The Knight's Pledge

Heather Grothaus

Mar 2022 · Sons of Scotland Book 4 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

The destiny of three proud sons—and one courageous daughter—of a notorious criminal is revealed at last in medieval Scotland.

The evil legacy of a cursed Northumberland manor ensnares Effie Annesley when her young son is kidnapped from ravaged Darlyrede House. To save him, Effie must fulfill a King’s decree: bring in her fugitive father, Thomas Annesley, to face execution for his alleged crimes. It’s a search fraught with emotion as Effie races to Scotland, homeland of her warrior half-brothers, accompanied by a colorful band of thieves—and one determined knight . . .

Sir Lucan Montague has never been closer to delivering Annesley and reclaiming his inheritance. But his victory turns hollow as he comes to see strong, resilient Effie for who she truly is—and as distrust turns to healing passion. Returning to court to make the ultimate sacrifice, will love and loyalty conquer a maze of lies and treachery that threatens to destroy them all?
 

Ratings and reviews

This story is centered around Tommy Annesley’s daughter, a daughter he has never met or is even aware of. As Tommy’s daughter had been told she was Vaughn and Caris Hargrave’s niece, in truth she was really their granddaughter. Euphemia Hargrave, who now calls herself Effie Annesley. She had been held in a prison by her depraved Uncle Vaughn and Aunt Caris, so as a teenager she runs to Dare Castle for help and to warn them. Except it was too late as Lucan and Iris Montague parents were already dead and their home was in a burning inferno. To escape the people she thought were her aunt and uncle she disguised herself as a servant, so she wouldn’t be recognized. However, when she goes to Lucan Montague for protection, he hits her and threatens to kill her thinking she is a servant. Not realizing who Effie was, but she had her last taste of nobility, thinking all nobility was wicked and evil! Effie knew she would never forgive fifteen year old Lucan Montague for his cruelty and abuse! Now she was headed for the woods and changed her name and would never ever be at the mercy of any nobleman ever again! 1459, Northumberland Lucan Montague, continues to try to apprehend Tommy Annesley for King Henry with no success. Lucan Montage, the knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter of His Majesty King Henry of England. He had been trying to apprehend Tommy Annesley to get his beloved familie’s home-Castle Dare and inheritance rewarded back to him. Even fifteen years later, King Henry will only allow it when he captures Tommy Annesley and brings him into custody. This is so the English King can execute him and hang him from the neck until he is dead. Except now things are absolutely a bit more complicated, Lucan is starting to believe in Annesley’s innocence, plus his sister Iris recently married Tommy’s illegitimate son, Padraig Boyd Annesley. Now Effie lives in a cave, in a place called The Warren, all the residents in this cave look like a band of misfits, Lucan believes they are all criminals. Some might call them her Robin Hood except she would be the Princess of thieves, where they rob from the rich and give to the helpless and suffering. Of course Lucan is not aware of their true identities and backgrounds. To Lucan, they look like a band of dirty, starving, thieves, except for the beautiful Effie! Except things are not what they look like at all. On top of that Effie has a six year old son, George Thomas who has been abducted by someone everyone thought was dead. When they go to The King for aid, he also betrays Effie and takes custody of George Thomas and uses the boy as leverage. King Henry tells her she must apprehend her father so he can execute him or she will never see her precious boy again! A father, Effie has never even met, but feels guilty just the same to pick between her father and her son. Lucan Montague would be escorting them so he could apprehend Tommy. Except Lucan and his sister Iris had their own hidden agenda as his sister had been in the Hargrave’s household. Lucan and Ellis start falling for each other but it’s a love hate relationship that could hurt many others. They both feel guilty, but can’t refuse their desire and Effies can’t let go of the past. Can Lucan and Effie ever overcome the past and find a future together without hurting others? Will the true villains of these crimes ever pay?Shall Effie be able to save her son and her father? As she is between a rock and a hard place! Read and find out in the dramatic and breathtaking conclusion in the Sons of Scotland series. An extraordinary, high stakes adventure that bestselling, extraordinary, author, Heather Grothaus has written! A brilliant choice story filled with compassion with a special understanding of human motivation and love! All I can say is am totally blown away! I have been reading this phenomenal author for over sixteen years and I can see why. This book is my favorite of the four although I have loved them all. I am heartbroken this is the last of this amazing series, but can’t wait to see what’s next

Lovely story! A good ending to Thomas Annesley's story.

About the author

Before writing historical romance, HEATHER GROTHAUS worked as a successful freelance journalist, short story writer and magazine writer. Her work has been featured in such publications as Kentucky Living, Countryside & Small Stock Journal, and The Recorder Newspaper's Creative Living magazine. Readers can visit her on-line at www.heathergrothaus.com.