ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: THE HIGHLAND COMMANDER
Author: Amy Jarecki
Series: Lords of the Highlands,
#2
On Sale: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Forever
Mass Market: $7.99 USD
eBook: $3.99 USD
Audio: $22.98 USD
She cannot resist the man behind
the mask...
As the illegitimate daughter of a
Scottish earl, Lady Magdalen Keith is not one to partake in lavish balls or
other frivolities. Yet at her father's urging, she agrees to dance with the
battle-weary officers at this year's holiday masquerade. It's practically her
civic duty! But when one such officer—whose dashing good looks cannot be
disguised by a mere mask—sweeps her off her feet and into his arms, the innocent
lass can't help herself. Her lips are his for the taking.
But will he betray his country
for a kiss?
Navy lieutenant Aiden Murray has
spent too many months at sea to be immune to the charms of this lovely beauty.
Even after he returns to his ship, she lives in his dreams. But when he discovers
Maddie's true identity—and learns that her father is accused of treason—will
the brawny Scot risk his life to follow his heart?
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THE LORDS OF THE HIGHLANDS SERIES
THE HIGHLAND DUKE, #1
THE HIGHLAND COMMANDER, #2
THE HIGHLAND GUARDIAN, #3
Excerpt:
As in the
Highland custom, Aiden wore the plaid belted at his waist, the length pulled
from the lower right opening of his doublet, around his back and pinned at his
left shoulder with a silver brooch bearing the Atholl arms. The valet had put
forth a good effort ensuring there was neither wrinkle nor hair out of place.
He regarded
himself in the looking glass above the mantle in the drawing room, sliding one
foot forward as he would do for a portrait. Not liking the image, he puffed out
his chest and moved a hand to his lapel.
God’s bones, take me to sea where I can cast
aside these frills.
Tuning his back
to the looking glass, Aiden resorted to pacing and pulling out his pocket
watch. The coach would arrive in five minutes, and Maddie hadn’t yet made an
appearance.
At least a light
glowed from beneath her door indicating she was within. It cast a hazy glow in
the otherwise dark passageway. After pacing around the chamber half-dozen
times, he again eyed his timepiece. Another minute had passed. Perhaps he
should knock on the door—perhaps Maddie’s mantle clock had stopped and she was
unaware of the time. Just as he started off, her door opened. A burst of light
flooded the passageway, and with the tap of dainty footsteps, an angel emerged.
Aiden knew she’d
purchased a new gown, but he hadn’t expected this. His mouth went dry and he
suddenly needed to take in two stuttered breaths to steady the thumping of his
heart.
Christ, men aren’t supposed to experience
such heart hammering. Especially men bred for the sea. Damnation.
She smiled, and
his goddamned knees wobbled. He should have taken a healthy tot whilst he was
pacing in the drawing room.
Her golden gown
rustled as she walked forward, with a matching fan in her hand. She moved the
fan to her waist…just below her breasts. Creamy skin Aiden knew to be softer
than spun silk swelled above a dangerously plunging neckline. His mouth went
completely dry. If Maddie’s serving maid had been anywhere but behind her lady,
Aiden would have taken the lassie into his arms, pushed through his bedchamber
door and damned the recital.
“I hope I haven’t
made us late.” Maddie batted her eyelashes as if she had no idea of the effect
she had on his aching cods. “Miss Agnes spent ever so long curling my hair.”
Aiden’s tongue
slipped over his bottom lip. “Your curls are exquisite. You are exquisite,
m’lady.”
Agnes cleared her
throat, coming up behind with a cloak over her arm. “You’d best say so, m’lord.
It took the greater part of the afternoon to make those ringlets.”
Nay, there’d be
no slipping into the bedchamber for a hasty sampling of those pearl-tipped
bosoms.
Aiden glanced to
his pocket watch—they still had a few minutes—and now that he knew Maddie was
ready, there’d be no harm in making the coach wait for a minute or two. “Fine
job, Miss Agnes,” he said with more sobriety than he felt. “I think you deserve
a healthy tot of fine spirit for taking such fine care of her ladyship.”
“Have we time?”
asked Maddie.
Aiden led them
into the drawing room and gestured to the settee. “A stolen moment will not set
us behind overmuch.”
Agnes gave a firm
shake of her head. “You needn’t make a fuss for the likes of me.”
“It is no fuss.
You take good care of your lady, and for that I want to thank you.” Aiden
poured three tots of sherry and offered each of the ladies a glass. “Shall we
drink to Miss Agnes?”
Blinking, the
woman drew a hand over her mouth, dipping her head and smiling broadly.
“Heavens.”
“Aye, we should.”
Maddie patted her chambermaid’s knee and raised her glass. “To the woman who
has seen me through one and twenty years of happiness. I have no idea what
would have become of me if you hadn’t been by my side. Sometimes I’ve felt as
if you’re the only person in all of Christendom who cares.”
Aiden’s gut
twisted. He cared a great deal, but it was inconceivable that Maddie had been
made to feel like an outcast from such a young age. He drank thoughtfully,
watching the two women as they sipped. Even their mannerisms had become
similar. “Miss Agnes, how long have you been serving Lady Magdalen?”
The woman’s eyes
glistened with pride. “Since the day she was born. The moment I held her in my
arms I knew my purpose.”
Aiden glanced to
Maddie and knitted his brows. “Did your mother pass in childbirth?”
Shaking her head,
the lass bit her bottom lip. “Nay. My mother knew I would have a better life if
she gave me to my father. Only…” Maddie looked away, and took another sip.
“What?”
“The one caveat
was that she could never set eyes on me again.”
Grumbling under
her breath, Agnes guzzled the remainder of her sherry. “We shan’t discuss the
countess any longer. It sets both of our hackles to standing on end.”
“Agreed.” Aiden
set his glass on the mantel and offered Maddie his hand. “Shall we be off,
m’lady? We do not want to miss the opening. I hear it will be most
spectacular.”
Maddie tapped the
chambermaid’s shoulder before they strolled toward the door. “I want you to
take some time for yourself this night. Do something that will make you happy.
You have nothing to worry about, my pet. I’ll be in Lord Aiden’s capable
hands.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Jarecki is a descendant of an
ancient Lowland clan and adores Scotland. Though she now resides in southwest
Utah, she received her MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. Winning
multiple writing awards, she found her niche in the genre of Scottish
historical romance. Amy writes steamy edge-of-your-seat action adventures with
rugged men and fascinating women who weave their paths through the brutal eras
of centuries past.
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