Ruth Langan - Briana

Cover Page

Excerpt “You’re a most unusual woman,Briana O’Neil,” Keane said. “I’ve never known a highborn woman who mingled with the servants.” “Highborn.” She gave a snort of derision. “You have to admit that the O’Neil family is far from poor.” “Aye. But it’s none of my doing. We have no say over where we’ll be born or how we’ll be taught. What we can choose is how we’ll live our lives once the decisions are in our own hands.” “And so you choose to live without boundaries.” Briana thought about it a moment. “If you mean without boundaries of wealth or poverty, aye. It isn’t the coin in a man’s pocket that makes him hero or knave. It’s what’s in his heart. His soul.” “And which do you suppose I am? Hero or knave?” “That isn’t for me to judge. You know what’s in your own heart…”

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Autumn is such a romantic season—fall colors, rustling leaves, big sweaters and, for many of you, the kids are back in school! So, as the leaves fall, snuggle up in a cozy chair and let us sweep you away to the romantic past! With over thirty books to her name, bestselling author Ruth Langan knows how to bring the fantasy of falling in love to life. Briana, set in England and Ireland, is the final book of THE O’NEIL SAGA. It’s the love story of a feisty Irish noblewoman and the lonely, tormented landowner who first saves her life—and then succumbs to her charms! In The Doctor’s Wife, by the popular Cheryl St.John, scandalous secrets are revealed but love triumphs when a waitress “from the other side of the tracks” marries a young doctor in need of a mother for his baby girl. Branded Hearts by Diana Hall is an intriguing Western about a young cowgirl bent on revenge who must fight her feelings for her boss, an enigmatic cattle rancher. Jacqueline Navin’s evocative story, Strathmere’s Bride, features a duke who suddenly finds himself the single father of his two orphaned nieces, and in dire need of a wife! But who will he choose— the proper lady or the girls’ very improper governess? Enjoy. And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance. Sincerely, Tracy Farrell Senior Editor P.S. We’d love to hear what you think about Harlequin Historicals! Drop us a line at: Harlequin Historicals 300 E. 42nd Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10017

Title Page Briana Ruth Langan www.millsandboon.co.uk

About The Author RUTH LANGAN traces her ancestry to Scotland and Ireland. It is no surprise, then, that she feels a kinship with the characters in her historical novels. Married to her childhood sweetheart, she has raised five children and lives in Michigan, the state where she was born and raised.

Dedication For Nicole Brooke Langan, the newest link in our chain of love And for her big brother, Patrick, and her proud parents, Pat and Randi And for Tom, who truly founded a dynasty

Prologue

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

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Copyright

“You’re a most unusual woman,Briana O’Neil,” Keane said.

“I’ve never known a highborn woman who mingled with the servants.”

“Highborn.” She gave a snort of derision.

“You have to admit that the O’Neil family is far from poor.”

“Aye. But it’s none of my doing. We have no say over where we’ll be born or how we’ll be taught. What we can choose is how we’ll live our lives once the decisions are in our own hands.”

“And so you choose to live without boundaries.”

Briana thought about it a moment. “If you mean without boundaries of wealth or poverty, aye. It isn’t the coin in a man’s pocket that makes him hero or knave. It’s what’s in his heart. His soul.”

“And which do you suppose I am? Hero or knave?”

“That isn’t for me to judge. You know what’s in your own heart…”

Dear Reader,

Autumn is such a romantic season—fall colors, rustling leaves, big sweaters and, for many of you, the kids are back in school! So, as the leaves fall, snuggle up in a cozy chair and let us sweep you away to the romantic past!

With over thirty books to her name, bestselling author Ruth Langan knows how to bring the fantasy of falling in love to life. Briana, set in England and Ireland, is the final book of THE O’NEIL SAGA. It’s the love story of a feisty Irish noblewoman and the lonely, tormented landowner who first saves her life—and then succumbs to her charms!

In The Doctor’s Wife, by the popular Cheryl St.John, scandalous secrets are revealed but love triumphs when a waitress “from the other side of the tracks” marries a young doctor in need of a mother for his baby girl. Branded Hearts by Diana Hall is an intriguing Western about a young cowgirl bent on revenge who must fight her feelings for her boss, an enigmatic cattle rancher. Jacqueline Navin’s evocative story, Strathmere’s Bride, features a duke who suddenly finds himself the single father of his two orphaned nieces, and in dire need of a wife! But who will he choose— the proper lady or the girls’ very improper governess?

Enjoy. And come back again next month for four more choices of the best in historical romance.

Sincerely,

Tracy Farrell

Senior Editor

P.S. We’d love to hear what you think about Harlequin Historicals! Drop us a line at:

Harlequin Historicals

300 E. 42nd Street, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10017

www.millsandboon.co.uk

traces her ancestry to Scotland and Ireland. It is no surprise, then, that she feels a kinship with the characters in her historical novels.

Married to her childhood sweetheart, she has raised five children and lives in Michigan, the state where she was born and raised.

For Nicole Brooke Langan,

the newest link in our chain of love

And for her big brother, Patrick, and her proud parents,

Pat and Randi

And for Tom, who truly founded a dynasty

Ireland 1653

“My lord O’Neil. You must come quickly.” The servant paused in the doorway of the private chambers of the lord and lady of Ballinarin. She clutched the door and choked in several deep breaths before she could find her voice to continue. “It’s Briana.”

At her obvious distress, Gavin O’Neil looked up in alarm. “What is it, Adina?”

“She’s been wounded, my lord.”

“Wounded?” Gavin’s wife, Moira, was already on her feet, clutching a hand to her throat.

“Aye, mistress. At the hands of an English sword, I’m told.” The servant’s eyes were round with fear. “A runner came ahead with the news. Some lads from the village are carrying her across the fields.”

Gavin was already strapping on his sword and striding across the room. At the door he turned and exchanged a look with his wife before taking his leave.

Moira raced after him, calling orders to the servant as she did. “We’ll need hot water, Adina. And clean linens. Tell Cook to prepare an opiate for pain. And send someone to fetch my sons and their wives.”