Free Jack: A Scottish Outlaw (Highland Outlaws Book 1) by Lily Baldwin

wear.”
    She shrugged. “If it is so ugly, then you won’t mind if I never give it back.”
    “Could an English lady used to silks and lace truly be happy in homespun wool?”
    She smiled and breathed out a heavy breath. He could see the tension ease from her shoulders. “I already am.”
    His eyes passed over her olive skin as he studied her face. “We aren’t so different,” he breathed.
    Pale green eyes locked with his. “It would seem not.”
    For a moment, he almost believed he had found himself in her heart, but then truth raised its ugly head. Suddenly, he was staring across an endless, uncrossable gray chasm, to where she stood, draped in wondrous colors that his rough hands could never hold. His heart sank as he forced the truth from his lips. “Except that ye’re a noblewomen and I a commoner.”
    To his surprise, she reached out and cupped his cheek. “I am the daughter of Lord David Redesdale but also of Annunziatta Santospirito.” Tears once more filled her eyes, but she smiled through them. “And she was the daughter of an Italian merchant. She was a commoner, but there was nothing common about her. And I see nothing common about you, Jack MacVie.”
    A rush of fire exploded in his heart. He cupped her face between his hands and lightly pressed his lips to hers. She trembled. Then her arms came around his neck. He dug his fingers into her thick hair, and she leaned into him. Their lips and tongues moved in unison as the world faded away. Chest heaving, she tore her lips free. “I do not understand what is happening.”
    He pressed his forehead to hers. “Neither do I,” he said, breathlessly.
    “Jack!”
    He jerked around. Quinn raced toward them.
    “’Tis Bishop Lamberton. He just arrived and wishes to speak to ye and the lady.”
    His chest tightened. He looked down at her. Slowly, he pulled her arm from around his neck and brought her palm to his lips. Then he dropped her hand and stepped back, putting space between them. “Our stolen moment is over, Lady Redesdale.”

Chapter Nine
    Jack had first met Bishop Lamberton on the open road shortly after the massacre. Having concealed dozens of newly orphaned children in the woods, Jack and Quinn had set out to hunt. After all, empty bellies needed to be filled. When the bishop’s carriage approached, they had tossed their bows and full quivers into the brush to conceal that they had been hunting on monastic land. The bishop had been kind. He bade them not be afraid and gently pulled the truth from Jack. It did not take Jack long to realized he had made a powerful ally. Jack led the Bishop through the woods to where he had hidden the children. Together, they called on Abbot Matthew at the monastery and obtained permission for Jack and his band of youthful exiles to hide in the woods. On another visit, the Bishop had arrived when the MacVie brothers had been practicing swordplay with sticks, their favorite pastime since they were lads. He had left soon after only to return again later that day with swords for each of them.
    “You have the skill, my son, which the good Lord has given you,” the Bishop had said when Jack solemnly wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his new sword. “Now, you have the tools, which I have given you.”
    On his next visit, the bishop had brought five black masks and five shirts of gleaming black mail. And so the Saints were born. Jack and his brothers became highwaymen for a higher cause. By robbing the English nobility riding north into Scotland, Jack provided for the children in his charge and contributed toward Bishop Lamberton’s first concern—fighting for Scottish independence.
    As Jack and Isabella approached the bishop. He made the sign of the cross and blessed them both.
    Bishop Lamberton smiled at Isabella. “Are you well, my lady?”
    “I am, Your Excellency.”
    “And I trust, my friends have shown you every due respect.”
    Jack cringed when he remembered Alec’s suggestion to throw Isabella