“Gudeman’s croft,” Caithren murmured.
“What is that?” Mary asked.
Cameron knelt down to her. “A place allowed to grow free as a shelter for brownies and fairies.”
“Oh.” Mary’s eyes opened wide. “Do you know stories of brownies and fairies?”
“Many. But they’ll have to wait for later.” Cam ruffled her unruly curls before he stood and faced Cait. “It’s really the old tilting yard. Colin told me they don’t groom it since it’s long been in disuse.”
“I knew that.” Her lips curved in a soft smile as she scanned her new home. “Can you believe this place, Cam?”
He met her hazel eyes. “You always were meant to live in a castle, sweet Cait.”
“Aye,” she said, no doubt thinking of her family’s tiny castle back in Scotland—Cameron’s castle now. “But who’d have ever guessed it would be such an enormous, historic one…and in England?”
“You’ll do fine.” Though they’d always been inseparable and he would miss her terribly, Cam knew she belonged here at Cainewood with the marquess she’d come to love. He leaned to kiss her forehead, then looked up. “There’s your man now.”
When her gaze flew to her intended, her face lit at the sight of him. Suddenly Cameron ached for the security this tall, dark-haired fellow so clearly enjoyed—someone to love and a place that truly felt like his own.
A family.
Cam frowned. He’d never thought much about having a family before, though he’d always loved children and knew he wanted his own someday. What had brought on this unexpected longing?
Perhaps it was losing Cait. With his only close kin far away in England, Cam’s new castle would be empty. A family would fill it back up. With a companion to talk to and lively bairns underfoot—bairns who would grow up and help him make the Leslie estate into everything he and Cait had always dreamed it could be.
Clarice walked over to take Mary by the hand. “It’s time,” she said gently, and reluctantly the wee lass released her grip on Cam. The girl looked over her shoulder, her blue eyes lingering on him as the woman led her away.
“Her mother?” Cait guessed.
“Aye. Her name is Clarice Bradford. You’ll like her.” Cameron’s gaze followed the two as they walked toward the gatehouse on their way to Cainewood’s private chapel. Clarice’s golden hair gleamed beneath a pink-ribboned straw hat. Her pink dress was simple compared to those of Caithren and the other women, but it suited her perfectly.
Cameron was simple as well.
He turned to take Cait by both hands. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“More ready than I ever thought possible.” Smiling at him, she squeezed his fingers. “You know, Mam always said it’s better to marry over the midden than over the muir.”
“I’ve heard that said, that it’s wise to stick within your own circle.” Unbidden, his gaze flicked over to Clarice. “But I’m not sure I believe it.”
“I don’t believe it, either.” Caithren’s own gaze trailed to her groom, waiting for her by the barbican. “I reckon even mothers are wrong sometimes.”
Like it? Buy it!
BOOKS BY LAUREN & DEVON ROYAL
For more information, click on a cover.
The Chase Brides
Regency Chase Brides
Renaissance Chase Family Series
Specially Prices Boxed Sets
ENTER LAUREN & DEVON’S CONTEST
Win a sterling silver replica of Caithren’s emerald amulet!*
Visit the contest page on Lauren & Devon’s website and answer a question to be entered in the monthly drawing.
No purchase necessary. See complete rules on the site.
*Please note: Depending on when you enter, the prize may be another piece of jewelry associated with one of Lauren and Devon’s books.
ABOUT LAUREN & DEVON ROYAL
LAUREN ROYAL decided to become a writer in the third grade, after winning a “Why My Mother is the Greatest” essay contest. Now she’s a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of humorous historical romance novels. Lauren lives in Southern California with her family and their constantly shedding cat. She still thinks her mother is the greatest.
DEVON ROYAL is the daughter of romance novelist Lauren Royal. After attending film school, she wrote an award-winning TV comedy pilot and spent several years working in digital video production before turning her focus to fiction writing. Devon lives in Southern California with her husband. She also thinks her mother is the greatest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Our heartfelt thanks:
To Joan Royal and Karen Nesbitt, for driving Lauren all over England and stopping at every village and hamlet and pile of rocks without too many audible groans.
To Irm Jawor, for the book of Scottish granny sayings that inspired Cait's annoying—um, endearing—habit.
To Della Floyd, RN, for expert medical information.
To the UK contingent of the Opposite View e-mail list, for answering many off-topic questions.
To our Chase Family Readers’ Group, for their enthusiastic support.
And, last but certainly not least, to every reader who has ever written to us.
Thanks to one and all!
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK…
You might also enjoy Page, a sweet and clean Scottish historical romance by our friends Tanya Anne Crosby and her daughter Alaina!
Read an excerpt…
IAIN HAD ONLY begun to doze.
He came full awake with a start, his eyes crossing at the resounding shrillness of her voice. He should have known her compliance was too good to be true. He frowned as Malcom’s little body jerked awake.
One by one, his men came
