At the Highlander's Mercy - Terri Brisbin

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      ‘Who are you? Why have you done this?’ she said as she looked from one man to another and to the next. ‘Does my father know about this?’

      Rob waited for her to bring her gaze back to him and then he smiled at her.

      A silent moment passed, and then another, before the light of recognition flared in her forest-green eyes. Then she shook her head, though whether in disbelief or confusion he knew not. Lilidh opened her mouth several times but no words escaped. The distraction was all he needed to gain control of her, so he crossed the empty space between them in a few paces, grabbed her wrist and squeezed until she dropped the dagger. Kicking it aside, he still held on to her. As she probably had when Symon took her, she did not allow his hold to remain there. She began backing away, pulling and tugging, trying to free herself.

      Lilidh just did not realise she had no chance of escape. As Dougal and some others returned to the hall Rob gave one sharp tug and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He noticed the smell of blood and saw the thick patch of it on her head—she had been struck and knocked unconscious. Tightening his hold, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, so that only she could hear his words.

      ‘’Tis good to see you, too, Lilidh. It’s been a long time.’

      AUTHOR NOTE

      More than five years ago, while I was writing POSSESSED BY THE HIGHLANDER, the heroine’s daughter surprised me by grabbing her mother’s hand and declaring her intention to marry the young man who had been entertaining her during their journey to their now home. In a flash I saw Ciara Robertson as a grown woman, marrying Tavis MacLerie, the man she claimed in that moment! Fast forward to 2013 and I’m thrilled to have had the chance to tell their story in my last book, THE HIGHLANDER’S STOLEN TOUCH, and now to watch as all the children born in the first three tales find their own love stories.

      Connor and Jocelyn, Rurik and Margriet and Duncan and Marian—the heroes and heroines from my first trilogy—must find suitable matches for them … and that leads to a challenge among the couples about the mothers or fathers finding the best spouses for their children!

      So, I hope you’ll enjoy returning to the powerful MacLerie laird, his lady, kith and kin as they face the challenges and rewards of life in Lairig Dubh, Scotland!

      About the Author

      TERRI BRISBIN is wife to one, mother of three, and dental hygienist to hundreds when not living the life of a glamorous romance author. She was born, raised, and is still living in the southern New Jersey suburbs. Terri’s love of history led her to write time-travel romances and historical romances set in Scotland and England.

      Readers are invited to visit her website for more information at www.terribrisbin.com, or to contact her at PO Box 41, Berlin, NJ 08009-0041, USA.

       Previous novels by the same author:

      THE DUMONT BRIDE

      LOVE AT FIRST STEP

      (short story in The Christmas Visit)

      THE NORMAN’S BRIDE

      THE COUNTESS BRIDE

      THE EARL’S SECRET

      TAMING THE HIGHLANDER

      SURRENDER TO THE HIGHLANDER

      POSSESSED BY THE HIGHLANDER

      BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE

      (short story in One Candlelit Christmas)

      THE MAID OF LORNE

      and in Mills & Boon® Historical Undone! eBooks:

      A NIGHT FOR HER PLEASURE*

       And in M&B:

      PRINCE CHARMING IN DISGUISE

      (part of Royal Weddings Through the Ages)

       Did you know that some of these novels are also available as eBooks? Visit www.millsandboon.co.uk

      At the

      Highlander’s

      Mercy

      Terri Brisbin

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

       Chapter One

      Lilidh MacLerie, eldest daughter of the MacLerie laird and Earl of Douran, looked out her window and tried to sort through her options. This silent time between the gloaming and the night was her favourite when she needed to make decisions or choices. Remembering now that she’d made the decision that had brought her to this time and place made her pause. Mayhap she should wait until morning instead?

      Turning from the window and gazing across the large, well-furnished chamber, she knew she had little time or choice … again. The parchment remained as she’d left it and she lifted it, tilting it so that the light of several candles made it able to be read. For the fiftieth time, she said the words and could not yet decide what else to write, when so much more was needed.

      To the Earl and Countess of Douran, it began, using their formal titles first. Father and Mother, next.

      And then the words disappeared.

      How could she explain the private misery behind the very public death of her husband of only two months? The MacGregor’s death had been kept quiet for now until his heir, his younger brother, was approved by the clan elders as chief. Her purpose in this marriage—to bind their clans and to produce an heir for the MacGregor—was a failure. Though, even as an innocent young woman coming to this marriage, she understood that things were not as they should have been between her and Iain MacGregor.

      The parchment in her hand moved in the current of the warm air created by the heat of the candles and reminded her that this task also went unfinished. Sitting at the table, she lifted the quill, dabbed the ink so it would not splatter and forced the words on to the page that would both embarrass and humiliate her in her parents’ and clan’s eyes.

       I find myself in need of your counsel concerning the situation of my position here in Iain MacGregor’s household and family. As his widow, though with no hope of producing an heir, I know …

      What did she know? She had married him under a contract negotiated by her uncle and signed by her father. Her dower portion was protected for her use and she had been given the choice of remaining here as part of her husband’s clan or to return to her own. Her uncle had made certain to protect her in the contract, but giving her such a choice made things more difficult than if she’d been simply told what to do.

      If she remained, there would be another marriage arranged for her, to a suitable eligible man, to keep the bonds between the clans strong. If she returned home, there would be another marriage, but also she would

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