Christmas romacne
thistle in the mistletoe
Holiday Romance
thistle in the mistletoe
The soft beauty beside him at the altar would make the perfect bride. Roderick MacDougall would do anything to stop the feud without more bloodshed. Too bad the gorgeous woman is the daughter of his greatest enemy who murdered his da. Trust in a Comyn is hard won, even if her good looks rage his senses. Mary Comyn only wants to stop the wars and live a life of peace and goodwill. Tricked by her father and forced by the English king to marry her clan’s enemy, Mary fears she’s scarifying finding true love for peace. A Christmas wedding sounds romantic, but why would the handsome MacDougall laird, her greatest clan enemy, love her? A man conflicted by duty to peace. A woman whose father betrayed all. When betrayal looms from within, can enemies find love and forge a new future for both clans?
an excerpt from Thistle in the Mistletoe
Now facing him here, those deep blue eyes held her in place. What did the king have in mind?That was earlier; the memory rang in her mind as the surrounding people shifted and prepared for a wedding ceremony. Had she known this morning that today would be her wedding day, she would have prepared better. A blue handkerchief, a token for her shoe, her grandmother’s veil she’d kept wishing to wear it on her wedding day. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and sixpence for her shoe. Silly, but traditions all the same.Her eyes roamed the church. At least greenery decorated the pulpit and pews, ready for the Christmas season. If they hadn’t forced this upon her, she might find a holiday wedding romantic. She always wanted a husband, home, and children. Be careful what ye wish for, echoed—one of her mother’s sayings. Here she was, a bride-to-be only mere weeks after a bloody clan battle. The king threatened the two lairds to meet or die. Demanding Mary be present. She should have known this was not good. Nothing good came from the English king.The reverend turned to his place before her, and her stare met Laird MacDougall’s again. His stern expression did nothing to calm her nerves, and the tick in his jaw reminded her of her father’s fast fists. She glanced at her hands as a shiver shook her body.“Trust me, lass, this isn’t to my liking either,” the laird growled.Her eyes shot to his, and she spoke without thinking. “Such romantic words from the groom.”“Too bad that sharp tongue doesn’t match yer soft beauty. And here, I had hopes.” His mouth quirked in almost a smile as the edges of his eyes crinkled. Was he jesting with her?Her father pushed beside her and grabbed her arm. “Ye will mind yer tongue, Mary. Use it wisely for once.”Larid MacDougall barked a laugh, but when her eyes met his, he appeared somber again. His gaze focused on where her father painfully twisted her arm as tears gathered in her eyes.The laird’s glare traveled to her father’s as he growled, “Ye will unhand my wife.”Her father leaned forward as he dropped his hand from her. “Not yer wife yet. Still my daughter and only child.” He turned to her, kissed each cheek, and held her shoulders. “Well, ye finally are serving a purpose, lass. Do the clan a favor and stab him after ye fuck ’im?”Her father’s crudeness always chose the worst time to surface, his humor not helping. She glanced down as a tear fell. The reminder that she wasn’t a son cutting the deepest, unable to fight as her father wished. At least she served a purpose, ending the clan war.She glanced between the two lairds. She hoped.
Laird MacDougall huffed a laugh. “If she kills me, the king will kill ye. Not a wise plan, Comyn.”The king’s agent cleared his throat. “I will reread the king’s orders so all will know and understand what he expects.” His gaze traveled over the room. “And the consequences should either clan fail.”She lifted her head as she told herself to be strong and met Laird MacDougall’s stare. His eyes roamed her face, and then his expression changed. Was that caring she saw? When the King’s agent spoke, Laird MacDougall’s expression vanished. “All Highland clan wars are to end by order of the king. As to the MacDougall and Comyn clans, the king orders Lady Mary Ann Comyn to marry Laird Alexander Roderick MacDougall to ensure peace.” Alexander Roderick. Does he go by Alexander or Roderick? “Laird MacDougall’s youngest brother, Malcolm MacDougall, must live with Laird Robert Comyn and train as a fighter serving him. Laird Comyn and Laird MacDougall will regulate visits to show the good health of both visitors. Should anything happen to each guest while in the other clan’s care, consequences will be swift, and death the result.”Her father snickered beside her. “Try not to get killed, Mary. But if ye do, I shall enjoy watching Roderick die for it.” So, it’s Roderick. Roderick’s focus drifted to her father’s, his voice deep and menacing. “Mary Ann Comyn shall be Mary Ann MacDougall and will never come to any harm. This I vow.” He took a deep breath, shaking a little. “I, unlike others, hold to my vows.”Her father stiffened, the insult cutting. Her father had betrayed and killed Roderick’s father in the last battle. They’d declared a truce to meet and discuss peace terms, but her father tricked Roderick’s father and killed him. The war began before each became laird. Rumor claimed it started over a woman.The king’s agent spoke over the exchange. “To ensure peace continues into future generations, the king expects Roderick and Mary to produce offspring within a year. When Malcolm MacDougall reaches his majority, Larid Comyn will betroth him to a close Comyn relative at the approval of Laird MacDougall.”She’d heard all this before the guards drew swords, but hearing it over again brought the full meaning back to her. To fail meant death for either laird. She couldn’t have that, not for her father, horrid as he was. Enemy or not, she didn’t want to see the handsome MacDougall killed.