by Amy Jarecki
“’Tis good to hear.” He again kissed her forehead. “I shall wait just outside the door should you need me.”
Once John had taken his leave, Evelyn apologized. “The earl may have been a bit hasty when he sent for you.”
“Not to worry, m’lady. He has cause. If you don’t mind me saying, the last countess went downhill very quickly after she contracted the fever.”
Evelyn watched as he drew down the bedclothes. “So I’ve been told. Awful that.”
“May I examine you?”
After she nodded, he proceeded to press his ear against her chest and listen to her heart and her breathing. He poked and prodded, repeatedly asking “Does this hurt?” all the way down to her abdomen, where he promptly did quite a bit of pushing around.
The furrow in the physician’s brow grew deeper. “Hmm.”
Evelyn clutched her fists beneath her chin. “What is it?”
“Have you missed your courses?”
“Courses?” The question mortified her down to her toes. No man had ever spoken to her about that. Still, things had been so chaotic, Evelyn hadn’t thought to track her monthly curse.
“Yes,” Lucinda said from the foot of the bed. “Her Ladyship hasn’t had a show since her return from France.”
Fluttering swarmed throughout Evelyn’s body as she grinned. “Heavens, I think you’re right.”
John pushed away from the bedchamber door when footsteps approached. He’d done his damnedest to listen in, but they’d kept their voices so low, he hadn’t heard a thing. Further, a bit of fire shot up the back of his neck as Evelyn emerged with the doctor and they both appeared happier than a pair of larks.
He grasped his wife by the hands. “What are you doing out of bed, my dearest?”
“You were right, m’lord.” The physician patted John on the shoulder. “Bleeding out the toxin made no sense at all.”
John’s jaw dropped as he glanced between the two. “What the devil is going on?”
The doctor tipped his hat and bowed. “You’d best hasten to tell him, m’lady, else His Lordship will be the one needing a tonic.”
As the doctor retreated, Evelyn laughed—she bloody laughed!
“What?” John asked, ready to swoop her up and chain her to the bed until he was convinced she had made a full recovery.
“It turns out”—she spun away and into her chamber—“I am with child!”
“Child?” John stumbled inside, managing to close the door behind. “You mean to say you are not gravely ill? What of your sickness outside?”
“Many women succumb to bouts of queasiness when they are expecting.” She turned a lovely shade of rose. “I would assume you had experience with…with the whole process.”
“I’ve heard of the morning sickness, but the boys’ mother was never afflicted.” He grasped her hands and squeezed. “Are you truly well enough to be out of bed?”
She gripped his fingers and danced in a circle. “I’ve never felt better.”
“Better?” The woman was in the family way. Caution was ever so necessary—and she flitted about her chamber like a happy puppy. “Should you be dancing? Should you not at least sit with your feet up?”
“No, no, no!” She stopped and cupped his cheeks. “The doctor says as long as I am feeling well, I need no restrictions, aside from a tad more rest.”
Evelyn looked so happy, John couldn’t help but grin, though he did so cautiously. “Did he say tad?”
“Not exactly. He said a wee bit.”
And then the realization hit him. Dropping to his knees, John took Evelyn’s hands and kissed them. “So, we’re going to have a bairn, you and I?”
“We are.”
“When?”
“In the spring.” She cradled his head to her breast. “Oh, John, you cannot believe how happy this makes me. Thomas and Oliver will have a sister.”
“Or a brother.”
“Yes…or twins.”
He pulled back, his head swimming. “Does the doctor believe you are expecting twins?”
“No, it is far too early to tell, but my mother was a twin…and one never knows!”
“Och, lad or lass, twins or triplets, our bairns will be born into a house filled with laughter and love.”
“Indeed they will.” His bonny wife smiled with all the radiance of the sun and kissed him. “I love you.”
John picked her up and cradled her in his arms, cherishing her every breath. “I never thought I’d be able to feel again, but then I met you, Lady Eve. You breathed life into my soul and I will love you for the rest of my days.”
Author’s Note
Ever since I visited Alloa Tower in Scotland, I have been looking forward to writing John Erskine’s story, and it came earlier in my plan due to my editor’s enthusiasm. Mar’s life was fraught with contradictions. Born in 1675, he was the 23rd Earl of Mar, or the 27th, or the 6th, or the 11th, depending on which record I read, though the general consensus was the 23rd. He did inherit crippling debt from his father. He became a statesman and held many positions, including that of Secretary of State for Scotland.
