Till There Was You Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  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

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  Praise for the novels of New York Times

  bestselling author Lynn Kurland

  With Every Breath

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

  —Romantic Times

  “Kurland is a skilled enchantress ... With Every Breath is breathtaking in its magnificent scope; a true invitation to the delights of romance.”—Night Owl Romance

  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

  “One of the best romances that this reviewer has ever had the pleasure of reading! It is enough to make even nonbelievers believe in the power of love.”—Love Romances & More

  “Lynn Kurland has surpassed even her personal best with When I Fall in Love. This is a book that will haunt you long after the final page is turned.”—Kwips and Kritiques

  “A sweet story of love across time. There’s plenty of humor and romance to entertain ... a splendid way to escape reality, even if it’s just for a few hours. Highly recommended.”

  —MyShelf

  “Revisiting Ms. Kurland’s world is always a joy ... a cheerful, positive, feel-good romance that will make your heart glad.”—The Eternal Night

  “Delightful ... Ms. Kurland knows how to deliver a heartwarming romance and remarkable characters.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  Much Ado in the Moonlight

  “A pure delight”—Huntress Book Reviews

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

  “No one melds ghosts and time travel better than the awesome Kurland.”—Romantic Times

  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.”—Romantic Times

  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 ... the essence of pure romance. Sweet, poignant, and truly magical, this is a rare treat: romance with characters readers will come to care about and a love story they will cherish.”—Booklist

  “A totally enchanting tale, sensual and breathtaking ... an absolute must-read.”—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

  The Nine Kingdoms series

  STAR OF THE MORNING

  THE MAGE’S DAUGHTER

  PRINCESS OF THE SWORD

  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 Patricia 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)

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

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  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada

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  1

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

  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.

  TILL THERE WAS YOU

  A Jove Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PRINTING HISTORY

  Jove mass-market edition / May 2009

  Copyright © 2009 by Lynn Curland.

  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.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-04435-3

  JOVE®

  Jove Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

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

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

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  To the ladies who thought Mary

  needed a story... They know who they are.

  Cast of Characters *

  Zachary Smith

  Alexander Smith, Zachary’s brother

  Margaret, his wife

  Elizabeth Smith, Zachary’s sister

  Jamie, Elizabeth’s husband

  Patrick, Jamie’s brother

  Madelyn, Patrick’s wife

  Sunshine Cameron, Madelyn’s sister

  Robert Cameron, Sunshine’s husband

  Robin de Piaget

  Anne, his wife

  Mary

  Jackson Kilchurn

  Amanda, his wife

  Jackson

  Thaddeus

  Nicholas de Piaget

  Jennifer, his wife

  Connor

  Theophilus

  Samuel

  Isabelle de Piaget de Seger

  Parsival, her son

  Geoffrey of Styrr

  Suzanna, his mother

  * Only a partial list of those who appear in this book. For more details, please see www.LynnKurland.com.

  Prologue

  WYCKHAM CASTLE, ENGLAND

  The last rays of sunlight sparkled against a ruined castle that stood in the midst of rolling hills, sweetly singing streams, and roads still dusted with the last of a winter’s snow.

  A lone man strode through the castle gates as the sun set. He wasn’t unused to the chill of a long winter, yet still he shivered under the heavy cloak he wore fastened over his shoulder with an enormous brooch. His kilt swung about his knees and a great sword slapped against his thigh as he walked without haste but with definite purpose. He had business that night.

  He crossed the courtyard and climbed the well-worn stairs. There were no front doors left to the great hall, but that was to be expected. The place was ripe for not only a bit of mischief but a decent remodel as well.

  Fortunately, he knew just who could see to both.

  He walked into the hall, spared the place a bit of a look, then continued over to the hearth. It likely hadn’t seen a fire in a pair of centuries, but that was no deterrent. He created a roaring fire with a negligent flick of his wrist, then chose a likely spot and placed a comfortable chair there.

  He paused for quite a while, wrestling with a decision he didn’t particularly want to make. He considered, frowned, and then, with a sigh, surrendered.

  And then Ambrose MacLeod, laird of the clan MacLeod during the flowering of the Renaissance—which hadn’t exactly been yesterday—placed a Tudor-rose-patterned cushion upon the seat.

