Finlay’s Duty
The Victorian Highlanders Book 2
Ellie St. Clair
Contents
Author’s Note
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Adam’s Call
A sneak peek…
Also by Ellie St. Clair
About the Author
♥ Copyright 2020 by Ellie St Clair - All rights reserved.
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Also By Ellie St. Clair
Standalone
Unmasking a Duke
The Stormswept Stowaway
Christmastide with His Countess
Her Christmas Wish
Happily Ever After
The Duke She Wished For
Someday Her Duke Will Come
Once Upon a Duke’s Dream
He’s a Duke, But I Love Him
Loved by the Viscount
Because the Earl Loved Me
Happily Ever After Box Set Books 1-3
Happily Ever After Box Set Books 4-6
Searching Hearts
Duke of Christmas
Quest of Honor
Clue of Affection
Hearts of Trust
Hope of Romance
Promise of Redemption
Searching Hearts Box Set (Books 1-5)
The Unconventional Ladies
Lady of Mystery
Lady of Fortune
Lady of Providence
Lady of Charade
Blooming Brides
A Duke for Daisy
A Marquess for Marigold
An Earl for Iris
A Viscount for Violet
The Blooming Brides Box Set: Books 1-4
The Bluestocking Scandals
Designs on a Duke
Inventing the Viscount
Discovering the Baron
The Victorian Highlanders
Callum’s Vow
Finlay’s Duty
Adam’s Call
Coming Soon
Roderick’s Purpose
Peggy’s Love
Author’s Note
Finlay’s Duty was first published as Promises of Sunlight and The Chieftain’s Duty under the name Audrey Adair. It has been extensively revised, and I hope you enjoy every minute of it!
Prologue
1866 ~ Aldourie, Scotland
A chorus of shouts and laughter echoed through the stable and past Finlay, who grimaced as he lowered the pitchfork and flung another heap of dung into the pile in the corner of the horse’s stall.
He shook his head in dismay at the frolicking children, as he thought of them, although in reality his brother Callum and their cousin Gregor were a year older than he was.
Finlay rested his chin on his hands as he peered out over the stall door, gazing after the four carefree boys as they crested the hill, with his little sister Peggy chasing after them, curls flying in the air behind her. He sighed and turned to find the farmhand looking at him. He shrugged his shoulders in defeat and continued with his task.
There was much work to do, he had heard his father, the legendary Duncan McDougall, sigh to his mother, and not enough hands to do it. Finlay idolized his father, and since hearing his distress had vowed to do whatever it took to keep the house and land in order. In truth, he didn’t mind helping where he could. It gave him purpose, and he was proud of the work he did.
He wiped the dark locks of hair off his forehead and returned to the manure, but a flash of color at the barn door caught his eye. He looked up, rendered motionless when he saw what had captured his attention. It was the pretty blonde hair flowing behind the girl who doubled back to stop at the door when she saw him. Kyla.
“Hello,” he finally said cautiously to the daughter of the chieftain of the nearby MacTavish clan. Something about her always made him feel… on edge, though she also had a brightness to her that seemed to make everything a little less dreary. Even mucking a horse’s stall.
“Hello, Finlay,” she said with her usual enthusiasm. “Where is everyone? My father is here to see yours and I was so looking forward to playing with you all.”
“Down the hill near the loch,” he replied. “You’ll have to be fast if you want to catch them.”
“Are you coming?” she asked, her expression quizzical.
“Too much to do around here,” he responded, turning away. “Maybe another time,” he muttered.
He snuck a look back over his shoulder to see her shrug, and as she took off down the hill, Finlay had to fight the urge to follow and join in the play with his siblings, cousin, and the girl.
He had already told them he was too busy, however, and if he joined in now, Callum and Gregor would never let him hear the end of their teasing. They had sensed how much he looked forward to Kyla’s visit, and he didn’t want to give them reason to tease him than they already had.
He picked up the pitchfork, gave the horse’s nose a quick pat, and continued with his work.
1
Late September, 1882 ~ Aldourie, Scotland
“There’s a definite chill to the air this morn,” Finlay remarked as he and his brothers crossed the courtyard of Galbury Castle on their way to the stable.
“Much like every other morning these days,” his brother, Roderick, said. “Summer has left us and the autumn has set in. You must admit, though, Finlay, it has a certain beauty to it. The red and gold of the trees, the shimmer in the air when your warm breath hits it—”
“Wasn’t much of a summer though,” Finlay muttered, cutting him off. While Roderick was right on the beauty of the grounds around the tower house, beauty would be of little help in paying their debts and keeping the crofters of their clan happy. If Roderick could wax poetic regarding a solution, Finlay would be ever grateful. Otherwise, he didn’t want to hear his brother’s meandering thoughts.
They continued on to the stable, where they each entered the stalls to see to their own horses. They took pride in their renown as the finest riders in the area—how could one not be after having their father as teacher?
“A horse is only as useful as its rider,” Duncan McDougall always said.
Riding prowess was a required trait for any
