not yet. He did not know what he would say to Alexander, much less how he would explain Rafael’s presence by his side. There was no disguising what Rafael was, much less what Malcolm had become.