Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Tartans and Trysts: A Kilts and Kisses Novella: Kilts and Kisses, #2
    Tartans and Trysts: A Kilts and Kisses Novella: Kilts and Kisses, #2
    Tartans and Trysts: A Kilts and Kisses Novella: Kilts and Kisses, #2
    Ebook117 pages1 hour

    Tartans and Trysts: A Kilts and Kisses Novella: Kilts and Kisses, #2

    By Victoria Roberts

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Sorcha Gunn has realized the error of her ways and wants to make amends for everything she’s done. But when her cousin mysteriously disappears and Sorcha suspects her father is responsible, she needs to make a choice: betray the man who has given her everything or seek help from his enemy. Her decision is not an easy one, especially when the only person who believes in her is a brawny Highlander from the neighboring clan.

    As captain of the MacKay guard, Doughall Forbes will do anything to protect his clan from the ruthless Gunn laird. The last thing he needs is a wily female luring him into a nefarious trap. But he believes Sorcha, even though he can tell she’s holding something back. He’s determined to help her but soon discovers he’s the one who needs protection…from losing his heart.  

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVictoria Roberts
    Release dateNov 29, 2016
    ISBN9780996620628
    Tartans and Trysts: A Kilts and Kisses Novella: Kilts and Kisses, #2

    Related to Tartans and Trysts

    Titles in the series (2)

    View More
    View More

    Related ebooks

    Historical Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The King’s passion

      Aug 11, 2021

      The King’s passion
      11 min read

    • Article

      Big Question

      Apr 7, 2020

      Big Question
      2 min read

    • Article

      Our Lady Of The Rockies

      Aug 7, 2023

      Our Lady Of The Rockies
      13 min read

    • Article

      Follow Your HEART

      Mar 30, 2022

      Follow Your HEART
      9 min read

    • Article

      STEPPING Out

      Feb 12, 2020

      STEPPING Out
      9 min read

    • Article

      Saving Freyfaxi

      Feb 1, 2024

      Saving Freyfaxi
      8 min read

    • Article

      Saving Freyfaxi

      Jan 1, 2024

      Saving Freyfaxi
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Wind Feels Loss

      Aug 8, 2019

      The Wind Feels Loss
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Periodic Stranger

      Mar 2, 2017

      My roots are in a hilltop village west of Matera, where rabbit and boar run riot in the fields. Figs, apricots, and pears hang in heavy clusters, at eye-level and within easy reach. There, the local girls are famous for their calves, made firm and st

      21 min read

    • Article

      The Periodic Stranger: When exile becomes home.

      Dec 12, 2013

      My roots are in a hilltop village west of Matera, where rabbit and boar run riot in the fields. Figs, apricots, and pears hang in heavy clusters, at eye-level and within easy reach. There, the local girls are famous for their calves, made firm and st

      21 min read

    • Article

      Lucrezia’s Battle For Survival

      Sep 7, 2022

      Lucrezia’s Battle For Survival
      4 min read

    • Article

      Marco

      Mar 1, 2022

      THE ALLEY STANK . Marco could feel the damp soaking into his tunic as he pressed his back against the wall, trying to seem like part of the shadows. He cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid? He knew if he stayed out after dark they might f

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Witch Finders

      Jul 16, 2020

      Beth pulled her cloak tightly around her. It was the very last day of October and the air was damp and chill. Dead autumn leaves lay in deep piles in the woods and smoke curled into the night air from her cottage. Not far to go now. She bent her head

      4 min read

    • Article

      THE BLACK SPIDER Part Two

      Oct 30, 2019

      THE BLACK SPIDER Part Two
      25 min read

    • Article

      THE Dark Light

      Oct 14, 2020

      THE Dark Light
      9 min read

    • Article

      Happy Endings

      Sep 1, 2023

      Happy Endings
      5 min read

    • Article

      Lucrezia’s Battle For Survival

      Sep 7, 2022

      Lucrezia’s Battle For Survival
      4 min read

    • Article

      Summer Reading Guide

      Jan 2, 2022

      Summer Reading Guide
      6 min read

    • Article

      Come Stay

      Jan 16, 2024

      Come Stay
      23 min read

    • Article

      Cornwall CALLING

      May 11, 2022

      Cornwall CALLING
      8 min read

    • Article

      The New Chief

      Jan 1, 2022

      The New Chief
      6 min read

    • Article

      Six Dart Out

      Sep 10, 2023

      Marc figured the girl was a vegan. Her puke had overflowed the sink and run onto the floor—tomatoes and rice marinated in microbrew lager. He’d told Vegan Girl to slow down, but her friends had won the turning-21-peer-pressure battle. Admittedly, Mar

