My Highland Rogue - Karen Ranney Page 0,109

a stigma attached to being illegitimate, Jennifer, even as an adult. To Gordon, it’s simply not worth it. I think being willing to give up the title is a magnanimous gift. A gift of love.”

“I can’t let you do it,” Jennifer said, looking at Gordon. “It’s too much.”

Ellen smiled at both of them. “Love is never too much, my darling child. Whatever sacrifice it requires, whatever you give up, it’s never too much. Besides, Gordon isn’t giving up his heritage, Jennifer. He’s simply choosing you.”

When Jennifer looked at her, Ellen continued. “Don’t you see? He wasn’t raised to be an Adaire. The heritage, the legacy doesn’t mean as much to him as you do.”

Ellen glanced at Gordon. “From what I’ve come to know of you, you thought about this decision at great length.”

“I have,” he said. “The title’s not as important as Jennifer.”

“But you’re an Adaire. The world should see you as one,” Jennifer said.

“I’m myself. That counts as more.”

Ellen walked up to Gordon and kissed him on the cheek. “Indeed, it does. The only bad thing about your decision is allowing Harrison to remain the Earl of Burfield. He doesn’t deserve the title. Nor will he do it any good.”

“He’s out of money,” Gordon said. “He owes me a fortune. I’ve given his markers to Jennifer as a wedding gift. Perhaps she can use them as leverage over his behavior.”

Ellen laughed. “You’re very like your father, you know. Title or not.”

Jennifer looked up at Gordon. “You’re going to do this, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

She sighed. A moment later, she stood and walked to the window. The carriages were still arriving, hundreds of people invited to witness their marriage.

A surprise guest was Mrs. Farmer, who looked splendid in her finery. Lauren and her father had already arrived, but Ellen had deliberately not invited Harrison. No one had heard from him in weeks. Mrs. Thompson was here from Adaire Hall, along with a great many of the staff. She was going to have to be honest with them about Adaire Hall’s finances if Harrison didn’t face his responsibilities. Perhaps they would like to move to Edinburgh and come to work for Gordon and her.

How could she allow him to give up so much for her? The extent of Gordon’s sacrifice humbled her.

He’s making his own heritage. The thought was so much like Gordon. Very well, together they would create a future for themselves. She’d be beside him every step of the way.

All that truly mattered was that they were free to love each other.

She turned, finally, looking at Gordon. “I love you,” she said. “I’d do anything for you.”

“I know that,” Gordon said. “I feel the same.”

“How can I possibly equal what you’ve done?”

“It isn’t a race, Jennifer. It’s our life. Our life together.”

Gordon pulled Jennifer into his embrace. A second later they were kissing.

Ellen sighed. “Do you want to get married? Today?”

They separated and looked at her.

“Go and let her get dressed,” Ellen said. “You’ll have plenty of time together as soon as you’re married.”

“Don’t take too long,” Gordon said, smiling. “I’ve been waiting too many years as it is.”

That necessitated another kiss.

Author’s Notes

The Alhambra was a famous music hall in Victorian London.

An attorney in Scotland is called an advocate.

Queen Victoria was administered chloroform during the birth of her eighth child, Prince Leopold, in April 1853 by Dr. James Snow. After the birth, Dr. Snow became the darling of the elite of London.

It was considered bad luck to give compliments to a newborn or to put him in a new cradle. Similarly, it was considered bad luck to have water touch his palms for fear that it would affect his ability to acquire worldly goods later in life.

It was customary to put a bit of silver in a new baby’s cradle. Women were encouraged to stay in bed for at least two weeks following childbirth, at least those who didn’t have to work for a living. A midwife was normally called a howdie, or a handy woman. A doctor was rarely called in the case of a birth.

In Scotland, it was considered a mark of disrespect if a funeral took place before a set number of days elapsed. The timing differed depending on where you lived in Scotland, but it varied anywhere from three to nine days. Most of the funerals in this time period were held at home and then the body taken to be buried. Women did not go to the churchyard for the burials.

The body was placed in the best room in the house/cottage and wrapped in a winding cloth. Women often made their own winding cloths. It was common for a married woman to make her husband’s winding cloth as well. They were stored in chests with the best linen for when they were eventually needed.

Adaire Hall was modeled after several great houses of Scotland.

Scottish terms:

Trittle-trattle - trash

Cludfawer - an illegitimate child

Merry-begotten - illegitimate

Dreich - gray, rainy, drizzling weather

Her Highland Hero

And don’t miss the next stunning romance in Karen Ranney’s Highland Fling series

HER HIGHLAND HERO

On sale June 2020

from Avon Books

About the Author

KAREN RANNEY wanted to be a writer from the time she was five years old and filled her Big Chief tablet with stories. People in stories did amazing things and she was too shy to do anything amazing. Years spent in Japan, Paris, and Italy, however, not only fueled her imagination but proved she wasn’t that shy after all. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, she prefers to keep her adventures between the covers of her books. Karen lives in San Antonio, Texas.

Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

By Karen Ranney

My Highland Rogue

To Bed the Bride

To Wed an Heiress

To Love a Duchess

The Texan Duke

The English Duke

The Scottish Duke

An American in Scotland

Scotsman of My Dreams

In Your Wildest Scottish Dreams

The Return to Clan Sinclair

The Virgin of Clan Sinclair

The Witch of Clan Sinclair

The Devil of Clan Sinclair

The Lass Wore Black

A Scandalous Scot

A Borrowed Scot

A Highland Duchess

Sold to a Laird

A Scottish Love

A Scotsman in Love

The Devil Wears Tartan

The Scottish Companion

Autumn in Scotland

An Unlikely Governess

Till Next We Meet

So in Love

To Love a Scottish Lord

The Irresistible MacRae

When the Laird Returns

One Man’s Love

After the Kiss

My True Love

My Beloved

Upon a Wicked Time

My Wicked Fantasy

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

my highland rogue. Copyright © 2020 by Karen Ranney, LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers. For information, address HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

Digital Edition AUGUST 2020 ISBN: 978-0-06-300356-9

Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-06-301992-8

Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.

HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.

first edition

About the Publisher

Australia

HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.

Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

www.harpercollins.com.au

Canada