Tempted By The Border Captain

By Blythe Gifford

Fast Fiction Historical – short romantic stories to take you back in time

Lady–in–Waiting Mary Betoun knows her future would be secured not by a husband, but by keeping the queen happy. When Mary must prepare a remote castle along the Scottish Borders for the queen's visit, the castle's charming captain, Jamie Davison, is all too happy to help… But Jamie's nearness makes Mary think anything but innocent thoughts...

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: May 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781488721601

Blythe Gifford

After years in marketing, Blythe Gifford started writing seriously after a layoff. Ten years and one layoff later, she sold to the Harlequin Historical line. Set in England and Scotland of the 14th to 16th centuries, her books usually include real historical events and characters. The Chicago Tribune called her work “the perfect balance between history and romance.” Blythe lives in Chicago and welcomes visitors to www.blythegifford.com and www.facebook.com/BlytheGifford

Book preview

Chapter One

The Dowager Queen’s Castle near the Scottish Borders

Spring, 1529

Five days. Mon Dieu! How was she to have all in readiness for the queen’s visit in only five days?

Mary Betoun gazed up at the massive stone house and towers as she rode into the courtyard. The Dowager Queen had not been to this Borders property since Mary had been in her household, but now that the queen had remarried, she had embarked on a tour of all her properties.

Mary was glad to see the queen happy again. She was well rid of her second husband—the Border lord who had made her life, and that of her son, the king—so miserable.

Savages, all of the men from these hills.

Yet, Mary had been given the challenge of bringing comfort and culture to this retreat in the rudest, most treacherous part of the country.

Well, at least it would keep her so busy she’d have no time to think of Oliver Sinclair.

Where was he now? she wondered, as the page helped her dismount. With that woman? That new bride of his?

Mary? Wee Mary?

She turned toward a vaguely familiar voice. Jamie? Jamie Davison? She had to lift her chin in order to meet his eyes. You’ve grown, you have.

He grinned. And you’ve grown not at all, Wee Mary.

Yes, that was Jamie Davison. Rankling her just as he had when he’d been Long Jamie—a tall, young squire she met when she was new in the Queen’s service. Everyone called her Wee Mary, but he said it with the lilt of laughter on his tongue.

What are you doing here? she asked. She had no time for foolish distractions this week.

I’m captain of the castle guard.

No way to avoid him, then. And I’m here to insure all is ready when the queen and her new husband arrive next week.

Oh? Jamie’s tilt of the head and his sideways smile were just as she remembered. Are you, now?

Incroyable. His words seemed to mock her, just as they had when she’d been a maid of twelve and he had teased her before he stole a kiss.

She no longer deserved his teasing. She was a woman grown and had danced with Scotland’s king. I am a lady-in-waiting to the mother of the king.

Not waiting on a husband of your own?

She felt her cheeks flame. Cruel reminder that she was pining for a man she could not have. And have you a wife to wait on you, then?

Suddenly, she hoped the answer was no. Immediately, she scolded herself. She had known Jamie as a young squire, an awkward lout of fourteen, new to court, new to everything. He had made her laugh, then, and when he did, she forgot to worry about pleasing the queen or perfecting the steps of the Pavanne.

When he made her laugh, just being Mary was enough.

But nine years had passed since then. She knew how to please the queen and dance the Pavanne, and she knew many men infinitely preferable to this rough-edged Borderer. He interested her not in the least.

Though he had grown much taller and his brown eyes twinkled.

No wife, he said. Do you think it’s time I married?

She turned her back and started toward the low building that must house the kitchen. "I don’t think of