      9 min read

    • Article

      Follow your HEART

      Apr 20, 2022

      Follow your HEART
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Library of Gromma

      Jul 10, 2023

      Zac was sweating and panting as he reached the top of the hill. The crooked beams of the library loomed over him. He dropped the buckets of water, swore at the few drops that spilled, and escaped the piercing morning sun in the shade of the library.

      22 min read

    • Article

      Drawn to THE MOORS

      Feb 8, 2022

      Drawn to THE MOORS
      11 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Tartans and Trysts

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Tartans and Trysts - Victoria Roberts

      DEDICATION

      To my readers, who love to escape to Scotland as much as I do.

      You keep reading, and I’ll keep writing our next Highland adventure!

      The Furnace and the Forge

      by Cass Wright

      There’s a great Smith called Govannon, and he works betwixt the stars,

      Beating the steel of storm clouds into great and fearsome bars;

      And the steeds from out the Wild Hunt are shod by him alone,

      And the bolts of dread Taranis are but by his hammer honed.

      Such is known by women, as they e’er have the ken,

      And when they dream of war, they wake to mourn

      Their missing sons and men;

      They kneel to wash away the blood beside a ghostly ford,

      And by moon alone they hurry home

      To hide their coins beneath the boards.

      We are the Gunns, an’ that very name sings of sword and spear.

      The midnight sun shone fiercely on the ships that brought us here;

      The Leinster hordes of the river priests had near broke our line in twain,

      But we found this land o’ loch and ledge, and ʼtwas worth the cost o’ the slain.

      So here we plant our sea kings’ seed to build our hearths and graves,

      Breed our stock, net our shores, and ne’er stand as slaves!

      The Norman lairds, the Southron earls, with their paper and their gold,

      Let them crowd the bounds of Caithness and sound their horns full bold.

      Their velvet will nae turn our blades, nor their redes drown out our drones,

      And when the storm of steel has passed, we’ll kindle well their bones.

      There’s a smith that’s called Govannon, and his brother is a Fox,

      And not alone a Changeling, but a Bard.

      Old Gwydion loves to gamble, but he always owns the dice,

      And those who bet against him take it hard.

      No matter how ye wager,

      The old Norns grip ye by the gorge,

      And the scissors ever waver by the thread;

      The golden coins a man purloins

      Arc between the Furnace and the Forge,

      And his boots are stained with blood until he’s dead.

      CHAPTER ONE

      Scottish Highlands, 1607

      She gazed into the eyes of a killer.

      How could she sit at the same table with the man in the great hall and be expected to keep the terrible secret that loomed between them? A chill ran down her spine at the mere sight of him, especially since they shared the same blood. Laird, Chief, John, a murderer—in truth it didn’t matter what she called him. There was nothing she could do. The man was her father nevertheless.

      His hair was full of graying strands. He wore the Gunn plaid of blue, green, and red, and affixed at his shoulder was the clan badge—what should have been her uncle’s badge—which read "Aut pax aut bellum." Either peace or war.

      Sorcha Gunn sat on the dais with her father, mother, and cousin. She played with the food in her trencher, not that she felt much like eating anyway. Afraid everyone would know the secret she concealed by the expression on her face, she averted her gaze from her clan at the tables below. She was deeply ashamed, disappointed, and disgusted with her sire for all he had done for the sake of becoming chieftain.

      A short curl of ash-brown hair slid onto her forehead, and she left it there. Her stomach was sour, and she was plagued by dire thoughts. Her mother’s voice pulled Sorcha from her woolgathering just as she started to wonder if her mother had known all along about her husband’s treachery.

