The only thing Fiona wanted returned was the deed to her ancestral home—at least, what remained of it. She tilted her head.
He took a step forward. “Will you accept it?”
She hesitated a moment, then accepted the package from his outstretched hand, still afraid to hope. Eyeing him suspiciously, she held the box in one hand and opened the lid with the other, revealing a familiar piece of parchment lying atop what seemed to be a collection of letters. Her heart tripped at the sight of it, and she peered up at him, surprised. “The deed to Glen Abbey?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Why now?”
“I wanted you to be completely free to follow your heart after you read the accompanying letters.”
She placed the deed inside the box and lifted one of the letters. It was addressed to her. Blinking, she realized they were all addressed to her—so many of them!
“I should have sent them long ago,” he lamented. “I never stopped loving you, Fiona.”
Confusion stole away Fiona’s thoughts. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
“Say nothing. Simply read them,” he requested. “Afterward, if you feel you wish to see me, I’ll be waiting at the inn. If you choose not to, send word and I will go.” He turned to leave.
Tears slid down her cheeks. “Julian!” she called.
He turned, hope nestled in his blue eyes.
“Stay,” she relented. “Stay for dinner,” she clarified as she set the box on the ground so she could swipe away tears.
He smiled, and she could see it was genuine.
She stretched out her hand. “Come… let me show you my rose garden,” she offered.
There was no hesitation; he reached out to take her hand, and as their fingers entwined, years of pain and anger seemed to slip away. Together, they took the first steps toward healing and forgiveness.
What Julian didn’t reveal was what lay below the letters at the bottom of the hatbox.
Together, for the first time in nearly thirty years, lay the complete set of Meridian’s crown jewels—the sapphire and diamond necklace, the tiara and the ring.
Along with Merrick’s royal insignia ring, Rusty Broun had also delivered the necklace Julian had once given Fiona as an engagement gift. This time, Julian intended to give her the entire set. As the legend went, only once the entire set was reunited would the King of Meridian find his true love.
This time, he wasn’t taking any chances.
A Heartfelt Thank You!
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Also by Tanya Anne Crosby
Daughters of Avalon
The King’s Favorite
The Holly & the Ivy
A Winter’s Rose
Fire Song
Rhiannon
The Prince & the Impostor
Seduced by a Prince
A Crown for a Lady
The Highland Brides
The MacKinnon’s Bride
Lyon’s Gift
On Bended Knee
Highland Song
MacKinnon’s Hope
Guardians of the Stone
Once Upon a Highland Legend
Highland Fire
Highland Steel
Highland Storm
Maiden of the Mist
The Medievals Heroes
Once Upon a Kiss
Angel of Fire
Viking’s Prize
Redeemable Rogues
Happily Ever After
Perfect In My Sight
McKenzie’s Bride
Kissed by a Rogue
Thirty Ways to Leave a Duke
A Perfectly Scandalous Proposal
Anthologies & Novellas
Lady’s Man
Married at Midnight
Romantic Suspense
Speak No Evil
Tell No Lies
Leave No Trace
Mainstream Fiction
The Girl Who Stayed
The Things We Leave Behind
Redemption Song
Reprisal
Everyday Lies
About the Author
Tanya Anne Crosby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty novels. She has been featured in magazines, such as People, Romantic Times and Publisher's Weekly, and her books have been translated into eight languages. Her first novel was published in 1992 by Avon Books, where Tanya was hailed as "one of Avon's fastest rising stars." Her fourth book was chosen to launch the company's Avon Romantic Treasure imprint.
Known for stories charged with emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters Tanya is an award-winning author, journalist, and editor, and her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She and her writer husband split their time between Charleston, SC, where she was raised, and northern Michigan, where the couple make their home.
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