Bond of Passion

Bertrice Smalls breathless Border Chronicles continue as a mysterious nobleman and his bartered bride untangle a plot of illicit seduction and dangerous betrayal….

Called the handsomest man in the borders, Angus Ferguson, Earl of Duin, avoids political intrigues in order to keep his small clan safe. Now, in exchange for a piece of land he has long coveted, he has wed the homely daughter of the laird of Rath, Annabella Baird, whose tame demeanor hides a wildcat. But an invitation to the court of Scotlands Queen Mary will test their marriage as they are tossed about in a storm of deadly royal intrigue.

Marys unfortunate marriage to her cousin Lord Darnley has driven her into the arms of James Hepburn, the dashing, powerful Earl of Bothwell. When Darnley is murdered in spectacular fashion, and his body barely cold before Mary and Bothwell wed, the queen's adversaries retaliate with a war that divides Scotland and tries the long friendship between the Earl of Duin and James Hepburn—even as it tests the bond of passion between Angus and Annabella in ways they never expected.

"All the ingredients her fans have come to expect."

-Booklist

"Reaffirms her standing as a historical romance stalwart."

-Publishers Weekly

"Reaffirms her standing as a historical romance stalwart." -Publishers Weekly

"All the ingredients her fans have come to expect." -Booklist

Praise for Bertrice Small  and Her Novels

“Bertrice Small is a legend.”—Linda Lael Miller

“Bertrice Small creates cover-to-cover passion, a keen sense of history, and suspense.”—Publishers Weekly

“Small’s fans...know what to expect…a good story.”—Library Journal

“Ms. Small delights and thrills.”—Rendezvous

“An insatiable delight for the senses. [Small’s] amazing historical detail…will captivate the reader…potent sensuality.”—Romance Junkies

“[Her novels] tell an intriguing story, they are rich in detail, and they are all so very hard to put down.”—The Best Reviews

“Sweeps the ages with skill and finesse.”—Affaire de Coeur

“[A] captivating blend of sensuality and rich historical drama.”—Rosemary Rogers

“Brimming with colorful characters and rich in historical detail, Small’s boldly sensual love story is certain to please her many devoted readers.”—Booklist

“[A] delight to all readers of historical fiction.”—Fresh Fiction

“A fabulous sixteenth-century romantic romp…[with] a great, refreshing heroine…a delightful amusing frolic.”—Midwest Book Review

Bertrice Small's breathless Border Chronicles continues as a mysterious nobleman and his bartered new bride untangle a plot of illicit seduction, daring betrayal, and deadly royal intrigue...

Called the handsomest man in the Borders, Angus Ferguson, earl of Duin, lives a quiet life avoiding the constant political intrigues of his neighbors in order to keep his small clan safe. Now in exchange for a piece of land he has long coveted he has taken a wife. Annabella Baird, the plain-faced daughter of the laird of Rath.

Reluctant at first to bed the unassuming Annabella, Angus finally accepts his duty as a husband only to discover that beneath his bride's modest demeanor is a wildcat with a spark waiting to be ignited. When, however, they accept an invitation to the court of Scotland's Queen Mary they find themselves caught up in royal intrigue.

Mary's unfortunate marriage to her cousin, Lord Darnley, has proven a disaster. Worse it has driven her into the arms of another man, James Hepburn, the dashing, powerful earl of Bothwell. When Darnley is murdered in spectacular fashion, and his body barely cold Mary and Bothwell wed, the queen's adversaries retaliate with a war that divides Scotland, and tries the long friendship between the earl of Duin and James Hepburn even as it tests the bond of passion between Angus and Annabella in ways they never expected.

Bertrice Smallhas written thirty novels of historical romance and two erotic novellas. She is a New York Times bestselling author and the recipient of numerous awards. In keeping with her profession, Bertrice Small lives in the oldest English-speaking town in the state of New York, founded in 1640. Her light-filled studio includes the paintings of her favorite cover artist, Elaine Duillo, and a large library—but no computer as she works on an IBM Quietwriter 7. Her longtime assistant, Judy Walker, types the final draft. Because she believes in happy endings, Bertrice Small has been married to the same man, her hero, George, for thirty-eight years. They have a son, Thomas, a daughter-in-law, Megan, and two adorable grandchildren, Chandler David and Cora Alexandra. Longtime readers will be happy to know that Nicki the Cockatiel flourishes along with his fellow housemates, Pookie, the long-haired greige and white, Honeybun, the petite orange lady cat with the cream-colored paws, and Finnegan, the black long-haired baby of the family, who is almost two.