Highland Wild Heart: Highland Love, #2

By Scarsky

Lady Ludella Howard is mischievous, rebellious, passionate, and resents those restrictions imposed upon her as a lady. Her father has refused to allow her to travel, and instead plans to send her to court to find an eligible husband to wed, leading her to hatch her own escape plan.

 

Ranulph Sutherland, the heir of clan Sutherland, is just as strong-willed and stubborn as Ludella. His initial resentment toward the Englishwoman soon develops into an attraction he cannot deny. When an enemy clan sets up an ambush and a love rival resurfaces, his courage is tested with a vow to protect the one person he truly loves.

 

Can love survive the war to come?

 

If you enjoy Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, Karen Marie Moning's Highlander, or Julie Garwood's Lairds' Fiancées series, you will love the Highland Love series, a full-length, standalone romance with an HEA ending and no cliffhangers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pup Books
• Release date: Apr 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9789811413278

Book preview

Prologue

Carlisle, 1718, September

Lady Ludella Howard, a girl of eleven summers, stared in dismay at the rain sprouting from gray clouds, obscuring the sun that was visible mere moments ago. She deemed the icy drops a fitting welcome for the terrible Queen Sophia, who was due to arrive any minute.

King George and Queen Sophia were less than pleasant to her father last year. Earl Howard of Carlisle did not receive any soldiers or assistance from the king when their land had been invaded by a contingent of Highland warriors. Their elder daughter, Brooke, had even been stolen by the Sinclair Laird to be forcibly wed. And yet, the queen had the gall to demand a place to stay while visiting a relative nearby. Ludella’s mother had been unable to refuse her. After all, she was royalty, and they were merely her humble subjects. However, though her mother’s hands may have been tied when it came to the queen, Ludella knew that hers were not, and she was prepared to give the queen exactly the kind of welcome she deserved.

Ludella dragged the mud-soaked hem of her woolen gown away from the puddle she had stepped into. It was utterly ruined, and she winced as she pictured how her mother would scold her for the dirtied clothes. Nonetheless, the thought was quickly pushed to the back of her mind when she saw the drenched little boy sticking his head out of the blacksmith’s hut. Gilbert!

A grin flashed across the boy’s mud-streaked face as he ran toward her. He was beaming with a self-satisfied smile when he finally stood before her, a wet sack propped against his thigh.

″Do you have it?" Ludella demanded.

″Yes, my lady," Gilbert Morrison answered.

″Good! Ludella bestowed a mischievous smile upon him, only to recoil when he nudged the sack toward her. Keep that thing away from me. Do not be daft!"

Gilbert giggled. What are you afraid of? He does not bite.

″No, I do not like it at all," Ludella told him, turning up her nose with a scowl.

The children were interrupted by a call from the watch guards. Ludella’s eyes widened when she saw an entourage of soldiers arriving at the entrance to the village.

″Can we drop this sack near the horse carrying the queen?" Ludella wondered aloud.

″I do not think she would be riding a horse in this weather, Gilbert said, shaking his head derisively. She is likely to be in the litter cart."

″Even so, there are so many people around, Ludella said. Will you manage?"

″I can be very unnoticeable when I want to be, but you, on the other hand, would attract too much attention. His eyes lingered on her wet red hair. Stay here."

She frowned, knowing that her pale face and red hair would indeed make her stand out. I can keep my hood up.

″It would still be dangerous when the horses get spooked, Gilbert said firmly. If you will not listen, then I am not going to do it."

Ludella stuck out her tongue, then folded her arms. Fine.

She watched Gilbert walk up to the soldiers easily without being stopped by anyone. To the ordinary eye, he was just another village boy who wanted to get a curious look at the Queen.

It would appear that Queen Sophia had more gall than either of them had anticipated because she was presently riding atop a beautiful mare. Gilbert was almost able to reach the queen’s side when a large man emerged abruptly and scooped him out of the way with one hand.

