Highlander Seduced by Jayne Castel EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
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- Author: Jayne Castel
- Language: English
- Genre: Historical Scottish Fiction
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Stirling Castle, Scotland
February, 1452
THERE WERE TWO questions Iver Mackay didn’t like answering. The
first was, why, at the age of five and thirty, he’d never married? And the
second was, when was he planning on taking a wife?
But this evening, he hadn’t been able to avoid either—especially since it
was the king who was asking.
Iver stiffened in his high-backed chair, his fingers tightening around the
cup of warmed spiced wine he held. He’d been enjoying the heat of the
roaring fire, and only half-listening to the talk of politics from the others in
the solar, when James had blindsided him.
Recovering, Iver favored the young king with a polite smile. “Clan
matters have kept me occupied over the years, Sire. I’ve no time to look for
a wife.”
It was a weak excuse, and James snorted rudely. “Ye are at peace with
yer neighbors these days, are ye not?”
“Aye, Sire.”
“Well, ye are well overdue starting a family then.” The king’s deepbrown eyes narrowed. “A laird needs a wife … and heirs to secure his line.”
This comment brought murmurs of agreement from the others seated
around the hearth. Iver’s gaze traveled the chamber, and he noted his
companions were now all staring at him.
After supper in the great hall, the clan-chiefs and chieftains who’d
gathered at Stirling for three days of celebrations had retired to the keep.
The spacious solar, with twin stag heads mounted on either side of the
fireplace and hunting tapestries covering the damp walls, was big enough to
accommodate them all.
The young king had taken the best spot, right before the hearth; he
sprawled back in his high-backed, padded chair, booted feet up on a settle.
Iver kept smiling, even as anger quickened in his gut.
He wasn’t going to argue with the king. Nonetheless, such a glib
comment was easy for a man of two and twenty to utter—a man who’d
married at eighteen, and who already had two bairns.
Life hadn’t kicked James in the bollocks repeatedly the way it had Iver.
“Well said, My Liege.” One of the clan-chiefs lifted his cup aloft in a
mocking toast and flashed Iver a grin. “A man proves himself with his
lineage, does he not?”
Iver clenched his jaw and took a large gulp of rich plum wine.
Christ’s blood. Can they just change the subject?
He then silently cursed his own clan-chief for sending him in his stead.
He hadn’t wanted to make this trip to Stirling, yet it was Queen Mary’s
birthday and Lent was about to begin. A frugal period would follow—with
no meat consumed and watered-down ale, mead, and wine. And so, before
it did, King James had decided to host three days of celebrations and
feasting.
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