Mar’s first countess, Margaret Hay, bore him a son, Thomas Erskine, and I used literary license to write his brother, Oliver, into the story. John then married Frances Pierrepont (Evelyn in the story), who was the first daughter of the Duke of Kingston-upon-Hull. This union enabled him to clear his father’s debts, and in conversation with a historian at Alloa Tower, I discovered he did build a canal for his coal mine, as well as add a grand manor to the tower. Though Lady Mar grew up in Thoresby Hall, the building that exists on the site today was constructed in 1864. The Thoresby lands were acquired by her family in 1633, and the first grand house was built in 1670.
In 1707 John signed his name to the Treaty of Union (also known as the Act of Union) to prevent a civil war between England and Scotland over the succession to the throne. Also, at the time, Scotland was in a critical financial situation, and many politicians saw no alternative but to agree to the union of parliaments. This made the Earl of Mar unpopular with many of his contemporaries. Dubbed Bobbin’ John, he led the Jacobite rebellion of 1715, raising the standard for James Francis Edward Stuart, the Old Pretender, who, by the way, granted John the title of Duke of Mar, though the post was never recognized by the British monarch.
He and Evelyn (Frances) endured difficult lives, and I felt they deserved a story with a happy ending. I truly believe he was misunderstood and misrepresented in many historical accounts of his life.
Also, it is important to note that the Serpentine in Hyde Park, often referred to as a river though it is actually a lake, is a man-made body of water and was not constructed until 1730. I considered placing the boat-sailing scene in Saint James Park, but in 1713, Saint James was a dangerous place frequented by thieves and people of unsavory character—definitely not a place for children and ladies. Thus I did, yet again, lean on literary license and created the scene in Hyde Park, Serpentine and all.
Acknowledgments
I can hardly believe this is my sixth novel with Forever. Writing for a New York publisher comes with challenges all its own, but each one is a step toward creating a better book. Heartfelt thanks to all the hardworking and dedicated people who have helped with this novel. I am truly grateful. To my tenacious agent, Elaine Spencer. To Kim Rozzell, a brilliant new addition to my marketing team. To my wonderful editor Leah Hultenschmidt, who gave me a well-deserved thrashing with my first draft, only to make this story better. I truly appreciate her hard work and dedication to making every scene meaningful. To the Grand Central Publishing art department, especially Craig White and Elizabeth Turner Stokes—the cover of The Highland Earl reaches a new height of smoldering, especially with the hot pink title! To Estelle Hallick—how she juggles the marketing for so many books is mind boggling; and to Mari Okuda and Karen P. Thompson for their fastidious and diligent copyediting. Thank you, all!
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Look for Kennan Cameron’s story in
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Coming in spring 2020. .
About the Author
Multiaward-winning and Amazon All-Star author Amy Jarecki likes to grab life, latch on, and reach for the stars. She’s married to a mountain-biking pharmacist and has put four kids through college. She studies karate, ballet, yoga, and often you’ll find her hiking Utah’s Santa Clara Hills. Reinventing herself a number of times, Amy sang and danced with the Follies, was a ballet dancer, a plant manager, and an accountant for Arnott’s Biscuits in Australia. After earning her MBA from Heroit-Watt University in Scotland, she dove into the world of Scottish historical romance and hasn’t returned. Become a part of her world and learn more about Amy’s books on amyjarecki.com.
Also by Amy Jarecki
Lords of the Highlands series
The Highland Duke
The Highland Commander
The Highland Guardian
The Highland Chieftain
The Highland Renegade
PRAISE FOR AMY JARECKI
THE HIGHLAND RENEGADE
“Flirtatious, sensuous romance and adventure fill the pages of this mesmerizing historical, and the undercurrent of Jacobite rebellion raises the tension.”
—Publishers Weekly
THE HIGHLAND CHIEFTAIN
A “fast-paced, expertly crafted romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The Highland Chieftain was a smoking romance that was both endearing and sexy!”
—The Genre Minx
THE HIGHLAND GUARDIAN
“Magnetic, sexy romance is at the heart of this novel, made complete with a cast of richly depicted characters, authentic historical detail, and a fast-moving plot.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A true gem when it comes to compelling, dynamic characters.…With clever, enchanting writing, elements of life-or-death danger and a romance that takes both Reid and Audrey completely by surprise, The Highland Guardian is an historical romance so on point it’ll leave readers awestruck.”
—BookPage
THE HIGHLAND COMMANDER
“Readers craving history entwined with their romance (a la Outlander) will find everything they desire in Jarecki’s latest. Scottish romance fans rejoice.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Sizzles with romance…Jarecki brings the novel to life with vivid historical detail.”
—Publishers Weekly
THE HIGHLAND DUKE
“Readers will admire plucky Akira, who, despite her poverty, is fiercely independent and is determined to be no man’s mistress. The romance is scintillating and moving, enhanced by fast-paced suspense.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This story was so much more than a romance, it was full of intrigue, excitement and drama.…a fantastic read that I fully recommend.”
—Buried Under Romance