Roses in Moonlight Read online

  Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author Lynn Kurland

  All for You

  “An enjoyable romp . . . Readers will enjoy the fresh misadventures of the tongue-tied scholar and the woman who leaves him stuttering.”

  —Genre Go Round Reviews

  “Kurland gives her readers yet another colorful trip through time. Readers of the de Piaget series will love reconnecting with familiar couples and thoroughly enjoy meeting her newest hero and heroine.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  One Magic Moment

  “Stepping into one of Lynn Kurland’s time-travel novels is definitely one magic moment in itself . . . Kurland hasn’t lost her touch.”

  —All About Romance

  “A sweet, tenderhearted time-travel romance . . . Lynn Kurland makes you want to find one of those infamous gateways to the past and find your very own knight in shining armor!”

  —Joyfully Reviewed

  “A story on an epic scale with humor and clever dialogue . . . Kurland has written another time-travel marvel where the reader will be just as enchanted by the hero as the heroine is . . . Perfect for those looking for a happily ever after.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  One Enchanted Evening

  “Kurland presents another triumphant romance . . . Readers unfamiliar with her works will have great joy and ease in following the story . . . and longtime readers will exult in having more familial pieces fall into place.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “A perfect blend of medieval intrigue and time-travel romance. I was totally enthralled from the beginning to the end.”

  —Once Upon A Romance

  “Woven with magic, handsome heroes, lovely heroines, oodles of fun, and plenty of romance . . . a typical Lynn Kurland book—beautifully written with an enchanting, entertaining, and just plain wonderful story line.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  Till There Was You

  “Expertly mixes past with present to prove that love endures all things and outlasts almost everything, including time itself. With an eye to detail and deliciously vivid imagery, this paranormal tale of matchmaking comes fully to life . . . Spellbinding and lovely, this is one story readers won’t want to miss.”

  —Romance Reader at Heart

  “A fantastic story that will delight both readers who are familiar with the families and those who aren’t.”

  —Romance Reviews Today (Perfect 10 Award)

  “An amusing time-travel romance starring a terrific, fully developed hero whose good intentions present and past are devastated by love . . . fast-paced.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  With Every Breath

  “As always, [Kurland] delivers a delightful read!”

  —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

  “Kurland is a skilled enchantress . . . With Every Breath is breathtaking in its magnificent scope, a true invitation to the delights of romance.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  When I Fall in Love

  “Kurland infuses her polished writing with a deliciously dry wit, and her latest time-travel love story is sweetly romantic and thoroughly satisfying.”

  —Booklist

  “The continuation of a wonderful series, this story can also be read alone. It’s an extremely good book.”

  —Affaire de Coeur

  Much Ado in the Moonlight

  “A pure delight.”

  —Huntress Book Reviews

  “A consummate storyteller . . . [Kurland] will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, unable to put the book down until the very last word.”

  —ParaNormal Romance

  Dreams of Stardust

  “Kurland weaves another fabulous read with just the right amounts of laughter, romance, and fantasy.”

  —Affaire de Coeur

  “Kurland crafts some of the most ingenious time-travel romances readers can find . . . wonderfully clever and completely enchanting.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  A Garden in the Rain

  “Kurland laces her exquisitely romantic, utterly bewitching blend of contemporary romance and time travel with a delectable touch of tart wit, leaving readers savoring every word of this superbly written romance.”

  —Booklist

  “Kurland is clearly one of romance’s finest writers—she consistently delivers the kind of stories readers dream about. Don’t miss this one.”

  —The Oakland Press

  From This Moment On

  “A disarming blend of romance, suspense, and heartwarming humor, this book is romantic comedy at its best.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “A deftly plotted delight, seasoned with a wonderfully wry sense of humor and graced with endearing, unforgettable characters.”

  —Booklist

  My Heart Stood Still

  “Written with poetic grace and a wickedly subtle sense of humor . . . romance with characters readers will come to care about and a love story they will cherish.”

  —Booklist

  “A totally enchanting tale, sensual and breathtaking.”

  —Rendezvous

  If I Had You

  “Kurland brings history to life . . . in this tender medieval romance.”

  —Booklist

  “A passionate story filled with danger, intrigue, and sparkling dialogue.”

  —Rendezvous

  The More I See You

  “The superlative Ms. Kurland once again wows her readers with her formidable talent as she weaves a tale of enchantment that blends history with spellbinding passion and impressive characterization, not to mention a magnificent plot.”

  —Rendezvous

  Another Chance to Dream

  “Kurland creates a special romance between a memorable knight and his lady.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  The Very Thought of You

  “A masterpiece . . . this fabulous tale will enchant anyone who reads it.”

