Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    A Rough Wooing
    A Rough Wooing
    A Rough Wooing
    Ebook79 pages1 hour

    A Rough Wooing

    By Virginia Henley

    3.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Scottish beauty Douglas Elliot takes advantage of a raid on English Border Warden, Sir Lancelot Greystoke, to steal his thoroughbred horses and his antigue mirror pendant.
    Mistress Elliot is arrested and imprisoned in Carlisle Castle. When Sir Lancelot spirits her from the castle, a night of passion ensues.
    In the morning, Douglas steals his priceless antique pendant and flees.
    Greystoke swears revenge and it takes a pardon from the new King James of England and Scotland to bring about a union between these two reckless lovers.

    "Henley's extraordinary characters, rich historical details, and a romance set the pages on fire." Romantic Times

    "Few authors combine historical personages and events with a passionate love story as brilliant as Henley."
    Kathe Robin, RT

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVirginia Henley
    Release dateFeb 27, 2012
    ISBN9781465862396
    A Rough Wooing

    Read more from Virginia Henley

    Related to A Rough Wooing

    Related ebooks

    Historical Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Magnets: Carried through time, lovers seek their purpose.

      Feb 6, 2014

      Moon Colony B, 2213 Former Ponzi-schemer Mary Pillar digs through a trashcan. It smells like rotten eggs and milk. She is elderly and homeless, living in an alley between two eco-efficient skyscrapers. Dust particles dance around her. She has lost ev

      11 min read

    • Article

      A Nest Of VIPERS

      Jan 25, 2023

      A Nest Of VIPERS
      9 min read

    • Article

      10 Literary Diss Tracks

      Apr 9, 2018

      10 Literary Diss Tracks
      11 min read

    • Article

      The Good Servant

      Aug 8, 2022

      Windsor, March 1932 “Good evening, Miss Crawford.” A smart young man in uniform was waiting on the platform when she stepped off the train. She was startled. “Aye. That’s me. How did you know?” “Easy.” He smiled. “There aren’t that many young ladies

      6 min read

    • Article

      Dean Koontz

      Jan 26, 2022

      Describe the room in which you write. It’s 22’ by 20’, with a built-in U-shaped Art Deco desk, each arm of which is 10 feet long, plus one long wall of waist-high Art Deco cabinets, all of golden anigre with a piano finish. One large 19thcentury blac

      2 min read

    • Article

      His Lordship’s LAST GAME

      Jan 24, 2024

      His Lordship’s LAST GAME
      9 min read

    • Article

      Mrs Simpson Learns A Lesson

      Jul 29, 2021

      Mrs Simpson Learns A Lesson
      4 min read

    • Article

      The Invitation

      Aug 21, 2023

      York, October 1644 Before I’ve even mustered the courage to knock, the door to the townhouse flings open. I drop my hand. “It is me, John Falmouth,” I say and wince at how loud my voice carries into the night. My greeting falters when I look up and n

      6 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Apr 8, 2024

      Books
      6 min read

    • Article

      Past IMPERFECT

      Oct 2, 2023

      Past IMPERFECT
      10 min read

    • Article

      The plot THICKENS

      Aug 3, 2022

      The plot THICKENS
      8 min read

    • Article

      La Otra Historia

      Jun 30, 2022

      La Otra Historia
      14 min read

    • Article

      The PROMISE

      Aug 18, 2021

      The PROMISE
      9 min read

    • Article

      Shoes for MY LADY

      Nov 8, 2023

      Shoes for MY LADY
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Governess

      Dec 30, 2020

      The Governess
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Governess

      Dec 27, 2020

      The Governess
      10 min read

    • Article

      Swansongs And Southern Discomfort

      Oct 27, 2022

      THE BORDERLAND BETWEEN popular fiction and literary fiction is now fertile territory. Once upon a time it was easy to tell them apart. Popular and genre fiction were in small format paper-backs, literary fiction larger: now all have been promoted to

      6 min read

    • Article

      Marco

      Mar 1, 2022

      THE ALLEY STANK . Marco could feel the damp soaking into his tunic as he pressed his back against the wall, trying to seem like part of the shadows. He cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid? He knew if he stayed out after dark they might f

      6 min read

    • Article

      Shoes for MY LADY

      Nov 1, 2023

      Shoes for MY LADY
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Rewards Of Loyalty

      Jun 23, 2021

      The Rewards Of Loyalty
      4 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for A Rough Wooing

    3.5/5

    2 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      A Rough Wooing - Virginia Henley

      A ROUGH WOOING

      Novella by Virginia Henley

      Ebook copyright Virginia Henley, 2011

      Cover Copyright Marsha Canham, 2012

      Smashwords edition published February 2012

      This short story is a work of fiction and originally appeared in the full length anthology, Masters of Seduction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing.

