her own, and for the first time ever, she was on her own. Freedom shimmered before her like an unexplored map of mysterious avenues and shadowed pathways leading to endless little adventures. Or misadventures.
Cosseted, sheltered, trained, she chafed like a filly against the bridle of her upbringing. Besides, no one else had a plan to help her papa. A fortnight should be long enough to persuade the Dragon to take on another crusade. She would enlist Matthew ' s help.
Rowena had nothing to lose.
She also believed in fate.
Even in her obscure European principality, known mostly for its arrogant rulers and truffles, the Dragon of Darien had been discussed at the dinner table, his exploits admired or abhorred depending on one ' s political viewpoint.
" Is he married? " she asked matter-of-factly.
" Highness, " Frederic crie d, " what could you be thinking? "
Hildegarde smirked at him. " If the princess has a premonition, it must be obe yed. "
" Premonition about a pirate? This rogue has killed people for gold. He is tainted, with no regard for human life— "
" The barons who threaten to hold Papa hostage in his own home are barbarians, " Rowena said. " They have burned hamlets and slaughtered entire families. They killed my poor Hildegarde ' s family. Who better to conquer them than a pirate who has perfected the art of plunder? "
Frederic studied her with grudging respect. " The nuns may not have tamed that stubborn will, but they did teach you to think. "
" Thank you, Frederic. "
" I am not sure thinking is a good thing in a woman, " he added.
" But you will do as I ask? " Rowena said, crossing her fingers inside her muff.
His jaw tightened. " Your father gave me funds to assemble an army of mercenaries to send back home. He believed that these Highlands breed fierce fighting men."
" Even an army of mercenaries needs a leader, " Rowena said.
Frederic let that remark go unchallenged. " I suppose I could allow you a fortnight or so in the castle while I visit General Crichton in Dunbrodie. The man is retired but he has offered to help m e recruit some decent soldiers."
" Is it far from here? " Hildegarde asked.
" A three-day ride each way, " he said.
" I will watch over the princess, " Hildegarde said.
Rowena felt a sense of relief sweep over her. " My grandmother always said that one's true destiny leads to unimagined delight. "
" Or disaster, " Frederic muttered.
Hildegarde snorted. " Destiny, I don't know. I ' d settle for a warm fire and bowl of tasty mutton soup. These Highland winds cut straight to the bone, not to mention giving one an appetite. "
Rowena brushed around her. " Help me dress— the ermine-trimmed purple, I think. Find my perfumed gloves and pearls. And Mama ' s tiara. "
" Tiara? " Frederic shouted.
Rowena stifled a giggle. " I want to make a good impression. "
" Impression? " He clapped his hands over his eyes. " On a pirate? God in heaven! "
Rowena started to laugh in earnest then. She just couldn ' t help herself. She couldn ' t wait to kick up her damask slippers and link up with a man who had dared to live out his most dangerous dreams. She had been led to Scotland for a reason, after all.
It was time, at long last, for the princess to raise royal hell.
* * * * *
" A fter all, " Gemma was saying, " you and Matthew are flesh and blood. "
" Indeed, we are, " Douglas said, his smile vanishing at the thought,
Flesh and blood who had nothing in common. Matthew had made something fine of his life. Douglas had made a scandalous mess of his. Matthew wore a sash of honor and white satin. Douglas wore a gold earring and galley-slave scars.
Half-brothers with nothing in common except Princess Rowena of Hartzburg, one of Europe ' s great heiresses and eligible maidens, though on this point Douglas privately had his doubts. How innocent could the young woman be if she was using his castle as a rendezvous with Matthew? It was a scandalous age. The nobility was infamous for its
Cosseted, sheltered, trained, she chafed like a filly against the bridle of her upbringing. Besides, no one else had a plan to help her papa. A fortnight should be long enough to persuade the Dragon to take on another crusade. She would enlist Matthew ' s help.
Rowena had nothing to lose.
She also believed in fate.
Even in her obscure European principality, known mostly for its arrogant rulers and truffles, the Dragon of Darien had been discussed at the dinner table, his exploits admired or abhorred depending on one ' s political viewpoint.
" Is he married? " she asked matter-of-factly.
" Highness, " Frederic crie d, " what could you be thinking? "
Hildegarde smirked at him. " If the princess has a premonition, it must be obe yed. "
" Premonition about a pirate? This rogue has killed people for gold. He is tainted, with no regard for human life— "
" The barons who threaten to hold Papa hostage in his own home are barbarians, " Rowena said. " They have burned hamlets and slaughtered entire families. They killed my poor Hildegarde ' s family. Who better to conquer them than a pirate who has perfected the art of plunder? "
Frederic studied her with grudging respect. " The nuns may not have tamed that stubborn will, but they did teach you to think. "
" Thank you, Frederic. "
" I am not sure thinking is a good thing in a woman, " he added.
" But you will do as I ask? " Rowena said, crossing her fingers inside her muff.
His jaw tightened. " Your father gave me funds to assemble an army of mercenaries to send back home. He believed that these Highlands breed fierce fighting men."
" Even an army of mercenaries needs a leader, " Rowena said.
Frederic let that remark go unchallenged. " I suppose I could allow you a fortnight or so in the castle while I visit General Crichton in Dunbrodie. The man is retired but he has offered to help m e recruit some decent soldiers."
" Is it far from here? " Hildegarde asked.
" A three-day ride each way, " he said.
" I will watch over the princess, " Hildegarde said.
Rowena felt a sense of relief sweep over her. " My grandmother always said that one's true destiny leads to unimagined delight. "
" Or disaster, " Frederic muttered.
Hildegarde snorted. " Destiny, I don't know. I ' d settle for a warm fire and bowl of tasty mutton soup. These Highland winds cut straight to the bone, not to mention giving one an appetite. "
Rowena brushed around her. " Help me dress— the ermine-trimmed purple, I think. Find my perfumed gloves and pearls. And Mama ' s tiara. "
" Tiara? " Frederic shouted.
Rowena stifled a giggle. " I want to make a good impression. "
" Impression? " He clapped his hands over his eyes. " On a pirate? God in heaven! "
Rowena started to laugh in earnest then. She just couldn ' t help herself. She couldn ' t wait to kick up her damask slippers and link up with a man who had dared to live out his most dangerous dreams. She had been led to Scotland for a reason, after all.
It was time, at long last, for the princess to raise royal hell.
* * * * *
" A fter all, " Gemma was saying, " you and Matthew are flesh and blood. "
" Indeed, we are, " Douglas said, his smile vanishing at the thought,
Flesh and blood who had nothing in common. Matthew had made something fine of his life. Douglas had made a scandalous mess of his. Matthew wore a sash of honor and white satin. Douglas wore a gold earring and galley-slave scars.
Half-brothers with nothing in common except Princess Rowena of Hartzburg, one of Europe ' s great heiresses and eligible maidens, though on this point Douglas privately had his doubts. How innocent could the young woman be if she was using his castle as a rendezvous with Matthew? It was a scandalous age. The nobility was infamous for its
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