  —Painted Rock Reviews

  This Is All I Ask

  “An exceptional read.”

  —The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

  “Both powerful and sensitive . . . a wonderfully rich and rewarding book.”

  —Susan Wiggs

  Titles by Lynn Kurland

  STARDUST OF YESTERDAY

  A DANCE THROUGH TIME

  THIS IS ALL I ASK

  THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU

  ANOTHER CHANCE TO DREAM

  THE MORE I SEE YOU

  IF I HAD YOU

  MY HEART STOOD STILL

  FROM THIS MOMENT ON

  A GARDEN IN THE RAIN

  DREAMS OF STARDUST

  MUCH ADO IN THE MOONLIGHT

  WHEN I FALL IN LOVE

  WITH EVERY BREATH

  TILL THERE WAS YOU

  ONE ENCHANTED EVENING

  ONE MAGIC MOMENT

  ALL FOR YOU

  ROSES IN MOONLIGHT

  The Novels of the Nine Kingdoms

  STAR OF THE MORNING

  SPELLWEAVER

  THE MAGE’S DAUGHTER

  GIFT OF MAGIC

  PRINCESS OF THE SWORD

  DREAMSPINNER

  A TAPESTRY OF SPELLS

  Anthologies

  THE CHRISTMAS CAT

  (with Julie Beard, Barbara Bretton, and Jo Beverley)

  CHRISTMAS SPIRITS

  (with Casey Claybourne, Elizabeth Bevarly, and Jenny Lykins)

  VEILS OF TIME

  (with Maggie Shayne, Angie Ray, and Ingrid Weaver)

  OPPOSITES ATTRACT

  (with Elizabeth Bevarly, Emily Carmichael, and Elda Minger)

  LOVE CAME JUST IN TIME

  A KNIGHT’S VOW

  (with Patrici
a Potter, Deborah Simmons, and Glynnis Campbell)

  TAPESTRY

  (with Madeline Hunter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Karen Marie Moning)

  TO WEAVE A WEB OF MAGIC

  (with Patricia A. McKillip, Sharon Shinn, and Claire Delacroix)

  THE QUEEN IN WINTER

  (with Sharon Shinn, Claire Delacroix, and Sarah Monette)

  A TIME FOR LOVE

  Specials

  “TO KISS IN THE SHADOWS” from TAPESTRY

  Roses in Moonlight

  LYNN KURLAND

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

  ROSES IN MOONLIGHT

  A Jove Book / published by arrangement with Kurland Book Productions, Inc.

  Copyright © 2013 by Kurland Book Productions, Inc.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Jove Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  JOVE® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  The “J” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-0-515-15346-0

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-59911-2

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Jove mass-market edition / May 2013

  Cover art by Jim Griffin.

  Cover design by George Long.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  To my cousin-in-law Claire B.,

  who answers all my questions about Britishisms with such unflinching courage and patience

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  A tall, distinguished-looking man of a certain age walked along the back streets of London, his kilt snapping briskly thanks to his haste, his dress sword avoiding the same only because he kept his hand on the hilt. No sense in terrifying the locals prematurely, was his thinking. He had business down the way and suspected he would need every ounce of Scottish canniness to see that task accomplished.

  He dodged native and tourist alike who were apparently enjoying leisurely strolls before retiring. He, however, had all his attentions bent on reaching his destination whilst his victim—er, his prey—er . . . well, whilst who was loitering within the building in question hadn’t managed to pry himself off the stage and scamper out the nearest exit. Given that getting the man off the stage would be the biggest obstacle they faced, he supposed perhaps his concern for haste was unfounded. But he hurried just the same.

  He leapt up the stairs leading to the theater like a hart, then walked through the gates until he entered the darkened building itself. There was no audience there, no lads manning the lights, no actors waiting in the wings, for there was no play being performed that night.

  At least no play that any mortal would have seen.

  The boards were indeed being trodden, but he temporarily ignored the man standing on that stage in favor of a bekilted lad standing in the shadows, shifting purposefully. He frowned thoughtfully as he considered the sight. The shifting was less purposeful than it was nervous, but that was unsurprising. Hugh McKinnon, laird of the clan McKinnon in days long past, was a fine swordsman and a canny warrior, but when it came to their current business, he always tended to become a little uneasy.