Ludella’s eyes widened when she saw the man riding toward her and recognized her father with rising alarm. She bit her lip, her cheeks flushed with guilt. As Lord Howard got closer, she knew that there was no mistaking the anger in his face.

″Both of you, meet me at the castle!" Her father scowled blackly.

Gilbert was set on the ground, his dark eyes huge with fear. But my serpent…

″I shall have a word with your father about the pets you keep, Lord Howard lectured. He would no doubt agree that they are unsuitable for a young boy such as yourself."

Gilbert yelled as Lord Howard rode away, splashing muddy sludge in his wake.

″This is all your fault, Ludella! Gilbert cried angrily. Now, they are surely going to take my pet snake away. Poor Rupert."

Ludella bit her lip again, feeling guilty. If it were not for her harebrained scheme, Gilbert would not be facing her father’s judgment alongside her.

Later in the day, Lord Howard would reprimand his daughter and Gilbert, lecturing them mercilessly about spooking the queen’s horse.

″But father!" Ludella cried, tears welling in her eyes.

″I shall not listen to another word from you, daughter! Lord Howard’s voice was sharp. You could have killed the queen with your heinous plot."

″No, she would have merely fallen on her large bottom, and it would have served her right!"

In spite of himself, Earl Howard’s lips twitched into a brief smile. But when he glanced at his stone-faced wife, he sobered immediately. Have you not heard of how horses throw their riders if spooked? I cannot believe you would set out to kill someone, Ludella.

″I did not! Ludella’s eyes were round with horror. I only wanted to scare her, that’s all. And besides, she is much too obese to suffer more than a bump from a fall."

Lord Howard sighed. Ludella, I know you have your own way of thinking, but you are fortunate to not have been whipped for your scheme, and Gilbert even more so, for the king would have had him locked up in the dungeons for a long time should anything untoward have happened to the queen.

″That is not true. The king cares not for his wife. Ludella’s lower lip jutted out in defiance. He would do no more than laugh."

″That’s it! Lady Erline snapped. Go up to your room, young lady, and wait for me there. You shall not be having dinner with us this evening. And Gilbert, I am going to have a word or two with your mother. We shall see what she has to say about your antics today. You are both dismissed!"

When both children were gone, Lord Howard cast a sympathetic glance at his wife. Despite Ludella’s tendency toward mischief, he had a soft spot in his heart for his daughter. Erline, you are not thinking of sending her to bed hungry, are you?

Lady Erline looked heavenward. She is my daughter too, Geoffrey. I shall have a tray of food taken up to her after a good dose of lecture.

Lord Howard sighed heavily. Whatever are we going to do with her? Ludella might be able to get away with her wily behavior now, but I am certain that her actions are going to cost her dearly one day.

″Not if I scare such habits out of her first," Lady Erline said, her lips tight.

Chapter One

Carlisle, 1727, mid-summer

The clearing in the midst of the copse was appropriate for sword practice, though clouds had already dimmed the morning light to a feeble gray. The tepid breeze carried the scents of the damp mud, impending rain, fresh leaves, and the swamp nearby, invoking a tranquil sense of nature. The forest was lively with the calls of different birds, mingling into a chorus of sweet song that was sure to gladden the most gloomy of hearts.

Arching her body in a fighting stance, Ludella spun with the saber clutched in her left hand, narrowly avoiding a blow from her opponent. Her blonde braid swung behind her as she stepped away from the large root protruding from the earth, catching her balance just in time to avoid falling over. That would have been most embarrassing indeed.

Gilbert Morrison laughed, his brown eyes sparkling with triumph. Surrender! You have lost.

Ludella wrinkled her nose. Gilbert’s longsword was inches away from her neck. Did you not see me almost falling over that dratted root? You used my inattention to seize the upper hand and that is hardly fair!

Gilbert Morrison was her childhood friend and also her father’s soldier. With his battle prowess, he had been able to rapidly move up the ranks in the army.