      What troubles ye, my dear? Ye’ve barely eaten anything since Ceana wed a few days past. Her mother was a comely, petite woman with a square chin and a wide mouth. Although Sorcha had her father’s eyes, she was grateful she’d always had her mother’s smile.

      She hadn’t thought it was possible, but hearing Ceana’s name made her feel even worse. The last thing she needed was to be reminded of her cruelty to her cousins. Since discovering the truth about her dear father, she’d regretted every moment of her abhorrent behavior. But perhaps now that Ceana had wed Sorcha’s betrothed in a love match, her cousin would no longer be cross with her and they could mend the past.

      When Sorcha took too long to respond, her mother added, My heart breaks to see that look on your face. When we finish our meal, ye can take your leave to the stream and wash your sleeve again. I am nae giving up on ye, Daughter. Ye’ve had suitors lining up at the gates, and they will be again soon. I have nay doubt in my mind.  

      Aunt Marta, do ye truly believe Sorcha will see the apparition of her future husband by placing another garment in front of the fire this eve? asked Anna with a hint of censure. Her long, blond locks hung in loose waves down her back. Waiting for an answer, she leaned around Sorcha at the table. The blue day dress hugged her cousin’s fifteen-year-old frame, and the color of the fabric matched Anna’s azure eyes.

      Sorcha’s mother gave a patient smile. Aye. That’s exactly how I knew I was destined to wed your Uncle John. She placed silvery locks of hair behind her ear and cast a coy expression at her husband.

      Even though the woman believed heavily in superstition, Sorcha had learned to accept her mother’s eccentricities. Everyone had faults, and Sorcha knew that better than anyone. Not wanting to think another moment about her father’s machinations, she turned to Anna.

      Do ye need any help packing your trunks?

      Anna gazed at Sorcha with heavy suspicion. Nay. I’ve almost finished the task.

      Verra well. It will nae be long before ye’ll be under the MacKay’s roof. I know Ceana and Luthais will be happy to have ye there. Sorcha glanced at one of the young men who sat at a table below the dais. He wore a loose tunic over the Gunn kilt, and a plaid hung over his shoulder. His wavy, reddish-brown hair touched the top of his shoulders, and his dimples were hard to resist when he smiled. His boyish good looks and kind demeanor made it obvious why her cousin favored him. But I know someone who will miss ye greatly.

      Anna’s face reddened. Please keep your voice down. Samuel can still visit me. I will nae be that far away.

      Aye. With all that happened between Ceana and Luthais, I know the distance to MacKay lands verra well, Sorcha said dryly. But give me your word that ye’ll be more discreet than the two of them. Ye would nae want to be caught having trysts at the loch in the light of day.

      Sorcha!

      She waved her cousin off, knowing Anna would never be as foolish as Ceana. Samuel and Anna reminded Sorcha of two puppies, neither one of them sure of the other and nipping innocently at each other’s heels. When Sorcha finished her untouched meal, she stood, brushing down the skirts of her brown day dress.

      Daughter, I’ll have a word with ye in my study, said her father.

      I did nae think there was anything more to discuss. When her mother cast a puzzled gaze and her father’s eyes narrowed, Sorcha took a deep, calming breath. I’ll be along shortly. If she was forced to speak with her father, she needed to have her wits about her.

      Now. Her father’s tone was more of a command.

      Having no choice in the matter, Sorcha gave a slight nod of compliance and followed her father through the hall to his study. A cool draft of air ran down her spine, and she trembled. The fact that her father wanted to have a conversation with her didn’t discomfort her in the least, and she continued to tell herself that.

      The heavy wooden door closed behind her, and the click of the latch made her flinch. Her father gestured to a chair, and she watched him warily as he sat behind his large, oak desk. Even though the room was spacious and boasted a stone fireplace with more than a score of swords displayed on the walls, she was suffocating. Hidden from sight, her hands moved nervously on her lap.

      Ye think ye’re verra clever, said her father with heavy sarcasm. Warning spasms of alarm surged through Sorcha,

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1