The Silent Touch of Shadows (44 page)

The wheels of officialdom turned slowly, but on a cold day in March, Sir Roger of Langford was at last given a Christian burial in the little graveyard outside the village church. By special dispensation, Sibell’s remains were disinterred and transferred to lie next to him, although the brass plaque in her honour remained inside the church. At Melissa’s request, the ceremony was performed by Mr Atwell, who was very obviously relieved to be doing something he had been trained for and could cope with. Despite having only the few scant details about the deceased couple that Melissa had been able to provide him with, he managed an eloquent and very moving speech, for which Melissa was grateful.

Later, as she stood hand in hand with Jake, admiring the simple headstone in the shape of a cross, a sigh of contentment escaped her. She turned to smile at her new husband. ‘Can you feel the peace, Jake? It’s all around us.’

He smiled back and bent down for a kiss. He had to lean across the pouches they carried, each containing a tiny boy who were both, thankfully, asleep for the moment. He cradled the small, warm body of Roland Precy against his chest, as if not quite willing to entrust his son to the pouch’s straps, even though they were perfectly safe.

‘Yes, I hope they’re as happy as we are,’ he replied, and smiled again when he saw Melissa cradle little Roger in the same protective way. They stood in silence for a moment longer, before he added, ‘I’m glad you don’t have any brothers. Imagine being murdered by your own brothers-in-law.’ He shook his head.

Jenny had finally faxed over the last part of the manor court roll and they now had the bare facts – Sibell’s husband, Sir Gilbert’s illegitimate son Roger, had been murdered by her brothers. The roll stated that they were hunted for the murder, but in the end they had evaded capture. Someone had brought word that they’d all died on a battlefield at Towton while fighting for the King, but whether this was true or not, no one knew. Apparently they were never seen again, though.

‘Yes, a shame they weren’t caught and punished, but I’m sure they received their just desserts one way or another. If they really fought at Towton, that battle raged during a snowstorm and a lot of the King’s men drowned in a freezing cold river. Not a nice way to go.’

‘Still too good for the likes of them,’ Jake muttered. After another contemplative silence, he shook his head. ‘So Roger of Langford was your ancestor, not mine. Weird, isn’t it, when I’m the one who looks like him.’

‘Yes, but don’t forget you’re descended from one of Sir Gilbert’s brothers, so you share the same genes. It
is
strange to think you and I are related way back, but so many generations ago it doesn’t matter now.’ She sighed. ‘You know, I almost miss the dreams when he talked to me, it was so real.’

Jake frowned. ‘Well, I’m glad he’s gone. I wouldn’t want you to dream of other men now we’re married.’

Melissa giggled. ‘But how could you be sure it wasn’t you I was dreaming of? After all, you’re his spitting image or vice versa.’ She smoothed away his frown with soft fingers. ‘Don’t worry, I know now you’re the only one I love. I don’t have Sibell’s feelings running around inside me any longer, only my own.’

‘Well, that’s all right then.’ He kissed her again and hugged Roland closer as the baby stirred in his sleep and whimpered slightly. ‘Come on, let’s get these two home before they catch cold. It must be feeding time soon, and anyway, we should all be sitting in front of the fire on a day like this. The girls and Dorothy will be waiting with tea by now.’ Tactful as ever, Dorothy had kindly taken the girls home directly after the service, in order to give Melissa and Jake some time on their own.

Melissa felt the warmth of happiness spread inside her at his words. ‘Yes, let’s go home to Ashleigh. I’m glad you and Amy didn’t mind moving in with us. It felt so right.’

‘Why would we mind? It’s a wonderful place to live.’

Melissa couldn’t agree more.

Neither of them noticed the two shadowy figures hovering near the gravestone as they left. Entwined, as one, the wraiths sank slowly into the ground like mist on a summer morning and the birds in a nearby tree broke into song.

310

Trade Winds

Short-listed for the Romantic Novelists’
Association’s Pure Passion Award for Best Historical Fiction 2011

Marriage of convenience – or a love for life?

It’s 1732 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and strong-willed Jess
 
van
 
Sandt knows only too well that it’s a man’s world. She believes she’s being swindled out of her inheritance by her stepfather – and she’s determined to stop it.

When help appears in the unlikely form of handsome Scotsman Killian Kinross, himself disinherited by his grandfather, Jess finds herself both intrigued and infuriated by him. In an attempt to recover her fortune, she proposes a marriage of convenience. Then Killian is offered the chance of a lifetime with the Swedish East India Company’s Expedition and he’s determined that nothing will stand in his
 
way, not even his new bride.

He sets sail on a daring voyage to the Far East, believing he’s
 
put his feelings and past behind him. But the journey doesn’t quite work out as he expects
 
…

Prequel to Highland Storms

Find out more and purchase in the kindle store:
 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trade-Winds-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B00457XELG

Highland Storms

Sequel to Trade Winds

Winner of the 2012 RoNA Best Historical Romantic Novel Category Award

Who can you trust?

Betrayed by his brother and his childhood love, Brice Kinross needs a fresh start. So he welcomes the opportunity to leave Sweden for the Scottish Highlands to take over the family estate.

But there’s trouble afoot at Rosyth in 1754 and Brice finds himself unwelcome. The estate’s in ruin and money is disappearing. He discovers an ally in Marsaili Buchanan, the beautiful redheaded housekeeper, but can he trust her?

Marsaili is determined to build a good life. She works hard at being a housekeeper and harder still at avoiding men who want to take advantage of her. But she’s irresistibly drawn to the new clan chief, even though he’s made it plain he doesn’t want to be shackled to anyone.

And the young laird has more than romance on his mind. His investigations are stirring up an enemy. Someone who will stop at nothing to get what he wants – including Marsaili – even if that means destroying Brice’s life forever
 
…

Find out more and purchase in the kindle store: 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highland-Storms-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B00629ZK0I

Winner of The Big Red Reads Best Historical Fiction Award 2011 and short-listed for the Festival of Romance Best Historical Fiction Award 2011.
Abducted by a Samurai warlord in 17
th
-century Japan – what happens when fear turns to love?

England, 1611, and young Hannah Marston envies her brother’s adventurous life. But when she stows away on his merchant ship,
 
her powers of
 
endurance
 
are stretched to their limit.
 
Then they reach Japan and all her suffering seems worthwhile – until she is abducted by Taro Kumashiro’s warriors.

In the far north of the country, warlord Kumashiro is waiting to see the girl who he has been warned about by a seer.
 
When at last they meet, it’s a clash of cultures and wills, but they’re also fighting an instant attraction to each other.