The Bonniest Lass in Scotland: Highland Hearts, #1

By Steffy Smith

Isobel MacNeil has grown up a simple village Lass and craves adventure, knowledge and love.

Laird Jamie Murray is looking for a woman who will bring a strong alliance and run his keep.
Love is not required.

When the two encounter each other in a loch, her bathing and him grievously wounded, sparks fly, and passions ignite.

Secrets threaten to not only pull them apart but bring them closer together.

But can he accept she has nothing to offer but herself? And can she help him see past the nature of his stubborn ways?

The highlands can be harsh and cruel. When Isobel goes missing their love is put to the test.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steffy Smith
• Release date: Sep 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9780645444810

Book preview

Prologue

Scottish Highlands 1298

Two young women held each other in grief. Sisters by marriage, Lina a midwife who had delivered Dorah’s bairn, a wee stillborn lass. The simple cottage, usually so warm and inviting, felt suffocating with the sadness that still pervaded the room. A knock at the door momentarily pulled them from the grief. Entering, Domnall took in his sister and wife’s tear-stained faces.

My love, we need to return to the castle. The Lady has started her birth pains.

Domnall walked over to them and clutched his wife Lina's hand, looking apologetically at his sister. Giving Lina’s hand a squeeze, he turned to his sister and opened his arms.

Come here lass, let me hold ye. I will be back as soon as I can.

Holding his sister tightly, he fervently wished he could take her pain away. Dorah looked up at him and smiled through her grief.

I pray the Lady and bairn good health and tell her I cannae wait to hold her little one in my arms.

His sister’s strength tore him asunder but also renewed his own.

Aye, sister, I will. Milady will be devastated by this news and will be honoured to help ease ye pain.

Lina was silent as they made their way from the cotter’s dwellings back towards the castle, distraught over what had transpired. Her mother had trained her since a young lass as a midwife and this was something she would never get accustomed to, especially when one was family. Now her great friend Lady Eleanor had started her birthing pains and she needed to bring another babe into the world, God willing alive. Domnall held her tightly as they walked and the kisses he kept placing on the top of her head gave her comfort. As they made their way to Eleanor's chambers, she said her thoughts out loud, Thank god that horrible man is away, he would surely make things worse. Domnall, who was Captain of the Guard, looked around.

Hush my love, we never ken where ears may lay along these walls. They both froze a second later as a long wail descended upon them. Their steps turned into a run as they hurried to Eleanor's room.

---

Eleanor was laying in the bed, tears streaming down her face as she struggled with her birth pains. Lina started to give the maids orders and Domnall went to stand vigil at the door. Eleanor grabbed Lina's hand. Lina, I see my death, but my babe will survive, ye must take care of her.

Nay, I will have no more death this night!

What has happened? Dorah? Oh no, the poor lass! Eleanor broke into more tears.

Nay. She lives, alas the babe did not. Before Eleanor could respond another contraction went through her causing her to scream. For hours and hours, she screamed. Lina sent all the maids out and to bed and soothed her friend alone. It suddenly occurred to Lina that Eleanor was not pushing hard enough and begged her to try. I am scared for the bairn, to be raised by that monster! I tell ye, my friend, I ken once the bairn comes my time will come.

Hush! That will not happen and Domnall and I will help ye in any way we can from the Laird, but ye must push otherwise the bairn willnae come. Outside a storm began, the thunder striking through the black night making the evening more ominous than she thought possible.

A look of peace came over Eleanor’s face which gave Lina a sense of foreboding. And all of a sudden, she began to push in earnest. As Lina saw the head she sighed with relief and urged Eleanor to keep going and before she could give any more encouragement the babe came out. A beautiful little lass! Calling Domnall in the room she quickly gave him the babe; he assisted her with babes aplenty and set about cleaning and swaddling while she cleaned up Eleanor.

Ten fingers and toes and ye copper hair, milady.

Giving a weak smile she asked to hold the babe. Eleanor cradled her beautiful daughter, knowing this would be the only time. Lina realised something was also wrong as she could not staunch the bleeding, but before she could say a word Eleanor spoke.

