Thanks for having me here. Part of why I write historical romance isbecause it allows me to feed my history addiction. I love the research portionof my job. I always find something surprising, horrifying, or delightful. Todaywe’re in the horrifying realm because there’s a scene in SINS OF THE HIGHLANDERwhere my heroine Elspeth is going to be burned as a witch. I have a personalinterest in those who were falsely accused of consorting with the devil becausemy 13th great-grandmother, Sarah Towne Cloyce was imprisoned duringthe Salem Witch trials. (You can read all about it on my blog: http://miamarlowe.com/blog/2010/10/a-witch-in-the-woodshed/)
Unfortunately, when one was accused of witchcraft in the 16th century,there was no such thing as being held innocent till proven guilty. Confessionswere often forced with torture. And the tests devised to prove innocence usuallyresulted in the death of the accused. For example, water was considered a pureelement which would reject a wicked soul. So if a bound person was tossed intoa pond and floated, they were “rejected” by the water and therefore, proved tobe evil. The person who sank and drowned was deemed innocent. Talk about a no-win scenario.
In Sins of the Highlander,Elspeth Stewart is given a public trial since she’s the daughter of a laird,but she’s found guilty all the same. In the following excerpt, Rob MacLaren hassneaked into his enemy’s stronghold in the hope that he can free her.
Sins of the Highlanderexcerpt:
The atmosphere was more suitableto a fair than a burning. Enterprising merchants had set up stalls ringing thebailey to sell foodstuffs and other goods. Children scampered between thestalls, light-fingered urchins lifting a sweetmeat or two. Everyone seemed inhigh spirits.
But at the far end of the bailey,Rob saw the stake, already ringed with faggots. A path had been marked withropes, leading from the stake to the tallest tower at the opposite end of thecourtyard. Elspeth would walk that way to her death. His gaze swept up thetower.
A small figure stood at an unshuttered window. A woman. Her long brownhair fluttered in the breeze like a banner. The distance was too great for himto make out her features, but he knew instantly who she was.
“Oh, God. Elspeth,” he whispered.“Dinna jump, lass.”
Drummond had placed her in thetower chamber with that hope in mind, Rob was sure. He held his breath untilshe stepped away from the window and out of his sight. His relief wasshort-lived.
What was one man, or even two,against so many?
“I thought I could . . . I dinnasee what’s to be done,” Rob said, suddenly bone-weary. They’d ridden withoutstopping except to rest the horses in order to make it here in time. Now herealized what Hamish had probably known all along, but was too good a friend tosay.
It was all for naught. There was no help coming from any quarter. Allthey could do was watch Elspeth die.
But he didn’t have to let her burn. A desperate plan formed in hismind. If Rob could find a longbow and stake out a position with a clear shot,he’d have one chance to put a shaft in Elspeth’s heart before the flamesreached her. Then he’d bury his boot knife in his own chest. It would be asmall matter.
His heart would already be dead.
Hope you enjoyed that shortexcerpt. If you’d like to read more of this story, I invite you to click overto my website http://www.miamarlowe.com. While you’re there, be sure to enter my website contest. The drawing for aNEW KINDLE will be held January 30th! I love to connect withreaders. You can also find me at http://facebook.com/miamarlowefanpageand http://twitter.com/Mia_Marlowe. Hope to see you in cyberspace!
A question for all of you: What is your favorite time period/settingfor historical romances and why?
SINS OF THE HIGHLANDER BY CONNIE MASON & MIA MARLOWE – INSTORES JANUARY 2012
Abduction
Never had Elspeth Stewartimagined her wedding would be interrupted by a dark-haired stranger charging in on a black stallion, scooping herinto his arms, and carrying her off across the wild Scottish highlands. Pressedagainst his hard chest and nestled between his trong thighs, she ought to havefeared for her life. But her captor silenced all protests with a soul-searingkiss, giving Elspeth a glimpse of the pain behind his passion—a pain only shecould ease.
Obsession
“Mad Rob” MacLaren thoughtstealing his rival’s bride-to-be was the prefect revenge. But Rob neverreckoned that this beautiful, innocent lass would awaken the part of him hethought dead and buried with his wife. Against all reason, he longed tointroduce the luscious Elspeth to the pleasures of the flesh, to make her his,and only his, forever.
With two clans against themburning for battle, they must find a way to join together—body, breath andsoul. Or both will be made to pay for the Sinsof the Highlander.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ConnieMason is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels.She was named Storyteller of the Year in 1990 and received a Career AchievementAward from RT Book Reviews in 1994.She currently lives in Florida. MiaMarlowe is a highly acclaimed new voice in romance whose debut novelreleased in Spring 2011 from Kensington. She lives in Boston, MA. Together,they are working on a new Regency romance series for Sourcebooks Casablanca,the first of which will be in stores in early 2013. For more information,please visit http://www.conniemason.com/, http://miamarlowe.com/ and follow Mia on Twitter @Mia_Marlowe.
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