  He didn’t particularly care to indulge in such luxuries, but he wasn’t as young as he used to be—never mind that he was no longer troubled by the aches and pains of a mortal frame. The castle surrounding him was austere enough. If a body couldn’t enjoy at least the sight of a few creature comforts now and again, what pleasures could he reasonably take?

  He sat with a contented sigh, plucked a hefty tankard of ale out of thin air, then settled back to anticipate what he was certain would be a robust and entertaining evening of conversation. At least he might enjoy it without being stalked like a hapless rabbit across the moor by a woman who had no business casting her steely eye his way, but that was perhaps an observation better left unmade at present.

  He savored the crackle and pop of the fire in the hearth for quite some time before he put his hand to his ear. Hark, was that a curse? And a stomp? He was certain he’d heard the reassuring sound of both. He looked to his left and watched a man stride through what had once been the sturdy doors of the great hall in which he now sat. That man continued to grumble his way across the hall before he, after much ado and many more complaints, settled down in his own chair with his own bit of comfort in a mug. Ambrose nodded politely.

  “Fulbert.”

  Fulbert de Piaget, second son of a very illustrious earl of Artane and, to everyone’s continued surprise, Ambrose’s own brother-in-law, grunted. “I’ll dispense with pleasantries. You’re mad.”

  Ambrose lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “Am I? Why do you say that?”

  “We do better when we’re not inviting unknowns into our midst,” Fulbert said. “This new plan of yours is a mistake. Mark my words.”

  Ambrose marked them, but unfortunately he couldn’t discount them as easily as he might have liked. Fulbert had a point. He, Fulbert, and the third of their number had been about their work for quite some time now without any outside aid, and they were quite used to each other’s methods. Bringing in someone new, someone untested and unused to the particular delicacies necessary for their usual business ... well, it might spell disaster.

  “I also don’t know why we’re here in this wreck,” Fulbert muttered. He looked up at the night sky that was quite visible thanks to the lack of a proper roof. “Wyckham? Lovely in its time, perhaps, but surely not now.” He shot Ambrose a disgruntled look. “We could have been quite comfortably ensconced at the Boar’s Head Inn.”

  “I thought a change of venue might be refreshing,” Ambrose said brightly.

  Fulbert leaned forward and looked at him intently. “I imagine you do, my cowardly friend. Perhaps we would be well served by discussing what your reasons for that thought might be—”

  “Ah, look,” Ambrose said suddenly, gesturing with his mug toward the door. “There’s Hugh.”

  “Run as long as you like, Ambrose,” Fulbert said knowingly. “Your doom is waiting for you back at the inn. Garbed, I imagine, in pink.”

  Ambrose had no doubt that was the case, but that was something to think on later. Business, as always, came first.

  Hugh McKinnon, laird of the clan McKinnon in the distant memory of Scottish glory, crossed the floor, frowning furiously and paying not a shred of attention to where he was going. That might have had to do with the fact that he was concentrating very seriously on something that looked remarkably like a clipboard. Ambrose was past being surprised by what tangles Hugh became embroiled in, so he merely waited until Hugh stopped tapping his chin with his pencil and muttering things about microfiche and census records.

&nb
sp; “Hugh?” Ambrose prodded.

  Hugh looked up, cross-eyed. “By the saints, Ambrose, ‘tis a dodgy business, this genealogy. I can scarce read my own writin’, not to mention what those friars managed to scribble in their records. How is a body to possibly find a bleedin’ ancestor for the soul in question?”

  “Are you telling me you haven’t managed the feat?”

  Hugh drew himself up. “Of course, I managed,” he said with a sniff. He paused. “Eventually. After a bit of a tussle.”

  “Hugh,” Ambrose said sternly, “what have you done?”

  Hugh scrunched up his face and looked back defiantly. “I did nothin’ untoward. Them genealogy librarians can be a mite testy, I’ll tell ye that. They’re there to help, not do for ye.” He scowled. “I daresay I gave more than one feisty biddy the vapors before I found one willing to do instead of lecture.”

  Ambrose could only imagine. “And what did all your labors yield?”

  Hugh straightened his clothes, adjusted the cap on his head, then stepped back and gestured with a flourish toward where the hall doors had once been.