Please listen, both of ye. Take my babe to Dorah and John and bring me their child. I willnae survive the night, I can feel my life's blood slipping away. Ye can tell the man I called husband that I failed him as per his usual expectation, a lass not, a son and a stillborn at that. But he can be joyful as he will also be less a wife that he detests. I want my babe to grow up loved! Please, do this for me. I ken Dorah will push past her pain and do this. Please. Her voice was barely audible, she had become so weak. Domnall was shocked and immobile, and it was Lina who grabbed her friend and agreed, Aye, we will do as ye say. I cannot staunch the bleed and we both ken what this means, my dearest friend. We will watch over the wee one and ye may find ye rest. Weeping Lina held Eleanor until she shuddered her last breath. The babe remarkably stayed silent during this time as Domnall held her.

Are we going to do this, defy the laird? Standing straight Lina looked her husband square in the eye. I will follow out the dying wish she made, I promised. Do ye stand with me?

Of course, my love. I am ashamed I even questioned it.

A few hours later, a wee lass was placed into Dorah's arms. She cuddled the warm bundle and pledged to give her all the love she would ever need.

---

Another wee lass was swaddled and placed in the arms of a Lady. A Lady heartbroken from years of neglect and suffering. A little babe who never got to take their first breath.

---

I will keep your wee lass safe; Dorah and I will see to that. Lina vowed to her departed friend.

Chapter One

Scottish Highlands 1316

T hat's it, Izzy, a feint to ye left but come at me with ye right.

Isobel MacNeil loved to spar with her Uncle Domnall. She loved all the things he had taught her how to do; how to ride a horse, shoot a bow and arrow, how to use a sgian dubh. She enjoyed it much more than her Aunt Lina's lesson on how to be a lady. She was a village lass, mo dhia! Why did she need to ken how to do needlepoint or how a household is run?! But she did. She had all these skills but for what purpose, she always asked herself. Rolling her eyes with love she knew it was because they had this dream she would rise above her station one day. Izzy was happy with her lot as a commoner, she enjoyed tending to the animals, the garden, and running around in braies instead of dresses. She also had a passion for learning about healing. But she loved her aunt and uncle dearly and indulged their efforts. They had no bairns of their own, so they treated her like their own. I am verra lucky indeed, she thought warmly.

Her sparring session finished, and she went to the small nearby loch to wash off while the weather was still warm and thought back to the conversation she overheard her parents having with her aunt and uncle when they arrived today. Spying was not noble of her but och when it was aboot oneself that makes it okay, she told herself.

She is 18 now and an incomparable beauty, we cannae have her running around anymore, it's too dangerous. Aunt Lina said in a fierce and protective tone.

Incomparable, Izzy wondered as she thought of her appearance. She was not tall, which frustrated her, and her breasts were large on her petite frame which annoyed her when she shot a bow. Her eyes were emerald-green. Bright and twinkling when she was happy, and dark and glittering when she was mad. Her skin was fair but held a slight glow from her time spent outdoors and her hair was copper, not orange or red but a burnt shade that fell in long waves unless she had it tied back. And she had nary a freckle as she saw most people with similar colouring had, her aunt always telling her how flawless her skin was.

Aye, I dinnae think she understood. The blacksmith’s lad was not tussling with her in jest but because he wants her as a man wants a woman.

Izzy scoffed at her da saying that: she was not a naive little bairn. She knew that boy wanted to tup her, she had heard enough of the lads in the village with their crude talk to know what that was about. And that silly boy should have known she would knee him in the bollocks just like her Uncle Domnall had shown her, she smiled smugly. But then her face heated with embarrassment remembering the crude things the lad had said to her. Nay, she was not naive, but she was still untouched. She had kissed a few of the lads but had not seen what the fuss was about. It was not pleasant, their kisses were wet and sloppy, it reminded her of when their dog licked her face. But she knew the other lasses in the village had been doing more than kissing in the hope of landing a groom. One day she would like her own family, but for now, she wanted an adventure.

She is at a marriageable age, but there is no one even worth her hand around here. Aunt Lina pointed out, her tone still fierce. Sighing, Izzy wished they did not hold her on such a high pedestal. I am just an average lass, she thought as she looked down at herself again.

