Kinsey resolved then and there to speak to William and Drake later to have Clara and their Mum come live with them at Dunscaith. It might offer Clara a chance to relinquish the responsibility of caring for everyone and make room in her life for the possibility of a future—one just for her.
Love, though unexpected and previously unwanted, had brought light to Kinsey’s life she hadn’t known possible. One she saw glint in Clara’s eyes as she held Callum.
Aye, it was time for Clara to allow herself to be happy on her own. And Kinsey would do everything in her power to make that happen.
After all, she and William had defeated much to get to where they were. Enemies, family struggles, the threat of death and losing one another forever.
Anything was possible.
“What are ye thinking of with that smile on yer face?” William asked.
She gazed up into his handsome face. “How grateful I am that everything has ended as it has.”
“Aye, we’ve been through a bit. And all worth it.” He pressed a kiss to her mouth, sweet and soft. “Ye’ve made me the happiest man in all of Christendom.”
It was true. The struggles had all been worthwhile. For what existed between them was greater than any demons who stood in their path, and their love had truly conquered all.
* * *
Thank you for reading KINSEY’S DEFIANCE! I read all of my reviews and would love to know that you enjoyed it, so please do leave a review.
Kinsey’s siblings all have their own stories too:
Faye in Faye’s Sacrifice
Clara in Clara’s Vow
Drake in Drake’s Honor (info coming soon!)
If you want more stories that take place on the border between England and Scotland, check out my Borderland Ladies series and meet Drake, starting with Marin’s Promise
Check out Clara’s story next in CLARA’S VOW where Clara’s intent to join a convent go horribly wrong when she accidentally wounds a Scottish warrior, especially when she realizes he’s on an important mission to save thousands of lives.
ONE-CLICK Clara’s Vow Now
***Keep reading for a first chapter preview of CLARA’S VOW**
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CLARA’S VOW
Chapter 1 Preview
March 1342
Castleton, Scotland
Clara Fletcher didn’t need anyone to protect her.
If only her family could be convinced.
“The border is dangerous.” Drake paced the room, a sign her usually stoic brother was agitated. “With ye both living on Skye, there willna be Englishmen about. Clara willna have to deal with them when she goes to the market. Ye’ll no’ have to worry about them coming to the manor.”
“I can handle myself,” Clara said resolutely.
“It isna safe.” Drake frowned with concern.
“And bringing her to Skye where there are violent clan wars is any safer?” Mum’s fair face flushed. “She’s happy here. She’s made a life here. Why would ye uproot us like that?”
A coil of frustration tightened in Clara’s chest. “I’ll be happy anywhere. There’s no need to—”
“Clara will have a chance for a better life at Dunscaith.” Drake’s voice had gone firm.
Mum put her hands on her hips and huffed a sigh. “We have the manor.”
“’Tis no’ as safe as a castle.” A muscle worked in Drake’s jaw.
Anger burned in the back of Clara’s throat. She hated that everyone saw her as being so helpless, that her future had to be decided for her as if she were incapable of such a feat.
“I can care for myself.” She kept her tone neutral so they wouldn’t detect her malcontent. “I’m fine here where I can—”
“Ye see?” Mum lifted her chin triumphantly. “She wants to stay. We’ll remain here.”
A muscle worked in Drake’s jaw. “Nay.”
“Aye.”
Clara gritted her teeth. She wanted to slam her fists onto the scarred wooden table and scream at them both to stop. Her unending patience had hit its ragged bottom, and there was nothing left to scrape up.
She pushed herself up from the bench, strode from the kitchen and climbed the stairs up to her room. No one stopped her. No one so much as bothered to call out to her. This decision was one they intended to make for her as if she were completely inept.
The bedchamber was quiet within, the way it’d been since her younger sister left nearly a year ago. Once, she’d shared the space with both her sisters. It had been filled with chatter and laughter then.
Clara had loved those days.
Her eldest sister, Faye, was forever trying to style Clara’s hair a certain way or put her in a new kirtle, having long since given up on doing as much with Kinsey.
There had been disagreements, aye, but there had been quiet nights where they talked to one another in the darkness. There had been comfort when one of them hurt. There had been love.
Angry voices rose from the kitchen as Drake and Mum continued to argue Clara’s fate.
“She canna fend for herself,” Drake said.
“She can,” Mum shot back. “She just willna do it. She’s too good.”
Clara’s gaze slid to the trunk at the foot of her bed. She kept her daggers inside. A costly set of ten, all polished to a shine and sharpened to a razor’s edge. She could defend herself; her mother was correct. After years of practice, Clara could hit the center of the target every time, no matter how far it was placed from her.
If she could see it, she would hit her mark.
But Drake was right too. She couldn’t bring herself to harm another person. Was that what made them think her so weak?
If humanity were the essence of being defenseless, then she would accept the harsh judgment. Putting life above emotion took strength—strength she was proud of.
“Ye’d have her closer to yer grandda?” Mum demanded below, the fiery temper she shared with Kinsey breaking through her control.
Clara winced at the reminder of how Faye had been abducted by their grandfather, the Ross clan Chieftain. Aye, her marriage had worked out well, but the unrest
