Betrayed (34 page)

Authors: Arnette Lamb

All of the MacKenzies had come to Edinburgh for Sarah's wedding. Sketchpad in hand, Mary now stood near the altar, preserving the event for generations to come. The tenacious earl of Wiltshire dogged her heels. Notch and the other orphans hadn't moved more than a step away from Agnes, who drew the young ones to her like sunshine to summer. Since the loss of dear Virginia, watching over children had become her special quest in life.

At the opposite end of the church, in the apse, Lady Emily conversed with Vicktor Lucerne, who had composed a stirring wedding march for the occasion. Michael's mother had at last seen Henry for the selfish, prideful man he was. That stubbornness had earned him a sentence of transportation to the penal colony at Botany Bay. Aside from fawning over the young Lucerne, Lady Emily put her efforts into convincing Michael to assume the earldom of Glenforth.

The Smithson family had also descended on Edinburgh for Sarah's wedding. Clutching Michael's hand and kneeling before the altar, Sarah had made her peace with Neville. Although she knew she would never truly think of him as her father, he held a special place in her heart.

Other guests, friends of Michael, had come from
London and Glasgow. Members of the Complement had hosted a reception the evening before. The arrival of one guest in particular had taken Sarah by surprise. Lord Edward Napier, earl of Cathcart, was considered the most respected statesman and scholar of the day.

“Sarah?” Michael whispered. “Are you my sweetheart?”

A sense of harmony thrummed through her. “I'm your wife.”

Dots of color from the windows played across his noble features. “You did not answer the question.”

Baffled by the request, she murmured. “Yes, I'm your sweetheart.”

“Good. Now close your eyes and cup your hand.”

“Why?”

“Because you husband
asks
it of you.”

The command in his tone begged for a challenge. “You have an odd way of phrasing a request.”

He made a desperate face. “Please?”

She did, and when his lips touched hers, she felt something cool and heavy fall into her palm.

He pulled back, and looked pointedly at her hand.

She looked there, too, and saw her golden beads, intact and resting in her palm. The irony gripped her, with thoughtfulness and love, Michael had helped her heal the rift with her family. Thanks to him, the MacKenzie family unity, like the necklace, had been restored.

“See?” he said. “Jewels do fall from the sky when I kiss my sweetheart.”

Happier than any woman had a right to be, Sarah threw her arms around him and thanked God and all of His angels for the gift of Michael Elliot's love.

Books by Arnette Lamb

Highland Rogue

The Betrothal

Border Lord

Border Bride Chieftain

Maiden of Inverness

Hark! The Herald: Holiday of Love Collection

Betrayed

Published by POCKET BOOKS

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

An
Original
Publication of POCKET BOOKS