″Your opponent would hardly be so charitable as to give you the time to protest in a real battle, Ludella, Gilbert told her in a superior voice. You shall be gutted before uttering a single word."

She smiled at him. Her ploy worked, for he seemed distracted, thinking that she would be unlikely to give up the argument. Unfortunately for him, she was less interested in talking and much more in concluding the fight.

In a bizarre maneuver, she lowered herself onto the ground, dodge forward, and leaped into action, pointing the tip of her saber at his chest.

″Hey! I was talking to you!" Gilbert exclaimed, exasperated.

″Did you not tell me to use everything to my advantage?" Ludella winked at him as she rose to her feet.

″What are you doing on the ground, young lady?" a familiar voice demanded.

Mother…

Ludella winced. What on earth was she doing in the woods? She turned to see her mother riding astride a handsome chestnut stallion.

″I have been looking for you, Lady Erline said, her eyes flickering her daughter’s ripped muddy gown with a look of resignation. Baron Hasting and his family have come for a visitation. Max has been asking for you. It is your duty as a hostess to be present, especially since Kelsea is not here anymore to cover for your absence."

Upon the mention of Kelsea, Ludella felt a little sad for she missed her twin sister terribly, more so when she had to inherit her sister’s responsibilities. She scowled, reminding Lady Erline of how much the expression matched her husband’s when he was annoyed.

″Mother, I do not wish to meet Max. He is such boring company and always seems to be on the verge of proposing," Ludella complained.

″And he would too, if you were not the sort of girl who would run off every time."

″I would never accept his proposal, even if he did not behave like a pompous pigeon." Ludella sheathed her saber on the belt strapped to her hips.

Gilbert started to laugh, only to cough suddenly when Lady Erline narrowed her eyes at him.

″Come now, Ludella, no excuses. I expect you to be present in the great hall as soon as possible. You will need to be washed and changed for the occasion."

Lady Erline waited for her daughter to climb onto the stallion behind her.

″I will go, do not worry, mother, Ludella said. I shall walk behind you."

″Is Maxillian Hasting not handsome?" Gilbert asked as they walked back to the castle, prompting Ludella to slap his shoulder playfully.

Lady Erline noticed the exchange between the two with knowing eyes, especially Gilbert’s smitten expression. It was clear that she needed to do something before her daughter selected someone completely unsuited for her.

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Adorned in an emerald-green gown to match the hues of her eyes, Ludella glared at her reflection in the small hand-held looking glass. It was a gift from her father when he returned from one of his trips. The wood was beautifully engraved, and there was even a comb to match. Her greenish-brown eyes stared back at her, framed by golden blonde locks.

Her lady’s maid, Ida, ran the comb through her blonde tresses, scenting them with rose petal water as Ludella sat patiently through the ritual. Despite her unladylike behavior at times, she rather enjoyed dressing in pretty clothes and having her hair arranged elaborately.

Once she was deemed presentable, Ludella walked to the great hall to greet her guests. The Hastings were her parents’ friends, and she had known their son, Maximilian, for years. He was handsome, with fair hair and pale skin. Unfortunately, he happened to be the blustering arrogant sort, with lowly views about the female gender and a lack of ability to hold intelligent talk, which made Ludella dislike him immensely.

Even now he smiled at her, flexing his biceps beneath his woolen gray tunic. She willed herself to hold in her tongue and exercise patience for her mother’s sake as she sat down in a chair near the Hastings family. Max was six summers older than her twenty. His meek sister, Judith, was a summer younger than her at nineteen.

″My dear, you look lovely," Max’s mother, Elizabeth Hasting, said.

″Thank you." Ludella smiled demurely.

After an hour of listening to the ladies talk, Lord Howard got up to accompany Lord Hasting for a walk to the stables to show him the new horseflesh. Max normally followed his father, which would have relieved Ludella from his constant blue stare, but that day, he seemed determined to engage her in conversation. And so, he remained in the hall to her dismay.