  But he, Ambrose MacLeod, laird of the clan MacLeod during the glorious flowering of the sixteenth century, did not shift unless it was to simply avoid the thrust of an Englishman’s blade whilst saving himself the trouble of drawing his own. He strode purposefully across a floor that was much cleaner than it would have been in his day to stand next to his compatriot. Hugh looked at him, his ruddy complexion rather more pale than Ambrose would have cared to see it.

  “I’ve no liking for this locale,” Hugh whispered. “Too many Englishmen loitering about for my taste.”

  Ambrose shared Hugh’s distaste, but it couldn’t be helped. “We’ll see to our business quickly, then hie ourselves back to the proper side of Hadrian’s Wall.”

  “It pains me to admit as much,” Hugh admitted, looking pained indeed, “but I do wish we had Fulbert de Piaget along for this. At least he might have given that blighter up there a proper bit of trouble.”

  “Fulbert is, as you know, offering his services to the newly made Earl of Artane,” Ambrose said, “even though I imagine young Stephen can manage well enough on his own.”

  “Ha,” Hugh said derisively. “Fulbert is likely spending less time offering aid than he is sitting in front of a hot fire with a hefty mug of ale. I suspect he simply didn’t want to burden his delicate ears with the bleating of that prancing fool yonder.”

  Ambrose studied the man striding about on the stage, pausing frequently to trot out various soliloquies, trying them on to apparently see which one suited him best. It was true that the man was absolutely riveting on stage, but equally apparent that he would be perfectly foul on the ground.

  “Should we have looked harder for an appropriate ancestor?” Hugh asked doubtfully. “That one’s a bit full of himself, wouldn’t you say?”

  “It carries him confidently on the stage,” Ambrose said.

  “But it isn’t as if we lack for Scottish players,” Hugh countered.

  “We do of that vintage. And as you well know, we need an Englishman for this part.”

  “An Englishman?” Hugh echoed pointedly.

  Ambrose sighed heavily. “Very well, I’ll admit he isn’t technically an Englishman.”

  Hugh stuck his fingers in his ears briefly and sang part of a heroic battle anthem. Then he scowled at Ambrose. “That was to cleanse the palate. I don’t want to think about where he was born.”

  “I can’t blame you, my friend.” Ambrose glanced at the man on the stage. “Nay, Hugh, this is what’s required. Unfortunately, no matter from whence he hails, I fear this one will be hard to manage.”

  “I suppose that’s one way to put it,” Hugh muttered.

  Ambrose turned his full attentions to the spectacle. He was impressed in spite of himself by the lighting the shade had created for himself. That was a lad who knew which side of his profile was the
best and wasn’t afraid to display it.

  “Did you tell him we wanted to speak to him?” Ambrose murmured, so as not to disturb the show.

  Hugh nodded. “I caught him at the stage door and said we wanted to meet him in the pub at midnight.”

  “Was he amenable to the suggestion?”

  “Nay, but I told him I’d stick him if he didn’t come.”

  “And?”

  Hugh lifted his eyebrows briefly. “He might be carrying a sword up there, Ambrose, but it isn’t sharp, if you know what I mean.”

  Ambrose did. “Very well, then, let’s go await him down the street.”

  The crowds outside the Globe had thinned to a mere handful of the braver sort, which made it easier to wend their way to the nearest pub, The Bard’s Board and Keg. Ambrose settled himself in a secluded corner with Hugh, then plucked a mug of ale out of the air to his right. He indulged in a sip or two, then sat back and looked at his compatriot.

  “Aye?”

  “This is a tricky one, isn’t it?” Hugh ventured. “Complicated.”

  Ambrose had to concede that point. There were times, he had to admit, that endeavoring to keep the strands of time woven in their proper order was a dodgy business indeed. And if orchestrating events in their proper order wasn’t delicate enough, trying to add in the choices of two headstrong mortals . . .

  It was enough to lead a shade to thinking perhaps ’twas time to hang up Cupid’s arrows.

  If the shade in question had been made of lesser stuff, of course, which he was not. He was already sitting up straight, naturally, but he mentally threw back his shoulders and steeled his resolve. The souls in question were difficult and stubborn, but when pointed in the right direction they would no doubt do what needed to be done.

  There was honor at stake, after all.

  “I don’t like it here, Ambrose,” Hugh said suddenly, clutching his own mug of ale in his hands. “Still too many bloody Brits cluttering up the place.”

  “It can’t be helped,” Ambrose said, though he had to admit he shared the other’s unease. If he’d had a back in which a dagger might have successfully rested, he might have been somewhat tempted to take the odd glance over his shoulder. But since he was leaning back against a sturdy pub bench, he felt very confident in ignoring any unusual and unaccustomed unease.