"Lighthearted and Lusty, Medieval Scottish Romance Chock Full of Men in Kilts"
Reviewed by Diana Troldahl
Posted November 10, 2010
Romance Historical
Dallis Caruth is dowered richly with the land and holdings
of her family. Payton Dunn-Fadden was his father's heir but
as the family holdings were poor in land he didn't cut much
of a swath in the Scottish countryside.
When Payton and his fellows took it into their heads to
storm a Caruth keep, no one was more surprised than they
were to be victorious. Dallis Caruth is wedded by force, the
keep of her family taken by marriage then she is left to
rot, and plot her revenge against the young man who dared to
storm her tower.
What began as a drunken lark leads to a marriage neither
Dallis nor Payton wants, but what was done is done, and
Payton's father 's pride knows no bounds. The Dunn-Fadden
rank at court is strengthened, and as Payton seeks to forget
his deeds by becoming the king's premiere champion, that
cachet rises even further.
Although the basic structure of this Medieval historical
romance is familiar, some of the plot twists Ivie injects
make it unique. Add in the rollicking nature of interplay
between Payton and his men, and the enjoyment level goes up
another few notches. Lighthearted and lusty, A KNIGHT AND
WHITE SATIN fulfills its promise to provide a pleasant
evening's read.
SUMMARY
In the rugged Scottish Highlands, a mighty clansman weds
a headstrong heiress against her will?and discovers a fiery
passion he'll risk his life to protect... A Man Of
Power Payton Dunn-Fadden is the King's Champion, notorious
for his ability to fight any man and win. With steely eyes
and a deeply-muscled physique, his powers of seduction are
just as legendary. But Payton has a dark secret known only
to his wife?and it's a secret she may not keep... A Woman
Of Will Known as White Satin, Dallis Caruth is infuriated
by her forced marriage to Payton. The brute is far below her
station...which makes her attraction to him utterly
maddening. Now Dallis is determined to tame the fearsome
laird?and win her freedom in the bargain... A Dangerous
Desire As Payton and Dallis spar with one another, their
desire ignites into fiery lovemaking. But danger is closer
than either realizes. For the king has plans for the
couple?plans that may unravel Payton's secret?and cost them
both their lives...
Excerpt The mute clansman handed Payton the reins and waited,
as if he already knew. Payton pursed his lips in thought,
cursed again to himself, and said it. “See that the wife is
escorted here. To me.”
The man’s face broke into a grin before he left.
While the man went for his burden, Payton opened his
bags to pull out dry boots of soft leather so they’d fold
easily, and then he had another feile-breacan unfurled
before his fingers grew too iced for the movement. Already
the leather of his boots seemed melded to him and the clasp
of his belt gave him trouble. As did the brooch at his
shoulder. Frozen fabric dropped to
his feet, and then he was rubbing briskly all over his body
with the dry plaid prior to donning it. Then the spare
length of wool. Then he was munching on a hard biscuit. He
had time. On the other side of the horses, he could sense
Redmond doing the same.
He was in the saddle and feeling surprisingly content,
when Seth loomed from the whiteness, holding Dallis by her
arm. It didn’t look like she’d come easily, if the angry
sound of her words and sodden look of Seth were indicators.
“I am na’ a sack to be handled so roughly! And unhand
me!”
“Seth?” Payton asked.
She stopped her tirade at his voice. It looked like she
even slowed her step since Seth had to resort to pulling at
her. All of which was satisfying. He couldn’t tell what
expression she had on her face when she neared his side,
since she had the plaid cloak swathing all of her, but he
could hear the disdain well enough.
“I am na’ riding up there with you,” she announced, as
if it were so.
“You are,” Payton replied.
“You’re soaked through and iced.”
Payton grunted. “Hand her up, Seth.”
“Aside of which, this Seth fellow is na’ capable of
lifting me. He near dropped me getting from the boat.”
“Is this true?” Payton asked.
Seth hung his head, but he was pointing at Dallis as he
did so.
“Seth tells me you made it difficult for him.”
“You should have beached your craft on land a-fore
unloading it. ‘Twould have gone easier.”
“Too deep. Can you mount yourself, then?”
“You should have picked a cove with a beach then...and I
am na’ riding with you.”
“Redmond?” Payton asked it, and lifted his head toward
where the man was standing, watching silently.
“’Tis said Caruth clan possess sharp tongues and sharper
wits. I can see the truth of both now,” Redmond answered.
Payton groaned before answering. “’Tis your plan,” he
replied.
“Perhaps she canna’ ride and tempers the fear with the
argue?” Redmond suggested.
“Get me a horse,” Dallis spoke up. “I’ll ride.”
“Perhaps,” Payton ignored her outburst. “Perhaps na’. We
doona’ have that choice. We may have to tie her.”
“Na’ if you hold to her. Help her keep a seat. ‘Tis a
long ride.”
“This is na’ a good idea. You take her.”
“She is na’ my wife,” Redmond replied.
“Will you both cease speaking of me as if I were na’
here?” Dallis asked.
“Aside from which, you ride Orion,” Redmond
announced. “You ken he’s the strongest. ‘Tis why you chose
him.”
Payton grunted. “You bring twine?”
“Never without it.” He was pulling at a bundle of it the
man always kept wrapped about his sporran.
“He is not tying me. I am not riding with you. And I
have tired of this man-game,” Dallis continued.
“On four?” Redmond asked.
Payton nodded.
“Doona’ start counting,” Dallis warned. “Either of you.”
“One,” Redmond announced.
“Just as we did in Aberdeen. Hook to crook,” Payton said.
“Two,” Redmond replied.
“I’m warning you--!”
They moved before three. As always. It was the best way
to get a drunken clansman atop a horse for the ride home.
His wife’s squeal was cut off as Redmond wrapped both arms
about her from the back, locking her arms in place as he
lifted her. Then, he moved forward so that Payton could
grip her beneath the arms and haul her up, swiveling her
sideways so her buttocks fit between his thighs and her
head beneath his chin. He had his arms tightly about her,
listening to the rapid pace of her heart, while he waited
for the sting of her anger. All of it had taken less than
the count to four. He was rather proud of their execution,
since he’d never had a drunken clansman in front of him
before.
And then something happened. Something horrid. Payton
pulled in air on the pressure inside his chest that he’d
never admit to. That would never do. Ever. In the span of a
heartbeat, he worried over it. Hated it. Tried to kill it.
Nothing worked. He had to release the inhaled breath and
gain another. Not only did she feel wonderfully soft within
his arms, but she had a particular smell he’d thought
imagined. And then forgotten.
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