″I have been selected to participate in the tourney two weeks past, Max said. I won five out of seven contests and crushed Lord Edward of Gloucester!"

″Hmm…"

Ludella’s mind was elsewhere. She was pondering over how best to convince her father to allow her to travel to the Highlands. She felt lonely without Kelsea, and it had been four years since she last met Brooke. Though Brooke often acted like an overbearing parental figure when they were children, their relationship had since developed to one of sisterly affection and mutual understanding after Ludella turned ten and five. When Brooke came for an extended visit to Carlisle, the three sisters had enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

″Ludella?" Max sounded annoyed.

Ludella focused on his pale face. Yes?

″Did you not hear me? I asked you a question," he said irritably.

″Sorry, I must admit I had lost focus for a moment." Her face flushed when she saw her mother raising a brow in silent admonishment.

″I was asking whether you have been to a tourney before," he repeated.

″No, I have not."

″I see. Well, what do you enjoy doing, then?"

Oh, finally, a question about her. Max must really be trying his best to woo her.

″I enjoy practicing with my sabe—uh, needlework!" Ludella changed her answer abruptly as Lady Erline glared at her.

″Needlework? He frowned. You like sewing?"

″Indeed, Ludella said archly. I love to sew lots and lots of patterns on clothes, on tablecloths, on tapestries, and so on…" Her voice trailed. Lady Erline did not look pleased with the exaggeration.

Max cleared his throat. I see.

Ludella batted her eyelashes. Do you really? None of my tapestries are hung here, after all.

Before Max could make sense of her jest, Lady Erline stepped in and distracted him with a query of her own. Ludella could not help hiding a grin behind her hand. What was she to do about her absurdly controlling mother? As Kelsea would say, the woman really could not help herself.

Ludella turned away and attempted to draw Judith into conversation instead. Have you been to the court of late?

Judith smiled shyly. Not yet. My mother intends to take me when you will be there.

″Why is that?" Ludella wondered aloud.

Judith shrugged daintily. It is the truth that I do not know.

Lady Elizabeth glanced in their direction. Why, it is because I feel you will be able to draw my little Judith out of her shell, of course.

Ludella smiled appropriately, then waited for the woman’s attention to be diverted.

″Have you ever been interested in a man?" Ludella asked Judith in a low voice.

Judith blushed and shifted uncomfortably. Mother rarely allows me in the company of men, Ludella.

″That is understandable. Well, what do you do to occupy yourself, then?" Ludella asked.

″I would like to learn how to hunt, but my mother would not allow it. She wants me to sit in the bower all day and sew," Judith complained, a light scowl on her face.

Ludella shook her head sympathetically. At least you are a good enough daughter to listen. I get scolded aplenty for disobeying my elders.

Though her comment had been made in a whisper, it made Judith’s eyes widen in alarm and awe.

″I wish I was like you," she murmured.

Despite her bowed head and cowed manner, Ludella saw a spark of defiance in Judith’s eyes. The girl’s spirit was alive and well, but that would not be the case if Lady Elizabeth were to continue restricting her daughter in every aspect of her life. However, any interference on her part would likely cause more trouble than it was worth, and Ludella still needed to seek her father’s approval for a visitation to the Highlands.

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After dinner, Ludella escaped to the small herb garden behind the kitchens. While inhaling the fresh scents of the vegetation, she heard a rustle behind her. Her hand reached for her saber instinctively, only to find it missing as she remembered that she had left it in her chambers when going to greet her guests. What a pity. Despite this, she was not entirely defenseless. In the event of danger, Gilbert had taught her some tricks to waylay any potential attackers to give her an opening to flee.

″Lady Ludella."

Ludella recognized Max’s voice. She groaned inwardly before turning around to face him.

″Yes?" she replied.

He hesitated for a minute, and then a smile spread across his arrogant face.

″I have come to discuss an important matter with you."

″I am honored to be sought in the gardens for this purpose, but do you not