“She was more frightened of the stallion than she was of the Baron.”

“I do know, however, that they took more than one man to their beds.”Adela gasped and Madelyne nodded, thoroughly satisfied by her friend’s reaction. “More than one at a time?” Adela asked. She whispered the question and then blushed with embarrassment. Madelyne nibbled on her lip while she considered if that was possible.“I don’t think so,” she finally announced. Her back was to the door, and Adela’s full attention was centered on her friend. Neither noticed Duncan now stood in the open doorway.”

“The baron reminds me of someone, but I can't quite put my finger on who it is," Ramsey remarked."I swear my own father never talked to me the way Gillian's uncle just did.""Your father died before you were old enough to know him.""It was humiliating, damn it. He sure as certain wasn't what I expected. The way Gillian talked about him, I pictured a mild-mannered gentleman. She thinks he's… gentle. Is the woman blind? How in God's name can she love such a crotchety old…"Ramsey's head snapped up, and he suddenly burst into laughter, breaking Brodick's train of thought. "It's you.""What?""Morgan… he reminds me of you. My God, Gillian married a man just like her uncle. Look at the baron and you'll see yourself in twenty years.""Are you suggesting I'm going to become a belligerent, foul-tempered old man?""Hell, you're already belligerent and foul-tempered. No wonder she fell in love with you," he drawled”

“The little boy leaned against his father's chest and slowly nodded. "Yes," he said. "I heard all of thenames, but I don't remember the other two… just the man who hurt Gillian.""That's the name I most want," Brodick said softly. "Who is he, Alec?""Alec, please," Gillian began."Tell me, Alec. Who is he?""Baron," Alec whispered. "His name is Baron.”

“Johanna sat by the fire every night and worked on her tapestry. Dumfries waited until she was settled in her chair and then draped himself across her feet. It became a ritual for Alex to squeeze himself up next to her and fall asleep during her stories about fierce warriors and fair maidens. Johanna's tales all had a unique twist, for none of the heroines she told stories about ever needed to be rescued by their knights in shining armor. More often than not, the fair maidens rescued their knights.Gabriel couldn't take issue with his wife. She was telling Alex the truth. It was a fact that maidens could rescue mighty, arrogant warriors. Johanna had certainly rescued him from a bleak, cold existence. She'd given him a family and a home. She was his love, his joy, his companion.She was his saving grace.”

“She still hadn't caught on. Alec sighed. "Change your gown, Jamie, if that's your inclination. I prefer white. Now go and do my bidding. The hour grows late and we must be on our way."He'd deliberately lengthened his speech, giving her time to react to his announcement. He thought he was being most considerate.She thought he was demented.Jamie was, at first, too stunned to do more than stare in horror at the warlord. When she finally gained her voice, she shouted, "It will be a frigid day in heaven before I marry you, milord, a frigid day indeed.""You've just described the Highlands in winter, lass. And you will marry me.""Never."Exactly one hour later, Lady Jamison was wed to Alec Kincaid.”

“A few minutes later, she was once again riding her own horse. Deciding to take the lead, she nudged the mare into a trot, and as she passed Brodick and Ramsey, she called out, "You used trickery.""Yes, I did," he admitted. "Are you angry with me?"She laughed again. "I don't get angry. I get even."Unbeknownst to her, she had just recited the Buchanan creed.”