Aye and she has no interest in settling down, she is a wild one, our Izzy, Uncle Domnall now added in a cheeky tone and she could imagine the grin on his face.

That had made them chuckle and Izzy ceased her eavesdropping and continued to the loch.

What Izzy didn't hear were the concerns that became direr.

Our Laird’s son becomes more and more out of control every day. He is always lifting the skirts of the servants, treating them poorly… I worry if he sees our Izzy he will do something terrible and then I will have to kill him, Domnall growled.

And he will never ken she's his half-sister, they dinnae even share any features. He will steal her light with his darkness, Dorah stressed as she gnawed her lip.

Lina ever the optimist. Dinna fash, something will come along and fix this problem. Our Izzy is destined for great things. Mark my words.

The man swaying on the horse looked ahead and thought he surely must be dead. The arrow that pierced his shoulder while not deep was bleeding profusely. Aye, he was dead all right, because where else but heaven would he come across a beautiful water nymph, her soft skin glistening golden in the sun, the water dripping down in sensual rivulets down her lush curvy body? Her copper hair looked as if a halo was hovering on top. This was the last thought he had before he fell off his horse into the hard earth.

The loud thump broke Izzy's reverie and she jumped in fright quickly grabbing for her drying cloth. All she saw was a horse in front of her, a magnificent black destrier who snorted with indifference. Then she heard a groan, filled with pain. Curiously she peered at the horse… Nay, she thought a horse wouldn't groan like that. But then she heard it again. She walked slowly and carefully through the long grass until she saw by the side of the horse a verra large and wounded man crumpled beside the beast, a large red stain on the left side of his leine. Cautiously she crouched down and peered into his face and listened to his shallow breath. Just as she was about to touch him, his eyes flew open and she was met with the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen, silvery grey and currently glazed over in pain.

The man on the ground, Laird Jamie Murray, was also in awe, peering into the glittering emerald eyes of the water nymph. Aye, I am dead, he thought morosely, beauty like this does truly not exist. The nymph stroked her hand across his forehead and said, "Is mise Izzy, let me help you." He could only bring himself to nod, he would agree to anything the nymph told him. Still gently stroking his forehead, pushing a fair lock away, as if she felt sure he would cause her no harm, she told him she would get help and come back for him. The nymph jumped up and was gone. Praying this was all real and not a dream and he would not bleed to death alone in the forest he said a prayer she would be back.

Izzy dressed quickly and ran home as fast as she could, colliding straight into Domnall.

Haste ye back, Uncle! A man is bleeding, he took an arrow, and he needs our help! Since her voice was breathless and anxious, Domnall asked no questions and went to do as she bid. She saw Domnall go towards his own horse, but she tugged his arm.

Nay, he has a large horse, we need a bed to drag him along on, get a pallet! Doing as she said, wondering what type of man this was – only warriors rode destriers – he grabbed the pallet and shouted to grab some wood and rope for a sturdier frame and in a lower voice to bring a weapon just in case. Following Izzy, they went back to the loch and as she told it, a braw highlander lay on the ground next to a larger black destrier and the man was bleeding. Domnall noticed that both the man's garb and horse were rich, he had an enormous claymore and looking more closely at his plaid he saw it was from clan Murray. Glad it was not an enemy clan, though they weren't allies, he quickly got to work fixing the pallet while John bent down to check him over. The man groaned as they got ready to lift him on the pallet and Domnall heard Izzy saying soothing words to the stranger, the tone intimate, she sounded smitten. He was a braw lad, so maybe Izzy is taken with his looks. Shaking his head, he attached the rope to the horse saddle and held the reins as he slowly instructed the horse to walk. At first, the beast appeared to ignore his command until he heard his master say hoarsely, "It’s okay, storim, let them lead us." The horse gave another derisive snort but continued following his master’s instructions. The troupe of four made their way back to the cottage, two of them wondering what befell this man and hoping he didn't bring trouble to their door, one curious about how the man came to be injured and thinking that his grey eyes and fair hair were verra attractive, something she hadnae thought about men before. And the man himself lay there thanking God for listening to his prayer and thinking how once recovered he will have to kiss the lass for saving his life.

Dorah and Lina were waiting anxiously at the door. Dorah