      CHAPTER ONE

      Beaumont, Northumberland

      March 1603

      You are trespassing.

      Douglas Elliot threw back her head and laughed at the dark-visaged male astride the sleek black Thoroughbred. Don’t be ridiculous. You cannot possibly own Hadrian’s Wall. Who the devil do you think you are?

      Sir Lancelot Greystoke. This land happens to be mine.

      Douglas laughed again. Lancelot? How ironic. Your namesake was known for chivalry not arrogance.

      Greystoke stared at the beautiful young woman standing atop the ancient Roman wall. Her flaming red hair was disheveled by the wind and she seemed to be relishing this confrontation with him. Her amusement was infectious. The corner of his mouth twitched. May I know your name?

      Indeed you may not, Sir Lancelot.

      His dark eyes kindled. He noted the fine wool riding skirt, the leather boots, and the green velvet doublet and matching cloak. Then I shall call you Firebrand.

      She tossed her head and her glorious hair streamed like a banner in the wind. Douglas Elliot had more good sense than to tell the English noble her name, for then he would know she was a Scot who lived a few miles across the Border at Castle Elliot, near Langholm. The English and the Scots were born enemies.

      What brings you to Beaumont?

      Ah, so that grand abode is Beaumont Hall as I suspected, and its owner is the nephew of Clifford, the Earl of Cumberland. She shrugged a shapely shoulder. Curiosity.

      Almost against his will he admitted that he found her earthy attraction irresistible. He wanted to lure her closer. Then allow me to satisfy your curiosity. His arm swept toward the hall. I invite you to have a closer look.

      Her thoughts darted like quicksilver as she weighed the risk and came to a decision.

      He watched her face as she quickly assessed his offer. When she accepted with no discernible hesitation, he knew she loved a challenge. Does danger excite her?

      Douglas watched him dismount, and noted he was tall. Well over six feet.

      He strode toward her and raised his arms.

      She laughed again, delighted to thwart him. I can’t leave my mount untethered.

      He experienced a stab of disappointment. There’s a gap in the wall about two hundred yards in that direction you can ride through. He watched her leap from the wall and disappear, before he remounted and galloped toward the gap.

      Her sure-footed Border pony confirmed his suspicion that the fiery beauty was a Scot.

      They rode side by side toward the hall, and when Douglas saw at least eight thoroughbreds grazing in the paddock she experienced envy for the first time. Why should this arrogant English noble own such fine horseflesh? Langholm near Castle Elliot was known for its horse racing, but Greystoke’s animals were far superior than anything in Scotland. The Scottish Border Marches have felt the onslaught of English invaders for decades. No wonder they are wealthy!

      Douglas conveniently overlooked the fact that Scots Borderers raided cattle and robbed the English on a regular basis. The Elliots, and their neighbors the Grahams and the Armstrongs used the code words There will be moonlight again to pass along the message that a raid was being planned.

      Your thoroughbreds are magnificent, but don’t you worry about reivers?

      Constantly. I am a Border Warden. I patrol Cumberland to keep it safe from the Scots.

      Douglas felt the hairs prickle on the back of her neck. She ignored the urge to flee.

      Knowing that makes me feel safer in my bed. I thank you for your service, sir.

      He felt himself harden. Bed is the last place I’d keep you safe, Firebrand.

      Lance Greystoke drew rein before the grand steps that led up to the mansion. The portico boasted elegant columns that rose the full two-stories of Beaumont. The stone hall had an attractive pink cast because it was built from the same sandstone as Carlisle Castle, the great English stronghold that lay four miles to the south.

      Would you like to see inside? The Great Hall boasts a massive fireplace at each end and high mullioned windows.

      Do you have a library?

      He heard the eager note in her voice that told him she loved books. Indeed I do have a library whose bookshelves reach to the ceiling.

      She gave him a radiant smile. Then how can I resist?

      He dismounted in a flash, quickly tethered their mounts, and came to her side. He took a deep appreciative breath, inhaling her fragrance of lemon verbena. This time he did not offer his arms because he knew she was perverse enough to reject him.

      Douglas suspected it was a shrewd calculation on his part, because that is exactly what she had planned to do. She slid from the saddle, making sure her shapely legs clad in the soft leather boots were displayed for his enjoyment. As they climbed the steps together, she realized she only came up to his shoulder, and his powerful build made her feel extremely feminine.

      He opened the heavy door and her skirt brushed against his legs as she walked into

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1