Free The Border Hostage by Virginia Henley

twins, has Tina made us uncles yet?” Heath asked.
    Ram shook his head. “I've not left her side. Sometimes I think she'll never foal.”
    Gavin laughed. “I would never have credited it if I hadna seen it with my own eyes—Black Ram Douglas domesticated, begod!”
    “Your turn will come, laddie,” Heath taunted.
    Ram grinned. “He'll never be that lucky. He hasn't the faintest notion what he's missing, poor sod. I have a woman in a million! Tina makes me whole, complete; she fills me with life.”
    Gavin winked at Heath. “His brain's gone soft. 'Tis the other way about—he filled
her
with life.”
    “We've the best blood in Scotland, 'tis time tae start doubling it, and if ye've no guts fer marriage, I'll do the job myself, two at a time,” Ram jested.
    Heath envied Ramsay his marriage, if Gavin did not. He longed for a family of his own, but he resolutely thrust the thought of a wife away, thinking it impossible because of the two great obstacles in his path: Gypsy blood and bastardy.
    Heath found his sister Tina reclining against cushions on the window seat overlooking the small lake behind Eskdale Castle. She was raptly watching a pair of swans that had arrived two days ago. As she glanced up, Heath saw her aura clearly against the mullioned windows and was glad that it was both vibrant and clear.
    “I wish I could find a way to persuade the swans to stay. We've had them before upon occasion, but they always fly away.”
    “We could catch them and clip their wings. If they laid eggs and they hatched here, perhaps the cygnets would stay,” Heath said.
    “I would never clip anything's wings.”
    Heath smiled warmly. “I didn't think so.” He straddled a chair so that he could talk to her. “I spoke with Beth last night.”
    “Beth? Where on earth did you run into her?” “As a matter of fact, I danced with her at a masquerade ball in Carlisle Castle, and I swear I'm not making this up.”
    Tina's eyes sparkled with amusement. “I'll believe you; thousands wouldn't!”
    Mr. Burque, Tina's French chef, joined them, bringinga cup of chocolate for the mother-to-be. He was accompanied by Ada, who carried a lap robe to tuck about Tina. Heath continued his story, for the four of them kept no secrets from each other. “Beth told me that your mother has left our father and intends to live in the Rickergate house in Carlisle.”
    “Well, I'll be damned! How did she ever summon the guts to leave him? If there ever was a crisis when I lived at home, Mother took to her bed and left all in my lap.”
    Ada's glance swept over Tina's middle. “No pun intended.”
    “Apparently, Lady Elizabeth wants an Englishman for Beth. I can only imagine the shouting and brawling to which our charming father subjected her,” Heath said.
    Tina dimpled with amusement and sipped her chocolate with relish. “Does she have a particular Englishman in mind?”
    “Thomas Dacre's heir, Christopher.” “Blood of God!” Tina exclaimed. “The crumb de la crumb!” Mr. Burque declared succinctly.
    “My mother must be mad. She must know Dacre will forever be my enemy for what he did to Ram!”
    Ada said shrewdly, “I know why your mother wants Dacre's son for Beth. She thought Thomas Dacre would ask her to wed him, but instead he carried off Rosalind Greystokes. Elizabeth wed Rob Kennedy just to show everyone she could catch a wealthy husband with a title. You need not worry about Beth. Your father controls the purse strings, and without a dowry for bait, Elizabeth won't hook a Dacre for your sister.”
    “And a damn good thing. Young Dacre is no fit mate for Beth,” Heath said grimly. “Beth confided to me that she fancies young Heron Carleton, whose father used to be constable of Carlisle Castle. I told her to go after him.”
    “You are the best brother in the world; I am so blessed.”
    Heath suddenly felt anger on Valentina's behalf. “Yourmother should be here with
you
at this time, not suck-holing up to