Finding Emmaline. A Blackwood Series Novel. Book 1

Aberdeen, Scotland. 1744

William Blackwood had it all.

The oldest son of a wealthy whisky merchant, the devastatingly handsome bachelor was more than content with his life.

He had a wonderful family, good friends, and the freedom to do as he pleased.

The gentleman bad boy known affectionately as The Prince of Aberdeen, the ladies loved him. And he loved them.

When Emmaline Bissette, his childhood friend, walks back into his life, his whole world changes. Suddenly, the thought of spending a lifetime with one woman doesn’t seem so mundane as he once thought, and the idea of marriage and a family of his own becomes rapidly appealing.

But when tragedy strikes, his love is cruelly taken from him, and William is left grief stricken and alone.

Devastated by his loss and racked with guilt over the circumstances of her death, the handsome widower leaves Scotland behind in the hopes of escaping the painful memories.

Vowing to never love again, William has kept his heart guarded for nearly three centuries

But now, he yearns to go home, back to his beloved Scotland.

Where fate, it seems, is not quite done with him just yet……

Excerpt from Finding Emmaline

A Blackwood Series Novel

Book 1

Prologue.

Brushing a hand across my cheek, he pushed a strand of soft hair behind my ear. “I’ll be back before you know it, love,” he whispered.

I closed my eyes at his touch, turning my face into his palm. “Come with me to the docks,” he beseeched, as he had every day since he’d decided to go. “I want your beautiful face to be the last thing I see as we leave port.” Stroking a finger over my cheek, he leaned in and placed his lips to mine for a soft kiss. “It will give me something to hold on to, as I lie awake on the long, cold nights,” he murmured, “wishing you were there beside me,” he whispered into my mouth.

But even as I relished his kiss, I knew what my answer must once again be. I pulled away, gazing up into his tender, emerald-green eyes. “I cannot watch you leave William,” I whispered brokenly. “I know I should be stronger, but to watch you sail away from me,…I couldn’t bear it.”

His eyes roamed my face, and I knew he was committing every curve, every detail, to memory, before he sighed deeply. “Willful English lass,” he teased.

“Stubborn Scot,” I mumbled. And there it was. The smile that would keep me going on the lonely days that loomed ahead. When I yearned for nothing more than to hold him in my arms. I needed to do so now, just one last time.

I reached up and pulled him down to me, hugging him close to bury my face in his neck as I wrapped my arms around his massive shoulders. “You’re lucky I love you as much as I do,” I whispered into his ear.

“Hmmm, that I ken,” he growled softly back, turning his face to my cheek.“ And for that,…I will be forever grateful.”

We held each other a moment longer, both of us doing our best not to dwell on how difficult the next month was going to be. Then, with a muffled groan, he reluctantly pulled away to place his forehead against mine. “My men are waiting, love. I must go.”

I felt the tears gliding down my cheeks as I nodded, then pulled out of his arms, watching from the bed as he strode to the door, gathering his heavy coat and the haversack from the chair by the dressing table. Hooking the heavy bag over his shoulder, he walked back to the bed, and my heart ached as he leaned down and kissed me one last time, his tongue delving deeply between my lips to ravage my mouth, until with a moan of regret, he pulled away, turning to stride swiftly to the door.

“William,” I called out, and he turned back as I took a breath, attempting to strengthen my resolve. “You come back to me,” I demanded calmly.

And as I sat there, staring into his vivid green eyes, he made a vow.

“I will always come back to you Emmaline,” he promised. “Always.”

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