Catherine Archer - Fire Song

Cover Page

Praise 10 TH ANNIVERSARY Special thanks to our well-wishers, who have contributed their congratulations and support. “The best historicals, the best romances. Simply the best!” —Dallas Schulze “Bronwyn Williams was born and raised at Harlequin Historicals. We couldn’t have asked for a better home or a more supportive family.” —Dixie Browning and Mary Williams, w/a Bronwyn Williams “I can’t believe it’s been ten years since Private Treaty, my first historical novel, helped launch the Harlequin Historicals line. What a thrill that was! And the beat goes on…with timeless stories about men and women in love.” —Kathleen Eagle “Nothing satisfies me as much as writing or reading a Harlequin Historical novel. For me, Harlequin Historicals are the ultimate escape from the problems of everyday life.” —Ruth Ryan Langan “As a writer and reader, I feel that the Harlequin Historicals line always celebrates a perfect blend of history and romance, adventure and passion, humor and sheer magic.” —Theresa Michaels “Thank you, Harlequin Historicals, for opening up a ‘window into the past’ for so many happy readers.” —Suzanne Barclay “As a one-time ‘slush pile’ foundling at Harlequin Historicals, I’ll be forever grateful for having been rescued and published as one of the first ‘March Madness’ authors. Harlequin Historicals has always been the place for special stories, ones that blend the magic of the past with the rare miracle of love for books that readers never forget” —Miranda Jarrett “A rainy evening. A cup of hot chocolate. A stack of Harlequin Historicals. Absolute bliss! Happy 10th Anniversary and continued success.” —Cheryl Reavis “Happy birthday, Harlequin Historicals! I’m proud to have been a part of your ten years of exciting historical romance.” —Elaine Barbieri “Harlequin Historical novels are charming or disarming with dashes and clashes. These past times are fast times, the gems of romances!” —Karen Harper

Title Page Fire Song Catherine Archer www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication This book is for Sandi DeGuilio, who helped give Meredyth life one afternoon while we waited for her doctor’s appointment. It is also for Kathy Rung Misener and Kathy Gill. I am greatly blessed to call three such special women “friend.”

Excerpt “Is it the custom of the Chalmers family to send the sister of the bride to the bridal bed?” Roland asked. Meredyth gasped and pushed at him with all her might. To her surprise he gave way immediately. She slipped from beneath him, dragging the cover with her as she moved to stand at the foot of the enormous bed. Desperately she clutched the blanket against her bosom, realizing that she had to somehow find the words to explain what had happened. It was understandable that the man would be angry, searching for an explanation. Meredyth glanced toward him, where he waited, now sitting with his back against the carved headboard, his bronze chest bare. She was assaulted by images of how his strong arms had lifted her against him. Heat suffused her, and she had to look away. “Well,” he prompted, “I am sorely in need of an explanation. Enlighten me, Meredyth Chalmers, as to why you are here and my bride is not.”

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

About the Author

Copyright

“The best historicals, the best romances. Simply the best!”

—Dallas Schulze

“Bronwyn Williams was born and raised at Harlequin Historicals. We couldn’t have asked for a better home or a more supportive family.”

—Dixie Browning and Mary Williams, w/a Bronwyn Williams

“I can’t believe it’s been ten years since Private Treaty, my first historical novel, helped launch the Harlequin Historicals line. What a thrill that was! And the beat goes on…with timeless stories about men and women in love.”

—Kathleen Eagle

“Nothing satisfies me as much as writing or reading a Harlequin Historical novel. For me, Harlequin Historicals are the ultimate escape from the problems of everyday life.”

—Ruth Ryan Langan

“As a writer and reader, I feel that the Harlequin Historicals line always celebrates a perfect blend of history and romance, adventure and passion, humor and sheer magic.”

—Theresa Michaels

“Thank you, Harlequin Historicals, for opening up a ‘window into the past’ for so many happy readers.”

—Suzanne Barclay

“As a one-time ‘slush pile’ foundling at Harlequin Historicals, I’ll be forever grateful for having been rescued and published as one of the first ‘March Madness’ authors. Harlequin Historicals has always been the place for special stories, ones that blend the magic of the past with the rare miracle of love for books that readers never forget”

—Miranda Jarrett

“A rainy evening. A cup of hot chocolate. A stack of Harlequin Historicals. Absolute bliss! Happy 10th Anniversary and continued success.”

—Cheryl Reavis

“Happy birthday, Harlequin Historicals! I’m proud to have been a part of your ten years of exciting historical romance.”

—Elaine Barbieri

“Harlequin Historical novels are charming or disarming with dashes and clashes. These past times are fast times, the gems of romances!”

—Karen Harper

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This book is for Sandi DeGuilio, who helped give Meredyth life one afternoon while we waited for her doctor’s appointment. It is also for Kathy Rung Misener and Kathy Gill. I am greatly blessed to call three such special women “friend.”

Roland asked.

Meredyth gasped and pushed at him with all her might. To her surprise he gave way immediately. She slipped from beneath him, dragging the cover with her as she moved to stand at the foot of the enormous bed.

Desperately she clutched the blanket against her bosom, realizing that she had to somehow find the words to explain what had happened. It was understandable that the man would be angry, searching for an explanation.

Meredyth glanced toward him, where he waited, now sitting with his back against the carved headboard, his bronze chest bare. She was assaulted by images of how his strong arms had lifted her against him. Heat suffused her, and she had to look away.

“Well,” he prompted, “I am sorely in need of an explanation. Enlighten me, Meredyth Chalmers, as to why you are here and my bride is not.”

Roland St. Sebastian, Baron of Kirkland, leaned forward in the front pew of the chapel at Penacre. He was of no mind to appreciate the pattern of rich color that passed through the large stained-glass window behind the altar and lit the well-scrubbed stone floor. Roland was more concerned with watching as it lengthened with the passage of time. He willed himself to hide any sign of his growing irritation as he leaned his chin against his steepled fingers. But he could not completely disguise the impatience and displeasure in his narrowed blue gaze as he surveyed the other two occupants of the long narrow chamber.