Marsha Canham

“Wh-what doyou think you are doing?""I am getting some sleep, Governess. And so help me, if you keep me from it, yourlovely backside will be a latticework of switch marks."Summer held her breath as Wade yawned, shifted, and settled into a more comfortableposition.Surely he was not thinking she would remain with him like this for the rest of the night!"Captain Wade, I must insist--!""Blood”

“It was a fine night for treachery - dark with a pale moon rising.”

“It was just one of the many absurdities she discovered being married to Alexander Cameron: having everything she had ever wanted yet having nothing at all.”

“Indeed. And here is a new one for you: I love you, Alexander Cameron. More than common sense or decency should allow. Your strength frightens me and your stubbornness angers me, and I believe you to be a truly dangerous threat to a woman's inbred gentility, but there you have it. And unless you are prepared to give me several honest and convincing reasons why I should do otherwise, I intend to remain here at Achnacarry as your wife, as your lover if you will have me, as the mother of your sons, of which -please God- there will be many.”

“Ah, Maura, ye were right," he whispered. "All those years ago ye were right."Alexander leaned forward, and Lochiel waved his hand in a dismissing gesture. "'Tis naught but somethin' Maura said tae me on our weddin' night. She said we Highlanders possess the pride o' lions. Like lions, we nae fear tae temper our actions, only pride tae govern them.”

“How can love be frightening?""When it consumes you. When it binds you to all other considerations. When you can no longer distinguish right from wrong, love becomes a terrible burden and it can destroy you as readily as it can save you."Catherine pondered the words carefully, then sighed. "I don't think I would ever want to be that much in love.”

“She closed her eyes. "What are you going to do with me now?""What do you suggest I do? What would you do with a tiresome, officious nuisance of a woman who is the first to question a man's word of honor, yet the last to keep her own?"Catherine started to turn, to challenge the accusation, but caught a glimpse of hard-thewed flesh and jerked back. "I hardly consider myself bound by honor to a murderer and a spy."He sighed and shook his head. "Then may I ask by what distorted logic you suppose a murderer and a spy would be expected to honor his gurantee?”

“He laughed softly. "My dearest Mistress Ashbrooke, while I will admit to a certain misguided attraction to your more earthly charms, I would not now, or ever, consider them worth relinquishing my freedom. I would not relinquish that for you or, indeed, any other woman."The candor heightened the flush in her cheeks. "You have an aversion to marriage, sir?""Distinct and everlasting, madam. But aside from that, do I honestly strike you as the type of man who would take an unwilling wife to hearth and home?""I suppose ... if I thought about it ..."He laughed again. "If women thought about a tenth of the things they should think about, I warrant the world would be a far less complicated place to live in.”

“Obviously no one has ever cautioned you against pricking the vanity of proud men or wild animals; neither is completely predictable.""And which of those categories do you fit into?""I'll leave the choice solely to your discretion," he mused and bowed solicitously.”

“Indeed, sir, I would be more than willing to do whatever I can to speed my mistress and myself away from this accursed country and away from the likes of you." She looked Alex directly in the eye. "You, sir, ride with death on your shoulder, and it does not make for pleasant company.”

“Excuse me," she said tartly, "but this is my horse. It is, in effect, my clearing as well, so if you don't mind I would prefer that you leave here at once."Amused, he raised an eyebrow. "And if I said I preferred to stay?"She drew a slow breath. "I would say that you were a nuisance and a trespasser, as impudent and lacking in scruples as any man I have ever had the misfortune to meet. And one who no doubt has had thoughts of poaching, even if he has not done so already."He edged closer, and Catherine felt the heat of the midnight eyes rake her again."Indeed, I am beginning to have thoughts, Mistress Ashbrooke," he murmured. "But not of poaching.”

“The purpose behind your aggravating persistence eludes me, sirrah. What is it exactly that you wish to know? Lord Lucien is a fine, noble gentleman – ”“Who loves you to the point of distraction and cannot bear to think of a prolonged separation.”“A noble gentleman,” she reiterated furiously, “who – ”“Who wants something you have, and is willing to sacrifice his much prized freedom to get it.”She flushed hotly. “There may have been some consideration given to the dowry, but – ”“My lady,” the rogue laughed outright. “You are far too modest. With what you bring into the marriage you will turn Lincoln into his small, private domain. A kingdom, if you will, with a dragon on the throne and a nest of serpents writhing at his feet, eager to do his bidding.”

“Note savages, eh? They live in mountain caves and dress like wild men. They walk about in woolen petticoats, which they are not in the least modest about casting aside when they need their sword arms free. Dash me, can you even begin to imagine the sight of a horde of naked, hairy-legged creatures charging at you across a battlefield like bloody fiends out of hell—screaming and flailing those great bloody swords and axes of theirs like scythes? Not savages?”